People keep saying we need to support our LHS (Local Hobby Shop)… well let me tell a little story. I am building a timesaver switching layout and wanted to install 8 of the Kaydee under the track uncoupling magnets. Hobby shop #1 had 2 pc.s so I Bought them. Hobby shop #2 closed at 6:00pm on a Saturday…so they were of no use. Hobby shop #3 (the biggest of the three) Did not have any at all. So my LHS was of little to no help…these trips involved a total of close to 3 hours driving. These Kaydee magnets are the standard of the industry…if anyone wants to unhook a trip pin type coupler (which the defacto standard on every car made today) then this is the magnet. Hobby Shops should stock the basics and more than just one.
My dad lives in Madison Hts, not far from Dearborn. I last visited about 8 years ago, and there were a dozen hobby shops listed in the phone book, and I managed to visit three of them, including one that had a layout from the left front display window to the back of the store to the right front display window!! [:D] As far as the shop that was closed at 6pm, most small businesses cannot pay Mall rents, and therefore are in “local” shopping areas and most of these stores close by 6pm most days, staying open to 9pm or so only 1 or 2 days a week. These people have lives too, and usually only work 70 to 90 hours a week - I did when I was a contractor! [|)] Get on the phone - the thing without a keyboard - and call a few of these shops between say 10am & 6pm - I’ll bet the KD magnets will be available.[2c]
I have the same problem. I have 5 hobby shops near me and none of them ever seem to have what I’m looking for. I don’t blame the hobby shop. I understand that its a small business and they can’t stock everything. A trip to the hobby shop always seems to take me all day. I’ve pretty much decided that when I need something I’m going to stick with one hobby shop and if they don’t have something I want I’ll just have them order it. The one I picked is the one that is the farthest away. The reason I picked it is because the owners and the people that work there are so helpful. The shop is clean, organized and the lighting is good. There is a place near me that has tons of stuff, but it’s all over the place the store is dark and getting help finding anything is just about impossible.
Welcome to the club! Many LHS leaves a lot to be desired and still wants US to PAY FULL PRICE for poor service and low stock! That’s why 90%(or more) of my hobby dollars is spent on line.
At least some of you have a local hobby shop to go to. The nearest one to me is 70 miles away in Tucson, and the next nearest to that is Phoenix, a 4-hour drive one way.
If it were not for the Internet, I’d probably be looking for a different hobby.
I’ve had the same kind of frustrating experience with my LHSs. Largely self-inflicted because a phone call would have saved a trip or two.
On the other hand, most of the shops I use are on, or near, my way home from work so at least there is little waste of fuel. I try to order things ahead through one particular shop. They absorb the shipping costs and often give discounts. It usually takes about 4 days, Monday to Thursday, to get what I order.
Most of my frustrations come when I need something simple. A couple of grain-of-wheat bulbs were the most recent instance. None of the hobby shops had them!
I found what I needed at Radio Shack, believe it or not. Surprising, because a trip to RS is usually inviting frustration or disappointment, when looking for small electronic items which used to be a big part of their business.
The LHS versus internet debate seems to be a common theme.
I live in a city with a metropolitan population of 1 million people, yet I have just ONE half-decent train shop in town. All of the other so-called hobby stores are into wargaming, R/C, and crafts. I have one other option - a well-stocked train specialist with high prices and an hour’s drive away. I’ve spoken to the LHS owner a number of times about his business, and he confirms that business is ebbing away in favor of direct mail / internet. His biggest beef is when hobbyists who do most of their shopping online walk into his store every now and then, looking for some obscure part or other, leave the store muttering about his lousy inventory because he doesn’t have the item on hand. It seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me: if you buy the bulk of your stuff online, how can the LHS justify the cost of stocking a half-decent breadth of items? Do you build it and hope they will come? Now, I realize the item you were looking for is fairly common, but the thrust of the argument remains.
I personally like this one LHS despite its modest inventory - the owner is helpful, the other train guys that show up are helpful, and usually when he orders stuff for me it is in his store within a few days at pretty much the price shown in Walthers. My LHS records my purchases and issues refund certificates as well. Moreover, when I’m looking at a new engine, I get to hold it and run it before I commit. On a number of occasions I’ve test run more than one identical loco, and found that one purrs and the other grinds - and that saves me frustration and the hassle of returning defective stuff. And, I like to browse.
Don’t get me wrong - I don’t do ALL my business at the LHS. Common things that I needed at an earlier stage of building (track, cork, tortoise machines, etc) I would buy in bulk from a mail order place. But I li
You know, I hear a lot of people complaining about how a hobby shop should be run, or how there are no hobby shops in their area.
For the first group of people, if you think it is so easy or that you have all the answers, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and open a hobby shop?
For the second group of people, no hobby shop in your area? That sounds like a prime business opportunity to me!
Despite some of our highly contrary threads over the past couple of years, I wonder if your observation might actually contribute to the growth of the hobby over the next little while.
You know, I hear a lot of people complaining about how a hobby shop should be run, or how there are no hobby shops in their area.
For the first group of people, if you think it is so easy or that you have all the answers, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and open a hobby shop?
Have YOU tried that? Its easier said then done…Your shop has a 5 year life span before you go belly up.After all you are dealing with people’s hobby dollars that can fluctuate and possibly dry up…Of course you could be among the lucky few that makes it.
Nice…Again why don’t you put up and see how easy its not.Even as a train show dealer you stand to lose your shirt…Some shows I made money…Others I broke even.Some I lost money.
You can support your full price hobby shop and I really don’t care.
I am tired of their low stock,HIGH PRICES and poor attitude.
I’m not complaining about the hobby shops. It just seems like I always need something that they don’t have. Thats not their fault, its just the way things work out.
I worked in a hobby shop for about 5 years. The shop I worked in first opened in the 50’s. It was well stocked with hobby and craft stuff. Still, always had people coming in for things we didn’t have. Can’t please everybody.
When I need detail parts or other incidental model railroading supplies, I try the LHSs first by calling them. Although they are conveniently located on either bus or light rail lines, I’m usually disappointed because they’re either out of what I want or don’t stock it. They say they can order it but the main purpose of me going to the LHS and paying MSRP is because I need it or want it now. I usually end up either ordering it online or finding it at the local arts and crafts shops - for a fraction of the prices of the LHSs.
That calling ahead on the phone thing only works if the [censored] knows what they’re talking about. I’ve called 3 times looking for certain things only to be falsely assured they were in stock. Really ticks me off when I’m driving an hour to pay full price and I was lied to!
Or you call and they say “I might have some of those. I can’t look right now, you just have to come in and look for yourself.”[V]
“Nice…Again why don’t you put up and see how easy its not.”
Because I’m not the one whining about hobby shops and their owners. My hat is off to anyone who runs a brick and mortar hobby shop for what, at best, is a niche market in this day and age.
Having run my own hobby mail order business and as an independant pilot car driver I am well aware of what is involved in running a business full time, not just selling stuff at a trainshow.
How many of you have a problem with LHS’s that aren’t open in the evening? Mine is open Tuesday through Saturday until 5. I’m fortunate enough to work early hours, so I can get there before the shop closes, and it’s only a 10-minute drive from home. For many customers, though, I’d suspect that Saturday is the only option.
I’ve never had a problem with A.B. Charles, here in Pittsburgh. They have just about everything…and if they don’t have what I need, they’ll gladly order it. Usually, it shows up in a week or so. They’ll also service locomotives, and other equipment.
Occasionally though, I’ll get something off the 'net. I’d rather not do that. The main reason being, “what if I need it serviced?” I’d rather get my locomotives repaired by someone that knows what they’re doing…plus the usual good-natured kidding when I screw something up. For that, I’ll gladly pay a bit more.
George,Selling at train shows takes a lot of extra work unlike the comforts of owning a brick and mortar shop.You need to load everything,drive miles to the show,unload,unpack sell(hoprfully turn a profit) eat train show food [xx(] repack after the show is over,load up and then drive home and unload.Next weekend the same thing.
So please don’t talk down on train show dealers…Its a thankless job.
Seeing you had a vested interest I can see your sour gapes against those of us that has grown tired of our LHS and shop on line.