I went tomy local hobby store for some supplies, ans i noticed they had signs posted that said if they would order any modelling stuff that wasn’t in stock…(the previous owner wouldn’t,all he cared about was his trains…)
So i inquires about a few Tamiya kits, and asked for a price… i noticed he was about 8 bucks more expensive then most mail order…
So here’s my question, would you buy from tour local shop, even though he is a little more expensive???
My thought is yes… reason being, i would rather keep my money in the local econmy … within reason of course…
I try to support my LHS or LHS’s as much as possible…however Im not going to go broke doing it either. Sometimes its just not feasible…and when the LHS Im patroning doesnt offer any service or advice…why support them when I could get the same treatment at MEGA SUPER CATALOG MAILORDER shop…just my [2c]
I would definitely pay the premium if it translated into superior service, like helping with the manufacturer if there are problems with the kit, bulk discounts, advice on techniques or paint, that sort of thing.
Many bemoan the loss of the ‘mom & pop LHS’ and I think they deserve our support whenever it is warranted.
I try and but mostly from the local Hobbytown. They do so much for the hobbyist as well as many other crafts and especially alot for the kids. They have sucha wide variety of things though that theyre are definitly not in harm of going out of business. As far as the other hobbyshops , well, thats a different story. If Hobbytown doesnt carry it, I order it.
Think the bottom line is do they offer the service expected by you as the consumer, if no, dont continue being a patron in hopes that the status quo changes and service gets better someday. Your wallet speaks the loudest, but it may also be worthwhile to discuss with the owner/manager why you will not be frequenting his shop to drop large sums of cash anymore…wouldnt recommend starting off with, “Your service blows.” May turn confrontational too early in the discussion.
Moe…think its i before e except after c or in words like weigh or neighbor. Unless I am missing a joke [;)]
i think its a good idea that he do’s order stuff in. on the reason thet someone without a PC or any means of getting on the internet can look in the latest Fine Scale Moddeler see what he/she wants and can order it from the Local shop
as for the price difference, they might not like to go through the hassle or might not be old enough
I try to support my local shop, since it’s a mom-and-pop type setup, not a franchise store. They carry moderate numbers of plastic a/c, ships, armor, cars, sci-fi,and wargaming, as well as R/C and some other items, like the Tamiya racing cars. The owners will order anything for you that’s in any distributor’s inventory for a very small percentage fee. Typically, they waive the fee when you order! For the stuff they don’t routinely carry, like aftermarket resin, PE and decals, I usually order from one of the large mail order houses.
I visited my LHS this week for the first time in years, now his prices are back within the “reasonable range”. He is a couple $ more than Hobby Lobby BUT the selection is much greater. I will use Hobby Lobby (Gotta love the 1/2 off sales!), the LHS and the internet as suits my needs at the time. The LHS is great for picking up something for a quick build or getting those items that are urgent and I don’t mind having to pay an extra few percentage points for the conveniance.
I buy from my favorite shop as much as possible.There are a few
items that they can’t get but everything else I buy from them. Sure it costs more but they have my favorite paint, a friendly staff willing to help,will
special order,hold kits till I can pick them up, and let me look at the kit
and decals.[:D]
The local chain stores don’t seem to care. I bought a kit from
one of the stores and the bottom half of the wings was missing.Called
them up and all I heard was what they could not do. Guess they don’t
want my business.
Lesson learned.I’ll only buy from my favorite shop in the
future and mail order if they can’t get something.
Fuzzy
I will only buy supplies like paint, glue and books, because they have good supply of them. However, if I can get a kit online for a sigificant savings (i.e. kit + postage) for a better price than my LHS, I’ll do that. Other times online sources have a better selection. I’m not going to pay for something at one place when I can get it at a lower price somewhere else. [2c]
“It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it.”-R.E.Lee
Hey all,
I support my LHS 100%[bow]. yes, occationally I do some mail ordering but nothing beats the LHS. It’s a place of business but where friends gather to talk shop and the like[:D].
You also have to remember if there is a flaw/pieces missing, its easier to exchange at the shop than it is to send it back to the mail order supplier(takes time).
Also the mail order place my have a kit that is cheaper but once you add in the sp/hndl, it can be up there just as well as the LHS prices[:p].
Gotta keep the local economy booming. Heck thats my second home away from home[:p][;)](sorry V)
Flaps up, Mike
I always like to support hte little guy even with things other than models. I only have a few shops within 20 miles of me and try to support them when I can. Other than that it’s hobby lobby, i to like some of thier deals and hobbytown when I am around one. I figure it was the mom and pops that got this country to where it is now so why not show my support to them.
Thanx for reminding me Keyworth,
My LHS carries plastic a/c(of all sorts) cars, race cars, trucks, armor, figures, boats,aftermarket items(resin, PE ect(a/c vehicles and armor) as well as aftermarket decals for all scales. Ok he has a good selection of HO and N scale trains too[:p]
The paint selection is pretty good too. If he does not have what your lookin for, he can get it in a matter of days. It actually really does not matter what the item is, he can get it.
Ace Hobby Shop started out as a mom & pop store about 53 yrs ago, now there son has the business since about 83.
Gotta love my drug store, I mean hobby store.[:p][(-D]
Flaps up, Mike
I support the local shops as much as possible. However, I’ve lately taken to seeking out stuff that’s out-of-production (in particular, the Hasegawa Phantoms). But I generally buy from the store, even though mail order is cheaper. Some shops are more helpful than others, but I really like to “see” what’s there.
Sometimes I come across interesting models in the store that I never would have thought of searching for online, like the Revell Germany cutaway U-Boat. Even my wife liked that one.
I agree with Butz and the others. If the difference is just a few bucks, then by all means I’ll support the LHS (unless it’s something he doesn’t carry or can’t order) Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I believe in supporting local business wherever possible.
Think how you would feel if you went to your LHS and found the doors closed and the building vacant. [:(] My LHS is in St Louis and that’s 2 and half hours away! Boy I wish I had a LHS to hang my coffee mug at. [;)]
I do agree with everyone here about supporting your local shop,unhappily I do not support mine anymore,the factors involed were as follows
1.Price gouging{my opinion only}I wanted this particular kit,of course I do my homework the MSRP was 33.95 his price 45.85 I brought this to his attention.His reply was I got to make a buck,I said by taking advantage of John Q. Customer,his other reply was if you don’t like it leave,so I did with an annual hobby budget of apx.$3000.00
2.I shop by catalog or the web,and do my homework each time.
3.I must say that I have been treated with more respect this way than before.
when I call certain Mfgs. I’m no longer a number but a person,yes there have times when the product arrived and there was a problem,but everthing was taken care of by the end of the week to my satisfaction.So sorry if I ruffled a couple of feathers.
In this household, it tends to break down to “what is the bottom line?”. There are two hobby shops that I patronize regularly (one is a 70 mile round trip and the other is a 120 mile round trip). Both are “mom & pop” operations and have pretty good inventory. I get most of my basic supplies from them (paints, tools, decals etc). Kits however are a somewhat different story. As I said they both have good inventories but both tend to be somewhat overpriced on their kits. The basic rules that I try to go with are:
Do I really need the item?
Is it in stock or available locally?
If I buy it electronically (eg net hobby outlet or eBay) will the price that I pay (base price+S&H) be equal to or less than what I would pay at the hobby shop plus the cost of driving there and back (time & gas)
How p****d will the wife be when I do get the item? ( Not nearly as bad now as it would have been 15 years ago when the boys lived with us)
I don’t really want the LHS to go out of business but, like any other business, they need to find out what I (read “the public”) want and am willing to pay for goods and services. I don’t believe that in aprox 50 years of modeling that I have ever had a hobby shop owner ask me what he could do to make his shop better or more successful.
Another thing which gripes me, and it effects both the LHS and me. Thats the manufacturer. Bring out a new model, have it available for 6 months, take it off the market for 3 months, re-release it with a new box and set of decals and charge $10 more for it (Tamigawa is great at that). Or re-release a kit that hasn’t been on the shelves for 40 years (using the same molds, box art, decals and instructions), not in a commonly recognized scale (box scale) and charge $12.98 (origional price - 69 cents). I don’t think the price of living has grown quite that fast (sound familiar Revell).
Well, thanks for letting me vent my spleen (as the saying goes) and I hope I haven’t offended anyone