Whats is killing the local hobby stores?

[xtraflyr]

Yeah like those 3d guys that put down Warbirds !! J/K-- I fly 3d and I also like flying Warbirds--but also just love Aviation and flying anything in general!

We have a bunch of guys that rather fly when nobody else is doing aerobatic type stuff,they usually show up after everyone is packed up and leaving,or during weeknights. Sometime we'll show up just to tick them off and watch them not even take out their planes....

I just got a Hitec 645mg at my LHS for 30 bucks!! One thing about returning customers,they do get a good break on prices!!

[sherman89]

Despite the poor economy and internet buying Rob's Hobbies in Ocala Fl has been slowly expanding his business, his odds and sods dept is very well stocked. I was in the store yesterday to pick up repair parts(plywood, axles, glue etc) and the store was hoping with people and this is the end of August heat when the airplane business typically dies. Rob listens to his customers and stocks their requests. He tries to match the internet on pricing as well. As an example a few of us suggested to stock Xoar props, guess what, while at the store yesterday I see a selection of Xoar props, hats off to Rob, he trying hard to satisfy his customers needs. I and many others try our best to support him but he has to do his part!

[Al Lewis]

Just thought I'd revive this thread to tell you something that's KILLING our LHS. I needed some covering, ultra-cote real red, to repair my Edge. I went on line and did a search and found HobbyTown. Click on the link for the store locater and came up with this website for the Redmond store.

http://www.hobbytown.com/wared/

So they say they have the stuff I need in stock and are in Redmond WA. I'm in Port Orchard WA so I figure 3 days max shipping time. I order the stuff and pay for it, along with Washington state sales tax. I latter get an email saying they shipped it on 9/4/09.

	Quote:
	ALBERT LEWIS , your order A286335 was shipped 09-04-09 via US MAIL * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tracking Number Links BILLED TO ALBERT LEWIS XXXX SE BASSWOOD LANE PORT ORCHARD, WA 98366 US 360731XXXX Credit Card Number ************XXXX Subtotal: 15.99 Shipping: 4.99 Hazmat..: .00 Oversize: .00 __________ 20.98 Tax..: 1.41 __________ Total: 22.39 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SHIPPING TO ALBERT MILTON LEWIS XXXX SE BASSWOOD LANE PORT ORCHARD, WA 98366 US Shipping Choice: US MAIL * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Item Number DESCRIPTION ORDER QTY PRICE QTY SHIPPED HANU866 UltraCote, True Red 1.00 @ 15.99 1.00 HSNFRT Shipping and Handling 1.00 @ 4.99 1.00 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Some of the items that you originally ordered may not have been available at time of shipment and so will not appear on your shipping acknowledgement. At the time of shipping, if the items are not available, they will be deleted from your order. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please contact us with any questions regarding these items. Once again, thank you for shopping at HobbyTown USA 16421-A Cleveland Street Redmond, WA 98052 P: 425-558-0312 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** OUT OF STOCK ITEMS At this time we are unable to accept back-orders for items that are not currently in stock. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** CUSTOMER SUPPORT If you have any questions regarding your order please refer to our customer support return policies and instructions located at http://h1070999.hobbyshopnow.com/help/returns.asp Please note that any questions and returns should be directed to the Hobbytown USA site from which you made your purchase.

Last Friday, 9/11/09 I call them and ask the owner them where it is. I'm told that the covering is coming out of Champaign, IL and because it's being shipped USPS he can't even track it. ***??? They tell me if it's not here today to call them back and they'll have some more shipped. Well I got home and nothing so I call them and the manager tells me he doesn't even know how to track it and that it's coming out of California. Says he'll call me back. Calls back, after he spoke to the owner, and says he tracked it, miraculously?, and it should be here today or tomorrow. I told him to refund my money and I'll just go elsewhere so he says they don't even bill me the money or ship the product so they can't. I asked him if it was billed and shipped from another state why was I charged WA sales tax? He says that's just the way the headquarters operates. Anyway, if I don't get my covering by tomorrow I plan on filing a complaint against HobbyTown USA with the WA State Attorney General's Office for what I feel is a deceptive business practice. I can also guarantee I will never order anything from these people again and I would recommend everyone do the same. So much for the local hobby store!!!

[louu]

hobby shops in my area do really well now that i think about it but its not a good area for airplanes???

[Craven]

Go my friend Al go!

[xtraflyr]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Al Lewis
	Just thought I'd revive this thread to tell you something that's KILLING our LHS. I needed some covering, ultra-cote real red, to repair my Edge. I went on line and did a search and found HobbyTown. Click on the link for the store locater and came up with this website for the Redmond store. http://www.hobbytown.com/wared/ So they say they have the stuff I need in stock and are in Redmond WA. I'm in Port Orchard WA so I figure 3 days max shipping time. I order the stuff and pay for it, along with Washington state sales tax. I latter get an email saying they shipped it on 9/4/09. Last Friday, 9/11/09 I call them and ask the owner them where it is. I'm told that the covering is coming out of Champaign, IL and because it's being shipped USPS he can't even track it. ***??? They tell me if it's not here today to call them back and they'll have some more shipped. Well I got home and nothing so I call them and the manager tells me he doesn't even know how to track it and that it's coming out of California. Says he'll call me back. Calls back, after he spoke to the owner, and says he tracked it, miraculously?, and it should be here today or tomorrow. I told him to refund my money and I'll just go elsewhere so he says they don't even bill me the money or ship the product so they can't. I asked him if it was billed and shipped from another state why was I charged WA sales tax? He says that's just the way the headquarters operates. Anyway, if I don't get my covering by tomorrow I plan on filing a complaint against HobbyTown USA with the WA State Attorney General's Office for what I feel is a deceptive business practice. I can also guarantee I will never order anything from these people again and I would recommend everyone do the same. So much for the local hobby store!!!

I've never had any luck with the big chain known as Hobby Town USA. Nothing but rude,not knowing anything about what they sell people. I still go to my LHS and get the help I need and the answers I need. Linda at Hobby Hut here in Jersey knows what she sells and still beats Horizon and Tower on prices for me and my dad since we spend alot of money there. You just need to know ahead of time what you need for your build so she can order it and she gets it in a few days to a weeks time..

[Tweaker]

I have mixed emotions about Hobby Town USA, the local store is dropping stock on all airplane related equipment. Last 3 times I went there, they didn't have what I wanted.

But when I'm on the road, it's a good place to get some foam safe CA and kicker for damage on the travelling foamy.

[airborneSGT]

I think the HobbyTown USA is hit or miss. The one here just got a new owner and he is really receptive to what airplane peeps need. That being said KC Hobby shop and down in Fayetnam Hayes Hobbies always has a great selection!

[Mithrandir]

if they are 3 days away via shipping, I would suggest they aren't "LHS"

but I can still feel your pain....

LHS's are dying because they cost too much...

people are internet savy now and will Google the lowest price....

The way to make a small fortune with a LHS is to start out with a big fortune!!

[phippsj]

Hobby Town is for plastic models and toys. You should have ordered from Horizon or Tower for covering. Or just mooch it off of a flying buddy!

[rcbobp]

	Quote: Originally Posted by phippsj
	Hobby Town is for plastic models and toys. You should have ordered from Horizon or Tower for covering. Or just mooch it off of a flying buddy!

I think that is a function of the individual store owner and his/her ability to respond to his customer base. They have the ability to order from Horizon and Tower at dealer prices AND provide customer service and support. That hands on function helped get me more and more into this hobby. If it was just plastic models and park flyers, I'd be running my HO trains, which had to go away to make room for my planes . Like any retail nowadays, it's up to the store owner to make his business successful and not the other way around.

[nate540]

Well after almost 20 years the hobby shop i helped run closed its doors. Just a lack of buisiness. We were big into cars and racing had indoor and outdoor tracks. we went from on point of having 60-70 racers a week to having 8-15 not good. So unfortunatly thats it.

[JoeAirPort]

I thought I'd never go to Hobby Town again after I called to ask if they had any thin CA in stock. The guy on the phone said he's looking at it as he spoke...on the shelf in front of him. Well I drove 14 miles round trip for nothing. I got there and it turns out what he was looking at was not thin CA. I went off on him right in front of everybody...telling (yelling him) him that the reason I called was to avoid this exact situation...and he wasted my time despite my planning ahead. Walked out and never returned to that store. The management was hiring bad people. End of story.

Now a different store near work....is totally great. They have a good crew and they haven't let me down yet. I order stuff all the time and pick it up a mile from work. I get a 10% club discount. So it all depends on the store from my experience.

[classclown]

The problem with a franchise hobby shop like Hobby Town is the fact that each owner has to waste money stocking the store with alot of other stuff to fit the franchises criteria; doll houses, toys, warhammer crap, the plastic models, and then the rc items. Its up to the individual stores to decide how much rc inventory he wants to stock the store up with. Most of them are tapped out after stocking up on the required junk.

[Al Lewis]

Well they returned my money this morning. Still no covering in sight. Guess I'll stick with Tower and Horizon from now on.