Whats is killing the local hobby stores?

[DadsToysBG]

I fly both GS planes and turbines, and I own a LHS. I would love to carry a lot of things but can't get them. How about Hobby City electric. They woun't let me buy and resell at their prices. Many of the on-lines stores don't want to do business with a LHS. Can't carry jet stuff. I have to buy on line myself. Many of the GS I can't get. Just look at GP. I pay one price for a plane then Tower offers $60 off.
I can order and have it here in the same time as on line stores so whats the difference, at least here you can talk planes and drink coffee. I'm getting ready to order some parts for my new plane from Troybuilt as soon as the tail wheel i want is back in stock. Dennis

[juicesqueezer]

	Quote: Originally Posted by DadsToysBG
	I fly both GS planes and turbines, and I own a LHS. I would love to carry a lot of things but can't get them. How about Hobby City electric. They woun't let me buy and resell at their prices. Many of the on-lines stores don't want to do business with a LHS. Can't carry jet stuff. I have to buy on line myself. Many of the GS I can't get. Just look at GP. I pay one price for a plane then Tower offers $60 off. I can order and have it here in the same time as on line stores so whats the difference, at least here you can talk planes and drink coffee. I'm getting ready to order some parts for my new plane from Troybuilt as soon as the tail wheel i want is back in stock. Dennis

I agree; If there is a plane I am looking for and its on Tower's site, it is stupid to order from someone else. Sixty bucks is sixty bucks! Oh, did I forget the free shipping and no tax. Another supplier sent out a questionair recently and they asked what makes you decide to purchase from one supplier or another. Shipping! If Tower can send no charge, why can't they? Or for that matter others, when you are dealing with the numbers they are dealing with.
As I stated in an earlier post, I had a business for thirty years. You could not pay me to open a business today. Heck, even the government is against you and taxes, when I sold my business, I was paying .55cents for every $1.00 I made to the government. Nah, I don't think so!

[SmoothFlying]

My local hobby shop has everything I need. You name it he's got it. I have never gone into the shop and he not have what I need. Hodges Hobbies, the best hobby shop ever. Plus how many hobby shops have a 1600ft runway with perfect Bermuda grass out the back door to go fly at??

[Ipwnuathalo]

Plus how many hobby shops have a 1600ft runway with perfect Bermuda grass out the back door to go fly at??

Ummm...only those owned by people who made their money in a different industry?

Whats is killing the local hobby stores?

Ummm...since they are low-margin, low-profit, labor-intensive retail businesses that appeal to one of the smallest demographic groups in society, pretty much ANYTHING that goes even slightly wrong can kill them.



Is it just me, or are these questions pretty easy?

[sgillmore]

	Quote: Originally Posted by DadsToysBG
	I fly both GS planes and turbines, and I own a LHS. I would love to carry a lot of things but can't get them. How about Hobby City electric. They woun't let me buy and resell at their prices. Many of the on-lines stores don't want to do business with a LHS. Can't carry jet stuff. I have to buy on line myself. Many of the GS I can't get. Just look at GP. I pay one price for a plane then Tower offers $60 off. I can order and have it here in the same time as on line stores so whats the difference, at least here you can talk planes and drink coffee. I'm getting ready to order some parts for my new plane from Troybuilt as soon as the tail wheel i want is back in stock. Dennis

We just lost both our local hobby shops within a matter of months. Hobbytown was the first to go. It was about 35 miles away. The second--a "true" LHS here in our town--just announced that he'll be closing up in November. Both shops had been around for quite a while.

I don't know much about the Hobbytown closure, but I know the owner of our local shop very well. He would agree with a lot of what you're saying. There are a LOT of vendors that won't deal through a LHS and many more that could be considered unfriendly to the little guy. I always checked first, but he just wasn't able to order a lot of giant-scale items I wanted.

Most of the complaints seem to be related to inventory and service. I just have to say, I can't imagine trying to stock an R/C hobby shop. Think about the how many manufacturers and products there are. It's mind boggling. Just think about something as simple as clevises. You could stock 5 different types and sizes and still not have what I'm looking for when I walk through the door. How many different brands, sizes and shapes or props can some realistically carry on hand? As a business, they have to focus on products they can move and make a profit on. Regardless of how popular giant-scale has become, it's still just one niche in a large industry. On top of that, the equipment is much more expensive, which means more overhead.

Then throw in R/C cars, trucks, and boats. The manufacturers release many new products every year. Then it seems that people expect them to stock the entire parts inventory for every vehicle they sell. Then the new cars come out and they're stuck with old parts from the previous years "must have" models. Personally, I think we should cut these guys some slack on inventory.

Our LHS owner realized that he simply couldn't stock everything so he really tried hard to make his shipping process easy and efficient. You could call or email him and say hey, "would you order me a Slimeline side-mount pitts for a Saito 1.25" and it would be in the shop three days later. It was easier and faster than placing the order on-line, it arrived just as quickly and his prices were usually better than the "big guys." It worked great as far as I'm concerned, but I guess in the end it wasn't enough.

Now poor service--there's no excuse for that. I always felt the service was great in our LHS, but again--I guess it wasn't enough.

I also agree with the social aspect and I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned it. I've spent many a lunch hour over the years talking R/C in my LHS. Or a "quick" stop on the way home from work. I can't tell you how many times I've told my wife, "at least I wasn't at a bar." Oh well, I guess those days are over for the foreseeable future. The closest hobby shop is now two hours away.

[zoomer260]

	Quote: Originally Posted by powerlines
	I think most small shops are just like.. WEll.. We have to order it.. If I wanted it ordered.. I would order it my self!!.. But. I live in the land of PLENty.. HOdge Hobbies is my local shop.. IT's not like that.. BUT. I do get upset when I see people get stuff from online. I always give them a chance first.. Can you get me some VEss props..? Na.. you better order them online.. I buy everything but BIG lipos and Vess props from them!! I feel we should support our local shop as much as possible..

Yeah but at least Mack flies giant scale and stocks parts for them. Kits too. Maybe not the Brand of prop ya prefer but he most likely has one that will get ya through until "mail order" gets here.

I wish we had a Hodges Hobby here.

[50%plane]

What's killing the LHS's? maybe it's because THEY ALL SUCK,,,, at least every one that I've been into....(after ARF's became popular)

[Craven]

	Quote: Originally Posted by zoomer260
	I wish we had a Hodges Hobby here.

Ditto dat!

[bipecrazy]

I think also what's killing it is that there are hundreds if not thousands of new planes, battery's accesories, radio's everything, & it's exspensive to maintain a full stock of everything for everybody...our local shop is 45 miles away & he has maybe 1 of each things as long as it's from HORIZON HOBBIES, he doesn't carry anything from TOWER,because you have to buy such an exstensive stock, & lets face it , the economy aint that great,..plus it's like ya say ..."hell I can order it, and have it delivered to my door"...but we still try to buy some from our local dealer, plus it helps when we have fly-ins, like our anual Toys For Tots because the locals shops donate ,,, & Tower or Horizon doesn't donate to fly-ins.... soo that's my 2 cents ...

[classclown]

	Quote: Originally Posted by juicesqueezer
	I don't have a problem with supporting the LHS, but when they don't have anything or stop what they are doing and answer the phone, I have a problem! Sad, but MOM & POP will be gone forever. Just a matter of time.

What if you were the guy on the other end of the phone, calling in, and no answer because some jerk demands service at the counter?

[Craven]

	Quote: Originally Posted by classclown
	What if you were the guy on the other end of the phone, calling in, and no answer because some jerk demands service at the counter?

Press 1 for English.........

[classclown]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Craven
	Press 1 for English.........

LOL, but Prez, is'nt it 1 for espanol, and 2 for ingles, these days?

[Craven]

	Quote: Originally Posted by classclown
	LOL, but Prez, is'nt it 1 for espanol, and 2 for ingles?

URRRRRGGGGGGG....FOCKERS!!!!

[enephel]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Craven
	URRRRRGGGGGGG....FOCKERS!!!!

?? No habla.

[cliff600]

We finally have a LHS that is worth talking about here in the Charlottesville Va. area. It is University Dive and Hobby. It is a small store, but it is PACKED with stuff. They stock anything from Vapors to 35% gassers. They give 15% off of list price too. They have converted me back to going to the LHS for all my stuff. They will even special order your stuff and still give 15% off list price. They stock gas engines too, from a CRRC26 to a DLE 111. I know I sound like a commercial, but I have NEVER been able to drive 15 minutes and have sooo many toys at my finger tips for that good of a price. With their service and prices, they will be here for a long time.