iamsuperdan Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 I probably speak for most of the Canadian members here when I say this. But I always laugh when our American friends talk about going to Michaels and getting kits and supplies, and discuss inventory and deals and what not. I was at Michaels today. Here's the model section. For automotive, and not including the snap kits, literally four options, and five kits total. Double it if you include the snap kits. Maybe another five or six if you add in the planes and helicopters. Needless to say, I do NOT come home with a score today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr mopar Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 Yes Dan it is pretty sad here in Canada for kits ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Cohen Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 Another reason why it is good to support your local hobby shop if you have one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 What local hobby shop???? ☹️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can-Con Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 The Michaels here in Fredericton has a 10 or 12 foot long isle of kits. ,,, BUT, last time I was in was a few months ago and they hadn't restocked since the Christmas season. We're also lucky enough to have a local hobby shop that's also the Canadian distributor for Scale Finishes paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 The Michaels here have been shrinking the model selection over the last few years. When Hobby Lobby showed up is when it started with the poor selection and slow to get new kits. I think it is that the kits are not moving off the shelf so why restock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertw Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Was in the nearest Michaels to me about a week ago and decided to count the number of models on the shelf, only took a minute, 48. Hadn't been in the store for nearly a year but then they had a whole aisle. I expect to find none the next time I'm in there. There problem has always been the high prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
426 pack Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Here’s a pic of the closest Michaels to me in Grand Prairie Alberta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 5 minutes ago, 426 pack said: Here’s a pic of the closest Michaels to me in Grand Prairie Alberta. Kinda reminds me of the Geneva, IL Michael's when I was there last weekend, they also got rid of all Testors' spray paints too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Sikora II Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 The store closest to me in Wisconsin has a very small kit section that was recently reduced further. Think the only AMT kit my store has is the 67 Shelby. Overall size of the section very similar to that first picture, so it’s not just in Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pol Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 (edited) the micheals close to me has about 30 kits mostly military and they don`t sell airbrushs or compressors any more Edited October 1, 2018 by John Pol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gman Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 6 hours ago, iamsuperdan said: I probably speak for most of the Canadian members here when I say this. But I always laugh when our American friends talk about going to Michaels and getting kits and supplies, and discuss inventory and deals and what not. I was at Michaels today. Here's the model section. For automotive, and not including the snap kits, literally four options, and five kits total. Double it if you include the snap kits. Maybe another five or six if you add in the planes and helicopters. Needless to say, I do NOT come home with a score today. I see four kits I could possibly be persuaded to take home- with a 50% off coupon. I have the Bronco (but could possibly use a 2nd), have stockpiled several versions of the '69 Camaro, but wouldn't mind the Ford pickup or the Husky & Starch Torino. Truth be told, I would likely buy them at the local hobby shop, or buy a more niche type kit from the LHS that is higher up on my list of wants. I am happy to say, there are three well stocked LHS within a half hour drive from home, and I don't mind paying up at one to make sure they have a reason to stay in business. The brick & mortar hobby shop has overhead, and a fair amount of money tied up in maintaining extensive inventory, so I support them when I can. I have had a few clearance scores at Michaels over the years, but have found more than a few south of the border at a newly opened Hobby Lobby for $7.94 US. I save those clearance kits for impulse buys, and think long and hard when paying retail to ensure it is a subject I really want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagercr Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 11 hours ago, Howard Cohen said: Another reason why it is good to support your local hobby shop if you have one I agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullitt Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Pretty well the same here in Saint John, N.B. Always excited to get their 50-55% coupons, then the disappointment sets in when I approach the model section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chernecki Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 All three stores in Winnipeg are just as bad as the photos above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 I can't recall if the one I use in Calgary even has any models, but it's just down the road from PM Hobby, so I go there for model stuff, and I go to Micheals for the craft things that are useful for modeling that PM doesn't have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamsuperdan Posted October 3, 2018 Author Share Posted October 3, 2018 On 01/10/2018 at 10:32 AM, Richard Bartrop said: I can't recall if the one I use in Calgary even has any models, but it's just down the road from PM Hobby, so I go there for model stuff, and I go to Micheals for the craft things that are useful for modeling that PM doesn't have. I make trips down to Calgary specifically to hit PM Hobbycraft. And I'll usually head over to Chinook Hobbies as well, he always seems to have a decent selection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Model Land also has a good selection of kits and materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabrux Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 On 01/10/2018 at 8:50 AM, Bullitt said: Pretty well the same here in Saint John, N.B. Always excited to get their 50-55% coupons, then the disappointment sets in when I approach the model section. That's even if you can find the model section; every time I go in there they move it and shrink it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spex84 Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 I gave up on Michaels a long time ago. At the time they were selling kits at $35 each, when the local hobby shops were at $25 or so. I think everything in Michaels has an inflated price to compensate for those coupons everyone is so fond of. The poorly stocked and worn-out products (markers, paints etc) bothered me too. I last visited Calgary's Model Land in 2011 or so; I thought their prices were maybe 15-20% higher than Chinook or PM Hobbycraft but they had a ton of interesting stuff sitting around. My go-to for the last decade has been PM Hobbycraft. It's a 3+ hour trip for me to get to Calgary, so visits are infrequent. Now that kit prices are so high, I find it's easier and cheaper to just order older kits online instead of buying new releases for $45+. I wish I had stocked up on Lindberg '53 Fords and Testors Smoothster kits when Chinook had their "clearance attic" section. They had a waist-high stack of Smoothsters for something like $5 per kit. Nobody wanted them. Now I see the exact same kit selling for regular prices online. Insane! I'd happily trade a pile of 'em for some new releases, haha. But yeah, Michaels. A last resort, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk11 Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, Spex84 said: But yeah, Michaels. A last resort, IMHO. Agreed, got enough cheap stones 4x4s now Two fully stocked and current hobby shops in the red deer area, one aligned with computers/games and the other with r/c stuff are usually enough to keep me supplied. Always look forward to a visit to Chinook though for older stuff. mike Edited October 4, 2018 by mk11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Now, that's a selection..... ☺️? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mademan Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 I cleaned out the Micheals in Prince Albert Saskatchewan last week.... had a 55% off coupon, went in and out about 10 times and got all the Hurst Cutlass, Starsky and hutch, 32 ford, 77 trans am, and 69 Nova kits that they had in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spex84 Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 ...and maybe that's why the shelves at Michaels end up empty. Lol!! //Mike, is that a photo of PM Hobbycraft? So many nice kits.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk11 Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 It's compusoft in red deer. Wildside hobbies has a similar selection but prices are a little lower. Even at general retail here, the prices are usually less than what online ordering with associated shipping and exchange amounts to. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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