Local Hobby Shp vs. Mega-Store

[CometMan]

Hello everyone! Just curious about what your thoughts are. Do you prefer to do business with your LHS, or would you rather go to the big box store to make your purchases?

[Tom Geiger]

Wow!  Talk about throwing a large rock in the pond just to see where the ripples go!  

[CometMan]

Wow!  Talk about throwing a large rock in the pond just to see where the ripples go!  

OK Tom! While I may be a little guilty of that, and I certainly have my own preference, you may notice I did not tip my hand so as not to take sides! I am truly interested in everyone's opinion!

[bubbaman]

i prefer  my local hobby shop like  HAYES HOBBIES  in FAYETTEVILLE  - was there yesterday - nice people  - prices are great  and the selection  is  H U G E !!!

[Renegade]

I would rather shop at my lhs but both have closed. I don't do mail order so for now will buy from Hobby Lobby. Lately they have been getting a lot more of the current kits.

[Harry P.]

I prefer ebay because the types of kits I like to build are just about all long out of production and couldn't be found at a hobby shop or a big-box store. Online is the only source (and the best source, because I can literally shop the entire planet).

[gtx6970]

I try to support my LHS when ever I can. He's extremely competitive with any online sellers prices by the time you factor in the shipping costs. Sometimes he's even cheaper. He can order anything and usually have it in a few days if its something I want he doesn't have.

The only thing I buy on Ebay is vintage kits .

 

But I'll be honest, I can count ALL  the currently avail modern kits I've bought the past 2 years ,,on ONE hand . Vintage / obsolete kits,,,is a much MUCH different story .

 

 

[unclescott58]

Though question to answer. I like to support my local hobby shops. But, I also like to save a buck. Like Harry, in the last 10 - 15 years I've purchased a lot of stuff on line. For many of the same reasons Harry gave.

[Ramfins59]

I go to my LHS (Hobby Express in Cranberry Twp.) and usually just buy paints, glues, plastic supplies, etc.  I occasionally get a model there too but I usually order my model kits online because I'll order several different kits at once and even with shipping it comes out cheaper than the LHS kit prices.  I buy diecasts and hard-to-find promos on EBAY with free shipping whenever possible.

[angelo7]

If I was lucky to have a LHS, I would definitely support them 100%.  But at least I have a Hobby Lobby which is enough for me.  For specific stuff I can not find at HL, then I'll use the net. 

[Petetrucker07]

I do my best to support LHSs. I even go to them when in other states for work. The people are usually very friendly, knowledgeable. Just try to ask the little blonde workin the model/education/hobby/jewelry section of HL, What thickness styrene is the best to buy when scratch building anything? Watch her head get blown up and you can almost watch her mouth...styrene.....? 

[SfanGoch]

I do my best to support LHSs. I even go to them when in other states for work. The people are usually very friendly, knowledgeable. Just try to ask the little blonde workin the model/education/hobby/jewelry section of HL, What thickness styrene is the best to buy when scratch building anything? Watch her head get blown up and you can almost watch her mouth...styrene.....? 

If she's hot, who cares if you can shine a flashlight in her left ear and see the beam exiting her right one?   

[KeithJackson]

I would love to have an LHS.  All I have close is a Michael's and a Hobby Lobby about 45 minutes away.  I was looking on lint to find something close last night and the only thing that I found was a couple of train shops.  I might need to check with them and see if they can special order for me if they don't currently carry stuff that I am interested in.

 

[Lunajammer]

I support our LHS when I can, even when it means ordering things. He carries what he can but he can't afford a large inventory. For that reason, he doesn't always have what I need.

[louie]

Unfortunately for me the closest Hobby shop is about 40-45 miles away from me but I was traveling there but started realizing that the owner was a Hobby Bozo. Now I would never ever ever talk bad or down someone for most reasons but this guy started to insult and talk down to me when he realized that I buy car model kits so I decided not to go there anymore, again unfortunately for me. I buy online ,but I buy most of my stuff from small hobby shop's that are online who appreciate my business. CometMan, very good stuff and I always like your posts.   Thank you.    Jeff 

[Phirewriter]

I support my LHS, Model Empire. Unless I need something very special or odd I've not needed to shop the world wide interweb. Factor in shipping and I'm usually ahead spending locally. I should point out the Empire's kit prices are generally discounted from msrp.

 I very rarely shop big box stores, they almost never have anything I'm looking for.

Edited March 11, 2016 by Phirewriter

[SfanGoch]

I support my LHS, Model Empire. Unless I need something very special or odd I've not needed to shop the world wide interweb. Factor in shipping and I'm usually ahead spending locally. I should point out the Empire's kit prices are generally discounted from msrp.

 I very rarely shop big box stores, they almost never have anything I'm looking for.

Second that on Model Empire. I phone my orders in. Nice folks, great selection and prices and quick service. 

[unclescott58]

I would love to have an LHS.  All I have close is a Michael's and a Hobby Lobby about 45 minutes away.  I was looking on lint to find something close last night and the only thing that I found was a couple of train shops.  I might need to check with them and see if they can special order for me if they don't currently carry stuff that I am interested in.

 

"Looking on lint"? I'm amazed you found a couple train shops on lint. I'm going have to start check my lint more closely. With my lack of house keeping skills, I have lots of lint laying around here! 

[martinfan5]

I support who has what I want for the price I want to pay.  

I do support the LHS for certain items for items such as paint

I do support the big box Hobby Lobby for certain items such as Tamiya Primers and maybe kits and other items,

The hobby supplies I buy from the "big box stores" like Wal Mart is super glue and sand paper , and other less important items.

Edited March 12, 2016 by martinfan5

[Petetrucker07]

That is very true. 

If she's hot, who cares if you can shine a flashlight in her left ear and see the beam exiting her right one?   

[StevenGuthmiller]

A local hobby shop, no doubt!

Problem is, they've pretty much gone the way of the Dodo bird!

I had a great LHS here in town about 15 years ago & had a great relationship with the owner & employees.

If there was something you needed, they'd get it for you ASAP with no questions asked!

I have one hobby shop left in town.

It's called "Everything Hobby".

As long as "everything" is radio controlled stuff!

 

Steve

[CometMan]

 CometMan, very good stuff and I always like your posts.   Thank you.    Jeff 

Thank you very much, Jeff! Always nice to see my contributions appreciated!!

[Art Anderson]

I prefer ebay because the types of kits I like to build are just about all long out of production and couldn't be found at a hobby shop or a big-box store. Online is the only source (and the best source, because I can literally shop the entire planet).

yeah, but eBay will NEVER have that last-minute paint or other materials you need, nor that last minute pkg of Xacto blaes--and NO LHS can survive if that's all they get to sell--speaking from almost 30 years DIRECTLY involved in retail hobby sales.

[Eshaver]

Anyone who knows me personally KNOWS I refuse under ANY circumstances to business with EVil bay or Krack List . I abhor Pay , ain't my pal and the rest of the "Big boxes . The problem is here in Central Virginia is we have two Hobby Lobby's scattered inconveniently for me to reach , two Hobby town USA's where they could care less about what I buy or need . Lucky for me , I have unbuilt kits from the last Hobby store we had until I guess 2012. Now as far as scratch building plastic , that has gotten to be a game of "Catch as Catch can .

[Ace-Garageguy]

Id really prefer to have access to an old-time hobby shop like existed when I was a kid, but they don't much exist these days, at least not around here.

The closest thing to one in any reasonable distance from me is a Hobby Town, and I frankly wonder how they even survive, looking at the number of customers they seem to have.

They stock NEW kits, and I'll buy some there occasionally, but most of what I get from them is supplies...paint, styrene, glues, tools, etc., and they're usually very well stocked in that department...but not as well stocked as they used to be.

If they had more stock in HO scale kits, I'd buy those as well, but most of their train stuff is RTR or shake-the-box kits. Ho hum. Boring.

There's a Hobby Lobby a block or so from HT, so if I'm going to be on that side of town, I always take the 40% off coupon with me. There's sure to be something I can use, even art supplies, and the coupon gets me in the door to buy other stuff, just like it's supposed to, but their car model and supply selection is 'limited', at best.

Online shopping fills the other side of my modeling needs and wants very well. Vintage kits, gluebombs, detail parts I wouldn't even know existed otherwise, etc., wheel and tire sets, European and Asian kits...all for remarkably good prices considering they come right to my door.

Edited March 12, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy