Local Hobby Shp vs. Mega-Store

[JohnD]

I am lucky enough to have three LHSs within a 20 minute drive of home. I buy most of my kits and supplies from Rider's Hobby (mostly because I used to work there!) but I stop at the others occasionally to see what they have in stock. I only buy online if something is out of production or things like resin parts from places like Modelhaus or M.A.D.

[Lizard Racing]

I was fortunate when living in Georgia to have a LARGE Hobbytown USA fairly close by.  It was made from a three-screen theater, so they had a lot of stuff.

Then I moved to Utah last summer, but was pleased to find a small HTUSA a few blocks away.  I like to support local businesses whenever possible.  I do go online to find aftermarket parts like wheels and tires.  There are so many resources available today than when i first started in the hobby.

[Phirewriter]

In addition to my posting about my LHS, I use some of the local shows/swap meets throughout the year to source harder to find items before going online. I would rather do business with people I know if possible.

[Roadrunner]

I always purchase from wherever I can get the item the cheapest. I have no particular loyalties to anyone.

[Draggon]

I tried to give my business to Hobby Town before they closed. It was tough. Old AMT kits before the Round2 take over were 20 bucks, Revell 20-24, Tamiya were astronomical. When Tamiya fine surface primer was readily available for 8 bucks, they wanted 14. Now my "LHS" is Michaels. It's equally as bad, just in different ways. The last true LHS got taken over by emminent domain 10 years ago. The land still sits vacant. 

[KeithJackson]

"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! 

Yeah, my typing isn't what it used to be.  Part of the problem is my touchpad on my laptop.  I use a mouse so I normally have the touchpad turned off.  Somehow it got turned back on and I am constantly bumping it and having to hold my hands in a weird way to try not to hit it and wind up screwing up.  Add to that the fact that my brain works faster than my fingers and I have a huge mess.

 

[Snake45]

I always purchase from wherever I can get the item the cheapest. I have no particular loyalties to anyone.

Same here. I am a real styrene slut. Assuming a somewhat reasonable price, I'll buy what I want/need from LHS, big-box, hobby chains, eBay, flea market, toy shows, swap meets, the Goodwill store, close-out joints, online retailers, anywhere.

[unclescott58]

Yeah, my typing isn't what it used to be.  Part of the problem is my touchpad on my laptop.  I use a mouse so I normally have the touchpad turned off.  Somehow it got turned back on and I am constantly bumping it and having to hold my hands in a weird way to try not to hit it and wind up screwing up.  Add to that the fact that my brain works faster than my fingers and I have a huge mess.

 

I understand. We've all done it (see thread on suicide doors). Just having a little fun with it.

[BrianC]

I am lucky to have two great "local" hobby stores - one in town and one about 50kms away. They are both supportive of our local model club and so I will support them with most of my purchases. There is a local Michaels store but their selection is small and their prices are a bit higher than the hobby shops.

More importantly the hobby shops carry paints and glues that can't be mail ordered. Canada Post deems these as dangerous goods. If we don't support them the next closest centre with hobby shops is Vancouver - 400 kms away!

[robertw]

My LHS or any hobby shop for that matter every time for the following reasons:

-- By the time I`m finished paying shipping  the difference between ebay or mail order and my hobby shop is minor.

-- If we don`t support our hobby shops they won`t be there when we suddenly need that bottle of paint or putty or whatever we run out of in the middle of a build.

-- I`ve yet to grow out of that thrill I felt in my youth when I would go into my LHS and see the new kit or something unexpected sitting on the shelf and I hope I never do.

-- Going into the hobby shop is often a social occasion where you end up talking models with people you meet there.

-- I`m sure there are other reasons but all I know is that I`ve never gone into a hobby shop anywhere without coming out with some purchase and usually it`s something in a box.

[Roadrunner]

It's actually a shame, but a fantastic LHS here simply will not lower his prices to be competitive with many on-line retailers, so I buy from them instead of him. The owner and I have been good friends for a very long time, but I just don't see that as justification for paying more than I have to.

[69NovaYenko]

It's actually a shame, but a fantastic LHS here simply will not lower his prices to be competitive with many on-line retailers, so I buy from them instead of him.

Like many others that have responded to this post I as well am a strong supporter of my LHS (or at least the few that have managed to survive). Now I`m not a wealthy guy...far from it but the fantastic LHS you referenced is not refusing to lower his prices simply to gouge you. These good folks or not purchasing 1,000 of this kit and 1,500 of that kit to supply there 500 nation wide stores. They are purchasing a case of this kit (12 in a box) and case of that kit for their one sing location. They are not extended the same reduced deep discount quantity pricing from the wholesalers that a big box Hobby Lobby chain or big box on-line suppliers get. So his higher acquisition cost is reflected in his pricing. And, generally the cost savings are far less than $5.00 if that much.

For the record I have purchased kits as well as supplies on-line. I was able to save $3.00 to $5.00 on the list price verses my LHS. However, the on-line folks charged us $7.00 shipping which off-set the cost savings by several dollars!!!  So, in the end I paid more for the kit..dahhh. Cost wise I would have been better off making the purchase at my LHS. Then to insult to injury I had to wait three to four day for it to be shipped to me. With my LHS I can walk out the door with it in my hand and crack it open that evening and began working on it...there's a lot of positive things  to be said about instant gratification. LOL. 

On-line suppliers won`t be there when we suddenly need that bottle of paint or putty or whatever we run out of in the middle of a build. You got to wait three to fours days for delivery once you place the order.

Trips to my LHS are always a social occasion where you end up talking models with people you meet there.

If my LHS doesn't have what I`m looking for he will  order it for me. In fact I have been able to place an advance orders of kits that have not been shipped from manufacturer.

I have seldom walked into a true hobby shop anywhere without coming out with some purchase of a kit, new widget or other hobby supply that I didn`t know existed (that how I got my Grex airbrush/ SCR-1 Umm panel scriber/ Tru-Colors lacqure) etc ..

My LHS has held items for me for later purchase when I have spotted kits that I desired but didn`t have the immediate cash flow until next pay period which is two weeks down the road, no on-line store or box house would do that.

I`ve yet to out grow the thrill Iof going into my LHS and see the new kit or something unexpected sitting on the shelf and I hope I never do. In fact it part of the thrill of being in this hobby.

I realize there words are most likely falling on deaf ears. Your mind is made up that the $3 or $4 dollars savings on your hobby purchase it valid. And, that is your right to view things that way; after all it is your money.  However, when one factors in all the other important aforementioned variables I`ll vote to support my LHS over the on-line outfits /big box guys.

Edited March 12, 2016 by 69NovaYenko

[SfanGoch]

For the record I have purchased kits as well as supplies on-line. I was able to save $3.00 to $5.00 on the list price verses my LHS. However, the on-line folks charged us $7.00 shipping which off-set the cost savings by several dollars!!! 

You saved 3-5 bucks......You either really don't spend much time comparison shopping; or, you order from the usual shortlist of suspects like Sprue Bros., Squadron, etc. I order online from stores in the EU, Hong Kong and Japan and save three to five times as much, even with shipping. As an example, Sprue Bros. has the Rye Field Model RM-5003 1/35 Tiger I Early Production s.Pz.Abt. 503 Eastern Front 1943 (Full Interior) with a fabricated MSRP of $90.00 (the actual MSRP is only $79.99) and is offering it for $71.99, claiming a specious $18.01 savings. Even with the cheapest shipping option, I'd end up shelling out $83.49. On the other hand, Plastic Hobby, in the Czech Republic, sells the kit for $51.52, price excluding VAT. With $16.39 shipping stateside, the total is $67.91, which is a whopping $15.58 difference. I could go to Jan's Hobby Shop, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and ask them to order the kit; but, I won't. Jan's will charge me $115-$120 plus 8.875% sales tax, jacking up the already obscenely overinflated price to $125.21-$130.65. I can't justify paying $50, or more, over MSRP at a local hobby shop as a way of showing my support.

Google truly is your friend when it comes to shopping for the best online deals available. The secret is checking more than the first page of results. The deeper you dig, the more you'll find. One also needs to research what the actual MSRP of any particular kit is. Best place to start is at kit manufacturers' sites which have online shopping such as R2, R-M, Dragon and others. The price indicated on the site for a kit is the MSRP. The kit manufacturers will charge full MSRP for their stuff with the exception of sale items which might or, in many cases, might not be subjects which interest you. Take that price and compare it to what is posted as MSRP by online retailers and you'll know if they are being straight up or are trying to run a line of s**t on potential customers who don't know better. An example of this is the AMT-900 PIRANHA SUPER SPY CAR. R2's price is $23.99. Now if, for instance, you checked out Squadron, it shows an MSRP of $28.99, five bucks more than R2 charges. Then, there is the "Best Price", which is $21.74, creating the illusion that you're "saving" $7.25 off what it purports to be MSRP. In reality, you'll save $2.25 (9.4%) off R2's actual MSRP. This is why you only save three to five bucks before shipping is included. To paraphrase the late, great clothing retailer Sy Syms, "An educated consumer is the best customer."

My comments regarding LHS from another site:

There are B & M retailers who will attempt to suck every last penny out of your pocket without thinking twice. Part of the problem is that the average modeler hasn't a friggin' clue as to what the actual MSRP of a kit really is. You can visit ten B & M stores and find ten different prices, most of which have a price tag above the MSRP listed at, let's say, Dragon USA Online. Online retailers aren't that much more above board about the actual MSRP either. You can also visit ten different e-shops and get the same results. F.W. is dead on right about treating hobby shops as charity cases. The owners aren't operating these places because they're doing you a favor or because they like you. They want to separate you from what's in your wallet. If the argument is that we, as customers, should do whatever is possible to keep these establishments open, up to and including overpaying for things, that's just plain stupid. Neither customer nor shop owner owe anything to the other. Nothing personal, just business. If the joint ends up closing due to the lack of that business, that's not my, or anybody else's problem. Just as they are intent on me to spend my money, I'm just as intent on keeping as much as possible.

 

[Roadrunner]

I hear ya', Joe. If I recall correctly, the Trumpeter 1:16 M16 half-track was close to $225 retail when it was first released. I promised myself that I'd purchase one when they dipped below $150, after the initial feeding frenzy died off, and in fact ended up eventually getting one on-line for $80. My LHS owner/friend, was still asking $225 for his kits at that time. That's no paltry savings in my book. That's admittedly an extreme example, but still,...

[SfanGoch]

It really sucks when LHS won't budge from what is known to be an inflated price, Kevin. That's why these kits sit on a shelf or on the floor acting as doorstops. Jan's Hobby Shop has the Soar Art 1/35 Dora Rail gun for over 9 bills. Add the sales tax and you're looking at around a thousand bucks. I found a hobby/RC shop in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn selling it for $675. With tax added, it's still $300 less than Jan's. I bought the Trumpeter 1/16 King Tiger w/Henschel Turret when it was first released in 2008 for $269, including $9.00 shipping, from a store in Indiana. I received the kit two days after ordering it. Every other online store was charging $369.99 to almost $500. One has to show discipline and savvy whether buying in a store or online. The worst thing to do is buy on impulse because you just have to have it now. Do some window shopping, compare prices before buying and you'll have extra money for other things if you play it smart. All that paying more than it's worth adds up quickly. 

[Roadrunner]

I do order a fair amount of garden variety supplies from my buddy (shipping costs are offset by the gas savings, wear & tear on my old car and the frustrations of sitting in traffic), so things like paint, sandpaper, tools and the like, I manage to get from him. But even for car models, as cheap as they are, I still can't beat the 40% off at HL, assuming they stock what I want, so that's where I go.

[Longbox55]

I used to go to the LHS back when we still had them in my area, then mostly Hobby Lobby after they closed up (HL had no bearing on them closing in this case).

The hobby shops in my area closed due to varying reasons. A few closed due to the owners retiring/selling the business. One very good one we had, Black's Hardware, closed most of their non-hardware related parts of the business to downsize and concentrate on just being a hardware store, with a focus on commercial sales (they later closed up completely). The last full line hobby shop we had, Pet & Hobby World, dropped hobbies due to several reasons. One was competition from Wal Mart. Another was the fickleness of the hobby industry. One year, R/C cars are hot, nest, they're not. The major problems that really hurt them, though, and was the main cause of them dropping hobbies, was the internet and supply issues. The owner had a very hard time competing with online retailers. Not so much in direct competition, but in not being able to get new releases because popular selling kits would have the entire runs sold out to the online sellers. He simply could not get the product.

The Hobby Lobby we had as actually very good. They ended up leaving due to the owner of the mall they were in raising the lease.

The Wal Mart here hasn't had models in some time, only place locally I can get kits now is the Meijer that opened a while back, and their selection is very small.

[Harry Joy]

Oh for the love of....

 

I just wrote a five paragraph love story for my local hobby shop, only to have this forum eat the post.

[Craig Irwin]

I mostly buy out of production kits so my first choice is to buy at swap meets.

[Harry Joy]

My local hobby shops gets 95% of my hobby dollars. I'll pick up hard to find stuff online sometimes, but my LHS is my first resort, and usually all I need. They cater to plastic modelers, but also RC cars and airplanes, trains, slot cars, games, D&D, fiction and non-fiction books, all kinds of stuff. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They have a huge inventory that is always changing, as they pick up collections all the time. I have followed this shop ever since I moved back to Memphis in 2000, and they have changed locations three times (all within about a block of each other), mainly to keep moving to better corners and bigger locations. When I first started shopping here, they had about five parking spaces out front. Now they have dozens. When I went by yesterday, every one was filled. It's a great place to hang out and chat, people-watch, and yes, to shop as well. Over the years, the shop manager became one of my absolute best friends, and he even introduced me to the woman I married a few years ago.

When people say the hobby is dying, I wonder what their local shops do to draw people in. My LHS is always packed because they answer to almost every whim. They'll even barbecue out on the sidewalk in the summer. I have visited hobby shops from the easy coast to the west, and from the deep south to the upper Midwest, so I speak from personal experience when I say there is not a shop anywhere else in the US kind of like the one we have here in Memphis.

[EL LOCO]

Got to support my local Hobby Shop - Sherriffs Mini Cars. Also they are only 5 minute drive from my place. Personal services, cant beat it. They always compete with online prices. Same with paints and accessories. Though I get all my resin or spare parts and some hard to get models from bnamodelworld.com 

[Greg Myers]

Oh for the love of....

 

I just wrote a five paragraph love story for my local hobby shop, only to have this forum eat the post.

Same here. Wonder what's going on. 

[tim boyd]

Going back to John;s original post in this thread, Rider's in Grand Rapids is one of the two best model car hobby stores in Michigan IMHO.  The owner/manager really gets it.  He and his team do a great job there.  

The origin of Riders Hobby Shop, by the way, started back in Ann Arbor where I grew up.  The hobby shop dated from I don;t know when, but it was old (probably 1950's/early 1960's).  When the owners Mr. and Mrs. Rider got too old, they sold the store around 1973 or 1974 to Jack Busch and Bob Statler (I believe it was Statler...).   Jack and Bob did a great job bringing the store into the modern hobby world of the mid 1970's, with plenty of emphasis on model cars and kits.  Eventually they franchised throughout Michigan.  The best spinoff stores were Flint, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids.  The worst were several in the Detroit area (for instance, the Canton store).  About ten years ago, the franchise/chain went out of business.

The Grand Rapids (and the Flint store, I think???) still operate independently, and the Grand Rapids store in particular carries on the tradition Bob and Jack started in the 1970's....  

(The other "best" model car store in Michigan is "The Model Cave" in Ypsilanti, 30 miles west of Detroit.)  

TIM 

[CFMgarage]

I'm handicapped and can't walk or stand more than 2-3 minutes without having to sit down and "moan it out" so I actually hate visiting LHS's...There's one LHS around me about an hour and 15 minutes away that I still try to visit every couple months or so, where the guys (and gal) know me so I call them and ask what they have in stock that I may enjoy (They know my preference of tuners/Japanese cars).

Because of my condition, though, a lot of times I have to use amazon or eBay, simply because of the convenience factor of not having to endure any pain and just receiving my kits right at my front door. Amazon also has paint, glue, knives, putties, the whole nine yards, and having "prime", I get free 2-day shipping.

Now do I endorse that's the right way? No. But that's the best I can do to keep enjoying my hobby.

[disabled modeler]

Id be happy to buy from a local shop but all we have is a hobby lobby now....would be happy if they could carry more brand of kits than they do.  I do miss the family run local shops many have out of production or vintage kits,buildups,parts boxes one can dig through and buy what they need.  

Gergo... I understand your thoughts on the pains well...its no fun but I force myself to many times.