Modelbuilder Mark Posted November 5, 2020 Posted November 5, 2020 SOoo.., I emailed Hobby Lobby to ask if they were discontinuing model kits or not, and got a not so clear, and certainly not reassuring response.
Rodent Posted November 5, 2020 Posted November 5, 2020 I was in one of my local HLs on Tuesday, and the shelves were full. It was all the stuff they have had for a while, but they obviously were freshly restocked because there were multiple copies of everything. I think that the 64 Plymouth was the newest thing they had, but it was restocked. I still haven't seen a Supernatural Impala in any HL since the two I saw in June and didn't buy.
bobthehobbyguy Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 I think that its more likely Hobby Lobby is offering the kit discount in the hope that other supplies like paint and brushs. In addition to a customer buying more onxe in the store.
Tom Geiger Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 The HL email looks like the canned response they send to anyone asking a question... Keep in mind there are like two aisles that actually have hobby stuff in the entire Hobby Lobby! I don't believe they will discontinue models, but like everything else this year, they are probably having supply chain issues filling those shelves.
espo Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 I happened to be in the KC Metro area on the Kansas side yesterday and visited three HL stores. They all seemed well stocked with no openings on the shelves but the inventory seemed like the same models with nothing new for a couple of months. That said at 40% off I'd say if you need a kit for parts or thinking of redoing a kit from the past this would be a good time to take a look anyway.
maxwell48098 Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 The weekly ad from Monday said that all boxed model kits were 40%. A.J.
thatz4u Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 1 hour ago, maxwell48098 said: The weekly ad from Monday said that all boxed model kits were 40%. A.J. Likely moving inventory for the Holiday Season...
youpey Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 (edited) i always try hobby lobby first for models since they are the last store within 30 minutes of my house to carry them. the next closest place is 1 hour away. with that said, i went to hobby lobby store, got 1 model i wanted, and there were no others that even remotely interested me (basically the same old stuff they have had all year). i went to their site and there were 2 kits i liked, but had them in the stash. when i go to the revell and amt site, there are many that i like but dont see on hobby lobby site. i bought most of them at scale hobbyist, which has great prices (the best i have seen anywhere, besides the 40% off stuff) the next place i will go is amazon, and then ebay last. with that said, i was disapointed to see hobbylobby site is now charging a 3 dollar fee for shipping for it being "the busy season" Edited November 6, 2020 by youpey
RichCostello Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 3 hours ago, thatz4u said: Likely moving inventory for the Holiday Season... They're doing the 40% sales every other week.
ratdoggy Posted November 6, 2020 Posted November 6, 2020 Just now, Rodent said: I was in one of my local HLs on Tuesday, and the shelves were full. It was all the stuff they have had for a while, but they obviously were freshly restocked because there were multiple copies of everything. I think that the 64 Plymouth was the newest thing they had, but it was restocked. I still haven't seen a Supernatural Impala in any HL since the two I saw in June and didn't buy. I saw that at HL a week or so ago. Ollies had models in the circular last week. Sale started the 29th. No models at my local one (on the way home from work basically) I went the next day and they were stocking the shelves. Bought the Gremlin, next day nothing basically
Doug 1061 Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 HLs in Denver area all well stocked. The one closest to me had the 1/16 57 T bird, had the Ford Snowplow truck a couple months back. Too bad I bought the T bird at Hobby Town back in mid Oct. Always my luck.
Rodent Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 18 minutes ago, Doug 1061 said: Too bad I bought the T bird at Hobby Town Hobby Town franchisees need love too. The one we had closed. It was in a foo-foo shopping center in a foo-foo suburb and the owner claimed that the rent was too high to sustain the RC and craft business.
Doug 1061 Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 24 minutes ago, Rodent said: Hobby Town franchisees need love too. The one we had closed. It was in a foo-foo shopping center in a foo-foo suburb and the owner claimed that the rent was too high to sustain the RC and craft business. Oh, I know. That Hobby Town here in my home town is an icon here. Been around since 1970. I go there all the time, very well stocked. Gotta support the little guy.
BKF Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 There's a few new kits on the shelves at a local HL. I picked up the Supernatural 1967 Impala today. There's also a couple new big rig kits.
mikemodeler Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 Earlier this year there was an article that due to the pandemic, there was a resurgence in the model kit building hobby. I doubt HL has suffered as a result and the alternating weeks of 40% off are probably to keep people coming back into the stores. Guys go in with their wives/girlfriends/kids and walk out with a cart full of goodies, and because kids have been isolated, they go back for more crafts/activities/kits, actually pretty smart of HL. I have noticed that many of the snap kits have been out of stock so maybe that is an indication that more kids are taking part in the hobby? People have mentioned here and elsewhere that the Ollie's kits that they have bought were part of a July production run and wondered if they were purposely made for Ollie's or if they were some big retailer's cancellations? My guess is that Ollie's saw the resurgence and asked the manufacturers for overstock or special runs to sell to draw people in. That may have played a part in HL running a 40% off sale too. Luckily for me I have an Ollie's and HL side by side nearby and will head off later this morning to see what bargains I may be able to find. In talking with a few resin casters they have said this pandemic has caused their business to double and they are swamped with orders. I know I have spent more than my usual this year, partly because I have more time to surf the 'net and more time to build. I think as long as we are forced to isolate, the better our hobby does.
ewetwo Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 (edited) While talking about Hobby Lobby. I bought a 1966 Mercury back a while ago when they were clearance. I just checked it out and found the bottom of the cellophane was cut around the bottom and folded back up into the box. So it looked sealed unless you actually looked at the bottom. Looking over the kit I found the bag that held the body was opened. Did anyone else buy this kit? And could you tell me if the body, interior tub and chassis were the only things in that bag? Or was there another part or 2 in the there. Thanks. Edited November 7, 2020 by ewetwo
BlackSheep214 Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 The biggest question is will they stock Tamiya paints once certain Testors line of paints disappear for good. I agree, that email sounded very vague and not giving out a real answer. I guess we all have to watch and wait what gets stocked over time. I hope they don't do away with model kits altogether.
HomerS Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 14 hours ago, Rodent said: Hobby Town franchisees need love too. The one closest to me is a mess. I would stop in there when the wife went to Once Upon a Child so I was somewhat a frequent flyer. I bought a couple kits and was looking for the latest SA (no E) so I asked them young person behind the counter as I was checking out. "Uh....it's over there". I didn't see it (hence the question) so if he would go get it, I would add it to the sale. Nope.....that would mean effort on his part. I'll just grab it at Krogers from now on. Fast forward a couple years......the anchor store was going out of business so I went Hobby Town again. Huh....door locked. The wife was done with her shopping when an older gentleman who had been sitting in a car for 10 minutes strolled up and opened the store for the day. It's 10:30a at this point. I can get the same impersonal service at the big box retailer with better price
RSchnell Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 4 hours ago, HomerS said: The one closest to me is a mess. I would stop in there when the wife went to Once Upon a Child so I was somewhat a frequent flyer. I bought a couple kits and was looking for the latest SA (no E) so I asked them young person behind the counter as I was checking out. "Uh....it's over there". I didn't see it (hence the question) so if he would go get it, I would add it to the sale. Nope.....that would mean effort on his part. I'll just grab it at Krogers from now on. Fast forward a couple years......the anchor store was going out of business so I went Hobby Town again. Huh....door locked. The wife was done with her shopping when an older gentleman who had been sitting in a car for 10 minutes strolled up and opened the store for the day. It's 10:30a at this point. I can get the same impersonal service at the big box retailer with better price I've pretty much given up on Hobby Town for the reasons you stated. There's only a couple left around me and they charge full retail for what limited plastic kit stock they have. I'll drive the extra 35 miles and visit a real LHS. Better prices, get greeted by name when I walk in the door!
mikemodeler Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 6 hours ago, BlackSheep214 said: The biggest question is will they stock Tamiya paints once certain Testors line of paints disappear for good. I agree, that email sounded very vague and not giving out a real answer. I guess we all have to watch and wait what gets stocked over time. I hope they don't do away with model kits altogether. While that would be ideal and make life a lot better, we are probably more likely to see the line of Revell paints that are coming. Of course if us modelers started a letter campaign to HL headquarters, it might sway them to add the Tamiya.
BlackSheep214 Posted November 8, 2020 Posted November 8, 2020 I have heard good things on Revell paints. Haven’t seen any in my area but am eager to try them out.
ChrisBcritter Posted November 9, 2020 Posted November 9, 2020 One thing I noticed at HL when I went there last week: All the Alumilite casting products were now marked with the red/yellow "Your Price" price tags - meaning the 40% off coupons can no longer be used on them. I'll have to check Michael's and see if it's the same deal.
Mike999 Posted November 9, 2020 Posted November 9, 2020 On 11/5/2020 at 6:43 PM, Rodent said: I still haven't seen a Supernatural Impala in any HL since the two I saw in June and didn't buy. Hang on! The Supernatural Impala seems to be getting back into the HL supply chain recently. I found ONE at my closest HL back in August. That HL is in a very small town. Then the kit disappeared from all 3 HL's in my area, until the end of October. Two of the closest stores are well-stocked with it now. Haven't had a chance to hit the third store yet. The kit I've still never seen, at any of the 3 HL's closest to me, is the '60 Chevy pick-up with go-kart.
OldNYJim Posted November 10, 2020 Posted November 10, 2020 13 hours ago, Mike999 said: The kit I've still never seen, at any of the 3 HL's closest to me, is the '60 Chevy pick-up with go-kart. Huh! Mine has got four of those on the shelves but I haven’t seen an Impala yet ?
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