lilsquirt Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I use to buy my models and paint from wallyworld but now I cannot even find a kit of any kind there! this has been going on for quite some time and after finally getting up my nerve I asked the toy manager about it! He told me that they do not handle models any more It seems that the management at the so called "store to end all stores" have done just that~~~ where ever you see a wally world you can bet your boots that you wont see a K Mart around or even a hobby shop or any other kind of small store I can remember going downtown to roses five and dime when I was younger and buying an AMT model for a buck and a half sale price or 3 bucks full price! they have driven every small operation out of business so that the public has to pay the high prices that they now claim , before and during the process of killing all the compitation their prices were lower that anyone elses or at least competitive but now and little by little the prices are getting higher. I priced a few objects at wally world and while visiting another store (not wally world) the same objects were very low compaired to the price tags at ww talking about taking the public for a RIDE?? had to get that off my chest lilsquirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Davkin Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) If any hobby shop is in danger of going out of business due to competition from a big box store then they simple are doing a poor job of running their business. The big box stores have never had enough inventory/variety of model kits to be any real serious competition to a properly run hobby store. I'm not saying they didn't hurt sales at the hobby shop but it should never have been nearly enough to put them out of business. Any former LHS owner that says so is just using Wally as a scapegoat for his own shortcomings. David P.S. Wally dumping model kits and supplies is really, really old news, nearly a year old. Edited January 9, 2009 by Davkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilsquirt Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 sorry but wally world here in Newberry is the ONLY place to shop!! sure we have a downtown area but it is mostly devoted to antique shops Newberry has no place for young people to go or shop I am a antique myself but I can see why when the youngsters get old enough to get out of town they run as fast as they can away from here as a retired security guard at newberry college the biggest concern for the kids was what is ther to do in this hick town?? I would always tell them to go to Laurens or into Columbia we have nothing here to keep the younger generationand when I say nothing I meam nothing!!! Lilsquirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KanelKustoms Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) I feel your pain. I too went to the big W to look for models and after aimless wandering of the toy section and catching concerned glances from mothers, I asked an associate for what I was looking for. They hadnt carried models in about a year. In the 2007 phone book I had available, there were 8 hobby stores listed and only 2 left in business today. Those 2 cater to trains in one and R/C in the other with very little for the model car guy. No scratchbuilding suplies, slim model selection, so I am forced to mail order everything. But being the dedicated model builder I hope to be, I'll do what I gotta do to keep on doing what I do. Edited January 9, 2009 by KanelKustoms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Lombardo Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I kind of see your point, but really, this is the standard for retail today. Most all businesses have been impacted by the era of the big box store. It started with Grocery stores, bead into Hardware stores and Pharmacies. Liquor stores, toy stores and Electronic stores followed and if you think about it, you shop in these stores and reap the benefits of bigger selection and lower prices. It is a sign of the times and like it or not, it (big box stores) is now under attack in many areas by the internet. Internet retailers have even lower cost structures and larger selections. Our economy and technology will always evolve as we move through time. I rarely shop at Wal Mart, not because I don’t want to, I just don’t shop that style of store. I try and buy as much hobby stuff from my local hobby store. I have gotten very friendly with the owner and want to support him as much as I can. Sure, it costs me a little more, but it is worth it as I have a convenient place to shop for the sundry items like glue, plastic strips, paint, etc. I could, and maybe you should consider shopping for kits on line. There are a few great retailers out there, Tower Hobby, Model Car Roundup, Fantastic Plastic, just to name a few. I would shop at all of these if my local guy closed up, but as long as he hangs in there, I will support him. I don’t think it is fair to bash Wal Mart. They provide a service and less expensive products to an entire large group of people out there in America that either earn lower incomes or are retired living on fixed incomes. The poor people today that were just getting by a year of two ago have how found that they are in deep do-do. Stores like Wal Mart offer them a little bit of hope that they can still get a bargain today. Like the other guys before me said and I agree with, if a hobby shop is properly run, it can get by because model kits are a small portion of their inventory. They have model trains, R/C cars, ships, planes and military models, doll houses, etc… to support the operation. I live in North Central New Jersey. We are very crowded with a relatively large population base. I have 3 Wal Marts with 30 minutes of my house; I also have 4 hobby shops within that same range. They are all getting by, so I do not see a problem here. And on top of that we have 3 Michaels that carry model kits and they are surviving too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helipilot16 Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Walmart discontinued models and modeling supplies well over a year ago. It was purely a merchandising decision. The shelf space could better be used for other toys and games. One direct result was the discontinuance of Kustom Kolor paint by Valspar. They simply could not get other outlets to carry them. I have found some of the paint with Great Planes, but they are quickly running out. Stevens International might have a few bottles left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 As far as I know the West Coast Wallie's had the kustom Kolor and the east coast had testors. And I have a K-Mart and a walmart, and my mom has 2 walmarts and a hobby lobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJWood Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 You can still find useful items for modeling at the wal. Future floor polish, Color place gray primer, finger nail files, masking tape. also try the dollar store for stuff like Super glue, Storage containers. and some Chocolate candy, gotta have my taisty chocolate bars, Mmmm Chocolate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gramps-xrds Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) I don't think it is fair to bash Wal Mart. They provide a service and less expensive products to an entire large group of people out there in America that either earn lower incomes or are retired living on fixed incomes. The poor people today that were just getting by a year of two ago have how found that they are in deep do-do. Stores like Wal Mart offer them a little bit of hope that they can still get a bargain today. Edited January 9, 2009 by Gramps-xrds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMc Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I live on a fixed income and it's not nearly enough, but I'd rather have kept those manufacturing jobs in the US and payed a little more for products than put us in the economic mess we're in now Lucky us ,the UAW kept those jobs........so many bought foreign cars!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Lombardo Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Hey Gramps, I think you should be the one getting his facts right. Look back on what you just said, and I quote “The main one that burns me is the fact that they specify their suppliers to get their products from china or they won't supply wal-mart†Think about that, you actually expect us to believe that they at Wal Mart require every product on their shelves to be made in China or they won’t sell it. That is just plain ridicules. Wal Mart does indeed drive a very hard deal with their suppliers. They must supply the quantity and quality items at the agreed upon price or their legal department are on you like a pit-bull. I have a friend who owns a small bakery company in middle America (actually it is in Tennessee) that supplies products to Wal Mart. Believe it or not, these items are baked right here in the good old USA. Wal Mart has negotiated a very tough deal with him, but he sells a lot of product through Wal Mart, so it pays off and everyone wins. He sells baked goods for a profit, Wal Mart sells baked goods for a profit and the consumers buy baked goods that he considers at a reasonable price, what do you know…a win, win, win situation. Wal Mart sells many products that are made in America, as some one before mentioned, he buys Future floor polish there for his models. Future is made by S.C. Johnson of Racine, WI, last time I looked, that was not in China. You are complaining because Wal Mart stopped carrying AMT and Revell model cars because they do not sell enough to justify allocating the shelf space to them. Well, next time you pick up one of your models made by AMT or Revell, look at the fine print on the bottom of the box. Clear as the nose on my face is the line….made in china. You unfortunately can not get away from that. Most everything in the way of consumables today is made in China at a fraction of the cost it would take to manufacture that item here in America. It is a two way sword. Americans want affordable “Stuff†and in order for American companies to provide affordable “Stuff†they go offshore to have it manufactured. Call your bank or insurance company with a question about your account and you will be most likely taking with someone from India or China or Indonesia or Jamaica or some other place half way around the world. We truly live in a global economy world and America is in for a rude awakening. The times have changed, like it or not and there is more change coming. The American worker has priced himself right out of a job. Look the UAW contracts darn near killed the Auto Industry, and who knows, the damage done up to now may kill them off yet. Sure, the auto problems are not all to blame on the UAW, but they are a leading contributing factor to the situation they are in today. So, I will repeat myself, I am not a fan of “Stuff†made in China, but I do not condemn those who sell those items as they have no control over where a product is manufactured, contrary to the belief that Wal Mart holds a gun to every supplier and makes them produce it in China. Sam Walton was a great capitalist. I applaud anyone who uses the capitalist system to their and every ones advantage. Capitalism has its flaws but it is a quantum leap over the next closest form of economy. And you just mark my words, we are now entering the new age of American Socialism. It is coming, almost President Obama just yesterday in his speech about the economy warned that it is worse then even he thought, and only Government can fix the problem now. Yes, he said that, and yes we are headed down the path of Socialism. We voted for it, we want it and we will get it. We are on the way to the One World and One Currency World of George Soros and Maurice Strong. See you later Comrad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodBurNeR Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 You just heard about this? It's been almost two years since they stopped selling models and everyone on the planet has raged, cried and beaten the horse to death LOL sorry I just found it amazing you are just now finding out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollover Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I support my local hobby shop. I may pay a few extra dollars but they are there with what I need when I need it. If they don't have it they will special order it. I also enjoy leaning on the counter talking models with them, try that at a big store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspageddie Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 In southwest Columbus, OH, there is a Walmart. Right across the parking lot, (you can see it from wally-world's door) is a Hobbytown USA. (I know, HTUSA is a franchise chain) they have been happily co-existing there for about 7 years now. Our local Hobby Shops, like Hobbyland with three stores, Grandview Hobbies and Hurricane hobbies, all reside within a few miles of newly established "big box" stores. Streete Hobby shop closed it's doors a few years ago, but because it's owner passed away. not all markets have seen this decline in locally owned HS as you say. I am sorry to hear about the owner of Streete Hobby. As a young boy I spent many hours and lots of my hard earned chore money there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspageddie Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Strete Hobbies on Sullivant Avenue ... man, that brings back some memories! My family lived there when I was a kid and I use to walk there to spend my allowance money! Sorry to hear the owner passed. BTW, that HTUSA you mentioned _ and the other one in Columbus, for that matter _ are both owned by the same people that own the one in South Point, Ohio, where I am employed part-time. I used to walk there too. I lived in the neighborhood there behind Streete Hobbies. I lived there in the 80's. I would get my hair cut and Ron's Barber Shop then go lurk around the hobby shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilsquirt Posted January 10, 2009 Author Share Posted January 10, 2009 youall dosn't seem to understand my situation! I just spent over half a year in the hospital and another few months in a nursing home with almost no ontact with the outside world concerning my hobby and I am still unable to drive due to my condition naturally I am behind times and very discouraged I am destitude with no insurance and after working at a newspsper office for most of my life I was forcefully retired when the newspaper was bought out and left me with no retirement my son chiped in and paid off the house (Thank the Lord) Lilsquirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodBurNeR Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 youall dosn't seem to understand my situation! I just spent over half a year in the hospital and another few months in a nursing home with almost no ontact with the outside world concerning my hobby and I am still unable to drive due to my condition naturally I am behind times and very discouraged I am destitude with no insurance and after working at a newspsper office for most of my life I was forcefully retired when the newspaper was bought out and left me with no retirement my son chiped in and paid off the house (Thank the Lord) Lilsquirt If you said that in your first post, I would have not replied. It must suck to get back to the real world and find so much changed. Sorry to hear that. Welcome back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gramps-xrds Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I have a friend who owns a small bakery company in middle America (actually it is in Tennessee) that supplies products to Wal Mart. Believe it or not, these items are baked right here in the good old USA. Wal Mart has negotiated a very tough deal with him, but he sells a lot of product through Wal Mart, so it pays off and everyone wins. He sells baked goods for a profit, Wal Mart sells baked goods for a profit and the consumers buy baked goods that he considers at a reasonable price, what do you know…a win, win, win situation. Well Pete, I didn't say everything they sell at wall mart is from China. Believe me if they could get baked goods from china, your friend would'nt be selling his wares to them either. Wal-mart is the single biggest importer of chinese goods in the US. I'm afraid it's not only w-m but the fact that a lot of the so called US companys out source, ( to make bigger and bigger proffits ) is the reason we're in the shape we're in, and I guess we're all guilty of wanting cheaper goods. Now look what it's gotten us. Our economy is not going to get any better but only worse. The US was at one time the largest manufacture in the world. Now we're nothing but a second rate country of consumers. So you can praise w-m all you want, but I'll continue to keep my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Kron Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 (edited) This entire discussion is about the results of the elimination of competition and the concentration of distribution in ever fewer hands. Regardless of whether it is baked goods (often made from mass produced doughs which are shipped long distances frozen to your supermarket bakery and then baked locally) or model car kits, the only thing you can do about it is to trade in every good and service in your life as locally as possible, accepting the large premium you will often pay for it and opting for the smallest business that can competently serve you. As an example, if you are among the diminishing few who have an LHS, and they don't stock what you need, special order it through them, accepting the profit they must take. If they feel they cannot serve you, then effectively you do not have an LHS. In doing this you are choosing to support inefficiency in exchange for diversity and local redistribution of surplus income. Too often, the illusion of lower prices is more than offset by the elimination of quality and choice. This constitutes a form of unacknowledged inflation in its own right. Just my 1 1/2 bits... Edited January 10, 2009 by gbk1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspageddie Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I go further back than that. I lived there from my birth in '61 until '71. My family lived in a subdivision called Georgian Heights. Familiar with it? I am very familiar with Georgian Heights, I went to Georgian Heights Elem. I grew up on Eakin Road. What a small small world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dryvr12 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 least meijers still has modeling supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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