Do you shop online?

[robertw]

Since here in Canada we can't mail paints a LHS is a must. It's therefore important to me that my LHS's remain viable so I support them as much as possible even though they might be more expensive then online ordering. That being said there are lots of bits & pieces and even kits that my LHS won't carry so I do a fair amount of online ordering as well.

It is also fun to go into a shop from time to time and make a crazy impulse buy that you'll probably never built. The first thing that I do when I go into a new city is check the phone book for the local hobby shops. Found one this summer that shared it's space with a home decorating/paint store.

rob

[Drake69]

For kits out of production you HAVE to buy online. Supplies and paints I usually get at the LHS, except for "The Detailer" which I'm trying to convince them to carry.

I prefer to buy local though, it's more the convenience of picking up a kit I want to build right then.

[Longbox55]

For kits out of production you HAVE to buy online.

Not necessarily. I have a hobby shop about 45 miles away from me that has a good stock of OOP kits, some even dating back to the late '70s. I also run across OOP kits at the 1:1 car shows I go to, in most cases, the seller will let you inspect the kits before you purchase, something you can't do online.

[Drake69]

Not necessarily. I have a hobby shop about 45 miles away from me that has a good stock of OOP kits, some even dating back to the late '70s. I also run across OOP kits at the 1:1 car shows I go to, in most cases, the seller will let you inspect the kits before you purchase, something you can't do online.

I would go ape to find a place like that.

[charlie8575]

Ohio state income tax forms require you to pay sales tax if you purchase from out of state or in state. How many other states have this on thier tax forms I wonder?

Massachusetts has it as optional, I really doubt anyone does, though. As for states "requiring" it, I not only question the legality of that, but simply from a bookkeeping standpoint, what a mess to keep track of.

If a state is SO concerned about losing more of your money to waste, maybe they need to lower the tax rate and structure to make it more competitive, and/or cut the graft and corruption rates to their cronies.

Charlie Larkin

Edited August 11, 2011 by charlie8575

[charlie8575]

I've found I receive little or no savings from buying online, but if something can't be found locally, I'll order online.

I have three very good hobby shops reasonably close (one about ten minutes, and I go hit them when I go grocery shopping as it's in the same plaza, with the occasional odd trip,) and the other two about forty minutes away. I have six shops within an hour's drive that are good and can fill most needs I have.

Two of the shops offer discounts to MassCar and other club members, 10-20% depending on shop and purchase category. So, even with Massachusetts' astronomical 6.25% sales tax, If I'm paying more, it's a negligible amount (like 25-50 cents,) and I have my purchase now, not in a week. The third that doesn't is still one of the best model railroading shops in New England and has a very wide variety of other products. It was too bad they moved a half-mile south into Massachusetts from Nashua, the no sales tax was nice.

When do I shop online? If I can't get a kit locally (nobody carries the Galaxie Ltd. kits for whatever reason,) or for oddball stuff. I also do some of my OOP purchases there, as well.

As several people have said, I prefer to support my local businesses. These are your neighbors, your friends. The profits stay here and are returned to the community through other purchases, donations to various causes. These are the people you see around town, in church, in lodge, and a number of other places.

If a store is not good, over-charges, has rude service, etc., they don't deserve to be in business and lend a bad name to the business as a category. The market will eventually act accordingly unless they get the message.

Charlie Larkin

[Dr. Cranky]

Absolutely, it saves time, money, and headaches . . . in particular once you get a list of reliable and professional stores on line!

[Dr. Cranky]

The other thing I will say is that for people living in rural communities, shopping on line is the way to go. Of course, now that they are planning on closing 3,700 post offices, I don't know what that will mean for the price of shipping.

[Harry P.]

So, even with Massachusetts' astronomical 6.25% sales tax...

Charlie Larkin

6.25% is astronomical? You should try the Chicago area.

I'd take your 6.25% in a heartbeat.

[Harry P.]

Of course, now that they are planning on closing 3,700 post offices, I don't know what that will mean for the price of shipping.

UPS and FedEx will gladly pick up the slack.

[Romell R]

California sales tax is 9.87% , And yes I do buy most of my supplies online as the LHS is lame when it comes to model car stuff. And I love getting goodies in the mail.

[Dr. Cranky]

Yes, Harry, and then when there's only one, they can demand whatever price and people will have to pay it.

[Harry P.]

Yes, Harry, and then when there's only one, they can demand whatever price and people will have to pay it.

Before UPS and Fedex came along, there was only one: the Post Office. And for years THEY demanded whatever price they wanted and people had to pay it. There was no alternative.

Now UPS and Fedex compete with the post office. Who knows... as the post office dies its slow death, there may be more new companies springing up to grab part of the business. Competition is a good thing.

[Dr. Cranky]

Yes, Harry, but I know you love STAMPS, so what's going to happen to them? Will they still be available or will they be next?

[Longbox55]

6.25% is astronomical? You should try the Chicago area.

I'd take your 6.25% in a heartbeat.

Or even the state of Illinois in general for that matter.

[mistermodel]

Or even the state of Illinois in general for that matter.

13% thanks to my Ontario leaders.Its called HST (harminized sales tax)a federal and provincial tax all rolled into one

Ive never bought on line,try to keep the few remaining shops in buissness,but I'm gonna do a modelexpress order soon

Edited August 11, 2011 by mistermodel

[s10chevypu]

I have a michaels near by and a hobby lobby about 45 min away, so i do shop on line.

[Harry P.]

So far roughly 50% of the people who have responded say they do shop online, and another 45% say they do occasionally. So 95% of us either shop online a lot, or at least once in a while. No surprise there, I guess.

But I am surprised that roughly 5% of you say you have never shopped online.

This is 2011! I find it incredible that 5% of you have never shopped online.

How about an explanation if you are one of those people. How can you have ignored the huge variety of products available online for so long? I mean, obviously you do go online... after all, you answered this poll. But why have you never shopped online?

[Dr. Cranky]

Interesting findings, but not surprising. I didn't shop on line for a few years because of the usual fears of giving strangers personal information, etc . . . but things have become a lot easier, and I find the older I get, the less Iike going out to pick up stuff I need.

[mistermodel]

Well,I'm in that 5%.Kinda still leary about the whole on line thing.I also live in a rual cummunity and have to drive 20-30 miles to get to any shopping centres and such.So when I'm in the big smoke I'll pay a visit to the LHS.We just got a wallmart 10 minutes away last month ,but that doesn't help too much in the hobbie.Plus I've noted that alot of venders wont ship to canada,not sure what it is to them,I'd be paying the shipping.Paint cant be mailed,and we have the stupid law that french must be printed on the label ,thats a factor also

[LAone]

i like both online and LHS. im fortunate to have 3 stores (that i know about could be more) that i can go to, all 3 about 20 mins drive. i buy whatever i can there, paints, styrene, ect. but most of my kits are online, due to "they dont stock them" or pricing. sometimes buying online comes out cheaper, especially when it comes down to imports.

[Joe Handley]

I just prefer shopping in a real store, and so long as it's reasonable, I don't mind paying taxes on purchases either. I'd rather keep my neighbor employed too.

[Craig Irwin]

I'm one of the lucky ones, I have a LHS 3 blocks from where I work a part time job. He gets all of the new stuff, and when shipping is added the online guys are within pennies on price. For resin I buy at shows where I can see the items myself.

[Rob Hall]

I do both...I always lived in areas with a few good local hobby shops that I frequent for some kits and supplies...but I do buy a lot of kits from 3-4 online vendors in the US and a couple in Japan, and eBay for old kits. I've been buying stuff online since the late 90s (Amazon, eBay, etc) so I'm comfortable buying all sorts of stuff via the internet and having the USPS/UPS/Fed Ex deliver it..

Same w/ paying bills/etc...I do everything I can online to avoid using old-time methods like paper mail and checks. If I can do it from my phone or laptop, I do it..

Sometimes I get so busy w/ work and life that it's easier to order a lot of stuff online rather than running around shopping (though I have all the usual big box and small stores within a couple miles of me).

Edited September 30, 2011 by Rob Hall