Spoiled and Depressed

[Swifster]

It's amazing what happens when you go home like I did over the Christmas holiday.

I have been out of model building for 20/25 years. I checked out the hobby shops here in Florida, especially local to Lakeland and Tampa. Usually they have a small 10 foot piece of shelf with plastic kit, or maybe they are three shelves high over the same space. By contrast, there is usually a twenty foot section of paints in jars and cans. At least most have the supplies.

Forward to 3 weeks ago when I hit my three old hobby shops in St. Clair Shores (Whistle Stop), Sterling Heights (Great Lakes) and Fraser (P & D). I forgot how well stocked they were. Whistle Stop has kits of various types down one isle way that runs the length of the buidling. Cars on one side and planes, ships and other 'stuff' on the other. The last twenty feet did have the same paint supplies everyone else has, but oh those 'other' 60 or so feet. And every kit you can imagine (that's current). This same scene repeated itself at the others too (P&D is a little bit smaller).

So now being back in FL, when I go to a hobby shop, I get really depressed. I see those little 10 foot shelves and hope a couple hobby shop owners in MI decide to retire in Central Florida... :-(

Edited January 12, 2012 by Swifster

[Eshaver]

Well, don't complain, start you're own business. Hey, I've started three very sucessful busninesses and two in resessonary times. I still own one now . Ed Shaver

[martinfan5]

Well, don't complain, start you're own business. Hey, I've started three very sucessful busninesses and two in resessonary times. I still own one now . Ed Shaver

Not everyone can start their own busniess, I know I have tired to, not hobby related, but it doesnt always work out

[Dr. Cranky]

Tom, if it's any consolation you can always to the on-line hobby shops. They are always well stocked.

[Swifster]

Well, don't complain, start you're own business. Hey, I've started three very sucessful busninesses and two in resessonary times. I still own one now . Ed Shaver

Ed, I run my own business. I do vintage car damage appraisals.

Tom, if it's any consolation you can always to the on-line hobby shops. They are always well stocked.

Doc, it's like my music. I know I can upload music, but I'm old enough to still want to hold it in my hand (album, tape, CD). I look at models the same way. I like looking at it, feeling the box in my hand and seeing what I'm buying. I guess I'm old fashioned... Just point me to one well stocked hobby store in this state... :-(

[a/gass]

great lakes is on line and shiping is free with orders over $50.00 - but they dont put the oop kits on line just the new kits.

[george 53]

Tom, My in laws live in Tampa/St.Pete area, an when I go visit I stop in at Phil's Hobby Shop in Pinellas park. It's RIGHT on the main drag from the "Pinellas Park" exit off I-75. He's a nice guy and he;s gotta LOT of models, New releases, older collectable kits, and the usual R/C Planes,boats an trucks. Check him out when you getta chance.HTH.

[Harry P.]

Spoiled and Depressed?

Hey, at least you're not Dazed and Confused...

[Dr. Cranky]

There should be some good places in Orlando, Tampa and even as far as Jacksonville. In Miami I only know of a couple of little place with not much of a selection.

[crazyjim]

When you going to visit the in-laws, George? Maybe we could at Phil's Hobby? Never been there -yet.

[Swifster]

When you going to visit the in-laws, George? Maybe we could at Phil's Hobby? Never been there -yet.

Jim, still moving stuff, but I might make the trip in a week or two. And thanks George! I'll definitely check it out.

[jaymcminn]

Phil's is pretty good. He used to do a model car show until a few years ago. The local shop here (Naples) is an unfortunate combination of poorly-stocked and ridiculously expensive.

Edited January 13, 2012 by jaymcminn

[Peter Lombardo]

In this day and age, I would not expect any of us to be surprised by the state of the hobby industry. With incomes down, and disposable income (cash for hobbies, crafts and non-necessary items) equally down, the situation for the hobby shop owner is difficult.......then throw in the effect of the internet sellers where they do not have the store front and anywhere near the overhead of the retail guy then the Walmarts and such , and the nails are being driven into the coffin. The trend is clear.....I have seen two out of the 4 reasonably close hobby shops fold up and one more is shaky at best. The times are changing, and will continue to change...................support the local hobby shop as best you can.

[Harry P.]

In this day and age, I would not expect any of us to be surprised by the state of the hobby industry. With incomes down, and disposable income (cash for hobbies, crafts and non-necessary items) equally down, the situation for the hobby shop owner is difficult.......then throw in the effect of the internet sellers where they do not have the store front and anywhere near the overhead of the retail guy then the Walmarts and such , and the nails are being driven into the coffin. The trend is clear.....I have seen two out of the 4 reasonably close hobby shops fold up and one more is shaky at best. The times are changing, and will continue to change...................support the local hobby shop as best you can.

Why? Why support a system that offers less selection and (generally) higher prices than a system that offers virtually unlimited selection, generally lower prices, and 24 hour convenience?

I really don't see why so many of you insist we "support" a business model that has obviously been surpassed by a better system in every way.

Is it nostalgia, maybe? Wanting things to be the way they used to be? Or the way we are used to them being?

I don't know... when I add up the advantages of online shopping vs. shopping at the LHS, to me it's no contest.

[Dr. Cranky]

I don't know, Harry, I still enjoy walking into my LHS and browsing the aisles, looking around for stuff . . . but maybe you are right, it might just be nostalgia.

I like doing both, although I know that eventually one will win out over the other.

[Jon Cole]

Paint, among other things. I can walk in to a hobby store, and eyeball color selections of (hopefully) multiple brands.

Visual effect. I can read lists until my eyes bleed, but there is little substitute for seeing the new kit selection right in front of me. We have discussed the effect of model box art before, and many on-line vendors cannot afford graphics. So a nod goes to the visual effect of hobby shops.

Memory. As in "I have little". So for me to see what is new, or even just in stock, is a big plus.

[crazyjim]

I think maybe I'm a bi-modeler. I can go either way - LHS or internet.

[Swifster]

As mentioned, I look at this like downloading music. There was a study done a few years back that showed when it came to music, those under 35 were far more likely to download music than those over 35. It wasn't that those over 35 couldn't download music, but the lack of visual access during the purchase. Older folks like to 'hold' our music. We are conditioned to 'record' stores, looking at the art and reading the liner notes (even on CD's). I understand this. I do download music, but in many ways I'd rather have a CD in my hand.

I think in many ways this also translates to model cars. I like seeing the box art, reading on the box what it comes with and holding the kit in my hand (I honestly wasn't THAT interested in the '48 Ford woody until I had that BIG box in my hand). I admit I'm spoiled from my old haunts. Yes, I could order from either of them. But I like the kit shopping at the hobby store. I like seeing the shade of paint. The whole thing. I guess I'm longing for what I can't have. At least it doesn't snow...

Will be checking out Phil's in the next week or two.

[maltsr]

I'm a bi-modeller too - I tend to buy kits online and paint etc at my LHS

By combining shipping on eBay, good savings may be made compared to prices here, plus OOP kits are readily available off the 'net.

Downside of course is that Tamiya spraycans run at NZ$15, about US$20 ( ) at the LHS. If (when?) the LHS closes, so does our paint source. Unlike you lucky folk in the continental US, we cannot purchase paint by mail. Importing paint from overseas is virtually impossible. We cannot get Testors', MCW, HOK etc in spraycans over here.

So I've just bought myself an airbrush (haven't tried it yet ) but will stilI have to find other paint sources if (when?) the LHS disappears.

[Dave Ambrose]

We have a similar problem in San Diego, but not as bad. It's the good weather. People don't particularly want to build models when it's warm and sunny outside.

I visited a couple of hobby shops in Toronto, Ontario that would kill and eat any shop we have in San Diego, Then again, we don't have 6 months of winter either. I get by with the occasional trip to Orange County or LA, online, and the fortunate fact that my local hobby shops carry a lot of paint. I buy from them when it makes sense, but there are a lot of things I want to buy that I can't get from them, even on special order. So, I go online.

[MikeMc]

Why? Why support a system that offers less selection and (generally) higher prices than a system that offers virtually unlimited selection, generally lower prices, and 24 hour convenience?

I really don't see why so many of you insist we "support" a business model that has obviously been surpassed by a better system in every way.

Is it nostalgia, maybe? Wanting things to be the way they used to be? Or the way we are used to them being?

I don't know... when I add up the advantages of online shopping vs. shopping at the LHS, to me it's no contest.

Unless the underpaid Cretins destroy the lastof the lot by poor packing....or put in a wrong SKU...Double freight.

My sister has a large retail Dollhouse business...and she has to sell at internet markup...no profit margin.but still overhead vs

working from your basement..I owned a retail service store...When the customers can see and feel the goodies...a lot of impulse

sales occur...As a Floridian..I am shocked at the lack of good retail stores..for our needs...they are all train or RC stores.

On a positive note It looks like we are getting a new store here in town. I saw the Hobbico banner...I'm hoping.....

[Peter Lombardo]

Why? Why support a system that offers less selection and (generally) higher prices than a system that offers virtually unlimited selection, generally lower prices, and 24 hour convenience?

I really don't see why so many of you insist we "support" a business model that has obviously been surpassed by a better system in every way.

Is it nostalgia, maybe? Wanting things to be the way they used to be? Or the way we are used to them being?

I don't know... when I add up the advantages of online shopping vs. shopping at the LHS, to me it's no contest.

Harry, I like to support my local guy for a few reasons. One, Fred is a really great guy. I enjoy stopping over a talking with him and a few of the other hobbiests that frequent the place. There are model train guys, airplane/military guys and R/C guys, we all share our experiences, Two, if I need a bottle of paint or glue, I like to know I can go there a pick it up with out any problem and Three, I want to support my local businesses, it is good for me and good for the economy and good for hobby.

[peter31a]

We have a similar problem in San Diego, but not as bad. It's the good weather. People don't particularly want to build models when it's warm and sunny outside.

I visited a couple of hobby shops in Toronto, Ontario that would kill and eat any shop we have in San Diego, Then again, we don't have 6 months of winter either. I get by with the occasional trip to Orange County or LA, online, and the fortunate fact that my local hobby shops carry a lot of paint. I buy from them when it makes sense, but there are a lot of things I want to buy that I can't get from them, even on special order. So, I go online.

Those hobby shops you mention, Dave, are what I consider my LHS's even though they are 2 hours away. There are a couple that are an hour away they are combo shops that either have yarn and paint by numbers as well or are more RC and the kits are a small corner. The shops in Toronto are well worth the drive.

I recently purchased a Paasche H from one of them. It would have been cheaper, maybe, to have purchased from coastal air as they had it listed at half the price I paid but by the time you add shipping, customs etc I figure I broke even (if you ignore the parking ticket I got). And I had the benefit of immediate personal information on the use and care of said airbrush.

I have purchased older kits on e-Bay but I find in general to buy new kits on the net by the time shipping is paid it is better just to go to Wheels and Wings in Toronto when I'm down for a meeting.

[ZombieHunter26]

I find waiting for an Order to come in a little less convenient than just going to the store and picking it up THAT DAY. Even on Sundays! Mail doesn't run on sundays.

Idk, I'm under 35, and I still prefer the feel of the Hobby store. As mentioned before, the hands-on while looking for a new kit, the ability to SEE your product up close...

Plus, the guy that works mine is a great guy too. I used to work with him.

Online purchases take way too long for me. I prefer to go to a store and pay just a little more for the experience.

I'm off to work though, see you guys later in the day!

[59 Impala]

I like to go to the hobby shop because there you can hear the lateist and greatist jokes and the comrodery with other builders, wheather they build cars, trucks, planes and ships or are into trains. I couldn't have finished a 41 Willys (SW&C) that sat in the box for over 20 years if it wasn't for the shop. A guy came into the store and brought a big box of parts for all kinds of models and in that box was two doors and the trunk that I needed to finish the Willys. I also got the Trumpter 63 Nova coupe and convertible both for 10 bucs apiece. I also get a discount from the store. I once ordered two sets of 56 Packard tail lights and I didn't have to pay for shipping. Mike, the manager, is a great guy to talk to and has great jokes to tell ya all the time. Now, every Tuesday night we have "car" night and on Friday nights we have anything you want to build night. Both days are from about 5 PM to closing time. On Wednesday nights they have War Hammer night and guys who are into that meet there and have a lot of fun doing their thing. I know that not everyone has a place to go like this and I wish they had, but can you tell me where on the "net" can you do all this? No where. The net has it's place for everyone if you need it but I have only once bought something on the net and had to pay shipping and by that time the part cost me more that the price of one kit. That's Ok though, cause I needed the part to build my kit. So, ya see, we need both the stores and the net to build all of the fine builds on this forum and on other forums as well. So, turn Blue all you Purple knif's, as Goulardi would say You have to be from Northeast Ohio to know what that means guys. Dan