Allied Model Trains of Culver City, Calif., a long-standing Southern California train shop, has closed. According to its website, "It’s with great sadness we send this message to our friends, customers and vendors. As of today July 07, 2015, we are closed. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the stockholders had to close and declare insolvency. We had sixty-nine wonderful years and we are sorry the journey has to end."
___________
Carl Swanson, editor
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
Carl,
If I remember correctly, I think Tom Snyder said on one of his shows that he patronized Allied Model Trains regularly. This sort of thing ( train shops closing) is happening far too often. I beleive that the local train shop with someone behind the counter that understands trains is the best means to grow the hobby. A good train shop can help to mentor new or young hobbyists. I can remember years ago in the seventies, I visited a local train shop regularly and got advice and help on such things as scenery and decorating model kits. In those days, Walthers had a line of passenger car kits that could be used on toy train layouts. I recieved help on putting it together from a train shop owner I knew. Many of us order or merchandise on-line, which is fine if you can't get the item locally, but purchasing on-line exclusively is going to lead to more train shops closing and less new people entering the hobby. Patronize your local hobby shop guys, please.
Sad news indeed, when an institution falls, but when I hear the word "stockholders" I have to wonder what else may be going on behind the scenes.
And Overall, you said it all! Patronize your local hobby shop! And not just them but any other small business that may be in your area, be it a hobby shop, hardware store, bakery, auto parts place, or whatever, because mark my words once the "Mom and Pops" are gone no power on earth can bring them back!
I for one don't want to bemoan the loss of local businesses when in my heart of hearts I'll know that to find the one responsible all I'll have to do is look in the mirror.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
So sad the state of small business. The internet is killing anyone with a brick and morter business. Who amoung us has not visited a hobbyshop then went home and ordered the product on-line to save $$.
Forcing web sellers to collect local sales tax might help a bit. A return to fair-trade pricing prior to discount storeswould help. Until our trade laws are modernized knowbody can run a B&M business without a strong web presense.
It is not cost effective to order on-line if your local hobby shop has it in stock.
The delivery costs will make the product cost the same.
Local hobby shops can not carry much of an O Gauge and O Scale collection.
A mostly model railroad store could carry a large volume of O Scale and O gauge items at a lower price.
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
That hasn't been my experience.
I made it a point to visit their shop when on business near LAX. It was a well stocked beautiful train shop. They had a huge collection of D56 products as well.
I still have the train they did in collaboration with Department 56 and the Collector's Edition Lionel Train Shop (also a D56 product).
I opened the link. Not a lot of information, but I get the impression the store's closed now and the fire's cause in unknown. It was under control in about five minutes but the premises are heavily damaged. How much stock is still in there isn't addressed.
Like I said, a paucity of information.
Just go to the Model Railroader Forum, go to General Discussion and look for the thread. It's easy to find.
Andrew FalconerIt is not cost effective to order on-line if your local hobby shop has it in stock. The delivery costs will make the product cost the same.
In Cook County IL where I live sales tax runs almost 11%. If I were to buy a $1,000 set the tax would be $110! Shipping never runs that high. Then there is the price of gas. In Chicago we are down to less than half a dozen hobby shops with none in the N/NW suburbs where I live. When I go to my favorite shop in Itasca I have to burn $10 to $20 worth of gas. Even the owner there confessed to me the other day his internet sales keep him going it's making less and less sence to open the doors.
I love my local hobby shop and support it as much as possible but they are a dying breed with more dissapearing every day.
If anyone reading this wants to open a business you have to ask yourself a simple question, could I buy what I want to sell for less on the internet? If the answer is 'yes' you cannot afford to open that business.
Al, I think you mean that the tax would be $110 (which is bad enough).
Bob Nelson
Oops,
$110 and yes that is still a lot. :) (And they said there was no math on this board.
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