Hobby shop Images

[Anonymous]

I had a phone conversation the other day with a guy who was in destress over getting an answer on the application of Lionel's TMCC stuff to his layout that he was expanding.
The thing's he had to say about the area hobby stores was not a new complaint to me.
While I was in the Air Force back in the 80's I ran across the same issues as I traveled across the U.S. and has led me to wonder how we as believers in the hobby and as servants to those who ( young and old ) are just joining the ranks can constructively deal with this problem.
And the problem is, Talking the hobby.
I've been in SO MANY stores and ,,,,Man If you don't speak Good Lionel or MTH or whatever,They really don't have time to deal with you unless YOU figure out what it is that you need!
Am I the only one who has seen this? And I'm curious as to why it has to be this way.
I'm not saying by any means that All stores are this way, But my main point here is hopefully some who have stores will read this and try to consider how they sound on the phone or how they approch a new or uneducated coustomer.
What do you all think on this matter?

[Buckeye Riveter]

There are many stores that just need a good basic course in friendliness and courtesy. After that lesson, we will move on to neatness and cleanliness.[^][^][^]

Train Express in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the best examples of a train store that is friendly, helpful, neat and clean. [;)][^][^] Davis in Cincinnati is a great store, but you need to learn to park in the back.

When is someone going to open a mega train store in Central Ohio? Of course we are the largest city in the western hemisphere with out passenger rail service so I'm not holding my breath. [:(][:(][:(]

[dougdagrump]

It's called "Customer Service" and there are few retail establishments, hobby oriented or otherwise, that can spell those words let alone know how to deliver it.[2c]

[Roger Bielen]

The store I frequent, Memory Station in Watkinsville, GA, always has time to answer questions for new hobbiest. Also there are sometimes one, or more, of us regulars shooting the breeze and we're more than willing to add our two cents.

[Anonymous]

money talks than everyone walks. if they know you are serious about buying it,they talk to you. if not,they won't make the time ,

[Anonymous]

The thing I find most disturbing when I go into a hobby shop, is the lack of basic model train knowledge.
Some of the ones I have been to stock everything from Z gauge to G gauge and do not really know anything about any of them.
They are always asking list price and can;t help you with a basic question.
Then they wonder why we order on line or ebay.
If you find out the answers to your questions yourself, you do not need the help a hobby store is supposed to give you.
Dave.

[cnw1995]

I get better answers here than at what remains of our local hobby stores...but that's OK - I can't expect an 18 year old to have more than a clue about what he's selling. I'll tell you though, when I meet someone who genuinely seems to care about what they're selling, I'm impressed - and I want to continue to shop there.

[Anonymous]

I guess the reason I wrote this is a couple of years ago the guy that had the Lionel shop here in Terre Haute Died and I took over the repair part of the store.
Now becouse I did not have a store front I couldn't continue to be an Authorised service center ( even though that was my function in his store ) witch, That's the way the contract reads, So I decided to go it on my own.
Man the phone calls I get!
If I had the ca***o start back up, I'd be all over it!!!
The only thing that kept me from taking over the store was no Insurance!
I have a wife and kids and anyone who has this understands this.
Having a store that can do what Madison Hardware did and mabe add some fun things to that seems like that would be a hit!!

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw1995

I get better answers here than at what remains of our local hobby stores...but that's OK - I can't expect an 18 year old to have more than a clue about what he's selling. I'll tell you though, when I meet someone who genuinely seems to care about what they're selling, I'm impressed - and I want to continue to shop there.

It just occured to me that it is quite possibe that some of the questions we see on the all the forums may have been intiated by hobby store owners that don't know squat about trains. [:0]

It is not likely, but couldn't a hobby store with limited knowledge just hand a customer a card with this forums URL and tell him, "Here is where you can find out about that.". Doug, I agree 100%. I get better answers here than at any store.[:D] and I do go to some real good stores.

[daan]

My guess is that it is not only the problem with train stores.. The technique of a lot of other things, like washing machines, microwave, tv, mobile phones, computers etc, is in such a fast follow up that there are hardly people knowing exactly what is going on. I have the same experience with those things as you have with trains.
I doubt if education on this will help on the long term. The only thing which helps is that someone has trains as a hobby themselves.
On the other hand, a lot of info is found on the internet and with that contact with the manufacturer is in close reach. Even though I live in a country where 0 is not for sale,each and every manufacturer I wrote to with a question answered me within a few days time by mail. I guess that the aftersale technical help can now be found by the other hobbyists and the manufacturers..
What I would like to see is that there would be a page on the manufacturers site answering most questions about the new technoligies. How to program, how to reset and what if's.. This way of "backup" is in other branches already normal. (software for example.)

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

There are many stores that just need a good basic course in friendliness and courtesy. After that lesson, we will move on to neatness and cleanliness.[^][^][^]

Train Express in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the best examples of a train store that is friendly, helpful, neat and clean.

You're right on Target, Buckeye!

I'll continue to visit a train store with courteous and helpful staff. One store I visited had a young man that wasn't too knowledgeable about trains, but he quickly picked up a phone and got the info! Now that was a smart salesman!

Guys, one suggestion to you all that I practice: Whenever a clerk or manager is rude to you, don't get steamed but don't stay quiet! In a moderately loud voice, tell the offender something like this:

It's really a shame that you seem to feel that I'm not worth your attention! I was ready to spend a lot of my hard earned money here, but I'm sorry I bothered you! I'll just carry my money to another store. Take care! As you leave, watch the reactions from the manager and customers!

Here in the Tampa Bay area, H & R Trains deserves a "pat on the back". A few years back there was a particular sales rep working there. He was in his 50s and clean cut however, he was rude and quite abrasive towards customers for a couple of months. The very "customer concious" owner (an elegant lady) gave him the boot! This store still has a very fine reputation.

Happy Hobo Trains is another store where you will receive good, knowlegdeable customer service (and even a joke or two as the managers there, Kevin Ptylak and *** Christian, "rib" each other back and forth with their ongoing "Santa Fe vs. SCL" friendly feud).

Cheers and High Greens![:D][8D][;)]