Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
[quote user="Eriediamond"]I'm going to put yet another spin on this and this is just an opinion, not meant to belittle anyone. We, as modellers, with a few exceptions, are not a rich lot. When we buy, it's usually after saveing for an item for a few weeks, or months for an item like a loco. I for one will pay the little extra to buy at a hobbyshop, where I can see what I'm buying and inspect it before the purchase. Let's also face the fact that sociaty as a whole is also changing. Our ideals and careing for one another has slowely gone "south" since the 40's era. That doesn't mean we are bad, but we don't support our towns and communities like we used to and we are loosing our ties to them. Take a look around you. Hobbyshops are not the only ones suffering. Truck stops are no longer truck stops. They are geared up now for the fast lane tourist and the fast buck with fast food. Look how many farms are being turned into subdivisions because the family farmer can no longer afford to run the family farm. It is sad the hobby shops are closeing, but lets not put the blame on them. Years ago, we knew the people we were patronizing, know we only know store names and the people are for the most part strangers. Ken[/quote]That has been happening for years on the Mid Atlantic. I recall one Truckstop on I-70 at the 54 marker in Frederick that was there for many years. But I think it was reduced to a bare dirt lot and a Warehouse type Store built in (Costco?) with the loss of that stop, Truckers have only Jessup, Harrisburg and downtown Baltimore truckstops which are full anyways.I usually shop at the LHS about 6 months in advance, I plan for a specific item weeks in advance and maybe save a little until it's time to go get it. I may go to the LHS and spend a hundred dollars but leave happy knowing there is more purchases planned for next time. (Not including mandatory deadline pre-orders)We went to walmart yesterday as part of a small home improvement project that has been ongoing. One of my tasks was to retire the obselete and dangerous kitchen ware and replace it. I spent about 40 dollars and 2 hours evaluating each and all the choices without any walmart staff around at all. I found what I wanted and the items I took home would be satisfactory. But "Big Box" shopping is stressful and not worth the trip on some high-traffic days.I am old enough to rememeber the 5-10 stores and some other stores in the downtown "Anytown" that had staff that remembered what you got the previous week or month and had a breakfast or lunch line on one side to assist you if you got hungry or thirsty (Hot) during your shopping. Those days are over long ago.Dont get me started with malls.I revisit the truckstop being turned into fast food one more time. In Texas there is a Flying J with full service, complete menu 24/7 and wait staff ready to serve very good food. The only issue is parking in the back and the bums near the front door.Across the Freeway was built a brand new TA truck stop. Inside was a deli, quicky serve mc donalds and NO facilities for rest or tables. The entire facility is designed to get you inside, keep you on your feet and hopefully get you off the property because there is no good place to sit and eat your meal.That, friends is not what business is about. And my answer is to keep rolling another 20 miles or so to a small place that will cook, serve and feed you for a good price even if it is a few dollars more.Regarding recent posts about internet sales, I think there always has been mail order and will always be mail order in whatever form. If you had a house such as Klein's out of Baltimore that does a very good job taking care of the hobbyist there isnt a problem.Now if you had a person in a room in wildwood faraway USA taking internet orders and then turning in those orders to a LHS or Distribution Warehouse acting as a dealer I will have a problem with that.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community