It is the social aspect we are loosing. Half of the enjoyment of going to lhs or show is the meeting of new friends and talking with old ones. It the same with going to the mall with friends. You go to socialize while doing a mutual activity and interest.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
I've already moved on - I don't complain and wring my hands over the lack of the hobby shop - probably 2/3rds of the many many I have darkened the door of were no good to me anyway (and I've visted more than I can count); so that "nostalgia" is something I don't really feel.
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Jim,You just summed up the root cause of the demise of the LHS and probably the future demise of train shows.
Let's not fool our selves folks on line shopping is far easier then driving to a hobby shop or train show and costs far less if one orders enough to help cover shipping..
IMHO the day of the walk in customer is fading as the empty malls and closed mom and pop businesses shows.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I don't see the big deal about ordering stuff from an online store. It's just the way things are. You browse, add stuff to your cart, push a few buttons, and two days later goodies show up on your front porch. What's not to like about that?
And regarding MBKlein Modeltrainstuff, they are pretty close to the top of the A List of online merchants.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
I'm with Randy and Jim on this issue. Forums like this one and all the other online content like youtube reviews and online magazines have far surpassed whatever added value was provided by even the best of the LHS's.
I can't understand why anyone would prefer the typical LHS over Modeltrainstuff.com or the mall over amazon. When it comes to shopping for MR stuff, these are the good old days.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
I understand that they have to go where the money is, but as I customer I like to shop and browse. I often see something to buy that I didn't know I needed when I walked in the store. In the big scheme of things I guess that doesn't count for much. Mainline Hobbies is about 150% further away from me but I will be going there instead. Henry
Henry
I know it's nice to have a place to browse but I don't think your not doing business with MBK is going to hurt them. There are plenty like myself that find MBK to have excellent service and great prices and an easy way to see and buy online.
When I am intown I do visit them and yes, sometimes they have items in the store that are sold out online and I usually pick them up, and sometimes I still look things up on their computer and have to have a guy bring it out.
In general, I see a lot of complaining here that sort of fits the category of "the good old days are going away" and I'm not happy about it.
Sure, I'm old enough to miss many things about 25-30+ years ago, but times, they are a changing, and already for many of us, a brick and mortar hobby shop is a thing of the past. I've already moved on - I don't complain and wring my hands over the lack of the hobby shop - probably 2/3rds of the many many I have darkened the door of were no good to me anyway (and I've visted more than I can count); so that "nostalgia" is something I don't really feel.
People just need to come to terms with changes gracefully and move on - the sooner we all do, the happier we'll be and the happier the people around us will be.
NittanyLion Unless something has changed, they were in the process of a remodel and had to compress everything. It doesn't make sense that they'd devote a third of the showroom to off-site business. The showroom is only half the first floor as-is.
Unless something has changed, they were in the process of a remodel and had to compress everything.
It doesn't make sense that they'd devote a third of the showroom to off-site business. The showroom is only half the first floor as-is.
MBK's re-model has already been discussed on a couple other forums weeks ago, and it was explained the online business had expanded to the point they needed the space, so they took over 2/3rds of the show room floor to expand the warehouse.
Well, 1/3rd of the show room was Lionell stuff and of no interest to me, and the back room scenry etc. I'll still go there to see if there is any self stock I can pick up thats sold out and browse when I'm in town.
I really don;t think there's any 'sadly' about it when it comes to Klein. Unlike so many, they recognized the coming Internet and embraced it rather than dismissing it and thus instead of being "yet another hobby shop closing down" they are thriving. -Randy
-Randy
You said it better than I could have.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I really don;t think there's any 'sadly' about it when it comes to Klein. Unlike so many, they recognized the coming Internet and embraced it rather than dismissing it and thus instead of being "yet another hobby shop closing down" they are thriving. I have yet to go in person, last time I was at the Timonium train show I ended up being at the show until closing which puts it past closing at Klein's, but I continue to order a large percentage of my stuff from them. Sometimes they have better prices even than eBay sellers.
Tom, you must be moving closer to me, or else you drive a lot faster than I do (not likely LOL ). It's an hour and a half for me to get down there, and nearly 6 hours to get out to just above Franklin, so if it only takes you 3 hours to get to Timonium...
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
DoughlessA hobby shop near me had a brand new Athearn modern 60 foot hi-cube boxcar, CSX repaint patched and faded with conspicuity stripes, for $35. Proprietor said he just got them in. Price was good and likely not much higher than an online store.
Another thing a single car order can cost more then buying one at the LHS due to the added postage. OTOH the nearest shop to me is a 52 mile round trip with full MSRP now,add gas and lunch it costs me more. Lunch or a snack is needed to maintain my sugar level so it won't drop.
Hence the move to more warehouse room. Sadly, model rail shops are not the only businesses having to go this route.
Mike
I forgot to mention, one of the employees told me that the walk in retail customer was only 7% of their business.
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I was at the MB Klein store over the weekend. One employee told me that they will only be using one section of the old store as the retail store. Basically one third the size of the old store. I was also told that they need the space for the warehouse. They just don't have the room for everything. They still have the kiosk to purchase items that are not on display. This way you can see the item before you purchase it. I usually print out a list of what I want at home and then take it to the store.
If they can stock even more items, that's great.
maxman NittanyLion Unless something has changed, they were in the process of a remodel and had to compress everything. From what I have heard, BigDaddy's assessment of the situation is correct. I was told that they have computer stations set up and if you want something they have, you get the item number off the computer and they go into the back and get it. They had this before, but I think it has been expanded and the amount of items out on the shelf for "browsing" have been reduced.
NittanyLion Unless something has changed, they were in the process of a remodel and had to compress everything.
From what I have heard, BigDaddy's assessment of the situation is correct. I was told that they have computer stations set up and if you want something they have, you get the item number off the computer and they go into the back and get it. They had this before, but I think it has been expanded and the amount of items out on the shelf for "browsing" have been reduced.
Fair enough. Most of my trips up there are to gather specific items, usually in sequence with a Timonium show, so browsing (for me) isn't common.
I think the brick and mortar shops just have a hard time competing with the online stores in terms of selection, not necessarily price.
Its tough to hold enough inventory to please everyone...every roadname, every era, and every manufacturer.
- Douglas
NittanyLionUnless something has changed, they were in the process of a remodel and had to compress everything.
Well, I have dealt with MB Kleins for many, many years. First as a kid growing up near Baltimore and later as an adult. As I have traveled the country I always found it to be one of the best places to shop. I haven't been to the new location in person but have placed the majority of my model train orders through them.
Since retiring and moving from Scum City (Houston) where there WERE several good shops and being I live very far from the closest (and lame) hobby shop the majority of what I buy comes through the mail from Kleins. They are very efficient and I love the living inventory system. I REALLY HATE backorders and excuses. With them I don't have to worry about not getting my stuff. Even better is they beat any prices I've seen at other sources like the Walthers Flyer and other places like Trainworld and others.
For me it's a win-win situation and I'm sure glad they are there and do business the way they do.
I agree that sometimes you really want to touch and fondle things, especially new items or something from a new company, but sometimes it just isn't possible.
My 2¢,
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
I don't know anything about their store since I live in the center of the country, but I sure like there web site. One of the best at showing what they have. I seem to often end up there ordering things. They've had stock on things I wanted the nobody else had.
I too like browsing my local hobby shop and purchasing there, but I find I almost always leave with my list unfulfilled and end up ordering the whole list on the internet.
I can understand your feelings, Henry. I prefer going to an LHS in person so that I can view and touch what I'm buying, as well as getting to know the proprietor. While MB Klein wouldn't be the ideal drive for me (3+ hours), they are probably one of the best online establishments at presenting what they have and how many they have of it in stock - i.e. live inventory. Still not quite as nice as in person...BUT...the prices generally make up for it, for me.
Moseying around an LHS and looking through the inventory is still the best though.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
MB Klein is the showroom and retail store for Modeltrainstuff.com. I stopped in there today. They occupy a long rectangular building. They occupy the left 2/3 and an unrelated business has the other 1/3
Used to be you entered on the very left. That room was rolling stock, loco's, electronics, Walthers structures, track, N-scale. The middle room was O and G scale and the room the right was paint, scenicking, more kits, an HO layout, Chooch type stuff.
The mailorder/customer service has taken over the middle and left rooms and everything else is smushed into the right room.
I understand that they have to go where the money is, but as I customer I like to shop and browse. I often see something to buy that I didn't know I needed when I walked in the store. In the big scheme of things I guess that doesn't count for much. Mainline Hobbies is about 150% further away from me but I will be going there instead.