I've got one for you.Not being a hobby shop owner but I can relate. We were building a large house in the McLean area of Northern Va. The person who wrote the contract came on site with a large gathering of people and they walked in with out an appointment into the unit under construction. First of all he did not have any safety gear on and because he came in with permission we were not able to provide any. Secondly we had ongoing activity inside that he or his "guest could have been injured and or ruined the finishes that were under way. When I recieved word that they were in the house right away I went over to check it out . When I arrived I kindly asked him first to make an appointment and secondly if they would leave and come back on another occasion. At this point he started in a tirade about how we should be able to let him any time he desired and pretty much kiss his royal backside. I listened until he was finished. Then I matter of factly pointed out to him that slavery went out in 1865 and just because he was buying a product from us he did not own us. He left in a huff. But later he called and apologized and we went on to be on very good terms. I bent over back wards to assist them in the moving , helping with other issues they had.
This might ruffle a few feathers on this forum but there is a shop in my area that fits a few of these catagories.All he sells is HO. Thats it. He's a grinch too. Great selection, not so great prices.
One time I walked in and looked around for a bit ,then I asked ''wheres all the N scale''?
He looked at me like I was from Mars and said ''We don't sell that little stuff''. Just the way he said it to me really irked me so I said ''You should because I was ready to drop 500 bucks here today but I guess I will just go to _______________.''
He just looked up at me and gave me a blank look.
BTW the name of the place starts with a B and ends with a s
N Scale Diesels......I like 'em
How about the shop that berates those who model in the minority scales. Obviously they are upset that they can't sell me much beyond modeling supplies. Hey, I take the time to browse the popular scale aisle, they would be suprised how much HO I would purchase in prusuit of my S modeling endevors if not for the attitude, I must say Allied Model Trains and the Whistle Stop in Pasadena are not among them.
I had a excellent shop within two blocks on my home that understood this, they carried not a single item for HO or N, Just S and O scale. Service was excellent and they maintained stock going back prewar for the tinplaters as well as recent releases for the scale folks. Special orders were no problem, they disposed of slow moving merchandise on a frequent basis at train shows at discounted prices, heck they would give you the show price before the show!
The shop folded up when the owner was killed during a botched robbery, the saddest day was making my final purchases from the grieving widow.
Dave
loatharYou forgot the Chain Store hobby shop where all the locations have the same three models of Bach locos and 300 peices of rolling stock in 3 different road names and 2 styles of cars. Not to mention the almost completely empty rack of Polly S (not Polly Scale) paint. And completed depleted shelves of WS scenry left over from their grand opening.
You forgot the Chain Store hobby shop where all the locations have the same three models of Bach locos and 300 peices of rolling stock in 3 different road names and 2 styles of cars. Not to mention the almost completely empty rack of Polly S (not Polly Scale) paint. And completed depleted shelves of WS scenry left over from their grand opening.
Usually those are the only shops within a 4 hour driving distance and they are only open for a couple of months then close.
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
The grinch ran sloppy hobby in my town for a while. But now that he retired, the only option nearby is the national chain. Although I will give them credit, they offer a lot of options.
dale8chevyss loathar You forgot the Chain Store hobby shop where all the locations have the same three models of Bach locos and 300 peices of rolling stock in 3 different road names and 2 styles of cars. Not to mention the almost completely empty rack of Polly S (not Polly Scale) paint. And completed depleted shelves of WS scenry left over from their grand opening. Usually those are the only shops within a 4 hour driving distance and they are only open for a couple of months then close.
loathar You forgot the Chain Store hobby shop where all the locations have the same three models of Bach locos and 300 peices of rolling stock in 3 different road names and 2 styles of cars. Not to mention the almost completely empty rack of Polly S (not Polly Scale) paint. And completed depleted shelves of WS scenry left over from their grand opening.
And then no two months after each other---and also randomly, so you can't predict when the openings occur. Oh---Grinch bought both now you say----eeerrgh.
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Jimmydieselfan This might ruffle a few feathers on this forum but there is a shop in my area that fits a few of these catagories.All he sells is HO. Thats it. He's a grinch too. Great selection, not so great prices. One time I walked in and looked around for a bit ,then I asked ''wheres all the N scale''? He looked at me like I was from Mars and said ''We don't sell that little stuff''. Just the way he said it to me really irked me so I said ''You should because I was ready to drop 500 bucks here today but I guess I will just go to _______________.'' He just looked up at me and gave me a blank look. BTW the name of the place starts with a B and ends with a s
He's not quite a grinch, but he can be a bit unhelpful. I can't figure the guy out--sometimes he'll chat with customers; other days, he just sits in his office and works on his computer.
He does discount on prices, though--if you want sticker shock, go to the Hobby Shop in my neighborhood, "the dungeon." They've got everything, but everything is MSRP, and the "help" is none too helpful much of the time.
Gary