Howard,I been blissed by three fully stock hobby shops over the past 60 years and its those shops I miss..All close due to the owners retiring in later years.
For me its a no brainer..If I can save $50-60.00 on a locomotive by buying on line then so be it..If I was buying one or two freight cars then the amount of saving would be lost in shipping so,a local shop would get that business---------if I had a local shop.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
One thing about the closing of Greenfield News and Hobby most people are missing is the "News" part. 20 years ago I was easily spending $25 a month, every month, there. Now it's maybe one mag every couple of months, and I am not alone. That whole trade has dried up due to online alternatives, with a loss of many magazines.
Howard Zane BRAKIE Howard Zane fear for the future of this hobby. Also I feel that every purchase made on line is another nail in the hobby's coffin.
BRAKIE Howard Zane fear for the future of this hobby. Also I feel that every purchase made on line is another nail in the hobby's coffin.
Howard Zane fear for the future of this hobby. Also I feel that every purchase made on line is another nail in the hobby's coffin.
Joe C
Problem is Howard, for pretty much anything vintage brass, you have to go online. I do try to shop at dealers, but some are really smoking some serious ditch weed on thier prices. Seem to be stuck about 5-7 years ago price wise, when it was a hot market. Now its not and prices have cooled off. But they havent and wont come down. So, being that I desire older geared brass engines, that leaves ebay. Even the LHS has one I would like to have, but not at what he is asking. And that is why he still has it and the rest of the decades old product on his shelves. He prices are above MSRP on most items. And you dont know till you ask as nothing is priced on the shelf. I feel being unflexable on prices, and not marking them does more of a diservice to the hobby than buying online. These days, most modelers I know shop at shows, hobby shops and online. They look for the best deal and for limited run items they missed out on. Many times the LHS cannot get what I want due to limited runs, so what is one to do? Go without? Spend hours calling every LHS that will do mail order? No, I find it online and buy it there. The LHS cannot be expected to stock everything, and with the limited runs if you dont get it right then, you cant. So I try to spread my spending $$ around between all buying areas. Mikie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I'll be the first to admit that I'm stuck in the 20 th century...actualyl 1950's and 60's, but that works for me. My point about most everything model railroading being today traded on line could be a disservice to possible new entrants, Other than good train shows and club open houses where are new folks going to be inspired. I don't buy the video bit as an introduction (possibly it could arouse interests).....same as in my once field...avaition. Many have bought the farm due to FAA allowing so much simulator time for advanced ratings vs....actual cockpit time. Opening the door to the simulator after a terribe performance can in no way be compared to an actual mishap(crash).
The other point is acquiring the many things needed to build a railroad on line, although staples are now becoming available on the net. It is possible the the LHS will become a fixture in American folklore, but the several really fine and viable shops in my area my sing a different tune.
I've said all I can on this beaten to death subject other than I love the hobby and will in any way do what I can to keep it alive and well.
HZ
Yes the demand for brass is dying, used to be brass was the only way to get RTR highly detailed models, not anymore!
emdmikeSpend hours calling every LHS that will do mail order? No, I find it online and buy it there. The LHS cannot be expected to stock everything, and with the limited runs if you dont get it right then, you cant. So I try to spread my spending $$ around between all buying areas. Mikie
Mike,As you may already know the majority of those on line shops is a b&m shop that has a on line presence and that includes many of the e-Bay stores.
I agree if one missed a limited run model or the LHS failed to submit enough preorders due to cash flow or poor credit one needs to turn to the on line shops to obtain that model.