Driline He drives 2 Lexus's instead and lives in a $700,000 home that is paid for.
He drives 2 Lexus's instead and lives in a $700,000 home that is paid for.
You shoulda seen the house he had _before_ he bought the hobby shop.
Like a lot of small businesses, the best way to make a small fortune in the train shop business is to start with a large fortune.
There ya have it. The Difference between a "General Hobbyshop" and a Specaltiy Hobbyshop! Kevin
jtrace214I guess I'm real lucky as I live only 2 blocks from The Model Railroad shop in Piscataway.I have been going there since I was born (and father and grandfather before me) My Dad got me my first train set there a Lionel set the year I was born (1970) its still in the original package. Couldnt ask for better giys than there. I also go to Avenel Hobbies(not much trains)as I also build regular models.The Model Railroad shop now has a website so they have gotten into the 2000's lol, Warren runs it and he is good at computers and a whiz at wiring. John
I guess I'm real lucky as I live only 2 blocks from The Model Railroad shop in Piscataway.I have been going there since I was born (and father and grandfather before me) My Dad got me my first train set there a Lionel set the year I was born (1970) its still in the original package. Couldnt ask for better giys than there. I also go to Avenel Hobbies(not much trains)as I also build regular models.The Model Railroad shop now has a website so they have gotten into the 2000's lol, Warren runs it and he is good at computers and a whiz at wiring.
John
You have to admit it's sort of like watching the wright brothers try and fly a 747, actually they probably sold the Wright Brothers their first train set.
I travel about 45 miles once or twice a month to Lins Junction in Lansdale PA. Farther than 2 larger shops that are closer. Nice shop with a very friendly and knowledgeable owners. They stock all quality higher end product including a full line of Digitrax and NCE DCC and other electronic goodies. It's a good thing they're not closer, between the 2 DCC systems, 6 sound loco's, and a boatload of buildings, rolling stock, and signal equipment, they've emptied my walled many times.
Springfield PA
Phoebe Vet Check the parking lot. Does he drive to work in a Mercedes? Does he seem to be disproportionately wealthy? Or is he just trying to earn a living like you are?
You're right on the nose there! My LHS owner absolutely does not drive a Mercedes Benz. He drives 2 Lexus's instead and lives in a $700,000 home that is paid for. Hmmmm...How do I know this? Because in Scott County all real estate records are kept online for all to see.
On the flip side, no one said you have to be smart to own or run a small business. My ex-brother-in-law is proof of that. 10 years later and he's still running from the IRS AND still in business.
I believe that all high schools should have the senior class operate the school bookstore and perhaps even the cafeteria. We would all be better shoppers if everyone understood what's involved in running a business. Too many people think that the sales price of the product minus cost of the product equals the profit on the sale.
I used to know a woman who ran a small country store in a very small community. She used to go to a large super store to buy some of the products to sell in her store because she could buy them cheaper at that store than she could buy the same product from her wholesale supplier. Her store was too small to enjoy the economy of scale enjoyed by the superstore.
That brick and mortar hobby shop has rent, utilities, payroll, insurance, etc. The refusal to "dicker" on that one item is not the point. If he has to negotiate prices individually his overall gross will suffer. Check the parking lot. Does he drive to work in a Mercedes? Does he seem to be disproportionately wealthy? Or is he just trying to earn a living like you are?
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
A couple of the posts about stores that refuse to mark down old inventory reminded me of an LHS I used to go to when I lived in Northern California (East Bay). They had a glass display case of various locos, and for maybe 3 years there was this same Atlas switcher there in CP livery. As far as I know I was the only modeler in the area that did Canadian roads. One day I raised the question of the CP switcher - said it had been there for 3 years at full list price, and did he want to get it off the books? Well, he looked at me like I was crazy and declined. And yes, he was the store owner.
It seems to me that turnover of inventory would be pretty important to an LHS - especially for more costly items - so why not at least recover your cost and invest in more popular stock that will move? And make a customer happy at the same time? Instead, they keep paying for this dead inventory (the opportunity cost / cost of money tied up in non-moving inventory) and stubbornly hang on in the hopes that some day somebody will walk in and pay full list.
Anyway, as a general thought, I agree with all those folks who believe that paying more than intermnet prices is fine, provided the LHS is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Cheers.
I like the guys at the swap shows that won't barter or negotiate prices and have a whole ton of stuff- it makes me wonder if they used to be hobby stores that went under and still want premium price for the stuff they bought- I don't know about them but I wouldn't want to keep hauling it back and forth everywhere.
There was one guy that had something I was looking for; I asked him if he'd go down on his price and he said "nope-firm." Turns out, with shipping, I could get it cheaper on Ebay (and I knew that). I told the guy sorry and I hope you have fun hauling it around some more.
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
I have to drive a little over 2 hours to the nearest store to me. However, I have made the trip numerous times and have found the employees very knowledgeable. Last Saturday they were extremely busy and I had to wait a while to talk with them. But when I did it was like I was the only one in the store. He answered all my questions thoroughly and helped me and my retired father very much. They are The Antique Barn in Wilson NC right off of I-95. The drive is worth it, not only do they know their stuff, but they have it in stock at reasonable prices. These guys do trains!
As with all retail stores, it seems there are good hobby stores and bad hobby stores. I live only 10 minutes away from one of the good hobby stores, and I like to give them my business because of it, even if it means paying a little more sometimes. I've been going there for even longer than it's had it's current owner, so they know me by name. And as for some hobby shops downgrading to really cheap stuff, mine actually upgraded a little after the owner decided the Life-Like train sets were poor quality.
If any of you guys ever pass through Bloomington, don't forget to give them a visit! (http://hobbylandfunstore.com/)
_________________________________________________________________
rclanger Geared Steampage thru the latest issue with sugar glazed fingers, and then leave without making a purchase. I know of a hobby shop that I deal with a lot that no longer carries any monthly magazines because of people like you described.
Geared Steampage thru the latest issue with sugar glazed fingers, and then leave without making a purchase.
I know of a hobby shop that I deal with a lot that no longer carries any monthly magazines because of people like you described.
I recall a shop owner who had a similar problem. She sealed all the books and magazines in shrink-wrap, and put up a rather blunt sign:
IF YOU REMOVE THE SHRINK WRAP, YOU"VE JUST BOUGHT THE ITEM.
The next time Mister Stickeyfingers came in, he saw the sign and went ballistic. Then he stomped out in high dudgeon, swearing never to return.
The staff didn't start cheering and giving each other high fives until the door was fully closed...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
If we're ranting, I'll give a bit of vent to my own pet peeve.
An LHS near where I used to live would charge quite high prices, even for stock that has been sitting on the shelf for years. It wasn't moving because of the high prices, and they weren't inclined to lower the prices in order to move it to get new stock in.
For example, they have an Atlas N scale shay from the original (2001) release for $AU 300. With the currency conversion and shipping included, the pre-ordered one from Caboose Hobbies works out to about $AU 165. And this was typical of this hobby shop's mentality - 'you'll pay top dollar for old stock'. I sort of felt sorry for their model train guy - I could tell he wanted to mark it down and move it on, but his hands were tied by the owners.
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
Bob
Photobucket Albums:NPBL - 2008 The BeginningNPBL - 2009 Phase INPBL - 2010 Downtown
That's not a rant. This is a rant!
I'm not going to name names but the "worlds largest hobby shop" in Colorado got my business only one time and that's the last time. On the phone they repeatedly showed their incompetence and seem to put more priority on internet sales rather than direct phone sales. They quite literally sold a rare consignment item that was already mine and I had already given them payment for and they did it after they already told me it was mine. They gave me a few runaround excuses and when they mistakenly let it be known through some inconsistency that their story was a lie, and to my complaining wife of all people, they basically just said sorry, too bad. I can't replace that item. Keep in mind their story came out several days after the order was placed at which time they STILL hadn't packed it up to go.
I don't care how large you are. I don't care how famous you are or how much business you do. I don't care that your name is the now extinct last car on a train. I don't even care how many people would stick up for you and how many happy customers you have. With me you get one chance to mess up and it doesn't matter if it's the first transaction or the 100th. Messing up is also the last one. You will never get another cent from me and your own incompetence, lying and deception is to blame. I merely placed a phone call, said what I wanted, was told it was in stock as the person on the phone claimed to be looking at them, told they were mine, and gave payment info. That part of the transaction was smooth. It was not receiving contact for several days and not having anything get shipped until I called back several days later causing one of the 70+ year old pieces that I was told were mine to get sold out from under me that made me mad. I don't see how my attitude could have had anything to do with it. It will affect any transactions from here out though. I'll buy from ebay first as at least I can leave feedback for others to see and have some recourse. I'll gladly support local shops but only if I can physically walk into them. I will no longer ever place an order at a shop that I'm not physically at.
Fred
rjake4454An example being the Model Railroad Shop in Piscataway, NJ. These guys bend over backwards to make the customer feel welcome. I live over an hour away and although I don't like the drive, the shop is a real gem. They specialize in HO and N and really know how to treat people nicely. Sattlers Trains in Westmont NJ is another great place.
An example being the Model Railroad Shop in Piscataway, NJ. These guys bend over backwards to make the customer feel welcome. I live over an hour away and although I don't like the drive, the shop is a real gem. They specialize in HO and N and really know how to treat people nicely. Sattlers Trains in Westmont NJ is another great place.
It sounds like that toy train shop you mentioned will eventually bite the dust, as they same to have a downright crappy attitude.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
As a business owner (machine shop) and hobbyist I'm always seeing both sides of the coin. Literally. One thing I can say from that perspective is that if you've been civil and still disrespected by a snotty clerk, TELL THE OWNER! If an honest shop owner has tried to carry a decent stock and is generally helpful and you just walk away, he'll never know why. When his business fails, you loose a chance at a decent shop and he looses his or her shirt. (No comments on the shirt stuff fellas). If they're not apologetic about the incident, NOW you have your reason to walk. I'm a business man, but I'm also a consumer. A good Hobby Shop can be cultivated by working with a cooperative owner. A good LHS is so core to the social heart of this hobby that if they die, we'll all loose.
Not pointing a finger at any individual but:
When you are in a hobby shop, particularly one that has a large inventory of RC cars, check out the customers as they walk through. How many are wearing their hat backward, or even worse, sideways wearing clothing 4 sizes too big with their pants far below their waist shuffling when they walk because it's not "cool" to actually tie your shoes or wear a belt? How many have tattoos in the most interesting places? How is THEIR attitude? Do they greet the staff as they enter?
Then, having chosen to wear that uniform, they are astounded that store clerks watch them closely.
It has been my experience that when you treat retail clerks, wait staff, and others who's job is to help or serve you in a friendly courteous manner they treat you in a similar manner.
I'm lucky - 25 minute drive from Model Railway Post Office in West Milford. Ray (owner) has to be one of the nicest guys out there and he has a phenominal memory of poeple's names and of the such. He has a very nicely stocked HO store with some N gauge, and although he doesn't have the cheapest prices around I don't hesitate to give him my business as the shopping experience is worth the extra few dollars as is his help/insight.
Speaking of good hobby shops...if you all ever come to Pittsburgh, A.B. Charles is worth a visit (or 8). I've never had a problem with those guys, even when it was over something that *I'd* screwed up.
For example, some years back, I was given a 25-ton crane by Walthers. Not sure why, but when I went to install the trucks, one of the screws sheared off...destroying the bolster. I attempted to drill out the offending screw, and re-tap the threads, only for the blankety-blank tap to snap too! What are the odds :p When I explained the problem to the guys at the shop, after some good-natured kidding, they said they'd order me a new one, at no cost to me. They wouldn't take a cent for the part! But, after several months (and eventually years!) the part still hadn't shown up. I was a bit annoyed. In fact, the shop owner thought I was going to rip into him, and kept apologizing. He was literally freaking out over it. Until, that is, I told him that it wasn't his fault, and I had no problem with him. In other words, my annoyance was directed squarely at Walthers :p
My LHS treats people well, but the issue is that they won't keep what sells. They are a mostly RC car/plane shop, so I try to keep that in mind. When I first went there, they had a lot of Atlas, P2K, Spectrum, WS, and other odds and ends and real good prices (I got an Atlas Trainman hopper and a Bachmann silver series flat for $16!!, they had 2 Trainman GP38-2s in BN at $50 a piece; really wish I would have bought them). The next week, all of it was gone and it was never restocked. A while went by, then N-scale stuff was put it, along with a bunch of low-level model power and bachmann cars. It's been a while and all the low-level stuff is still there, but all of the good stuff is gone... Dullcote, knives, and other stuff is the same way.
Then there is the matter of 2 that I visit in Pensacola. One is great, the staff are all MRRs, they are usually helpful, keep of a good supply of stuff, have decent prices, and have a used box. I've picked through that used box several times and have gotten a bunch of good deals. However they don't have a whole lot in the way of kit-bashing supplies, paint, decals, and kits... The other has kits, kit-bashing supplies, paint, and decals, but is usually full MSRP and is mostly suited to other forms of model building.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
I suppose I'm lucky. There are two really GREAT hobby shops within a 12-mile radius of where I live that deal in nothing but trains. Just about all scales. Well stocked, with great help. It's always a pleasure to visit them, and I always come home with more than I need (yah, RIGHT! ). Prices are below MSRP, and special orders are usually filled within a couple of weeks.
Funny story: I was in one of them over the Christmas holidays. Two new clerks, both looking like high-school kids working there for the season. Very polite, very nice. I got what I'd needed and was handing my credit card to them over the counter. One of the kids looked at my card and then blinked, seeing my name.
"Are you the guy that has the Yuba River Sub?" he blinked.
Surprised, I said, "Yes."
He turned to the other kid and said, "You've got to get on his Website. He's got the most amazing collection of brass steamers I've EVER seen! And he RUNS them!"
I left the shop chuckling to myself. Good God, I've become a Minor Celebrity, LOL!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I'm lucky, the folks at my LHS have always appeciated when I walk in the door, from the 1st time to the last time. Saturday I whipped in real quick to pick up a decoder I needed on the way home from work. As usual, being a Saturday, there was the King and his court jesters standing around holding court ( "expert" model railroaders I believe they call themselves) Anyway, I grabbed the decoder I needed as was standing there waiting for one of the blowhards to shut up long enough so I could excuse myself around them to the cash register, One of the owners said, "guys, move to the side for paying customers"
LOL I loved it, he told me later they come in, drink the coffee and eat the donuts, page thru the latest issue with sugar glazed fingers, and then leave without making a purchase. There are clowns on both sides of the counter.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
HOn21/2I have dealt with the Model Railroad Shop in Piscataway, NJ for 60 years and find them to super-accommodating. My 1st train set was purchased there in 1950.
And I can almost guarantee that the guy who sold it to you is still there right? A great little place for those of you who aren't fortunate enough to love with in driving distance this place is pretty unique as far as train/hobby shops go today. First off the only sell trains and maybe a fire truck model or two but you can justify that by saying there for the O scale crowd. The first time I pulled in their parking lot I was like this can't be the place, it's a small stone building that looks like the trim hasn't seen a coat of paint since JFK was president. When you walk in you are amazed at how much inventory they have almost everything you have ever seen in the Walthers Catalog is in this place. Not to mention all the mom & pop companies are represented too. I've been going there for about 5 years now on and off and steady for the last tow years and I'm still finding new stuff every day. Recently I had some work done on a locomotive up there and the factory directions weren't in the box. I mentioned to the repair guy Don who is an ace at fixing trains no problem I'll just email em to you. Ah they don't have email and probably between the three of them they couldn't turn on a computer...........lol
They have a DCC guy who does sound installs like I've never seen before and their prices are very very reasonable. Heck as cheap/frugal as I am if I'm willing to drive over an hour to get there you know their prices have to be good.
You'll go in there on any given day and you'll see several BS sessions going on through out the store about this or that all pertaining to model railroading. Everyone in there is very friendly, very knowledgeable and not just in it for the quick buck. It's just nice to find friendly people and service like that in today's world where everyone just wants your money now get out . If not for nothing else it's just a great experience going to their store. My wife says I go there at least once a month just for train guy bonding.......... lol
Hi Again!
In talking about hobby shops - the good and the not so good - I am reminded of a terrific artical MR put out about 15-20 years ago. It was in response to all us "train nuts" who though we would be in our personal Valhalla if we owned and operated a model train store.
As I recall, the article was written by someone who had done just that, and he listed the "ups" and "downs" of being an MR and running a train shop. Of course, the "downs" way outnumbered the "ups"!
I do wish MR would do an update or a repeat of this article, for it really told a story.
Some of the points that the author brought out were:
- the kind of trains (i.e. scale/road/time period, etc.) are not necessarily what sells. I believe he pointed out that he didn't think much of "Thomas the Tank" stuff, but he sold a lot of them.
- he also told about the many types of customers, including the ones that wanted internet prices, bought stuff online and wanted his help with them, browsed and handled and never bought anything, complained about prices, and criticized other customers choices, etc., etc.
- he talked about shoplifters, and how some of the most unlikely people can be thieves. My police lieutenant nephew has told me this a number of times - well dressed and good looking and nice personality does not necessarily equate to an honest person!
- and of course he talked of the slim NET profit margin, the high cost of inventory, and the difficulty of second guessing the marketplace as to what will sell - or not.
Anyway, it was a great article, and it would be nice to see an update on it.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I have shopped in various hobby shops (train shops) around the Kansas City area for more years than I like to think, starting while I worked for Santa Fe in Topeka KS and drove over to KC for trains. I moved to KC in 1970 and have been here ever since. I have shopped at a variety of hobby shops in the metro area since then. Many were hobby shops with trains section, the rest are train shops.
One thing I noticed over the years at these shops was the attitude of many shoppers/modelers who came in expecting to find just what they wanted (needed) and were arrogant and abusive when the clerk /owner was unable to immediately supply them. I remember many comments after these people left the shop by the help about how rude and arrogant model railroaders were/are.
I suspect many hobby shops/train shops are caught in a catch 22, they want to sell products, they want to provide for needs, but don't want a bunch of BS from customers when they can't immediately get what they are looking for or for the price THEY want to pay. I don't know how model railroaders compare to hobbiests in other areas, but too many I have observed are not people I would want to invite over for a session or a visit. There are those who are demanding and opinionated in all areas of life, but I have certainly seen more in this hobby than I would like to see.
So shops have gone away, product sales and distrubution has changed, costs have gone up, availability is often limited for the hobby shop just like the modeler. For example, go out to the ExactRail web site and look at how much is actually available. Same with Tangent. The market is there but it is costly.
So I use mail order for a lot, but I still visit Doc's Caboose in KC nearly every week to see what is new, what is available. I pay the price he asks without comment or gripes. After all if I want it bad enough I will pay for it. I was amused to find that after ordering ExactRail Santa Fe covered hoppers from ExactRail, seeing the sold out on their website, I walked into Doc's last week and there were rows of boxes of Exactrail cars, including what I wanted, and I bought them at the same price as I would have paid from ExactRail.
Pogo had a great saying, "we have met the enemy and he is us". Be nice and it will rub off.
I will go a long with Darrel about K-10 Model Trains. I am lucky to live with in two miles of the shop.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust