Hobby Shops

[Anonymous]

We have one LHS in our local area( Bath, Maine), but it may closing it's doors if noone buys it from the owner. If that happens, the nearest LHS is 45 miles away. I don't see myself driving THAT far for supplies!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a buyer for the store!!!

[mtoda]

A few people above mentioned the internet. Just think about the advantages web-stores usually have over bricks-and-mortar-stores. It's convenient - open all day and night. Better prices. Better selection. Don't need to find parking.
The advantages that a bricks-and-mortar has are often more theoretical. Local ownership/support the local economy. Physical person to answer questions (if they know the answer). Can pick up and look closely at the merchandise. Faster service (take it home today - if they have it in stock).
I'm certainly not opposed to LHSs or bricks-and-mortar retail in general. I have worked in retail all my life and I do see the same problems in other areas of retail. I have heard the same complaints about my various employers (high prices, poor selection, staff unable to answer questions).
But remember that the staff really has to want to work there - they could make a lot more money doing something else. If they knew all the answers, why would they still be working in a store?
And the bricks-and-mortar-store starts off with the major competitive cost disadvantage: the physical location.
The people are voting with their money. They just might not realize the implications of their decisions.
I'm just surprised that no one has figured out a way to off-shore mail-order.

[Anonymous]

I recently returned to the hobby after a 25+ year absence and the first place I went was to the local Hobby Shops. I had fond memories of Cherry St Station (St. Catharines, Ont) where the owner put up with endless questions and window shopping from a young teen with little money. What I found was somewhat different than my expectations. One shop, recommended to me as having one of the best inventories around, had a decent stock of HO but a serious shortage of service. They didn't stock what I wanted (Atlas Code 83 track) but would be willing to order it for me... at full MSRP. At another shop they were more interested in complaining about how poor business was to be helpful. They, too, would order the track (again, for full MSRP). The third shop, some miles farther away, was the best of the lot. They had a decent stock of code 83 track but would have to order some pieces I needed. Oh, did I mention full MSRP?

I also went to each shop with a willingness to buy rolling stock on impulse if I saw the righit bits. I almost bought a couple of items but none of the shops really had what I was looking for. Now that's partly my fault because my intention is to model RR's that are not overly common in the Northern VA area, but a little more interest in my busiiness probably would have given them opportunities to show me nifty stuff that I'd suddenly decide I must have immediately. Sadly, the one shop offered zero service, the second offered little beyond complaints, and the third was only moderately helpful.

The end result is that I will likely stop by the LHS from time to time I am much more likely to order what I want over the internet... at about 15-20% less than MSRP after shipping costs are added in. All that local expertise that was lacking in the local shops to some degree or other is at my fingertips via the web. I already ordered the track and some accessories I need online. When I find that perfect steam loco I'll likely order that online as well, and I've already located a few choice pieces of freight stock to keep me busy. Now, if I can only decide which passenger service I want to model, I'm all set. That, too, will likely be ordered online. It seems the local shops don't stock much of that.

All of this long-winded blather is really intended to get across one point. While I would dearly love to find a LHS that will become my model railroading home-away-from-home I've yet to find one that really meets my needs. I can get the same dininterested customer service online without wasting my time trying to be pleasant, and save money that I can then spend on additional accessories.

John

[simon1966]

What makes a good hobby shop? There are several descriptions above of poorly run stores that are slowly foundering and closing. How about we eaach describe a great hobby shop experience so we can see how a great LHS can be run successfully?

I'll start!

I am really lucky. I travel with my job and always seek out hobby shops everywhere I go. I have been to a lot, however, with all the travelling I do, my personal favorite is less then 5 miles from my home in Maryville, IL.

On the first Sunday of every month an opperating session is open to the public for the very modest fee of $2. For this small donation, anyone can come and be handed a Digitrax throttle and let loose on the 60' x 80' layout. The parking lot is packed for 5 hours. Families are in evidence getting a taste of great HO scale railroading. While the marginally controlled chaos is going on in the train room, the hobby shop is buzzing. I don't have any numbers, but I bet that many of the folks who visit the layout become customers. For one thing, if you buy a locomotive from the store, you can run it on the layout for free.

The second thing is that the pricing in the store is excellent. Rarely do I find prices better anywhere including the web. The store is well stocked and carries a large selection, remarkable in a small store. Ken will order anything for you and discounts special orders as well. The place is always buzzing with knowledgable model RR enthusiasts. If you are not sure about a technique it is probably avaialble for first hand view on the layout.

How do they do it? Well to start with, Ken the owner is a real model RR enthusiast. The store is not his day job, but rather a source of income to support the layout. What this means is that the store has odd hours. But the odd hours are often outside normal business hours when I am not at work and better able to visit. The layout has created a clublike mentality attracting lots of knowledgable folk who get involved in construction and helping in the hobby shop in exchange for the learning experience and the friendship. Finally, Ken has tapped into the RC model market. He freely admits to knowing little about it, but this is a high volume high value hobby. Every Thursday afternoon the store is humming as the RC guys show up to go through the incoming boxes of product. Most of it, does not ever make it onto the shelves!

So what are the keys to success here? By offering great value in pricing. By providing hours that fit our busy work days. By adding significant value to the purchase experience with great first hand product knowlege. By becoming a magnet for people who love trains. By attracting new people to the hobby. K-10s Model trains in Maryville gets my vote for how to run a hobby shop.

[cwclark]

There are some really good shops in the center of Houston..ie..The Houston Roundhouse and Papa Ben's to name two and there is a really good one in Spring, Texas, and one in the Woodland's that is so-so, but all within 50 miles of my house (layout)...I think that cultural changes in our youth is what is killing this hobby...kids now days aren't into trains like we were as kids and the internet has a lot to do with it also...I can order stuff cheaper from the internet than what prices are in the LHS's if i don't mind waiting the extra week on delivery which is usually the case since I try to plan projects ahead of time so that the stuff is in my possession when i start the new project on the layout...Chuck[:D]

[Jetrock]

Both of the hobby shops I mentioned above (Railroad Hobbies in Roseville, Bruce's in Sacramento) fit my definition of great hobby shops. They have a wide selection of stock, their employees are skilled and friendly (it's easy to start a "bull session" and ask questions), and they don't mind doing special orders.

[michealfarley]

Here in Fargo, we currently have a shop that is having their going out of business sale. Everything's now 40% off. This was the best shop in town. It really became a gathering place for some local hobbyists to chat about trains, and to work on the store's HO layout. In the next few weeks, it will be gone for good.

There are three other stores in the area. One store orders two of everything for local roads, and that's it. I doubt he'll be able to make Horizon's minimum monthly order, so I expect that store to dump railroading or close altogether. Another store has been slowly getting out of railroading for several years. The last one is a Hobbytown USA. Nice store, with somewhat friendly people, but small selection and stubborn as hell. The other stores would give us a little (10-15%) discount for being members of a local club, but Hobbytown will have no part of it.

If you have a good shop in town, support them! They may have a sad sign in the window next week.

[aegis2]

This is for johnkmurray. Welcome back to the hobby. If you live in NoVA, there are two good shops in Maryland. John Glaab's Peach Creek Shops in Laurel, small but decently stocked, heavy on brass and good discounts. Also is M.B.Klein's on Gay Street in Baltimore. Lot's of stuff and also discounted. Then there are Howard Zane's Great Train Shows in Timonium four times a year. Lots of dealers, lots of stuff , good prices and at three of the shows large modular displays.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone in the AC,NJ area know of another LHS other than the one on Tilton Rd.

Geo84.

[Anonymous]

I'll plug Central Hobby Supply in Syracuse, NY. It is a hybrid operation...store and Internet friendly. Run by model rails, friendly, knowledgable. For years I was a mail order customer. When I finally got to visit and mentioned my name, they knew my address from memory! They discount and will order or find about anything.

[greatn]

I am installing tortoise switches on my layout. Following the articile in the July 1997 issue of MR that says to upgrade the wire to a brass .047", I went down to my LHS. NO brass .047! So I went to see what Peco switches were available. 3 does not really count in my book. I really want to support locally, however what can I do when there is nothing on the shelf? So I bid on EBay or from mailorder. Now to try to find terminal strips!!!!

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by greatn

I am installing tortoise switches on my layout. Following the articile in the July 1997 issue of MR that says to upgrade the wire to a brass .047", I went down to my LHS. NO brass .047! So I went to see what Peco switches were available. 3 does not really count in my book. I really want to support locally, however what can I do when there is nothing on the shelf? So I bid on EBay or from mailorder. Now to try to find terminal strips!!!!

A hardware store might have brass rods.

[Anonymous]

Will yes there was once three hobby shops in my area one in upper james,one in simco and one in cayuga. See what happened was the one in cayuga was sold to a hair salon the one in simco closed with in a year and the only one un toughed was the one in upper james[*^_^*]

[Anonymous]

I went to Allied Model Trains in Culver City when I was visiting friends in Southern California. Best model train store I have ever been to. I didn't feel inferior, everyone was very helpful. My local hobby shop is ok. It is the only game in town.

[on30francisco]

There are two hobby shops in San Francisco. One deals with mostly brass and Lionel and the other one has a fair assortment of merchandise in all scales but sells a list prices. Some of the customers are also cliquish. I usually go to The Train Shop in Santa Clara which is in the SF Bay Area. This hobby shop is strictly model railroading and truly an "all scales" shop. They have a big inventory of supplies and the clerks are very helpful and courteous. They also sell below list price. For big and obscure items I shop on-line.

[Anonymous]

In my part of the world, there's about 3 LHS between 1hr and 90mins away. They seem to be doing ok, one in particular has expanded into mail order and now occupies far larger premises than when I first walked in about 10 years ago. Another also seems stable, though their stock listings have shrunk - they stock fewer ranges than when they first opened, though they stock a decent variety of those ranges. The third would seem to be on a slightly downward spiral - the owner is always talking about the costs of running the store and buying in new stock, I suspect he may retire in a few years which will probably see the shop close - a pity as he does have a good range of Hornby equipment including some "old stock" items that have been unavailable for many years.

However, all is not lost, as I frequently travel within the UK on holiday, and my first action on arriving at a campsite is to check their copy of "Yellow Pages" to find hobby stores in the area (drives my parents nuts)!

[Anonymous]

Well Fellers, Most I can say is, I f ya don't support the LHS, Aint gonna be a LHS.

'Bout all I can say.

[BRAKIE]

Mondo,i fully agree that a hobby shop owner needs to use every tool at his disposal if he wishes to survive in todays hobby and small business world.The days of the local hobby shop setting back on their Laural's are long gone.They must become competitive with on line shops if they wi***o survive.If the owners do this I am sure they would see a upswing in business.You see if you could buy the Atlas(say) S1 for $64.00 dollars at their shop I am sure nobody would really want to order it on line when they could take it home that day.
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One of the best hobby shops that I know of is the Train Station in Columbus, Ohio.Sadly for me,that is a 124 mile round trip..[:(] Another shop that comes readily to mind is the Corner Store in Lorain..Again it would be about 180 mile round trip for me..[:(]