I was talking to the owner of a train store today. He ask me what I thought of holding free after hours clinic's at the store. I suggested the first one be on installing decoders (I have a brand new engine, sans decoder I bought from him). He would get ten to twenty people in. They would bring their own soldering irons, solder Etc. He said he would set up some tables and get two or three experts in to help supervise. I told him I would be more than happy to buy the decoder from him if he was to do that. Why not I've spent thousands there already.
I have seen clinic's at shows but has anyone heard of after hours clinics held at train stores? How were they? This is a first for me and I think it's a great idea.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I think it would be a good idea. I would all so have a computer set up with Decoder Pro and the Digitrax PR 3. Bet he could sell a few PR 3's when people see how easy it makes it.
Ken
I hate Rust
My local hobby shop has been doing them for years and I have learned quite a bit from them. They hold them Tuesday evenings all year long, and Saturday afternoons from September - May. The topics are anything model railroad related, like layout design, benchwork, laying track, wiring, structure building, backdrop painting, operations, decoder installation, loco maintenance, etc. They usually get 8-10 people in a session, and they last from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, depending on the topic. I just went to a couple clinics two weeks ago, one was on hydrocal structures, and the other was on layout design. Very good information. If I lived closer, I would attend more.
Scott
BATMAN I was talking to the owner of a train store today. He ask me what I thought of holding free after hours clinic's at the store. I suggested the first one be on installing decoders (I have a brand new engine, sans decoder I bought from him). He would get ten to twenty people in. They would bring their own soldering irons, solder Etc. He said he would set up some tables and get two or three experts in to help supervise.
I was talking to the owner of a train store today. He ask me what I thought of holding free after hours clinic's at the store. I suggested the first one be on installing decoders (I have a brand new engine, sans decoder I bought from him). He would get ten to twenty people in. They would bring their own soldering irons, solder Etc. He said he would set up some tables and get two or three experts in to help supervise.
What's a train store? LOL Oh yeah, now I remember. I used to patronize those places before they all went and closed on me.
Holding after hours clinics is a great idea, but 20 guys with soldering irons in hand. Not so sure about that.
Rich
Alton Junction
I can see where this might attract customers, but there are some drawbacks, too.
The only "local hobby shop" around here is 70 miles away and no one knows anything about trains. It's an Ace Hardware store! They don't even have a test track, let alone anyone who knows how to do anything other than ring up your purchase..
Trying to talk 10 or so people who have no electronics experience, none of the required tools, and probably have nearly 10 different makes and models of locomotives, how to install a decoder step-by-step, would really be a challenge. And they'd all blame me if they didn't do it right and fried a decoder. No, thanks.
A clinic on something with less risk of harm, such as scenery or track-laying, would be my choice if I were going to be the presenter. Decoder installation is too technical and risky, even if everyone had an identical locomotive and identical decoder.
Would you attend the clinic if you were told you must purchase X model, Y decoder, and Z tools from the local hobby shop so you could easily follow along and not wire something wrong?
The key word in the question is "free". Sure, who wouldn't want free? If by free, you mean, no admissions charge, then it would be a great idea if the participants provided their own materials. I don't think it's fair to expect the hobby shop owner to provide expensive items like decoders gratis, especially when there is no guarantee of a sale afterwards.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
I've been to a few clinics at the two LHSs that I frequent. One shop had a small charge, 5 or 10 dollars, but for that they provided a scale-appropriate box car kit to practice weathering on, and some rock castings at another class. The other shop had a series of free "watch and learn" sessions where the instructor demonstrated weathering and scenery-building techniques, but we just stood around and observed.
Most train shops don't have "classroom space" or an "arts and crafts" room, so the "demonstration" model works better than having each user do his own thing.
I ended up buying stuff after the free clinics, but not after the pay clinics.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
have seen clinic's at shows but has anyone heard of after hours clinics held at train stores? How were they? This is a first for me and I think it's a great idea.
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At one time that was very common for shops to have monthly clinics especially those owned by modelers.I have attended several in store clinics over the years.
It was a nice marketing ploy as well since modelers would buy the needed items to try the modeling technique at home.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE have seen clinic's at shows but has anyone heard of after hours clinics held at train stores? How were they? This is a first for me and I think it's a great idea. Brent -------------------------- At one time that was very common for shops to have monthly clinics especially those owned by modelers.I have attended several in store clinics over the years. It was a nice marketing ploy as well since modelers would buy the needed items to try the modeling technique at home.
I think a clinic is a clinic. I have seen some at shows, homes, clubs, etc. Some good, some great, some entertaining, and one.... well, I caught up on sleep from the work week. I dont think it matters... where it is being put on, its who's doing it and the people attending.
I own a 4x4 shop for my day job, and for my customers, going offroading and visiting my shop, is the same to us modeling trains and visiting a train store. Different hobby, but same theme.
I hold stuff there all the time for free. its a great customer service tool, helps provide another step of fun with the hobby, and most importantly, introduces others who enjoy the same with others. Its a win win for everyone and happy to see a shop doing it.
(Speaking as a shop owner )
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
Not a train store, but a plastic kit and radio control (more kits than radio control) store near me has about 1/3 of their shop space devoted to an area where modelers get together, discuss modeling, and build models (both group and individual builds). The space is open during store hours and often after hours. They host IPMS (International Plastic Modelers Society) meetings one evening a month in the store and also sponsor several shows a year at other locations. There are clinics at both the monthly meeting and at the shows.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
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I agree..I once attended a model hotrod clinic(ok,ok,I was being nosy ) and I enjoyed looking at the model hotrods.
Caboose Hobbies in Denver does 20-30 clinics over the winter months (here in Colorado we don't like to go inside during the summer - I'm on my deck now) . I haven't been to any yet, but I've heard good things about them. Now that i live closer, im sure i will check them out I think if a shop has the space this is a great idea. Keeps customers "hooked in".
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
cudaken I think it would be a good idea. I would all so have a computer set up with Decoder Pro and the Digitrax PR 3. Bet he could sell a few PR 3's when people see how easy it makes it. Ken
This is an excellent idea Ken. It could make for an evening on its own. I know I would benefit from it as this is an area I need to learn more about.
richhotrain Holding after hours clinics is a great idea, but 20 guys with soldering irons in hand. Not so sure about that. Rich
Just remember to put new batteries in the smoke detectors after everyone has left the building.
canazar I own a 4x4 shop for my day job, and for my customers, going offroading and visiting my shop, is the same to us modeling trains and visiting a train store. Different hobby, but same theme. I hold stuff there all the time for free. its a great customer service tool, helps provide another step of fun with the hobby, and most importantly, introduces others who enjoy the same with others. Its a win win for everyone and happy to see a shop doing it. (Speaking as a shop owner )
You get it Canazar. I suspect you do okay in your business
If a shop owner puts in a few hours to put together a clinic, the return in loyalty from some if not all of those customers would make it a positive, profitable experience for all.
It would work. There is a store that just opened in the mall that sells" Dungeons & dragons" . They sell the figures as kits as well as paint & scenery material. There are about 4 tables to play & a long table to assemble 8 paint the kits. It was packed!
We have a store here that did clinics for a while and they were great. The owner I think got burned out working on them. He brought in guests to speak and teach sometimes. Some from Digitrax and other mfgs. They wanted my email address, but that was fine since they were doing so much to help the Model RR community.
BTW, he was his only employee at the time, now he has 5 other employees. All he does is trains.
Richard