LHS Wake Up Call

[ARTHILL]

I have found that counting shipping, online always costs more and I don't get to talk to the people. I like flea markets for the good used stuff, but the dealers there are the same price as my LHS, if I count gas, time and entrance fee. I saw my first Broadway Limited there. When I asked my LHS about it, he had some at the same price. I don't have to but I would spend a little more just to keep them in business.

[BRAKIE]

Well to each their own.I just ordered 2 Athearn RTR GP38-2s for $109.98 plus $7.95 shipping for a total of $117.93 vs 2 @.$74.98 each which would be $149.96. that is a savings of $32.03..Not including savings on the cost of gas of driving 53 miles round trip..With that $32.00 saving I could have bought 2 RTR Athearn or Atlas freight cars and still have some change left..[:D]

Again to each his/her own.[:D]

[csmith9474]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BRAKIE

Guys,I freely admit that I stop using full price hobby shops long time ago except in some extreme cases..To my mind there are to many shops offering discounts and of course the super discounts found on line.I stop playing the e-bay game as many of the so called deals can be beaten by shopping on line and not to mention the ridiculous bidding.
I suspect if the truth was known NONE OF US will rush out and pay $99.95 for a engine we know we can get for less else where-in most cases for $64.95.
I know we need our local hobby shops but,THE OWNER MUST REALIZED WE ARE NOT TO BLAME DUE TO HIGH MSRP WE MUST SHOP ELSE WHERE FOR THE BEST DEAL FOR OUR LIMITED HOBBY DOLLARS! The owner should give discounts and setup a on line store to compliment his local customer base if he/she wishes to survive..

MR.HOBBY SHOP OWNER,Your store's future is IN YOUR HANDS..Whatcha goin' to do? Are you going to sink or swim? Its YOUR call!

I am fully aware that I pay more at a LHS as opposed to an auction house or online discount store. But I also get a lot more for the extra little bit that I pay. First, shipping can eat away at your savings using the internet. Then you have customer service. If you have a problem take it back down the street to deal with it. I also have a great appreciation for local small businesses. Overall I like having the security of knowing that help is a short drive away. There are so many things that the list could go on for awhile. One of the things that reminded of the virtue of the LHS was last week when I needed an oddball screw for a brass pax car and one of the guys at the store "fabricated" one for me right there on the spot free of charge.

[BRAKIE]

Guys,I freely admit that I stop using full price hobby shops long time ago except in some extreme cases..To my mind there are to many shops offering discounts and of course the super discounts found on line.I stop playing the e-bay game as many of the so called deals can be beaten by shopping on line and not to mention the ridiculous bidding.
I suspect if the truth was known NONE OF US will rush out and pay $99.95 for a engine we know we can get for less else where-in most cases for $64.95.
I know we need our local hobby shops but,THE OWNER MUST REALIZED WE ARE NOT TO BLAME DUE TO HIGH MSRP WE MUST SHOP ELSE WHERE FOR THE BEST DEAL FOR OUR LIMITED HOBBY DOLLARS! The owner should give discounts and setup a on line store to compliment his local customer base if he/she wishes to survive..

MR.HOBBY SHOP OWNER,Your store's future is IN YOUR HANDS..Whatcha goin' to do? Are you going to sink or swim? Its YOUR call!

[ndbprr]

There are a couple of dilemas that face us all. Limited funds and increased knowledge limit our need for a hobby shop. A good hobby shop needs at least $250,000 in inventory and that is bare bones. So we have a proprietor in a business that generates its funds from disposable income. To survive local shops are going to have to bring something to the table currently not being offered. Once a customer makes price the ruling issue it is hard to offer service and value. WIth gas going to be high for a long time and prices increasing from the suppliers the consumers are being squeezed and are rebeling at the traditional model and pricing. If I were to win the lottery and go in the hobby business I would go into the manufacturing side and sell through hobby shops with storefronts only. i would sell directly to the consumer but at full list price. That might make a difference but something else is needed that I haven't figured out at the lcoal level to survive.

[MAbruce]

From what I’ve heard, the hobby store business is not something that will make you rich. It’s a niche business to start with, then you factor in numerous sources of competition and it adds up to a crazy investment pursuit.

If I had to start a hobby business (emphasis on “had to”), it would be an on-line store offering deep discounts through high volume sales. I’ve noticed that price and availability are the biggest positives you can offer – more so than service (other than good basic services like prompt filling of orders).

[Berk-fan284]

Amen brother! I admit to being guilty of hitting Ebay instead of the LHS on a number of ocassions when theLHS could have gotten the good(s) for me if I was more patient. I have noticed that Ebay prices seem to be creeping up (inflation, gas prices,etc) enough that a lot of the deals aren't what they are cracked up to be when shipping, exchange rates, import tariffs are added to the mix the LHS's regular prices can be very comparable if not better.

[Anonymous]

Use them or loose them?

Will

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Crew,

I have to admit that I was quite surprised when I talked to the manager at my LHS. Even with his efforts his business is hurting and admitted to me that his business's future appears quite uncertain! This is one of the most popular LHS's in the Tampa Bay area. This store (Happy Hobo Trains) offers excellent service, is LOADED with parts for modelers, features two operating layouts, and the two guys that run the store are cool and down to earth. They're both very knowledgeable.

Really brought home to me the reality of what store owners face with higher fuel prices, competition from ebay and discount hobby shops, and customers that would normally spend money at the shop that are saving it for gasoline.

I always felt secure that this store would always be around. I started feeling a bit guilty as years ago I spent 100% of my hobby money at this store, but in the past year I have bought quite a number of locomotives on Ebay and have even posted it on this forum. I found out that had I checked with this store more often, I could have gotten items that I wanted for nearly the same ebay prices as this store has sales regularly.

Of course we as consumers want the best deal we can get. I'm going to continue checking ebay for deals, but I've decided that I will spend more at this store since layaway is also an option to use.

Hopefully things will get cooking for my LHS this Christmas season.

Just wanted to share this since some of you have brought up the issue about supporting LHS's. I can testify to the fact that even the good LHS can be hurting as well.

Peace.[8)]