Support your local train shop ?...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark

I'm with you Mark....I know exactly who you are talking about...but i really don't think it's totally his fault...you also have to remember that UP gets a 5% cut on all items bearing the UP logo which also includes railroads bought up by them, DRG&W, SP, MP, KATY, ect...another thing that is happening is like we all are doing...purchasing from the internet, his store is getting fewer and fewer patrons in it because the deals are better on the internet than in his shop...I still go there but only when i need a specialty item like CA glue, balsa wood, styrene, or brass and wire...these guys do have to make a living but yes, they are marking stuff up more than i'm willing to pay for it, so the internet is my new source to do business with...one more thing...the traffic on IH10, IH610, and US59 is horrible..I had to go thru it to get to the trainshow Saturday...what a hassle!....have you tried that place in Spring yet? (I think it's called the Spring Crossing) ...it's a pretty good hobby shop..unorganized as all get out ,but he does have a lot of stuff...chuck

That's my tendency too. My LHS is okay. Not great, not terrible. Prices are quite high, service is pretty good but not stellar.

I typically go there for "supplies" more than equipment. I buy almost all my paint there, often buy materials I need quickly (i.e. I've run out of ground foam, need a turnout, hydrocal, etc.).

Occasionally I buy rolling stock - either something I just can't get anywhere else (I've bought several NOS sets of Rivarossi passenger cars in hard-to-find-anymore roadnames at a couple LHS), or that is discounted to a reasonable level. I haven't bought a loco in a store in ages - there's simply no way I can rationalize paying (often) 2-3x the price I can get the same item for from a mail-order house or new in the package off Ebay.

It's not that I'm unwilling to pay a little extra for the relevant advantages of the LHS. I know that in order to have a place I can go, browse, chat, ask, return, etc. he has to pay rent, utilities, payroll, etc. So I don't necessarily expect the LHS to "beat" the mailorder and internet crowd, and I'm even okay with that. But I need him to do a lot better...

Easiest example: Spectrum 3-truck Shay. You can get 'em for $100 from the usual mail order suspects, and several dealers on Ebay. My LHS asks full retail $275 for them... Can't do it. If he could find a way to do 'em for, say, $140, I might well pay the extra for the convenience factors - can look it over, can ask questions, have a place to bring it back if it's messed up, etc. But for literally 275% of what I can pay online or by mail... No.

[cwclark]

I'm with you Mark....I know exactly who you are talking about...but i really don't think it's totally his fault...you also have to remember that UP gets a 5% cut on all items bearing the UP logo which also includes railroads bought up by them, DRG&W, SP, MP, KATY, ect...another thing that is happening is like we all are doing...purchasing from the internet, his store is getting fewer and fewer patrons in it because the deals are better on the internet than in his shop...I still go there but only when i need a specialty item like CA glue, balsa wood, styrene, or brass and wire...these guys do have to make a living but yes, they are marking stuff up more than i'm willing to pay for it, so the internet is my new source to do business with...one more thing...the traffic on IH10, IH610, and US59 is horrible..I had to go thru it to get to the trainshow Saturday...what a hassle!....have you tried that place in Spring yet? (I think it's called the Spring Crossing) ...it's a pretty good hobby shop..unorganized as all get out ,but he does have a lot of stuff...chuck

[Adelie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bcawthon
When the store closes, will you get the message?

"We never know the value of water 'til the well is dry." English proverb

I'm not exactly sure what message Tracklayer is supposed to get. Unless it is that if he doesn't spend his money with a business who provides no incentive for him to spend his money with them, they will go away. Somehow I'm not expecting him to shed a lot of tears or toss and turn all night over that possibility.

Shermanhill's nailed it, I think.

Tracklayer, if you care, my vote is that it is your money, spend it where you see fit.

[Anonymous]

When a bad train store closes everyone gets the message. The freemarketplace works out in the end.

[emdgp92]

I've been to Oddo's in McKeesport as well. There were some long-discontinued kits in there, but that was about it. Goofy hours and somewhat rude staff kept me from going back.

Most of my hobby cash goes to A.B. Charles in Dormont. Their prices are slightly higher for some things, but I'd rather pay a bit more and get better service. Yes, I know I can get certain model car kits at Walmart for $5-10, but the trade-off is that you usually get poor service at Walmart. They also don't carry the best quality stuff either. I've been going to A.B. Charles roughly 15 years, and have *never* had a problem with them. They're more than willing to help me out. As a result, they have a pretty loyal following, and the shop is busy most nights.

There is another hobby shop near me, and I try to avoid that place. It's right by where Pool City was on Route 51. It's great for picking up engines for parts, or old model kits, but that's it. Most of his stuff is overpriced, and he's a bit on the rude side. Needless to say, there usually aren't many people in there!

[Anonymous]

Having worked in a hobby shop a long time ago while in college I was going to respond to this thread by defending the hobby shop owner but I realize it would be a futile gesture. Each privately owned shop is different, some owners are as nice as can be and very willing to help the customer, while others are run by someone who apparently has lost interest and probably won't be there much longer.

Pesonally the LHS I deal with has pretty friendly employees and I give them some of my business. They are located less than a block from where I work and usually have a good stock of what I want on hand. They offer a 10% discount to club members and long time customers. They already mark down 5-10% on most items.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Some of the posts talk about getting a 35% discount. The standard retail discount is 40% for HO & N and. 30% for O. Much of the high end HO is only 30%. I can't see how anybody can consistantly offer 35% off of MSRP, pay the rent, utilities and put food on the table, The internet dealers do it by paying minimal rent, location not being a factor, and making their profit on a volume greatly larger than that possible to the LHS.

Yeah, a shop selling stuff for 35% off MSRP is selling himself into bankruptcy. I don't think many internet dealers can really survive at 5%.

Besides, that's an inadequate return. You'd be better off putting your money almost anywhere else, which is an age old economic maxim.

Mike Tennent

[earthqu8kes]

hey! someone been to bruce's train shop in Sacramento, CA. the closest hobby shop to me. and also the largest in northern california.prices arent that bad. got 3 walthers ballast car for $35.00.

Anders

[bcawthon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Shermanhill1

Most train stores must be avoided due to high prices and rude owners
I bottom feed at trainshows and mail order. It is the only way to go.
If a store is full price, walk out with you wallet to send the owner a message.

While you're down there with the catfish and attorneys, ponder this:

When the store closes, will you get the message?

"We never know the value of water 'til the well is dry." English proverb

[jimrice4449]

An interesting thread. I can join the discussion from an objective spectator's perspective since I live 75 miles from the nearest LHS which pretty much limits me to mail/phone orders and have a commercial connection w/ the hobby the lets me get most stuff at dealer net.
Some of the posts talk about getting a 35% discount. The standard retail discount is 40% for HO & N and. 30% for O. Much of the high end HO is only 30%. I can't see how anybody can consistantly offer 35% off of MSRP, pay the rent, utilities and put food on the table, The internet dealers do it by paying minimal rent, location not being a factor, and making their profit on a volume greatly larger than that possible to the LHS.
Only two of the posts peripherally mentioned a factor that could wind up turning around and biting all of us in the butt. Where are the new MRRs comming from if there's no local source of inspiration and advice? Occasionally somebody starts a topic wondering about the average MRR age approaching geriatric status. How are we to keep the hobby viable without new blood and how do the newcommers get that spark that starts the fire if all of the local sources have dried up due to internet competition?

[aloco]

I stiill do, but usually if I need supplies, like paint and brushes, glue, building material, etc. If there's a piece of rolling stock I happen to like I'll buy it, but I don't buy locomotives from hobby shops any more.

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ouengr

Is it just me or are the hobby shops failing to understand what made Wal-Mart such a success. Wal-Mart makes money by selling an individual item at a minimal profit and driving customers into the store. In turn the customer buys more items and visits more oftern. Hobby Shops that charge MSRP or a premium do not recieve repeat business from me. I want hobby shops to be successfull, however they are in a world where they have to compete. I know of one LHS that has almost no inventory and everything that comes in is for a specific customer order. This was he inventory costs are kept way down and his prices generally reflect it.

Another possible option for the LHS is to offer consignment sales. Nearly every modeler I know has things that don't quite fit in their collections and that they would like to get rid of. The LHS I referred earlier has an extensive consignment section. The terms for the consignment are fairly simple. The LHS sells the the items and keeps a total that can be applied toward new items. In the event that the seller would prefer to take the cash out, he charges a fee for managing the sell of the items. Generally I have done quite well in the consignment sales. Generally I have been able to sell itmes for what I paid and this has kept me from spending cash out of my pocket for nearly two-years.

I don't mean to rant here, but I am sick and tired of hearing LHS whine and complain about competitors. This is part of the free market. My expereince is that many of the on-line retailers are trasitional brick and mortar stores that have expandded their businees through the internet. Some old LHS will not survive but others will thrive. The key is to figure out what you can do to gain and keep customers. The LHS that artificially jacked prices up 25% should reconsider this decision or start to consider a store closing clearance.

The costs assocaited with items in this hobby are rising far faster that the rate of inflation or wage increases. We need to vote with our money and demand lower prices from the LHS and manufacturers. If we do not continue to apply pressure to lower prices, then there is nothing to control them. We all want to be able to purchase more stuff for less money. If we don't hold the retail sector's feet to the fire on inflation, then the situation will only get worse. I enjoy the hobby and I want to see it expand. Prices are already at the point where many people don't even consider the model railroading due to the costs.

I've got a Walmart story for you...

I've wanted a Robosapien robot since they first came out, but you couldn't touch one for less than about $100.00 at places like Best Buy. Over the course of the last year I've watched them slowly come down to $89.95 at Target, $74.95 on ebay and even down to $60.00 after this past Christmas at some Walmarts. I've also seen them used on ebay go for $50.00 or more. Well, the other night I had to run to the local Walmart to get dog food for my dog Buddy, and saw one in the clearence rack for $49.00 that the box had been torn into by kids and taped back up, so I took it up to the night manager and asked him if he could cut me a deal. He looked it over and said - I can come down $3.00 which will make it $46.00, and then I'll give you my employee discount on top of that which will make it $35.00... I shook the man's hand and did the deal. So I now have a really cool Robosapien sitting on my desk that I got for about one third of what they originally cost. That's just one of the many reasons why I support Walmart!.

TL

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Shermanhill1

Most train stores must be avoided due to high prices and rude owners
I bottom feed at trainshows and mail order. It is the only way to go.
If a store is full price, walk out with you wallet to send the owner a message.

Now this is what I'm talking about...

Thank you Shermanhill1

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bwftex

Tracklayer
Even though your 50 miles away and don't stand at his cash register every day but some how you are accurate in your assessment of his daily gross think about this. If he's doing a grand a day and keeping 20% and he may not be that's only about $1200 a week profit or around $62,500 before tax. Not exactly a big time income and hardly any living at all if he wants to grow his inventory even a little. While its wonderful if everyone had a smile on their face and gave out great deals you might consider that your hobby guy maybe just be doing what he thinks he must to make it. I know you were disappointed not to get the locomotive for the price you thought you would but then the guy may be "getting greedy" because he may have worked very hard and did not have a paycheck last month, last quarter or even last year. If you had to deal with the difficulties every single long day that he being in the retail business probably has too you might be irritable too. While you certainly don't have to shop with him you might stop to consider why he is irritated, greedy or disinterested. If you can stand in another persons shoes for just a moment you may still be disappointed but at least not angry and hurt enough to feel the need post messages telling everyone about it. Bruce

Okay bwfex. The first time I see you expressing your anger or disappointment on this forum if or when someone wrongs you, I'll be sure and remind you of your "wise words"...

TL

[Anonymous]

Like any business, a shop owner has to be fair and friendly if they want to continue making sales. We have all received less than great treatment in other types of stores besides train shops and usually find a better place to shop if that happens.

[PennsyHoosier]

Less and less at the LHS. More and more at the train shows and especially ebay. It is a very vicious circle and one that concerns me greatly. On the other hand, if I want to feed my kids AND keep up the hobby, I have to work to find the deals.

Oh for the simpler times!

[Anonymous]

Yep sounds like you've been to Oddo's train and hobbies in McKeesport, PA. Basically the guy had the personality of a warthog and the place looked like a dark, dingy, old dungeon. Basically a complete hole in the wall.

Talk about taking me back to the old days, it was a dive 20 years ago, cant imigine what it is now. LOL However when i was home i visited Bill and Walts in white Oak and he is well on his way to that dump destination also. Plus while i was there i heard the owner tell a person with a brand new, unopened package that there were no refunds even for broken product. He offered to sell her glue to fix the problem. I high tailed it out of there.

I have 4 hobby shops to chose from, each different in its own way. I have Just Trains which is huge, great prices, fantastic staff, however they can;t seem to get things ordered that you want, so its a in stock only kinda place. One is Mitchels and they still have a great selection of paint and glue, however their stock of trains is old to older and still full MSRP even stuff thats 15 years old. I also go up to the choo choo barn in strasburg, they are MSRP, but are fantastic when it comes to detail parts and scratch building parts in stock.

However i don't believe that every shop should discount every purschace you make. I like having a shop close by for paints that i can go get at 8 pm at night, so i pay for that convience. If the other LHS had to raise its prices, well thats just life right now, everything is going up if you havn;t noticed. And that may be out of their control.
However BAD ATTITUDES are completely under their control. If their in your shop they are going to spend money, how much will depend on their ability to get you interested in new things. The whole reason, the whole reason i'm back into trains is because a nice LHS owner took the time to work me back into the hobby. THe result, over 10,000 worth of sales all mostly thru him.
In the end the human factor will be the deciding factor. Perhaps if the LHS owner had just taken the time and explained in a calm, logical manner, he could have perhaps avoided the posters wrath.
Bill

[jecorbett]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ouengr


The costs assocaited with items in this hobby are rising far faster that the rate of inflation or wage increases. We need to vote with our money and demand lower prices from the LHS and manufacturers. If we do not continue to apply pressure to lower prices, then there is nothing to control them. We all want to be able to purchase more stuff for less money. If we don't hold the retail sector's feet to the fire on inflation, then the situation will only get worse. I enjoy the hobby and I want to see it expand. Prices are already at the point where many people don't even consider the model railroading due to the costs.

Excuse me, but we are already voting with our money. Sometimes we vote to pay the asking price and sometimes we vote not too. Every buyer wants make his purchase as cheaply as possible and every seller wants to sell his merchandise for as much as he can. In order for there to be a transaction, both buyer and seller have to find the middle ground they can both accept. That is how free markets work.

Some of you people talk as if merchants can name their price for their merchandise. Of course they can ask anything they want for what they have but if they want to stay in business, they have to sell at a level the marketplace will support. If there are enough buyers willing to pay the higher prices, you can't blame merchants for charging them.

[Anonymous]

Most train stores must be avoided due to high prices and rude owners
I bottom feed at trainshows and mail order. It is the only way to go.
If a store is full price, walk out with you wallet to send the owner a message.

[RedGrey62]

All, this has been an interesting thread for me to follow. It probably grew into something more than Tracklayer was expecting, but good to share thoughts.

My advice Tracklayer, if this is the first time that you've had a bad experience with this shop, give them one more chance. I doubt if the prices will be back down the next time you go, but hopefully the proprietor will be a bit more friendly. If not, then tell him you are displeased (or whatever words you choose) and let him know that you will not be refering anyone to his store. Word of mouth is still the greatest advertiser of all.

Rick

[bwftex]

Tracklayer
Even though your 50 miles away and don't stand at his cash register every day but some how you are accurate in your assessment of his daily gross think about this. If he's doing a grand a day and keeping 20% and he may not be that's only about $1200 a week profit or around $62,500 before tax. Not exactly a big time income and hardly any living at all if he wants to grow his inventory even a little. While its wonderful if everyone had a smile on their face and gave out great deals you might consider that your hobby guy maybe just be doing what he thinks he must to make it. I know you were disappointed not to get the locomotive for the price you thought you would but then the guy may be "getting greedy" because he may have worked very hard and did not have a paycheck last month, last quarter or even last year. If you had to deal with the difficulties every single long day that he being in the retail business probably has too you might be irritable too. While you certainly don't have to shop with him you might stop to consider why he is irritated, greedy or disinterested. If you can stand in another persons shoes for just a moment you may still be disappointed but at least not angry and hurt enough to feel the need post messages telling everyone about it. Bruce

[bcawthon]

Wal-Mart is one of the leading reasons for the demise of the toy market in America. The others are Target and Toys 'R Us. They are called category killers and the simple truth is their tremendous buying power has not just eliminated local competition but it has significantly reduced the variety of toys available. I have four children ranging in age from 8 to 23 and I have seen the choice in playthings winnowed down just in the time from my oldest's youth to my youngest's. Yes, it's "Always Low Prices" but it's also "Always Their Choices."

If you ever get a chance, go to the big toy fairs in New York or better yet, Nuremberg. You'll be amazed at what is offered and distressed by how little of it will show up in your town. Then visit iHobby Expo and think of how many of the items on display can be found at your LHS. It's far higher.

What your local hobby shop is is your showroom for model railroad products. It's where you can go and see the real products instead of pictures. It's where you can get the small items that can be tough to find at the big Internet hobby operations. It's where you can browse to find exactly what you want instead of exactly what they have or find a new product you might not have even known existed. It's where you can immediately get the track, styrene, stripwood or paint you ran out of in the middle of a project instead of waiting days or weeks or paying a king's ransom for express shipping. That's value and like most things of value it has a cost.

Like it or not, marking up existing inventory following a price increase is common practice, even at Wal-Mart. The selling price has to cover the cost of replacing the item. Of course, at Wal-Mart (or Target, or Best Buy), the change is as simple as replacing a shelf tag or peg hook label. Remember those $1.67 diecast cars everybody is so wild about? A new higher price of $1.97 is showing up and Wal-Mart isn't making a differentiation between what they had on the shelf before the increase and merchandise that arrived later. So why are you heaping opprobrium on a small business that has far less control over the pricing than Wal-Mart?

In addition, as Rick noted, that LHS is part of your community. It contributes taxes but more important the money it makes is mostly spent in your community. Think of all the things the owner of your LHS buys in your town, from business expenses, like mortgage or rent and office supplies, to living expenses. If you're a business owner, perhaps that LHS owner is one of your customers.

Of course, if the proprietor has a poisonous attitude, there's no reason to give him your custom. That's true of any business. But if you're demanding he or she compete with the world's largest retailer as a condition of your trade then, IMHO, you're contributing to the demise of one of our most precious hobby resources. Wal-Mart will win and we'll all lose.

[Anonymous]

I also stopped buying at the local train shop here in northern Virginia due to the owners greed. The store has always charged close to full retail but I still did thousands of dollars worth of business a year there, just to support the shop. Could have saved 30% or better off almost everything I bought there by calling MB Klein's.

Anyway, I pre ordered two Atlas engines at the shop last year. The policy there is that pre-orders must be paid in full before the items arrive at the store or you don't get the BIG 15% discount he offers on pre-orders. Well, I forgot. The engines came in and I picked them up and went to pay. They were rung up at full price and I asked what about the discount. I was reminded that they hadn't been paid for in full so I was going to have to pay full price. I said "come on man, you're kidding right" and the owner relented and gave me the discount, but not without making a very big deal over it and telling me it was the last time he'd be that nice to me.

Well, this shop has been steadily losing business over the last couple of years due to dwindling stock, narrow selection, hell he even wasn't stocking magazines....and here he is telling on of his best customers-me- to pretty much take a walk, and I have. His loss, my gain as I'm doing all my business with MB Kleins now.

Some of you might say he was just sticking to company policy but I see it differently, I thought I'd earned some consideration by being a good customer for several years but I guess I hadn't. This guy can't can't see the forest for the bottom line.[V][V][:(!]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by swdave

Atlas just had a 10% increase in their prices, but they did announce it well ahead of time. But the kicker of it for me was our LHS increased the prices on all his Atlas that he already in stock, now this is down right dirty if you ask me! The guy who owned the store before him never did that.

He was entirely justified in doing that, it is just common business sense. When he orders the track next time he has to pay the increased price, if he does not mark up the new stock, then he will not have the capital to pay for that track.

In addition once that new track comes in it will have the new higher sticker price. Some states like Ohio where I live have a law that if two boxes of the same item have different prices on them the customer can insist by law that he get the lower price on both boxes. So again it is just common business practice to have all items of the same thing with the same price

Rick

[bryanbell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RedGrey62
Sorry, the Wal Mart solution doesn't work here. It works for Wal Mart because they sell so much stuff, everything from food to electronics and toys to clothes. Their buying power also allows them to get much lower prices from the manufacturers (personally I call it brow beating the companies to play ball). Don't get me wrong, it works, but it will not work for a LHS.

I agree completely. I use to work for Wal Mart and I saw the way the manufacturers were treated. To Wal Mart it was a privilege for their stores to carry the product and they strong-armed manufacturers into getting the lower prices.
The Wal Mart model doesn't work for a LHS because Wal Mart sells consumable goods and general merchandise. There is a lot bigger market of people wanting a low price on the newest DVD release than people looking for the lowest price on a 20 pack of #5 Kadees.
A moderately busy Wal Mart can make more in one day than most LHS can make in a year. They sell in very large volumes, the cost of each sale goes down the more sales you have.
Even if the guy does sell $1000 a day and assuming he's grossing 50% of that on each item, which he probably isn't, that is only $500 a day. $500 a day doesn't go very far when you have to pay the rent, the utilities, the insurance etc. Plus the guy isn't there on a volunteer basis, he has to take a salary.
Obviously the guy is shooting himself in the foot with his bad customer service and you can't defend that but a price increase is a natural part of business. A smart business person usually doesn't make such a dramatic increase in prices that suddenly but price increases are a fact of business.

Bryan

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by loathar

I hate that "your keeping me from my sandwich" attitude.

Yep sounds like you've been to Oddo's train and hobbies in McKeesport, PA. Basically the guy had the personality of a warthog and the place looked like a dark, dingy, old dungeon. Basically a complete hole in the wall. I had a question about paint for a CSX engine and his reply was What the hell kind of an engine would be gray and blue? (Despite the glaring fact CSX runs near his shop.) So as a result I did my shopping elsewhere.

I like to feel like when I go to a shop the owner is paying attention to me the customer and not his sandwich or the ballgame. I like to feel welcome. I'm not saying I expect huzzahs and handstands and them to roll out the red carpet but a friendly hello and answers to my questions is fair if I'm going to be spending money in your shop.


Hmmm maybe this could be why "the hobby is dying". Maybe idiots like him chased all the young customers out. Any hobby or business that doesn't get any new members often dies.

[Anonymous]

I was shopping for train products yestarday. It was my typical spring run, I spent about $550 at 5 different shops in a 40 mile radius, and nothing at the Hobbytown USA stores I was talking about earlier. This one shop has an owner who has absolutely NO business sense at all. All of his large inventory of HO railroad products are mixed up manufacturers, uneven box pilings falling off of shelves. I have been looking for two specific coal cars I missed the manufacturing date. Couldn't find them on e-bay, so I am looking everywhere. Sure enough in the mess of boxes in this guy's store is two and only two cars I have spent months looking for. I almost gave up and left because of his lack of organization, it was a last second look as I was starting to walk out, I found them. Today I am laughing about it, but yestarday I was in some nice organized stores, then I go in his, what a difference. Most stores here do not discount off MSRP, but one of them offered me discounts if I buy/order from them on any item. Each business REALLY has its own way of doing business!

[rtraincollector]

Yes there are great deals to be had via the internet especialy EBAY but how great are they really okay you won that $100.00 engine on ebay for $78.00 and how much did the guy charge you to shipp (watch out some will slap $20.00) just because its an easy number . and if its broke or something else is wrong you have to pay to send it back remember that. And some sell as is and that even means if its broke when you get it new in the box.

Now Yes I do a lot of online business and I bid with the above in mind And I still deal with my local hobby shop as he's a person who wants to earn your business and I sell stuff in his store thru him even where he keeps a percentage of the sale which normally I can add to my selling price as theres still nothing that beats being able to see, feel, and test what your buying and being able to take it home with you right then and not have to wait any where from 3 days to a month later to get it (ie person accepts personal checks but waits 2 weeks for them to clear befor shipping and then ships parcel post which normally takes 10 days to get )

So if you have a guy you think is grumpy find another shop bet there is one about 50 miles or so in the other direction from you . If you where willing to drive 50 miles to goto him .

But in all The internet is great avenue but remember the down side when you make adecision list bad of both and good of both and see which you like better

RT

[RedGrey62]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ouengr

Is it just me or are the hobby shops failing to understand what made Wal-Mart such a success. Wal-Mart makes money by selling an individual item at a minimal profit and driving customers into the store. In turn the customer buys more items and visits more oftern.

Sorry, the Wal Mart solution doesn't work here. It works for Wal Mart because they sell so much stuff, everything from food to electronics and toys to clothes. Their buying power also allows them to get much lower prices from the manufacturers (personally I call it brow beating the companies to play ball). Don't get me wrong, it works, but it will not work for a LHS. Caboose Hobbies may be able to do it, but they have a nationwide following, same with some of the bigger on-line stores.

This may suprise many of you, but one of the main reasons I buy locally is taxes. When I ran my retail store, I had so many folks proud of the fact that they bought from QVC or on-line and didn't have to pay sales tax. Instead, they lined the pockets of those companies with the "shipping and handling" charges which rarely add up to what they're charging. The sales tax they saved would have been less than the S&H charges, plus those taxes go towards little things like police, fire, ambulance, libraries, schools, roads, etc.

But that, is for another thread altogether!

Rick

[Anonymous]

I agree with Tracklayer here. I don't know about you but 25 dollars is quite a price hike to me and as for the guy not willing to come down on the price of the car with the busted coupler, I'd walk out too. I don't pay full price for damaged goods.