Suporting your local hobby shop. Are you?

[SOU Fan]

I support my LHS to a degree. I live in Colorado so if I go to a LHS it would be Caboose Hobbies. I go there occasionally for stuff like detail parts paint decals and the likes. I don't need to support them for them to stay alive but they carry what I need most of the time. Just my $.02 cents

[brothaslide]

Support your local hobby shop?  How about supporting American workers- Remember, most model railroad "stuff" is made in China these days. 

[RFP622]

I would support my LHS if there was a decent one in my area. I am not trying put down the one that we have in the area, but it is just not worth the 30 minutes to drive to  there and 30 minutes back. The prices are MSRP and any discounts that he does have are not worth it. 10% etc... He does not supply the Roads that are approrate to the area (Mid VA). All UP, BNSF, Pensy, and others (not knocking those roads). if there is a road from the are there is 1 in stock and the rest the roads listed above.

 The other thing that this one does is put things such as couplers  and such behind the counter. If you need something you have to get someone to help and then it's, which one, oh ok here you go and then goes off to do something else.  As other has said in the thread LHS need to service teh custermers and make me want to by from them. I can take my dollar else where just as easly. 

[Milwhiawatha]

well the real close hobby shop doesnt carry decoders and thats what I am after.

[Renegade1c]

I have some really good LHS around me so I tend to go there first. If I can't find there I will use the internet. I have only ordered a few items online as Caboose Hobbies has almost everything I need and is only about a 20 minute drive.

[Anonymous]

I don't really support my LHS. to me the matter is where can I get what I want for the cheapest price. If it's my LHS then I'll get it from them. If it's some place in brooklyn then I'll go to them.

[zgardner18]

I would love to support my LHS but they are kind of jerks. To me the LHS market is kind of scarce, so in my mind a LHS should in a way cater to its customers. Never once has my LHS gotten to know me for all the times that I've been in there and bought HO’s from them. The other day I was in and I had my eye on a P2K SD60 which I knew had been sitting on the shelf for over 2 years. I ask the owner if he would knock of $10 and sell it to me for $100. He told me NO! Only $10 off and he said no. Now I do all of my shopping online from the east coast where the prices are anywhere from $40-60 bucks cheaper. I say screw my LHS if they don't want to befriend me to help them out. I can't imagine how they would treat a young teenager who might be starting to be interested in the hobby. I just think that customer relation is very important. Look at me, the customer that they just lost. Are there others?

[Anonymous]

Joey - good luck with the new job! Have they told you yet that once you work in the hobby business, you lose interest in your hobby? Hopefully that will not happen to you, but working in a store is an eye-opening experience in many ways. As an LHS owner, thanks for starting this thread and a big thank-you to all of you who do all you can to keep a LHS in business. In a post I mentioned that as an owner I've learned a lot from this forum on the perceptions that people have about LHSs - good and bad - and this thread is a great example of that.

[Anonymous]

I support both of mine. I have an Ofna LX Comp that is always broken and I buy the parts from the LHS that deals in RC(Unless the part is unbelievable expensive...then I'll get it on ebay.). When I buy train, I buy from the LHS that deals in Trains. The only problem with that is that they are very overpriced, since they are the only hobby store within a 25 mile radius of me. I walked out of that store one day with a VHS video(Not even DVD!) and a "How to build Realistic Railroads" from MR, spending $40(Without Tax!)!!!

[Anonymous]

No.

[tomikawaTT]

If the LHS has the items I need, I'll happily buy them there.

Locally (within a 25 mile radius) there are 2 (count 'em) train shops (plus one that deals only in G-gauge) and several that advertise trains as part of their inventory. I went to a new (to me) one last week, and found a couple of tired toy train sets, a few old BB kits and some Atlas code 100 flex. No Kadee couplers, no rail joiners... There was twice as much display space devoted to RC aircraft FUEL as there was to model railroad supplies. The fuel shelves were full, the railroad shelves weren't.

It's hard to support a LHS that doesn't stock anything I need.

Chuck

[NS2591]

I love my hobby shop. I use ebay every now and then to find those hard to find items(i'm talking like a REAL working K5H, which i rarely see and when i do i can only envy those that can afford them) My LHS has a couple people that can be A-holes but i try to go in on days that 1 of the 4 that are great guys are working. I don't think we will be loosing the HS anytime soon becuase its not just trains there, RC, Model boats, Cards, War game stuff, puzzels. Stuff like that, I also always pay cash becuase i do not have a credit card, and If and when i do, i will still pay in Cash. Infact we have 3 Hobby shops i can go to. 1 is trains only and carries more stuff than i will ever need, And its discounted, but its so far away that any money i have save on the models ends up in the gas tank. The other is like the first one i mentioned, They have alittle bit of everything, I get a 20% discount there for being in the MRR club in the next town, but I have to order everything i want becuase he doesn't stock much in HO that i want, and he doesn't stock much in N scale of anyway, and Anymoney i save ends up in the gas tank again. So i go to the Closer of the 3 almost everything there is MSRP but becuase i have been going there since i started MRRIng I usually get some kind of discount. If they don't have it they will order it for me, All the trains department guys know me by name, and have even ordered stuff to put on shelf just to tempt me! An example is an Intermountain SP Speed Lettering SD40T-2, I think they wanted 120 for it, For me they'll take it to 95. MB Klein has the same engine for about 60 or 70 but i would rather put my money into a HS. If i do order anything online it will be from Caboose Hobbies, or MB Klein becuase both of those stock hard to find items and they are both somewhere you can go into. I used to order from Trainworld but i called one day to inquire about an engine i was looking for and they didn't know if they had it in stock and wouldn't look for me. If i called my Hobby shop they would look on the shelves and in the stock room, then check the warehouse, and even other shops in the chain. And if none of those have it, or its a common item they order from walthers. It will be a shame to not be able to go there after i move out of my parents house.

[BMRR]

Yes, I support my LHS. If they don't have what I need, they will order it.

Stan.

[SOU Fan]

My LHS went out of business, but it was only a hobbytown usa and they didn't have very much train stuff. Now I go to Caboose hobbies if I need something.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MisterBeasley

From the "Grandson of Sam" thread on LHS ownership, I've learned that we should all be paying cash whenever possible when we buy from our LHS. The banks hit up small businesses particularly hard for every plastic transaction. So, if you bring in real money instead, you can increase your LHS's profit margin without it costing you anything.

The other advantage, of course, is that your wife won't see an itemized statement with your train expenses staring her in the face every month.

You forgot those who might be debt free and enjoying the increased purchasing power fighting off temptation to spend and spend at the LHS. Or perhaps the Spouse is preparing his or her own plans as well.

I try to pay cash every month, I prefer that to a credit card anyways; that way I know the item is paid for and not accruing additional interest charges.

[nbrodar]

I buy from my LHS whenever I can. Granted the prices are a little higher, but the customer service is great, and she will order me anything she doesn't have in stock, and will search for it, if Walthers doesn't have it. Most prices are dicounted 10% below MSPR, plus I get another 5% off for being an NMRA member.

Nick

[jeffers_mz]

I'd buy from a pawnshop before I'd even look at E-bay. At least I can see, hold, inspect and test an item first.

I buy online only if the items isn't listed in the Walther's catalog, maybe 1 percent of my total purchases. My LHS will order from Walthers, and passes on their discount to me.

99% of my purchases are from the LHS, no pigs in pokes, I get to test locomotives before paying for them, and I get what I want when I need it. If there wasn't a good LHS around, I'd find the least expensive, most reliable online source for miscellaneaus items, keep a list for locomotives, and buy the engines in bulk during a special trip to the nearest large brick and mortar HS, after testing each one first.

[Anonymous]

My favourite soapbox topic.

Why should I pay my LHS Can$300 for a locomotive I can buy in the U.S of A for less than US$100?

Please. no replies saying that it costs as much to order a US$100 loco from the U.S. of A as it does to pay Can$300 at the LHS, that's just not true. I do it all the time. Have done for years.

[wgnrr]

Considering my local hobby shop is not that local (100 miles round trip) I try to order all of my stuff from Walthers through them (because they make some money off it). The only time I order from Walthers through Walthers is when I have a gift certificate.

Phil

[grayfox1119]

Absolutely!! I have a choice of 4 good LHS within a 30 mile radius. And, as Mr B has stated above, use cash!! Credit Card companies charge the store owners a set percentage, AMEX being the highest, that is why not as many stores will take American Express cards, while accepting VISA and Master Card.
If we lose our LHS's then we are forced to order everything online, and shipping costs are getting rediculous. The LHS's can order in larger quantities and thereby save on shipping costs, we as individuals rarely get free shipping.

[Anonymous]

I just found an LHS in my new locale that's promising. They have a good stock of train stuff I like.

[MisterBeasley]

From the "Grandson of Sam" thread on LHS ownership, I've learned that we should all be paying cash whenever possible when we buy from our LHS. The banks hit up small businesses particularly hard for every plastic transaction. So, if you bring in real money instead, you can increase your LHS's profit margin without it costing you anything.

The other advantage, of course, is that your wife won't see an itemized statement with your train expenses staring her in the face every month.

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by scubaterry

Prior to moving to the Florida Keys I did most of my shopping at the two LHS.
Terry

I support the two LHS that Terry is refering to... in fact, I buy my model railroad goodies from these shops exclusively. I have never purchased anything online. While I could buy online, one situation always comes to mind. I bought a MRC power pack from one of these shops.
When I got it home and connected it to the layout, my loco took off like a rocket. I check to make sure that I had the leads connected to the variable DC outputs and I did. I tried the fixed DC outputs and got the same result. I
immediately disconnected the pack and returned it to the shop. John, the train guy at the shop, hooked it up to his test track and his loco took off at top speed.

After he saw that the pack was defective, he put it back in the box, put it aside and handed me a new one. I thanked him, returned home and connected it to the layout and all was fine.

From the time I discovered that the power pack was defective until I was up and running was about thirty minutes. Had I purchased this power pack online, not only would I have waited weeks for it to arrive, once I found it defective I would have had to return it to the online dealer.
That is if they would even take it back. They would have probably told me to send it MRC for warranty repair. Either way I would have been without the power pack for weeks, probably months.

I probably paid more, but the experience without the headache made the extra money seem more than worthwhile. Good luck, Dave

[Anonymous]

If it aint stocked clean and discounted I buy from ebay and trains shows were I sell items.

[Anonymous]

I am a strong supporter of my LHS and he is a strong supporter of model railroading in my area. Yes, I also buy overb the internet and from Ebay but I always like to look at stuff and hear about it.
The internet is great, but I for one would never believe that it will replace the well stocked and knowedgeable LHS.

[Don Z]

You bet I do. Depending on your annual purchase level, you are given a discount based on your purchase history. It didn't take me long to get to the top level of discounting. I have nothing but praise for my LHS. The owner is very knowledgeable of trains and he has a part time employee who is an AmTrak engineer. He is a walking encyclopedia of railroad information!

I've also had the opportunity to meet Chuck Ellis while in the store; Chuck's layout was featured in the Dec 2001 issue of MR. Chuck invited me and the LHS owner to his house to check out his layout - VERY impressive to see. Chuck has been very helpful when I catch him in the store by letting me pick his brain about how to do things on my layout.

Between the pricing available to me, the owner willing to order anything I want from the catalog and the knowledge from expert modelers, I can't lose!

Don Z.

[IRONROOSTER]

My local hobby shop doesn't support me. I model in S scale and he doesn't carry it anymore. So I buy over the Internet and at shows.
Enjoy
Paul

[SilverSpike]

I support my LHS, in fact there are about 3 of them here in the Raleigh, NC area that have great model RR stock and ordering options. My favorite one is right here in Wake Forest, NC, it is Train Buddy! I have placed a few orders in the past month, and all items have been delivered within 7 to 10 days of ordering. Only a few wye turnouts on back order with Walthers are expected in sometime in September.

I prefer the personal contact with a live person who can answer questions and give quick "show me" demos on the layout.

[Anonymous]

This subject come up fairly often and usually ends up with the same answer. The average small LHS does not have the items in stock that I use and is not a dealer for brass models.

It is hard for them to stock a sufficient stock of Atlas or Kato for the many roads names that available.

This is the reason so many of us have purchased from Ebay and Caboose Hobbies type of stores. You can find the item and have it quickly.

It is the same with a new or used car purchase. Most of us will drive and check around to save money.

I go to the LHS in many places when I travel, and try to pick up a Kadee freight car or something to spend some money, but I have found many shops just do not have any stock to pick from.

[jamnest]

I try to support my LHS, howevver he doesn't pay attention to the modeling of his customers. He has a shop full of high priced things that he will never sell, because no one models those RRs. He also does not stock common items.

I'll give you a simple example. My LHS is about 70 miles round trip. I needed some KD #5s. He had everything but KD#5s. I asked him if he had just run out as they are popular. He wasn't sure how long ago he ran out. I could have orderd them cheaper on the Internet or mail order. No, I asked him to order me two bulk packs of KD#5s. He said that they would be in in a few days. I went back two weeks later and he had not orderd them. I went back a month later and he only had one package. I said sorry, that I didn't get in eariler and that someone must have purchased the orther package. He said, did you want two packages? I am a well known modeler to this LHS and have spent a lot of money there. They are always willing to order what I need and don't require advance payment. This LHS could make a lot more money if they would attend to the needs of their customers. I have heard of similar stories from other modelers about this LHS.

Jim