Helping out your LHS?

I have an idea that should benefit local hobby shops. In consideration of the fact that so many brick and mortar stores are closing due to lack of business lost to the Internet, I know I stand on the side of people who would prefer to buy directly from a store as opposed to a giant warehouse.


I know I am not alone in saying that I am always searching for something that is difficult to find on the Internet or locally, but in my travels I have found another local hobby shop who has just the item I wanted.


What if we had a forum where people can specifically list items they are searching for so others can let the person know which local hobby shop has that particular item! It would be sort of a personal, LHS-supporting "Google". I've seen many a good deal go past that someone else might be specifically searching for. It wouldn't be too difficult to set up, and responses would be by private message only so we wouldn't need to worry about advertising concerns as it is between users. I love the idea of taking a list to my local store and helping other people find all the goods they want!


Is that crazy?

 

It's not crazy, however I'm down to essentially one LHS that carries a limited selection of new N Scale items plus a lot of dust gatherers, and one that tends to buy used stuff.

Facebook (yes, I know...) now has a "looking for recommendations" post type-- but we'd all have to be friends on Facebook...

 

It is fun when you visit a shop somewhere and you have a "holy cr@&....you guys still have these!" moments.

 

The existing Swap Meet section can fulfill that function.
Anyone can post a "wanted" listing and if someone else runs across the item at an "unaffiliated" shop they can send a PM with the info to the OP.

B&M stores who still don't normally conduct business via the internet would do themselves a big favor by setting up a rudimentary webpage with their contact info and a simple text listing of their inventory. Then whoever might be seeking one of those "dust gathers" will be able to find it using a google search.

 

That's such a good statement. It seems that a number of local shops lack even a simple web page with a map and contact information, which is quite ridiculous in this era. How do they expect customers to find them? I can fault myself at times though, as some shops depend solely on a Facebook presence. I have no interest in Facebook, so am also clueless about these shops too.

 

today's hobby shops has to sell RC planes , drone's ,rockets and has to carry a large inventory of each scale and to stock what is new and if it doesn't sell and for the hobby shop to keep the items on the shelf or in a show case is bad business not to talk about the rent for the hobby shop and the space they need for stock and a repair shop , a lot of hobby service what they sell . at the train shows some vendors have over the top prices on some cars and engines that you can get at your local hobby shop for the same price . the one thing i don't like is ordering an item and waiting two or three weeks or longer to arrive . i understand that the hobby shop has to get a large order together to get a good price for shipping from a vendor . in my case , i don't have a hobby shop close to me , the last good hobby train shop closed years ago the owner said he made more money selling camera and photo equipment .

 

Yes, it is and that's why I always try to look up and visit shops when I am traveling. Finding fewer shops these days through.

 

If I could walk into a store and buy an item with cash or order an item and pay for it when it turned up at the store - I wouldn't have the internet.

You can call me anything you want BUT if there was no internet, or the means to use the internet to buy stuff, there'd be a hell of a lot more brick and mortar stores, in a hell of a lot more places.

So far as I am concerned THAT would be the best for the hobby, the business' and the people in the hobby.

 

Well said!

 

I used to enjoy taking a few hours out of a business trip to visit LHSs. That was when I traveled more, and had more control over my itinerary. (Travel policies are getting more strict these days: i.e. Uber it instead of a rental car). That having been said, there are fewer places to visit anyway.

As for violation of the "no advertise = no mention" policy-- what about PMs only for responses for requested items?

 

I like the swap section here but I haven't seen much posted. Perhaps I'll give it a shot, but boy-oh-boy a dedicated space where simple lists of items people want might be a fun angle of the hobby in its own, some of us love shopping but can't take it all home ourselves... and I've rarely met a model railroader who didn't want to help out other modelers!

 

As mentioned, above, that works in most cases - with one notable exception being a certain dealer in suburban Baltimore, whose name gets censored even in PMs.

 

Back when I traveled for work, I spent most of my 'free' time visiting local hobby shops and train yards. I was like a treasure hunt where you never knew what you might find. Some car that was long gone in your geographic area could be collecting dust on a shelf in another area. While a few of those LHS that I used to have on my 'must visit' list still exist, there just aren't as many anymore. The back of MR mag had over a hundred shops listed...now only a handful. We can always wish things were like 'they used to be', but that won't make it so. I love steam trains and the Southern Pacific, but my love for them isn't going to make diesels go away or the SP to return. Sad, but true.

 

The back of MR mag had over a hundred shops listed...now only a handful.

Damn, Jeff. Truth be told ^^

This is one of the most heart wrenching parts of it. When I was a kid, I saw this massive, sprawling hobby everywhere with ads filling pages upon pages of thick issues of MR, N scale, and others. I used to save up my paper route money for locos and cars.... now, I open the mags and it's all "www. cheap and easy train shopping .com" and I feel damn guilty that perhaps I was part of all that, no in fact I am certain I was. Doesn't mean I didn't appreciate all those LHS's I used to beg for mom and dad to drive me to, but now I look at my Ebay "purchase history" full of things my LHS never had and I suppose I understand it. I hate the idea that within my life, I may see the further decline and near demise of traditional shopping, be it hobby or otherwise.

 

Really? What happened to "Freedom of Speech"? or PM's supposedly for "PRIVATE" conversations? Apparently the constitution doesn't apply around here and a persons privacy is equally irrelevant.

 

Well since I have only one hobby shop in the area. And he carries only a few n scale items. Most of it modern. About all I get from him is balsa for my trestles, scenery stuff, and paints. I do on occasion buy from his consignments. But not recently.
Personally. I think the internet has been a wonderful place. They can offer more at reasonable prices. There are many turn offs to this. The lack of test runs and being able to put hands on.
My hobby shop won't do internet sales. They don't want to hire someone else. And they would have to keep a larger supply. Not what they want to do at all .
I think we are stuck with the internet sales unfortunately. As for pushing a LHS on here? I am all for it. But a forum would have to be created for that so folks can get answers via email. Granted. It might upset some donors to the sight. So I guess we will see.
By the way, I will be at the Kate Shelley swap meet tomorrow. Hopefully it's not littered with to much junk..... (p.s. Google kate Shelley if your confused)


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