Three hobby shops have closed in the Milwaukee area in the past few months (internet competition and/or state of the US economy?). Is this happening elsewhere?
The one and only hobby store in Woodland Ca closed a month ago. Now the nearest hobby store is in Sacramento about 40 miles from where I live.
Lost three good ones in Prescott in the last five years. One was a large scale/clockshop, excellent. One I don't know much about, but the last one was real good for the modeling community. Shop space costs are skyrocketing, and Prescott keeps levying more sales tax on a base that has been in exodus ever since they lost Walmart to the Yavapai Indian Reservation that owns the land on the entrance to Prescott. There is now rumored to be two malls to be built within three miles of each other, The scenic and historic values of any of the land is being completely discarded in favor of tax margins. Oh Well. As I say, when the water runs out...
I think this is happening everywhere at the moment. Alot of it has to do with the internet and some business owners failure to get involved in it at the right time. Also, put into play the ability of larger firm/business to sell items at lower rates and well, buyers always look for the best deal, leaving more and more of the smaller business owners out in the dark.. Just my view on it.
Much of it has to do with the internet alright, but I also think a lot has to do with many of the manufacturers forcing hobby shops to buy minimum amounts of product, then the shop gets stuck with stock on the shelves that doesn't move... Another thing is discounts, both the local shops in Austin laughed at the local N scale club when they asked for a club discount, I was a member of that club at the time, we would order 50 or more locomotives at a time, I guess they are still laughing..
I'd rather buy locally at my hobby store, I mean the guy is trying to make a,iving aout of this, and most deal, aren't a deal after you meet the minimum spending limit AND the cost for shipping. Why pay for what you don't need when all you do need is a package of micro-trains couplers? My local hobby store (35 miles away) is the only on with in about 100 miles, safely. he has ok business, and the store is a little cramped. But still it' still better than the internet. DW REED'S HOBBY STOP 142 W.Main street Clarksburg,WV 26301
I don't buy the argument of supporting the little guy by purchasing from a storefront. Most of the online dealers I use are mom-and-pop operations with an owner that is savy enough to recognize the technology available to the buyer and the merchant. All of the "big" (ie eHobbies) online dealers are clueless as to the hobby and are just selling the top two-dozen items purchased by ignorant (but well meaning) parents during the holidays. Most of the storefront hobby shops I've been to stock the same 100 items that the other stores carry. Buying online, I get a selection that usually can't be matched by any storefront, and at a fair price; and the shipping is usually cheaper than the cost of gasoline and time to travel to a storefront (not to mention dodging sales tax). Lastly, some would argue that the advice available at the storefront is worth the loyalty and higher prices. I don't think anyone here on the TrainBoard would disagree when I point out the quality of advice here is top notch. Also, this forum provides a system of checks and balances, making sure that bad advice is quickly pointed out. That quality is not available at a storefront.
Our local store (the only one within 75 miles) is able to keep a fairly good HO and N inventory, supported by his distibutors. However, he makes his profit by maintaining his store inventory at about 60%-70% high quality plastic models aimed at our large active duty and retired Military population. Each store has different ways of staying alive, but we should try to support them as much as possible .... I mean, where else besides TB can you stand around jawboning with other "idiots" like yourself? Hank
A&A 6183, DW's shop is a little cramped... but the closet hobby shop other than his is in "Little" Washington, PA... and one of the times I was at that store, the guy wouldn't leave me alone long enough for me to even look at his selection.... I hope DW's store can survive............
You know, when we all talk about what was its knda makes the worlad seem nasty. My local hobby shop closed after being in the area for only about four years. My closet and most convienent is about 65 miles away. But this is good because the atmosphere as well as stock of item I did not know existed. Got into my DCC that I wouldn't have had my local fellow not left. So there is good to all fo us. Thanks, Carl[/LIST]
yea, that's dave lol He keeps trying to interest me in the N scale B23-7's (atlas) "won't that look nice on yer layout?" well I dont mind it much. I he's the last of the kind nearby. (I think there was one on Morgantown called the Hobby Corner. well that'sme word s of the day
I guess I am fortunate to have two great model train stores within 15 to 20 mins drive from Georgetown. One in Milton and the other in Streetsville. Both specialize in all scales although very little Z gauge. HO dominates then N then G and O. There are many others that specialize in trains in Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton. There are also a number of good ones in nearby Toronto, a 60 km drive. Prices are reasonable even though our dollar sucks compared to the US dollar. If I buy ten sections of Atlas flex track I get them for $2.50 each. An Atlas GP40-2 sells for $98.00 and Kato locos are in the $105.00 range and up.
Let me just say that Village and Kings Hobby didn't laugh when our N scale club was ordering from Tex-n-Rails, with as much as we were ordering, at least twice a month, we didn't pay postage and handling fees either, and we got top notch service, I do see these guys at TexNRails at some of the local shows I attend here in Florida now that I live here, TNR is out of Miami... Now that I'm in O scale, thats 2 rail O "SCALE" for those of you that think with a Lionel mentality, there isn't much I can do but mail order, I get a lot of my stuff on ebay, and do some other mail ordering from Standard Hobby Supply, Micro Mark and others.....
Speaking of closings, I'm wondering what's up with eHobbies. I received merchandise the other day stamped "All Sales Final" over top their printed return policy. There was no mention of this policy on the web site. This "smells" like trouble to me, but to be fair, I've emailed them and asked for an explaination. I'm certainly not happy with them, especially since one of my items was a locomotive!
