Went to Michael's Arts today with a 40% coupon

Interesting thread...We have both Michaels and Hobby Lobby here in San Antonio and out of the two, Hobby Lobby seems to have a much better selection of models.  I bought a Pak 40 (Dragon) using the 40% off coupon.  Think I paid 7-8$ for it.  That said, those coupons dont come around often and if a business can afford to give you 40% off, that tells me that they are overpriced to begin with.  They must have a huge profit margin.

Stop complaining guys!! You do atleast HAVE a store that sells kit nearby where you live!!

And when you get to a store, you are lucky to have your 40% coupouns!

And 30$ for a kit? That is CHEAP whatever kit it is here, when you find a store that sells them of course.

As for myself, I do have a Michaels nearby(5 miles) but I never go there mainly because their selection of models is non-existent. There is also a HobbyTownUSA in my region, but it's a 30 to 45 minute drive(15 miles), and I find them over-priced.

As for Hobby Lobby(3 miles) I usually buy paints, brushes, and other various supplies there since it's cheap when you wait for a sale, plus they usually have stuff in stock. Models not so much, maybe when something is on clearance I'll buy it from HobbyLobby.

Thank goodness I have a devoted LHS, Ed's Hobby Warehouse, only about a 15 minute drive. They have a fantastic selection of model kits(alot of discontinued items too!) He's not the best place for paints and tools, he's more devoted to RC, nevertheless he's still the best LHS in my region. http://www.edshobbyshop.com/index.html

I have a Michaels in my area and I just mainly go there to buy paint when they have a sale.When I want a model or something else I go to Hobby Town USA or one of the 2 smaller hobby shops that are in my area.

I always support my LHS. The one in Lousiville (50 mi. away) is near where my monthly IPMS meeting is (the owner is a club member). I always stop by on my way to the meeting and mingle with the umpteen members of the club who are also stopping by on their way to the meeting. I tend to splurge at this shop since I hit it only once a month, I'm looking at the latest hot kit, talking with other members who are interested in the same kit and eventually one guy's just bought one, popped the box open and then the rest of us grab one as well. He has a great selection and gives us the 10% club discount too.

http://www.srihobbies.com/

I also have a smaller LHS about 5 miles away. I visit it much more frequently for my standard paint, glue, modeling magazine, etc. I just spent $50 + $3 sales tax there yesterday.

http://www.hobbystation.net/

And of course, I visit the Louisville Hobby Lobby and the Lousiville HobbytownUSA. I only buy kits at HL if I have a 40% off coupon or they have the 30% off sale. Rarely will I purchase a kit off the shelf without it. HT prices are normally the same as HL, but there isn't a % off coupon nor do I get the club discount. Their kit selection is better, but not as good as the store that gives us a discount. I always swing by if I'm in the area, but that's about it.

 http://www.hobbytown.com/kylou/

mg.mikael

Bushi:

 The kits they are carrying are the same as before and only 1 of each kit when they have so much space that is wasted. 

 I know that they only had a t one time 2 Dragon Kits I bought one, someone bought the other. I even asked about the other kit later when it did not show back up in inventory. I was told they would not get it back due to the cost of the kit. Go figure. I wish the local store carried more selection but they don't.

Bushi

 

Funny thing is my Hobby Lobby is just like yours with those two points. They carry only one or two of each kit and the rest is wasted shelf space. What is up with that?!

As for the Dragon kits, the same strange thing happens here, they might (one in million shot) get a Dragon kit in stock and after it's sold it's never to return. WTF? If it sells, then you should get more in stock, isn't that how a business is supposed to be run?

Mikael I am glad you posted this that tell me that I am not the only one who has had this happen to.

Guys don't think that I thing that HL is a bad plce to shop I don't. But they could do better and carry more selection.

The Hobby Town carries about 100 different kits, that is why I go, paying a little more to me even in a tight economy is something I choose to do to support the LHS. If doing this keep them here so be it.

Yes I can use the coupons at HL and pick up what I don't have and I will, and also I will purchase online too.

At least I am supporting my local shop!!!!!!

 So what about everyone else are you willing to step up and help keep the local LHS open? It does not matter if it is HL, HTUSA, and  Michael's or a Independent.

I wonder!

Bushi

Don't get me started on Michael's and Hobby Lobby.  They both don't stock much here in Atlanta, I've been to three Hobby Lobby stores near me and guess what they stock the exact same items.  The funny thing is the prices differ from store to store.  Michael's has a dismal selection and sometimes they don't have any models.

By the By Hobby Lobby has a online site you can buy from:

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/

The problem is the selection is same as what they have in the retail stores without the 40% discount coupon.

Bushi

 The kits they are carrying are the same as before and only 1 of each kit when they have so much space that is wasted. 

 I know that they only had a t one time 2 Dragon Kits I bought one, someone bought the other. I even asked about the other kit later when it did not show back up in inventory. I was told they would not get it back due to the cost of the kit. Go figure. I wish the local store carried more selection but they don't.

Bushi

Funny thing is my Hobby Lobby is just like yours with those two points. They carry only one or two of each kit and the rest is wasted shelf space. What is up with that?!

As for the Dragon kits, the same strange thing happens here, they might (one in million shot) get a Dragon kit in stock and after it's sold it's never to return. WTF? If it sells, then you should get more in stock, isn't that how a business is supposed to be run?

Yes I did just go after the  inventory reduction sale, but what I have not said is that when I started back modeling, this was the only place to buy kits. I stopped by there every week. Yes every week!!!!  This was for a whole year!!!! The kits they are carrying are the same as before and only 1 of each kit when they have so much space that is wasted. Why carry only those 11 kits I do not understand. Maybe  in a larger demographic area the stores carry a larger selection. As stated before I had asked management about this and was told that corporate controlled what they get in. I had noticed that the aircraft kits have been reduced in size and part of that is replaced with SCI FI kits. The only thing that has not been reduced is the Auto kits. The selection overall does not look to be picked over and reduced, it  looks like their standard every day selection. I know that they only had a t one time 2 Dragon Kits I bought one, someone bought the other. I even asked about the other kit later when it did not show back up in inventory. I was told they would not get it back due to the cost of the kit. Go figure. I wish the local store carried more selection but they don't.

Bushi

You also went after HL had at least 2 (maybe 3?) weeks straight of 30% off plastic model kits and then a 40% off coupon this past week. I know my HL gets picked clean during the 30% off week (probably due to trying to get rid of excess holiday inventory).

MikeV

Bushi:

Yes I know I can order online cheaper and most likely will at some point. I want to see a place make it and stay. I hate to see something that I am interested in disappear because I did not patron the place that carried what I needed.

 

I understand that but I think that hobby shops for the most part are going the way of many retailers nowadays that have all gone because of competition from lower priced places. With the economy we are in it is even more difficult as people are having to stretch their money farther than ever before. I think the hobby shops are going away because of internet competition much like how giants like Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target have done to the smaller stores that sold the same products.

Mike I totally do understand this, but with a place like HobbyTown which franchises, it bring the hobby store concept back. I know that know one wants to pay full price, but it is not just haveing convience but have the service that goes with it.  Going in to pay full price once in a while will not brake the bank, but going there to just buy paint will not keep a place open. We are the ones who are letting an industry disappear. I have seen too many post on local shops disappering, why because it is easier to order online than to patron the local shop. But people still complain because small shops can not compete, I don't think that they see that to stop it they are the solution. I know of  alot of specialty shops who do very well. The people who shop these stores go for the selection and services as I stated earlier. This does not mean that i will not shop online or at Hobby Lobby. I will at some point and time.

As a note Rob may be right about my local Hobby Lobby. I went by there today to see what they had. I have not been there in a year and half. So I was not suprised when I went to the model selection, primarily armor and saw the same 11 kits that were there a year and a half ago. They did have six new kits, but not one high end Dragon kit to be found. Make one wonder!!!!!!!!  I did ask one time if they were going to get in some of the new releases and was told that corporate decides what they get.

Bushi

Bushi

Yes I know I can order online cheaper and most likely will at some point. I want to see a place make it and stay. I hate to see something that I am interested in disappear because I did not patron the place that carried what I needed.

I understand that but I think that hobby shops for the most part are going the way of many retailers nowadays that have all gone because of competition from lower priced places. With the economy we are in it is even more difficult as people are having to stretch their money farther than ever before. I think the hobby shops are going away because of internet competition much like how giants like Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target have done to the smaller stores that sold the same products.

Well Mike, I am not bragging about HobbyTown, but when the only hobby shop that was here closed up  25-30 years ago, and you get stuck with nothing but RC shops who care nothing about scale modeling. All they care about is are you going to come in and drop $400 for a RC car or plane. Then they act like because you are not interested in that then they just want you to leave. So when you do get a locally owned shop you support it because in this town if you don't they pack up and leave or go out of business. I have seen this happen in so many locally own businesss'. Most people in this area will not patron a place if it is not a national chain in some form. I hate to say that, but if paying a higher means that I don't have to drive 45 mins to 1.5 hrs to buy supplies or a kit so be it.

Yes I know I can order online cheaper and most likely will at some point. I want to see a place make it and stay. I hate to see something that I am interested in disappear because I did not patron the place that carried what I needed.

Bushi

Bushi

Thank goodness for HobbyTown USA.

Bushi

We have one here as well and their prices are nothing to brag about either. They charge full retail price on their kits. All I ever buy there is paint.

Well yes, I have used the coupons but it got to the point of the same kits, and nothing really new was showing up. May be the fact that Hickory,NC is not that large. But how many early version M4 Shermans or Tigers can one build before one self gets tired of them. The local HobbyTown has a larger selection fo such a small store. I do need to see what the HL has now. Now that they have some indirect competition. I do know that the Michael's here has not changed what they are carrying either way.

Bushi

Maybe your Hobby Lobby is sub par, but the ones I've lived close to (Temple Texas, Huntsville Alabama, Louisville Kentucky) have always had the latest hot kits by Tamiya, Dragon, Trumpeter, Revell, etc. And although their shelf prices are a little higher, the 40% off coupon online or the Sunday paper (took one of each yesterday) always brings the price down to a very reasonable amount.

The Louisvile one had the outstanding early Dragon Tiger kit when it was the hottest thing on the market. I know I sold one for over twice what I paid for it. Some of the Tamiya armor I left on the shelf yesterday was the Char Bis, Panzer II (new tool), Opel Blitz, several of their newer 1/48 scale armor, Trumpeter LAV-R, Academy M7 Priest, and a few others I can't remember (a few Dragon German armor). I do recall seeing a newer Tamiya British aircraft kit that came with a British light utility truck in 1/48 scale too.

There was even the 1/72 scale Revell Gato Submarine kit in a small coffin sized box that would have been a steal with that coupon. Mind you these are just the section of armor kits I thought about buying and a few kits on surrounding shelves that caught my eye. There was an entire row of automobile kits behind me that I paid little attention to, but I know there was an Italeri Peterbuilt Tractor Trailer wrecker with LAFD markings and a couple of large fire engine kits (Ward LaFrance). There was also a good selection of Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica kits that I looked at but already have most of them.

You can print out a bunch of coupons and go in there and clean off their shelves with the discount. That's why I can say Hobby Lobby rocks.

I don't see how you can say that the Hobby Lobby rocks. The one here doesn't carry squat. They never really have anything on clearance like I see some of you post.  Michaels also. Thank goodness for HobbyTown USA.

Bushi

I meant to post these pics up yesterday and forgot!

Revell 69 Camaro Baldwin edition

And here's MikeV's favorite

IF I had a 40% coupon (which happens rarely these days) I could get the Baldwin Camaro for $18, and my LHS has it at $17.95 regular price. He didn't have the F-15 in stock to price compare.

As you can see Micheal's in Canada is ridiculously overpriced. I don't consider it a sale when the discounted price is the "normal" retail!

Hobby Lobby rocks, I just scored the fairly new M1078 LMTV (the US Army's new deuce and a half) with the 40% coupon (an $80 list price kit).

They opened a new Michael's quite a while ago and I have yet to set foot in it. It is just a few blocks from the Hobby Lobby Store. I rarely shop at HL without a coupon in my pocket. Even use it for the cheapest of things such as craft stick restocking...frugal sob ain't I.

I watch the discontinued items at HL. Scored a couple arm loads of Minicraft kits once which were marked down, ranging anywhere from $3- $7 each. Including a $30+ B777 for $6.00. Typically our area HL have a corner or two of the store set aside for clearance items...pick through it sometimes you can really score big!

I should visit the only other LHS in our area tomorrow if the weather is somewhat decent. The last time I was in there I was seriously disappointed. I have more kits in my stash than they had in the entire store...cars included. Not my favorite store, it has always had a poor selection of kits, but it had just about everything else as they were also a store that had science supplies. I would occasionally stop in for a much needed resupply of a jar or paint.

It was more convenient than driving the 20 miles to Oshkosh to our local HobbyTown USA where we have our meetings.

Funny thing, I once shipped an order of SnJ Spray Metal to a guy who lived across the street from this store. When I approached the manager about stocking it, he said none of his customers used it. The guy who ordered it from me was in the store...I said to him I guess that means you're not a customer, just some smuck off the street trying to get warm. He replied, "Now you know why I ordered direct from you, he doesn't care what his customers want, just what he thinks they need."

Well, Canadians get raped by the US chain stores. I guess we're paying for all the great deals you guys get. I could understand it when the Canadian dollar was 67¢ of the US, but today we're at 97¢!

$28 is around what a Revell car kit retails for at Michael's here in BC! I'll pop in there today and have a look at what they offer.

I'm surprised to hear about the pricing differences you mentioned.  We have both a Hobby Lobby and a Michael's here and while Michael's does have the more limited selection you mentioned, the Hobby Lobby is the one with the outrageous prices.  For example, the prepaint Revell X-Wing was about $17 at the local Mike's and about $25 at HL.

Maybe the local Michael's is pricing differently than the rest of the chain.  It's been here longer and might be lowering prices to keep customers, especially since HL is within line-of-sight of Mike's entrance.

Bgrigg

I never buy models at Michael's. Overpriced and limited choice. They carry only Revell and stock very few warbirds, no armor, and only the newest releases of autos. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is I know I can go to the LHS and buy it at full price and it's still  cheaper than the fully discounted price at Michael's. Which leads me to believe they're over priced on everything.

I hear you Bill. The Revell 1/48 F-15E (Which is the best kit on the market by the way) is the only kit they normally carry that is good. They had a $28 (It was $27 and change) price tag on it so with the 40% off coupon that puts it at $16.80 which is a great price. I know the hobby shops are going to be much higher than that.

I never buy models at Michael's. Overpriced and limited choice. They carry only Revell and stock very few warbirds, no armor, and only the newest releases of autos. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is I know I can go to the LHS and buy it at full price and it's still  cheaper than the fully discounted price at Michael's. Which leads me to believe they're over priced on everything.