ANother one bites the dust...

I would be able to love to walk again into one of the LHS close by me as they were 3=4 yrs ago. Plenty of kits and choice than, now ...

One shop stopped stocking kits at all, they are now full of paints, tools, dolls and action toys.
Another closed the 2nd story to make it into an office for online sales and reduced stock to fit it all into 1 floor now(very poor kit selection now).

3rd shop still stocks a fair amount but they don't have most of the good hobby supplies, which are still available at shop 2(above).

Looks like most of the shops in town are reducing on kits or seem to go for 2nd-hand sales items, which means a poor selection of good and affordable kits.

It is nice to walk in, buy a kit and actully be able to look at it that day. Unfortuantly, for the money you can save online, sometimes its hard to spend extra for that. I know not all things are cheaper, and I know sometimes we all get in the mood for a certain kit and want it that day, but man, I can save a lot of money buying online, even with shipping costs. It unfortunatly goes either way on this one, there are ups and downs to both.

I have seen the demise of 3 hobby shops here! I wish the best of luck to the remaining-I know internet sites are great but nothing beats just walking in to a shop!

mfsob wrote:

I live in fear of driving down main street one day and seeing a big Going Out Of Business sign on the front of our only local hobby shop. She has a loyal clientele, and I purposely buy a lot of things there that I could probably get cheaper at Wally World or even on line, because if she folds, that's IT for about 20 miles around. But I have noticed what others have, there are very, very few younger modelers going in there. I'm not sure if its the prices of everything or just one of those periodic cycles.

Your in pretty good shape. My nearest HS is about half an hour away. The next closest 2 are about an hour, and one of them isn't worth the drive, and the other is a HT USA, so there is basiclly no customer service. I really hope mine doesn't go. This area doesn't seem to be to good for hobbystores, I have seen 4 or 5 go under in the same area he is in, but he has survivied. Hopefully he will be there for awhile!

What you said about the periodic cycle, that got my imagination going, and they say history repeats itself, so what I am thinking is this, one day, this fad of older people buying the models and younger kids not caring about it, could turn around. Has it happened in the past? I don't really know, cause I was a young kid in the past, but I can see it happening now, just watching people in my LHS. Just a thought, what you guys think?

Well-- it is a fair distance from where I live actually-- but it was a nice diversion while I was up there...I do most of my shopping online in my area unfortunately as there are no dedicated hobby shops close by...

I live in fear of driving down main street one day and seeing a big Going Out Of Business sign on the front of our only local hobby shop. She has a loyal clientele, and I purposely buy a lot of things there that I could probably get cheaper at Wally World or even on line, because if she folds, that's IT for about 20 miles around.

But I have noticed what others have, there are very, very few younger modelers going in there. I'm not sure if its the prices of everything or just one of those periodic cycles.

Only if it's Earl Gray or Orange Pekoe. Sorry to hear this.

That sucks! A tea room? Wow, I won't say exactly whats on my mind. Have you got another LHS or are you going to have to go to online shopping to fill the void?