Local shops

jwb wrote:

How  often do you buy from a local shop versus buying on the Internet, simply to support the local shop? I've found that I can almost always find a kit cheaper on the 'net, but I really want to support the local shop. I love going in, seeing the planess hanging from the ceiling, the cases full of tanks, cars and planess, the stacks of kits. (There is a 3x5 card strung from the ceiling that says "Stealth".) And TALKING about building. This forum is great, but it's so interesting to interact face-to-face. It takes me back to 20+ years ago when I spent hours every day building planes, and would go to great lengths to get to the local shop. My friends and I would excitedly go over every new kits we saw on the shelves, comparing techniques, sharing bottles of paint- it was great. Anyway, just wondering how others feel about it.

I buy all my paints, glues, putties, sanding sticks, knife blades, brushes and at least 3/4 of the kits in my stash from the LHS. I have a great relationship with the owner and he supports some of my little endeavours. Recently I've been putting together a box to send to the troops in Kosovo. Jim at BC Hobby and Shaver in Kelowna sold me numerous kits at half price and refused to take any money at all for the bottles of paint and numerous brushes I picked out.

One thing I always keep in mind is that the LHS owner spends his income in the same community I live in and he pays taxes that support it as well. I'm a firm believer in what goes around, comes around. I will even spend a couples of bucks more on a kit than I can buy it for online knowing all that.

I hear what you're saying, Bgrigg. I was in my local shop the other day, and a customer needed a special ordered. The customer offered to pre-pay, but the guy said "Don't worry about it- you're in here a lot. I should have it in a week or so. Leave me your number and I'll call you."

That's one thing I appreciate- personal service.

Great idea about sending kits to the troops...... wonder if that could grow? I'd like to support something like that. I was off in a far land once, getting shot at, and something like that would've been a great diversion.

I try to support my LHS as often as possible. He happens to be pretty well stocked with kits and accessories like evergreen and plastruct plastic, all sorts of paints, glues, brass, and dremel supplies. However, he doesn't go in for photo-etch, track link, resin cockpits, or resin kits. So when I need something of that nature, I turn to Squadron, R & J, or micro-mark.

jwb wrote:

I hear what you're saying, Bgrigg. I was in my local shop the other day, and a customer needed a special ordered. The customer offered to pre-pay, but the guy said "Don't worry about it- you're in here a lot. I should have it in a week or so. Leave me your number and I'll call you." That's one thing I appreciate- personal service.

There is a certain amount of satisfaction that comes from dealing with flesh and blood in a brick and mortar building that is just not there with an online store. I will still purchase from the online vendors as the LHS can't possibly stock everything all the time. But I feel welcome in my LHS and will stop in just to visit!

Great idea about sending kits to the troops...... wonder if that could grow? I'd like to support something like that. I was off in a far land once, getting shot at, and something like that would've been a great diversion.

It sure can grow! And has...

http://finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/40/ShowForum.aspx

and

http://finescale.com/fsm/default.aspx?c=a&id=2258

I, along with numerous others here at the FSM Forums, have already donated many kits and paints. You just missed the "Paints Are Needed" drive. Feel free to get involved either on a personal level by sending a kit box directly, or help arrange something with your local IPMS. You can also donate to Squadron online, who has a deal going where they will match funds (which is a pretty darn nice thing to do BTW!). The contact information is within that PDF I've linked to above.

You may have noticed that even though I'm Canadian I have taken the time, money and effort to support the US and Allied troops overseas. I do so in the interest of brotherhood, as I feel a kinship with my American friends, and I admire and respect those who serve in the armed forces, and who selflessly will put themselves in harm's way in order to help keep me and mine safe. Regardless of how I feel about US foreign policy, or whether I like or dislike your President (and I'm not saying! ) the sons, daughters, mothers and fathers who are wearing the uniform in the Sandbox and other locations around the world deserve our support.

Um, I'll get off the soapbox now, and return to the regularily scheduled topic!

I have no LHS! :(  I have a few train stores I frequent for paint and supplies. Fortunetly I am into trains too.

 

As far as buying kits. I have been living off of my stash for several years.

If I could support my LHS 100% I would.  There is the occasional item I have to order online, not too often.  Usually just some AM stuff he does not carry and most he can order (and light years faster that GMW).  The saving of ordering online only kicks in if you are working up an order with a bunch of stuff.  I just got a P-59 Airacomet at the LHS for $26.75…with tax $28.35.  Great Models has the same one for 22.50…with shipping 28.50 or there about.  So for that buck I have helped keep a local guy in biz and there to have the bottle of paint when I run out, GRRRR  and am minutes away from finishing a build. 

Bgrigg wrote:

Um, I'll get off the soapbox now, and return to the regularily scheduled topic!

Bill – I could not agree more with all you have said.  I just got a postcard from the guys in Kosovo and trust me…. They appreciate what we do for them.  We can get on our soapbox because of what they do in the sandbox.

I always look for items at my LHS first. I build 1/72 scale armor and the local shop normally carries the latest Dragon, Revell, Italeri or UM kits. The selection is not very wide and there's only 2-3 kits from each line. Because of this I buy what I can from the local shop, but have to go to eBay or Squadron.com to look for many items.

I do get all my glue, paints, etc. from the local shop as well.

Two words - Customer Service. My local hobby shop owner knows my name; she will order things from her distributors, saving me the sometimes obscene shipping charges from online sites; I get all of my paint and other supplies there because if I need an obscure Model Master shade, she'll order it for me, even though I only need 1 bottle and she has to get at least 3; she doesn't mind it if I dither in front of the paint racks or Evergreen plastic racks for hours; and when I shipped a care package to one of those hellholes, I mean exotic foreign locales our troops are in, she knocked about one-third off the total.

I very rarely buy off the internet.  I prefer to see and feel what I buy.  The only thing my LHS can't get for me are OOP kits.  I have bought a lot of stuff from my local Hobby Lobby, but since they so rarely rotate their stock I've pretty much gotten everything they have to offer that I'm interested in.  I buy most of my books and dvd's online ( all the local bookstores are dead anyway) but I just can't get into model shopping online.

TAdan

 

Where are you in NJ... NP?  Nice train store in Piscataway not too far from my house.  Only things there for a wing_nut are supplies so they have a few of my "$s" there.

Hey Wing_nut. I am in North Plainfield. Yup the Model Rail Road shop was the store I was reffering too! I go there for all of my supplies (and some train stuff. I am into O gauge, Lionel).

 

Know of any other good stores in the area? I was literally the last customer at Hobby Heaven in Cranford while back.

My LHS is pretty good, he has a decent selection, a huge selection of cars, but AM for planes is just not there. I usually end up looking around and buying some tools or I take a list and buy all the paints I need, he has a huge selection of MM enamels! I find myself ordering kits online mostly, I don't know why, it wasn't exactly a concious decsion. I think one day I saw a kit there I wanted and didn't have enough cash for, then found it online much cheaper and ordered it, I'm not really sure what started it???

Howdy neighbor… we are right around the corner from each other. 

Avenel Hobbies is the way to go my friend. 

1111 St. Georges Ave.  (Rt 35), Colonia, 732-382-7717

As a point of reference it’s about 5 minutes from Woodbridge Center Mall

 

You are also not far from where the NJ chapter of IMPS meets.   We meet 2nd Friday of the month in Garwood… not far from where Hobby Heaven used to be.  We are having out big contest, MosquitoCon Apr 8^th in Wayne.  It great then another meeting on the 14^th.  Love to see you at both.

 

Hey Marc, I havent been to Avenel in years, I didnt know it was still there. Ill have to get over there one of thses days. I was planning on going to Mosquito Con...but cant make it this year. Seems everyone decided to make plans for the 8th. Ill have to check out an IPMS meeting one of these days

I support my hobby shop by buying paints and the odd tool every once in a blue moon.  With the costs of that alone, it is more than my fair share.  Pretty much all my kits come from the internet, I guess it started when I got Tamiya's Dragon Wagon and the FAMO with tank trailer for $75 each and they were $135 in the stores.  Aside from the odd plane or 1/35 figure kit, my ships, tanks or jets come from the net.

I used to be a heavy on-line buyer.  When I first moved to Okinawa, I thought that was all I had available, then I discovered a great hobby store nearby and spent a lot of Yen there for the three years I lived on the island.  Now, I give the LHS first shot at my business.  Like many of you, I get the majority of my supplies (paint, glues, tools) from him.  And I only go online for AM stuff and the odd kit that I've been searching for (the AH-6J falls into this catagory).  I've got enough of a stash built up that I don't really need to rush out and get a kit online as soon as its released.  Now, I'll wait to see it on the LHS shelves and get it there. 

Now, I just have to get my rear to some club meetings when I'm home again.  

LHS is the way to go for me. I have never bought on line.  I did do mail order once years ago before the internet really took off.  

I consider myself very lucky, I have three good shops close to work (bad thing, so my wife says...).    The main LHS I go to in Calgary has almost everything, am, pe, resin, you name it he either has it or can get it in a week, even a bunch of oop.  The only thing he doesn't carry is the everygreen but I only need to restock like once a year anyway.