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Michael's selection getting bigger

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  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South Carolina
Posted by jetmodeler on Monday, August 30, 2010 6:44 AM

Ditto When mine expanded the selection a little the paints were still there. Even the model rockets were still there.

 

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Saturday, August 28, 2010 8:54 AM

Oddly, my local store still has the Testors enamels and model rocket kits.

Perhaps a manger choice ?

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by oddmanrush on Saturday, August 28, 2010 7:28 AM

Sprue-ce Goose

Local Michaels  expanded it's kit selection.

Good News and Bad News.

Now an extra four feet added for plastic split between Revell and Testors.

Many more Snap Tite Star Wars, aircraft and autos.

More Auto kits, 1/48  Revell modern jets , helecopters and WWII aircraft

Fewer ships, one Testors Sherman 1/32 kit.

So did mine....but they eliminated (at least for now) the paint section. No Testor's paints remain, including clear coats, thinners, glues, etc. They also cleared out the model rocket section.

I'll have to keep an eye on its development. It would be nice if they cleared out Testor's to make way for Model Master's or something. That would make me happy enough.

Jon

My Blog: The Combat Workshop 

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Friday, August 27, 2010 3:15 PM

Local Michaels  expanded it's kit selection.

Good News and Bad News.

Now an extra four feet added for plastic split between Revell and Testors.

Many more Snap Tite Star Wars, aircraft and autos.

More Auto kits, 1/48  Revell modern jets , helecopters and WWII aircraft

Fewer ships, one Testors Sherman 1/32 kit.

  • Member since
    April 2010
  • From: Somewhere in MN
Posted by El Taino on Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:34 AM

My vote was for a better selection of paints at Michaels. I care less about kits, do we really need a few more in our stash? A very subjective question but if I had a better paint selection at Michaels, I would save a lot of dough starting with gas, shipping and kits that I get by impulse once I get my hands on them. I usally keep my local Micheaels out of Gloss and Dullcote, I use it VERY often. I spent almost $300.00 at my local hobby shop the other day when Michaels was out of stock of Dullcote plus some jars of Acryl I needed. $300.00! How? Well, went to get the Dullcote and Chromate Green and left the store with a Trumpeter 1/350 Nimitz CVN-68 and a Revell 1/72 VII U-boot Wolf Pack that I have no idea when I will build them with 2 Tamiyas F16 C/J 1/32 and F15 Eagle in the pipeline among a bunch of other kits in my closet. That's the most expensive Dullcoat I have ever purchased. If Michales had it avaliable and the Acryl CG, I would have gone straight to the point Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: USA
Posted by Mike S. on Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:13 AM

To remove the screen of confusion further,

I think that the parties most interested in seeing HL and Michael's increase their kit and supplies section the most are those who, like myself, no longer have any local hobby shops to go to. This being our last resort other than 100% mail order.

Frankly, if I had a stocked LHS once again (as I did back in Dallas). or even one an hour or so away for that matter, I wouldn't even bother with the chain craft stores. There, I said it.Big Smile

  • Member since
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  • From: South Carolina
Posted by jetmodeler on Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:14 AM

We all over complecate stuff sometimes.

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 12:05 PM

oddmanrush

I think you're reading too far into this, maybe making it a little more complicated than it has to be.

Yeah, I tend to over-complicate stuff (as seen in the No aftermarket Group build) I see what you mean now.

I get it all now.

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by oddmanrush on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 9:35 AM

I think you're reading too far into this, maybe making it a little more complicated than it has to be. What I'm saying is, there is no reason to quit shopping at Michael's simply because they may not expand their modeling selection. These days, I don't rely on Michael's for much except if I desire a cheap, quick build. So I'm not exactly suffering from 'having the bare minimum' when I don't expect them to have anything more. Do I want them to carry more products? Sure I do and I posted my opinion on their forums. Do I expect them to do anything about it? Well, I'm not really holding my breath, at least not for the store in my area. But this won't keep me from shopping there when I want to buy a model but don't feel like driving an hour to my preferred hobby shop. For the most part, I rely on them for my diorama needs, like celluclay, modeling clay, base wood, glues, foliage, balsa wood, oil paints, etc. All these things are plentiful there.

Which is the way out? There is no way out. There doesn't have to be. Keep doing what you're doing and wait to see what happens. That's all.....especially if you have a 40% off coupon.

Jon

My Blog: The Combat Workshop 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 8:37 AM

So, I'm traped.

Go to Michaels, and keep the problem from growing, but suffer from having the bare minimum.

But, Go to the hobby shop, and get what I need/want, and make the problem grow.

Which way is out!?

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South Carolina
Posted by jetmodeler on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 7:10 AM

Ditto Its like a complete circle.

 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Monday, August 9, 2010 5:42 PM

Hmm, so, Michaels sees modelers as the minority, and only want to give us the most basic and bare of kits and supplies, and they still want our buisness. Yet, if we leave Michaels, and go to a well-stocked hobby shop, with employees willing to help with our needs, questions, etc.,  that will just make the problem worse?

I'm becomming more and more confused....Sad

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by oddmanrush on Monday, August 9, 2010 4:02 PM

Railfan 233

Why do I have a bad feeling about this now?

If I'm reading you right DoogsATX, then that means that, even if we could get every last subscriber to FSM to support out cause, it will be of no use, because Michaels sees us as a minority not worth catering to?

If that's the case, then I think Michaels may have just lost me as a customer... (Boo HooIndifferentNow, what am I suppose to do with that cupon?)

Unfortunately, that is the business side of everything, it's called capitalism. They don't have to cater to every one. That wouldn't be very prudent any way. On the other hand, there is no need to stop shopping at Michael's for this reason. In fact, that'll just expedite the problem.

Jon

My Blog: The Combat Workshop 

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by oddmanrush on Monday, August 9, 2010 3:57 PM

This reminds me of when I used to work at Petsmart. Yes, I worked at Michael's and Petsmart. As an employee we would constantly get asked whether or not we sold products for horses. I live in Jersey. Not many horses here. None the less, people inquired. When we told them no, they thought it was a great disservice and something had to be done.
Well apparently, some one, some where compiled enough statistical analysis and buyer trends and demographic material to figure out that it was a good idea to put an Equine section into our store. There was a WIDE range of products, from saddles, blankets, crops, bridles, spurs, treats, hats, you name it.
For a short time, the section saw moderate business. But nothing extraordinary.

The horse section required that the cat section be cut down, to make room for the new items. Cat food and accessories were condensed into a smaller department. Something that, of course, the 'cat people' were offended by.

Any way, you know cat people....Less merchandise in the cat section meant a sure loss of revenue in an area that did well in sales. To complicate matters, I knew and still know, nothing about horses. There was really no effort to educate employees or hirer knowledgeable ones as this would cost money and time. Horses are different from dogs or cats. My experience with Fido doesn't translate into owning a horse.

The section simply didn't generate enough revenue as most people who were interested in horses already had a preferred vendor. Moreover, that vendor would likely be more educated, sell higher quality merchandise, and at a comparable price. Needless to say, I don't believe the equine department lasted a year before the items were sold at huge mark down prices, the section dismantled, and the cat section expanded. All of which cost more money and time. Of course, then people would come in and ask if we had a horse section............Bang Head

 

Jon

My Blog: The Combat Workshop 

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Monday, August 9, 2010 3:04 PM

DoogsATX

 

Heck, as long as I'm ordering like five or more paints, its cheaper to order from Sprue Brothers or similar than to buy from any local source.

I would attribute the lack of response to the please post on the Michael's forum  to what you described, and the "letting someone else do the work for me " type of behavior.

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Monday, August 9, 2010 2:45 PM

Railfan 233

Why do I have a bad feeling about this now?

If I'm reading you right DoogsATX, then that means that, even if we could get every last subscriber to FSM to support out cause, it will be of no use, because Michaels sees us as a minority not worth catering to?

If that's the case, then I think Michaels may have just lost me as a customer... (Boo HooIndifferentNow, what am I suppose to do with that cupon?)

That's my theory, yes. Of course, I could be totally wrong, but I did spend 5+ years running research and strategic analysis for a major ad agency, and saw evidence of this same product/shopper death spiral in plenty of other industries. Retailers that used to have a lock - or at least a strong hold - on a certain market would draw down their product mix, the heaviest and most enthusiastic buyers would go somewhere else, sales would drop, they'd draw down further, and before you know it they're out of that market entirely. 

 

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Monday, August 9, 2010 2:32 PM

Why do I have a bad feeling about this now?

If I'm reading you right DoogsATX, then that means that, even if we could get every last subscriber to FSM to support out cause, it will be of no use, because Michaels sees us as a minority not worth catering to?

If that's the case, then I think Michaels may have just lost me as a customer... (Boo HooIndifferentNow, what am I suppose to do with that cupon?)

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Monday, August 9, 2010 12:56 PM

Mike S.

 

 

Absolutely. We need more participation with both this, and the Hobby Lobby campaign.

The saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" is as true now as it has ever been.

I hate to be the wet blanket, but the cynical, jaded marketing professional in me thinks it'd have to be a much larger, much squeakier wheel for anything to change, and even then it'd be doubtful.

Large retailers like Michael's analyze every inch of shelf space for profitability, and attempt to manage a product mix that will maximize said profitability. I doubt that the Michael's or Hobby Lobbies of the world have it down to the frightening science that say, Wal-Mart does, but they do it just the same.

The cold, hard fact is that it isn't very profitable for Michael's to maintain a well-stocked modeling section. It takes up shelf space from, I don't know, scrapbook paper or beads or something else that sells better with their major demographic groups. Without access to historical sales data, it'd be tough to mine exact reasons for this, but I'm willing to bet the rise of the internet in supporting niche hobbies like modeling had a ton to do with it. Heck, as long as I'm ordering like five or more paints, its cheaper to order from Sprue Brothers or similar than to buy from any local source. Not to mention the self-fulfilling cycle of cutting back the modeling section, seeing a decline in sales as modelers find somewhere else that services their needs, then cutting it back more, seeing more sales declines, etc. And now they've cut back so far that the modeling section resembles the toy section at a Walgreens. It's there, but nobody who's shopping for toys goes there except in a pinch.

Could they expand the section? Certainly. But then they'd have to accompany it with marketing to spread the word that they've expanded, since the vast majority of their modeling customers have either gone elsewhere, with no assurances that the marketing would actually work.

 

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South Carolina
Posted by jetmodeler on Monday, August 9, 2010 12:01 PM

The local Michael's here has the cement in the tube, bottle, clear parts cement, and the superglue. All from Testors. None of it is locked behind anything either.

 

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: USA
Posted by Mike S. on Monday, August 9, 2010 7:54 AM

The local Michaels has the older line of Testors paint, however all of the paint and supplies are locked up behind a mesh gate, and one must hunt down an employee (usually in the silk flowers or framing department) to unlock it.

Quite the hassle for so little selection.

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Sunday, August 8, 2010 7:48 PM

Did you check the rack for the Testors paint? I know the Michaels I've visited have had the Testors liquid cement (in the little round glass bottle) in the rack with the bottles of paint. It's easy to miss them, since they seem to blend in almost perfectly with the paint bottles.

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Chicago Area
Posted by U00SDP2 on Sunday, August 8, 2010 6:36 PM

I was just in mine today.....I was not impressed.  You could tell that models take a back seat at this store very few aircraft, a few ship (boxes were beat to deatlh - shrink wrap gone.  Mostly car kits and all that they had were Revelle.....I did not even see model cement.  Hobby Lobby in my area is much better.

Scott

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Sunday, August 8, 2010 6:01 PM

That's a good question. Mabe if we place a post here on the forums, asking for support, we may get more help.

Or, we could do a wild idea, where we have a group build, where the kit must come from Michaels. Mabe that'll help get some attention to it.

Then again, I'm kind of like Hannibal Smith from the A-Team in my thinking with this, so it could work or it couldn't

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South Carolina
Posted by jetmodeler on Sunday, August 8, 2010 5:43 PM

I completely agree.

But how are we going to get a majorety of the users here to join us on the Michael's forum?

 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Sunday, August 8, 2010 4:50 PM

I agree with you Mike, but it is also the wheel that squeeks the loudest that gets the grease first.

 If we can get a majorety of the users here to join us on the Michaels forum for the topic, then we may make enough noise to get Michael's corprateoffitial's attention.

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
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  • From: USA
Posted by Mike S. on Sunday, August 8, 2010 3:05 PM

Sprue-ce Goose

 Railfan 233:

Has there been any more word on this topic? Have we been recognized by Michaels?

 

I would presume the standard formula is :

number of posts ( or old style snail mail to management )  =  amount of recognition.

 

Absolutely. We need more participation with both this, and the Hobby Lobby campaign.

The saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" is as true now as it has ever been.

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Florida
Posted by Railfan 233 on Sunday, August 8, 2010 11:59 AM

Sprue-ce Goose

Very good idea for custom builds- you might pioneer some Show Rods in that scale !

I wasn't  aware Revell released the MACK truck kit.

 

Yes, Revell has released a MACK semi-truck and trailer kit. My local hobby shop has some in stock, but the parts count and size of the box rivals other kits.

Here's the link. It is 1/32 scale, which is what all of Revell's truck models seem to be. It acually seems to rival 1/25 scale tanker trailer kits in detail I think.

http://www.revell.com/model-kits/snaptite/85-1961.html

  

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpgRed, White, and YOU! group build of 2010

  • Member since
    April 2010
  • From: Somewhere in MN
Posted by El Taino on Sunday, August 8, 2010 9:56 AM

Sprue-ce Goose

 

 El Taino:

 

 

 (praise the snap-on kits too, LOL).

 

 

Would it be possible for a store to carry just  a large selection of "snap" kits to entice beginnners?

Does enough variety exist to stock a full  HL or Michaels shelf ?

 

For what I've seen, there is plenty of Snap-On kits around from different manufactures. Don't know if enough for a full stock. The thing is that we are seeing as modelers, (nothing wrong with that) but barely as a business. The paint guide on most Revell kits is very vague. A novice will grab a kit, look on the side panel and either get the colors on the chart or buy a ''whole'' Aircraft, Camouflage or Car paint set. Plus on the spray shelf we can find Olive Drab, Flat Light and Dark Aircraft Gray and they (Micahels) think that ought to do it. My 12 years old son can do well with 1/72 Academy kits, his latest build was a Curtis P-40B Tomahawk. Not a snap-on kit, but easy enough for a novice; the thing is that we go back to square 1, no color selection at Michaels and looking at it as a business, they have a lot of potential if they do include a Model Master Line. The supplier (Testos) is already there ;o)

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Sunday, August 8, 2010 9:49 AM

Railfan 233

 a lot of new snap-tite kits are getting more and more interesting (like Revell's new MACK semi truck, with an included tank trailer)

Mabe I can get one or two of those, and use them with a MACK CF cab fire engine kit, mabe swap out cabs with one, and get a unique fire engine.

Very good idea for custom builds- you might pioneer some Show Rods in that scale !

I wasn't  aware Revell released the MACK truck kit.

 

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