Cadet Chuck

I don't think that will work.  You have to be an FSM subscriber and register to have access to the forum, I believe.  He will probably be unable to open the link, if you send it to him.

Nope.

You have to be registered (but not a subscriber) to post.

But you don't have to be registered to view. I know because half the time when I look at the forums on my iPhone, I'm not logged in. But I can still browse around.

Chris: We don't have a Hobby Lobby around here so I haven't read this till now. I buy most of my models at shows and off the internet, but love having two nice hobby shops nearby to buy paint at. I hate it when I need paint and find I'm either out or it's dried up and it's annoying to order a couple bottles on-line, wait several days for them to show up, and end up paying more in S&H than you paid for the paint.

So I'll echo the comments on if there was a Hobby Lobby near here the biggest thing I'd like to see is a well stocked selection of paint and supplies.

Cliff

DoogsATX:  Good to know.  Thanks for setting me straight.

I'll second the motion for More of the Monogram line and focusing on kits below $50.  I would also like to see a full selection of paint colors.  I realize that this may mean that they go with a single line to keep expenses down and please both the car guys and the military guys.  I can usually saticfy my other needs by checking out other departments in the store.

I would also recommend that, if they really want to continue to serve the modeling community, find someone who is familiar with the hobby to oversee this part of the business.  At least find someone who will reach out like this on a regular basis and keep in tune with the hobby.

Yea Michaels is getting the same way not to much aircraft or armor but the do have a good selection of car models.

Tell them to build some Hobby Lobby's here on the west coast so that we can have some say!

We've got a couple going in up in Washington...

Screaminhelo

I would also recommend that, if they really want to continue to serve the modeling community, find someone who is familiar with the hobby to oversee this part of the business.  At least find someone who will reach out like this on a regular basis and keep in tune with the hobby.

 

Now THAT is a darned good idea.

I would like to see the model hobby section expand to atleast a fraction of the scrapbooking section that encompasses  what seems like dozens of aisles.

  remember it's called "hobby" lobby, not  "scrapbookers"  lobby.

 are the decision makers all soccer moms?

stymye

I would like to see the model hobby section expand to atleast a fraction of the scrapbooking section that encompasses  what seems like dozens of aisles.

  remember it's called "hobby" lobby, not  "scrapbookers"  lobby.

 are the decision makers all soccer moms?

No...but for ever model guy that goes in there 100 scrapbookers go in . Business case would show they are doing what they need to do regardless of how much we doth protest.

Screaminhelo

I would also recommend that, if they really want to continue to serve the modeling community, find someone who is familiar with the hobby to oversee this part of the business.  At least find someone who will reach out like this on a regular basis and keep in tune with the hobby.

 

You are 100%  correct on this. I just visited a second HL about 18 miles away from the one I usually go to and their stock is just as pathetic as the first one. Who ever is ordering models, paints and supplies has very little knowledge of the hobby. I did manage to pick up the 1/48 Tamiya A6M5/5a  Zeke on the clearance rack for $19.79.  Why in the heck mark up this kit to $54.99 in the first place? 

stymye

...are the decision makers all soccer moms?

plastickjunkie

You are 100%  correct on this. I just visited a second HL about 18 miles away from the one I usually go to and their stock is just as pathetic as the first one. Who ever is ordering models, paints and supplies has very little knowledge of the hobby. I did manage to pick up the 1/48 Tamiya A6M5/5a  Zeke on the clearance rack for $19.79.  Why in the heck mark up this kit to $54.99 in the first place? 

I believe it is called "MSRP" (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price), and most (not all) stores use it as a guide as to what to price their inventory. Even car dealerships use this. I did notice that Squadron has the same Zero for $45.90, so, even with shipping, it is still cheaper to get it on-line. That's one of the reasons I wait for a kit at Hobby Lobby to either go on the clearance shelf, or use the 40%-off coupon. I can remember a few years ago when Hobby Lobby was one of the cheaper places to get models, then, all of a sudden, they started using the MSRP for everything. I guess this was about 5 years ago.

Dawg

I'm aware of the MSRP system, IMO very inflated and unrealistic. Scale Hobbyist has it for $36.88, even a better bargain than Squadron.

Talk about bargains....my local Hobby Lobby has had 3 Tamiya 1/48 F-16s sitting on the clearance shelf for weeks. Down to $22 the last time I passed through. Too bad I have too many already....

MJames70

Talk about bargains....my local Hobby Lobby has had 3 Tamiya 1/48 F-16s sitting on the clearance shelf for weeks. Down to $22 the last time I passed through. Too bad I have too many already....

I just went to peruse my Hobby Lobby this past Thursday, and found, on the clearance shelf, a Tamiya 1/48th F-16C/N Adversary Edition, and the Italeri 1/48th Spifire Mk.IX "American Aces" kit. Bought them both for $36, tax and all! Woo Hoo!

But, getting back to to original request, Hobby Lobby should price their model kits at a more reasonable level. After checking a few websites, and visiting a couple of hobby shops this past week (one being the HobbyTownUSA in Kennesaw, GA, which is simply HUGE, by the way),  I noticed that most priced their kits below MSRP, even if they were just slightly below that. Hobby Lobby seems to be pricing either at, or above, MSRP. Not gonna sell a lot of anything doing that. I know I would buy more from them if they were cheaper, instead of awaiting the kits to hit the clearance shelf, or using the 40%-off coupon.

I understand if HL is losing money on military kits and having to sell mostly car models. My problem is that my local HL hasn't stocked Model Masters Acrylic paints in about six months. I don't mind ordering models online, but when I need a simple bottle of Flat Black I don't want to have to pay shipping etc... Too bad there isn't a Hobby Town within driving distance.

We don`t have any Hobby Lobby`s in south Jersey but we have ACMoore and Michael`s. I just sent a similar question into ACMoore`s customer contact center. The Egg Harbor Twp store has half of an aisle dedicated to Revellogram kits and Testor`s 1/4 oz paints/supplies. The same goes on here as HL...same ol` kits, all the time. Michael`s is a little worse, as Doog`s said, they`re whittled down to a small section on the back wall. An "Ollie`s" store opened next to ACMoore and to my surprise, had some Lindberg / Testor`s and Revell kits. I guess Ollie`s is like Odd Lots...never know what you`ll find from week to week. They had a bunch of Italeri M-4 Sherman 1/72 kit`s and Testor`s 1/35 Sherman diecast models. I don`t hold out hope of Ollies strting a hobby aisle but next week you may find a shelf full of Tamigawa stuff...lol.

   Hey guys,

     I finally sent Joel at Hobby Lobby corporate a link after allowing the replies to build up here.  Here is his reply:

"Chris,

Thank you so much for your ideas. I have sent the link to our buyer for review. We appreciate your passion for modeling.  Have a happy Thanksgiving.  Thank you,

I also want to add that I visited 2 HLs in South Carolina and one in Orlando Florida last month. The model kit stock was identical in all three stores so it seems that stock selection must be done at a regional level. I was hoping to find some variation in their merchandise.