What about your favorite hobby shop makes it so?

A few significant items:
1. They make a point to learn and remember my name.
2. They build kits too and enjoy the hobby.
3. They aren't afraid to order in special items

Location has nothing to do with it since it is 6+ hours drive away. Prices aren't that big of a factor either because they are typically a bit more than some of the on-line stores.

I'd rather pay $20 to a friend than $17 to the jerk that could care less...

Murray

It's the only one in town......actually they are pretty pro-active in alot of things, mostly R/C stuff, but they have monthly meetings for the local model builders (scratch builders too) to trade tips and show off your work.

LT

My hobby shop is Great Hobby Adventures, West Des Moines, IA. It's a small, two person hobby shop delivering customer service, customer service, customer service. It's like Cheers, "everyone knows your name". There's no such thing as a dumb question. Trust me, I tested that one.....

I tried the "big" hobby shop in town and got talked down to, snubbed, etc.

I value loyalty and service and vote with my Visa card!

Jim

I am with Erock-- the two local shops are pretty exclusively railroad or R/C racing...in the 5 years I have lived here, they have not ordered any new models for their shelves. So I have to drive 30 minutes to Hobbytown in Albany....and while their selection is usually excellent, they are WAY overpriced. It's no wonder online shopping is so much more popular now....

Well, I wish I could say that the hobby shop I frequent (Hobbytown USA) is friendly but, not so. It's the closest place to me and it's about a 40 minute drive and leaves me no other choice. What I normally do is, go there to look at the kits I want (or dream of having) pick up some paint and leave. I purchased my Aztech from them but had to have a long discussion about WHY I wanted to open the box. You know, make sure it has the spray tips I need and adapters and such.

I then order those kits online. Needless to say, the prices at USA are very expensive. So, I guess through all this, my "normal" shop would be Hobbylinc.com. The prices are as low or lower than most other online dealers and shipping is at a minimum. I have dealt with them for over 3 years now and have never had a bad experience. I just wish that they would stock more of the "Add-on or Detail" parts to their inventory.

yall come into my shop you better keep those hands in your pockets boy...
you want to look in the box!!!!.....get the hell out of here.!! you pick up the box you buy it boy!!!.....look Mr this aint no drop in center you been in here four hours and all i got is drool on the products..and dont try to change no price stickers either....yall give me any lip son i'll superglue your pecker to your forehead....and put back the magazine ..aint no nekked chicks in thar...now its all dog eared and fingerprints...thank you for your custom yall come back to buy or die real soon y'hear............

I have nothing to say -- LeeTree said it all above...!!! Exactly my feelings.

-The guys know my name and are friendly........they have the ability to either sell or educate and can tailor their salespitch to the buyer (not everyone needs to know about the model they are buying - it's true!!)
-They are enthusiasts - they have a great knowledge about their subjects - one guy knows about armour and what kits have been made, another is the same about cars, another one is great about plane subjects, another is great with sci-fi
-They have a great variety of different subjects, scales, aftermarket decals, detail sets, and reference books
-They NEVER refuse to allow the opening of a sealed model for an inspection
I guess there's more, but those are the important bits...........
LeeTree

I have yet to find a hobby shop that is friendly to me, and not give me a 'and what do -you- want?' look.. I guess I don´t emit the usual hobbyist signs having a unshaved complexion, long near-shaggy hair and beat up old leather jacket.. I think my local lot expect elderly-ish gents with tweed jackets, flat caps and a volvo.. I guess i should be glad I removed the metal band patch covered denim from my jacket.

I don´t know what their problem is. At least I wash! Stuff ´em, I'd rather shop on-line anyway (if I had a credit-card, that is.. And my Land-Rover was on the road to actually get there..).

I´m just misunderstood.. Sniff..