Another LHS LOST...

It's always sad to see a brick and mortor store close their doors. Guess it's GM for you, eh Hippy-Ed?

Sad indeed Ed.
What I find amazing is that hobby shops that do not excell at customer service are still open, while those that really seem to put the customer first are going under.

Don

Bgrigg wrote:

It's always sad to see a brick and mortor store close their doors. Guess it's GM for you, eh Hippy-Ed?

Watch it Bill... your kits might get bashed!!!

dkmacin wrote:

Sad indeed Ed. What I find amazing is that hobby shops that do not excell at customer service are still open, while those that really seem to put the customer first are going under. Don

You are correct Don, seems the shops that are "Customer friendly" are being forced out of the world nowa days while the others excell in poor quality of service.

I just opened my phone book & there's 12 shops listed under  "Hobby &  Model Supplies" but, only 1 (J & J) was in town. There's a couple others but, they don't deal in models 4 in Sac

Bgrigg wrote:

It's always sad to see a brick and mortor store close their doors. Guess it's GM for you, eh Hippy-Ed?

ROTFLMO!!! Its www.greatmodels.com , incase you forgot the address

it is a shame because many of us (you too i bet) like to see what your buying rather than just order something blindly

but you still have your friends here to answer your questions as well as ask your advice

That is one reason I try to buy things from my local hobby shop (plus, I admit it, the owner is a real looker). Where else can I line up 10 different shades of Model Master brown to try and pick the correct one for my evil purposes? And she will order just about anything I want. Granted, it may take two weeks to get there, BUT - no outrageous shipping charges!

DURR wrote:

it is a shame because many of us (you too i bet) like to see what your buying rather than just order something blindly but you still have your friends here to answer your questions as well as ask your advice

DURR, I do like to see what I'm buying & and browse the shelves for other items that might be of "interest". There's just something about having  someone who is helpful when buying or, looking for something else.
  I know I can count on y'all here at FSM for advice,etc... especially eizzle with those superglued fingers  Thanks Fellas, keep da razors sharp!!

It's always nice to have a shop to go to and browse.

I only have one within driving distance and all they carry of interest to me is a large selection of paints. Granted most seem as old as me, but at least I can pick the shade or color that I'm looking for to finish that certain project.

They have some interesting supplies there also, but are rather high priced. The owner will gladly order any model I want from the many catalogs he has, but again the price is almost double what I can get it for at Wal*Mart for the same kit. He doesn't even stock too many models on his shelf, the ones he has looks as old as me too. Humm, he must have gotten out of the model business 30+ years ago and is waiting to sell off his stock.

I think what keeps his doors open is the model railroading, but mostly the arts and crafts section. If he ever closes his doors, I'd have to bug Testors for a color chart or buy every bottle of paint they have.

Jhande, you could go buy a whole rack stocked with paint from Testors I saw a picture of somebodies work area and they had bought one from a hobby store and stocked it, pretty good way to organize your paints, if you've got the room!

I thought of that too eizzle. But then I figured by the time I'm done buying all the Testors and Model Master enamels my paints would end up like those at the hobby shop. Little bottles of 2 and 3 tone globs of goo.

Actually I have all of the Testors 1/4oz. enamels that Wal*Mart and the LHS carries. Now I have to get the LHS to order the rest of the flat and metlflake colors. I also started buying some of the Model Master colors in the 1/2oz. sizes since we go through some of those little bottles so quick. I bought Testors 1oz gloss black, wish they had more colors that size. I figured it's best to buy the color paint as we need it. Oh well, maybe it's time to head to the hardware department or the auto parts store... pint or quart size LOL.

I have a toolbox converted to a hobby box and it's filled already with paints and modeling tools. I've been looking at the kitchen cabinet with the spice rack, but my wife keeps grabbing the rolling pin. 

I used to buy a fair amount of my modelling stuff online, but we have a really nice hobby store in town.  Now for the most part, I only buy from them.  Sure, I'm paying a little bit more, but I can't even imagine what it would be like to run out of RLM 74 Gray Green and not being able to make a quick emergency run to go get it!  LOL

jhande wrote:

I thought of that too eizzle. But then I figured by the time I'm done buying all the Testors and Model Master enamels my paints would end up like those at the hobby shop. Little bottles of 2 and 3 tone globs of goo. Actually I have all of the Testors 1/4oz. enamels that Wal*Mart and the LHS carries. Now I have to get the LHS to order the rest of the flat and metlflake colors. I also started buying some of the Model Master colors in the 1/2oz. sizes since we go through some of those little bottles so quick. I bought Testors 1oz gloss black, wish they had more colors that size. I figured it's best to buy the color paint as we need it. Oh well, maybe it's time to head to the hardware department or the auto parts store... pint or quart size LOL. I have a toolbox converted to a hobby box and it's filled already with paints and modeling tools. I've been looking at the kitchen cabinet with the spice rack, but my wife keeps grabbing the rolling pin.

I'm sure you have seen the round plastic paint organizers that Testors sells for the 1/4 oz bottles, well now they have them for 1/4 and 1/2 oz. They are pretty handy to keep your paint in and keep them organized. I have 1, but I need 2 or 3

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/tes/tes9177.htm that is a link to one of them, of course they come with paint, but hey? They also have acrylic set to, its cheaper, by about $5!

Jim, that's what I liked about J&J Hobbies. They were the only place in town that carried Model Master paints. A full display stand of them. I just stopped in at Michael's Arts & Crapstore as they do carry the Testors line of paints & needed a few of them & they didn't have anything new on the shelves I've talked with the manager about their supplies & lack of kits... LoL... that didn't go well & they wont even bother trying to order any new kits or any other supplies since they carry the basics (glue, testors paints,etc) and, they have all their other craft stuff as well.
  Our Walmart sucks when it comes to their modeling supplies & snap together kits. Their manager doesn't know anything about models,etc.
sheesh......

Hippy-Ed wrote:

Jim, that's what I liked about J&J Hobbies. They were the only place in town that carried Model Master paints. A full display stand of them. I just stopped in at Michael's Arts & Crapstore as they do carry the Testors line of paints & needed a few of them & they didn't have anything new on the shelves I've talked with the manager about their supplies & lack of kits... LoL... that didn't go well & they wont even bother trying to order any new kits or any other supplies since they carry the basics (glue, testors paints,etc) and, they have all their other craft stuff as well.   Our Walmart sucks when it comes to their modeling supplies & snap together kits. Their manager doesn't know anything about models,etc. sheesh......

I know how you feel Ed Many of the craft stores in my area had a pretty good selection and a real good selection of paints and tools. I went in there the other day and they had two kits sitting on the floor and a few cans of paint with them and a sign that said clearence. My fiance asked if they moved them and the lady told her they sent a lot of stuff back and sold what they could of them. Its a shame I tell ya!

eizzle, I've been doing some scrapping near Lodi & I think there's a hobby shop there which I'll have to drop by & check out when I have the chance. I'm inneed of some styrene for a project I want to start soon (a PT-109 with removable deck. see the link in ships) plus, there's other things I'm looking for which I wont know until I actually see it. You know what I mean right? Those little things that catch the eye that ya gotta have....

Hippy-Ed wrote:

eizzle, I've been doing some scrapping near Lodi & I think there's a hobby shop there which I'll have to drop by & check out when I have the chance. I'm inneed of some styrene for a project I want to start soon (a PT-109 with removable deck. see the link in ships) plus, there's other things I'm looking for which I wont know until I actually see it. You know what I mean right? Those little things that catch the eye that ya gotta have....

Yeah, I know what your talking about Ed. My LHS has a wall full of detail parts, decals, and wheels. Its those little things you look at and think "EWWWWW! How did I live without that ___?" I think that is what keeps them in business, people come in to buy a model, they probably already know what they want, but its the little spontanious purchases that make them money... well, maybe not, but you know what I mean. There is another little HS about an hour from me I go to if I am in that neck of the woods, he has a good selection of Tamiya paints and plastic, but the shop is such a mess I can't stand to be in there long enough to make an impulse buy! Stock in the floors blocking aisles, and blocking paint racks, it seems like he should be giving me the stuff I want for moving all the stock around to get to it

Ya know eizzle, there's just something about the LHS that make life a bit easier for us & our hobby eespecially IF its a 1/2 decent shop. Customer service & a good supply of goodies is important. There are times when I have thought of looking into the possability of opening up a shop myself but, I don't know the first thing about opening one up!!  Being a novice modeler myself, I have a general idea of what others look for... and yup, it's those  spontanious purchases that are the kicker...

There is just something really cool about going to the Hobby Store, browsing through all the kits looking for something that will inspire you, then walking out with the kit in your hands.  Very satisfying feeling.  It's also fun to talk "shop" if the owners are avid modellers.

That is what I liked about J&J Hobbies Scott, they were knowledgeable in models even tho they specialized in R/C. I came upon their store roughly 6 yrs. ago while insearch of the elusive RA-5C Vigilante in 1/72. They went on-line to see if they were even available at the time.
They were always willing to talk shop & thrived on customer service. If they didn't have an item in-stock, they were more than happy to order it. Infact, they didn't carry but a few MM paints at the time & they ordered the whole line when I asked for a certain color that they didn't have! As a result, they were a hot item & sold alot of them.

Hippy-Ed wrote:

Ya know eizzle, there's just something about the LHS that make life a bit easier for us & our hobby eespecially IF its a 1/2 decent shop. Customer service & a good supply of goodies is important. There are times when I have thought of looking into the possability of opening up a shop myself but, I don't know the first thing about opening one up!!  Being a novice modeler myself, I have a general idea of what others look for... and yup, it's those  spontanious purchases that are the kicker...

I think we all think about opening up the "dream shop" from time to time. After I got laid off, I seriously began to think about it. My fiance was all for it, but several people told me there were others in my area that tried it, and they never had any success. I would like to open the shop that has everything, the PE, the AM decals, the detail goodies for cars, all that fun stuff, but I doubt those would sell fast enough to make much profit. I have seen, and this wasn't around here, but its still a good idea, a guy rented the back of a hardware store and had his hobbyshop set up in there. Pretty good idea if you ask me, you just leach off of the stores already existing customer base, and hopefully the guys will bring they kids in with them

Bear with me guys... I seemed to have missed a lot that I'd like to reply too.

eizzle wrote:

I'm sure you have seen the round plastic paint organizers that Testors sells for the 1/4 oz bottles, well now they have them for 1/4 and 1/2 oz. ....

Yes eizzle I have seen them, thank you. I have my hobby room all planned out for when our house is built or when we remodel one that we buy. Just waiting impatiently for... well... remember my head injury? I'm not supposed to talk about it. I wasn't always "just" a mechanic, I designed and built homes too.

Hippy-Ed wrote:

Jim, that's what I liked about J&J Hobbies. They were the only place in town that carried Model Master paints. A full display stand of them. I just stopped in at Michael's Arts & Crapstore as they do carry the Testors line of paints & needed a few of them & they didn't have anything new on the shelves I've talked with the manager about their supplies & lack of kits... LoL... that didn't go well & they wont even bother trying to order any new kits or any other supplies since they carry the basics (glue, testors paints, etc) and, they have all their other craft stuff as well.   Our Walmart sucks when it comes to their modeling supplies & snap together kits. Their manager doesn't know anything about models, etc. sheesh......

I miss all the shopping possibilities I had growing up in CT. When I moved 5+ years ago to rural NH, I didn't realize exactly what or how much I was giving up. We don't have any arts & crafts stores (at least none that we have found) other than a Jo-Ann Fabric which stinks. The LHS, Kenney Drug Store and Wal*Mart are the "only" places I can find within a respectful days drive that carries "anything" pertaing to modeling. When I ask any of the store managers if they can order something, all they tell me is "We get what is shipped to us and that's decided by headquarters". Yeah right! Wal*Mart usually has a decent selection of car models, sometimes the stock gets low, but they just restocked and so did I (and they weren't on my want list LOL)...

Hippy-Ed wrote:

... , there's just something about the LHS that make life a bit easier for us & our hobby especially IF its a 1/2 decent shop. Customer service & a good supply of goodies is important. There are times when I have thought of looking into the possability of opening up a shop myself but, I don't know the first thing about opening one up!!  Being a novice modeler myself, I have a general idea of what others look for... and yup, it's those  spontanious purchases that are the kicker...

At our LHS the guy is "somewhat" ok to talk too. But I get the impression that he doesn't want to be there. When I was first looking into AB's he was trying to sell me an Aztek kit with all kinds of nozzles for around $200. and a little compressor without the regulator for $399. I told him I will be spraying real auto's by summer, he informed me that the Aztek could do everything. He used to sell Badgers but likes Aztek's better. That's where I met the gentleman that cutomizes auto's and let me try his Iwata's at his shop.

My wife is pushing the idea of me opening a small Mom & Pop Hobby Shop. Even if it's only open in the evenings and weekends. We're hoping to have a small business on our property when we finally buy. I don't know a real lot about the modeling hobby, so the idea scares me. But my wife is already looking for wholesalers and where to buy things in bulk, and not having much success I might add.

espins1 wrote:

There is just something really cool about going to the Hobby Store, browsing through all the kits looking for something that will inspire you, then walking out with the kit in your hands.  Very satisfying feeling.  It's also fun to talk "shop" if the owners are avid modellers.

I can remember the hobby shop from my childhood. If it wasn't busy, the owner would sit there and expain to me how he got that special effect, or how he painted that. He was always willing to teach someone that was willing to learn or seemed interested. I can remember him even giving me a sample of things to try on my new kit. What a ploy, next time I came in for a kit I just had to buy the whole package of the special treatment. You know what I mean, I always bought more than I planned too. But it was a fun place to visit. I would do my chores all week so my Dad would take me there every Saturday morning.

Where do you find that feeling these days?

jhande wrote:

espins1 wrote: There is just something really cool about going to the Hobby Store, browsing through all the kits looking for something that will inspire you, then walking out with the kit in your hands.  Very satisfying feeling.  It's also fun to talk "shop" if the owners are avid modellers. I can remember the hobby shop from my childhood. If it wasn't busy, the owner would sit there and expain to me how he got that special effect, or how he painted that. He was always willing to teach someone that was willing to learn or seemed interested. I can remember him even giving me a sample of things to try on my new kit. What a ploy, next time I came in for a kit I just had to buy the whole package of the special treatment. You know what I mean, I always bought more than I planned too. But it was a fun place to visit. I would do my chores all week so my Dad would take me there every Saturday morning. Where do you find that feeling these days?

Now that I actually have money to spend, I still get that feeling everytime I walk out of the store. (I think the hobby store has finally beaten out Best Buy in terms of where my spending money goes  LOL).  My wife loves seeing my work, and asks me how I did this or that, as do my kids.  It's fun now playing the role that my father played with my brother and me.  Everything has gone full circle. 

I think once I retire, I would love to "work" part time at a hobby store.  Talk about doing something that you love for a living!  LOL

Espins1, this is way off topic, but is that your car in you advatar?

Jim most business men have a good woman behind them

so take your good woman's advice  try it and maybe add mail order too

eizzle wrote:

Espins1, this is way off topic, but is that your car in you advatar?

Yes it is, 2004 Nissan 350Z, I bought it for my wife for our first wedding anniversary.  Needless to say, I have had carte blanche freedom to buy at the hobby store ever since.   >;)~

espins1 wrote:

eizzle wrote: Espins1, this is way off topic, but is that your car in you advatar? Yes it is, 2004 Nissan 350Z, I bought it for my wife for our first wedding anniversary.  Needless to say, I have had carte blanche freedom to buy at the hobby store ever since.   >;)~

Those things are so sweet! I had an SRT-4 for about two years, but I would have rather had the Z with the Nissan S-Tune... oh well. Nice car ya got there anyway!

eizzle wrote:

Those things are so sweet! I had an SRT-4 for about two years, but I would have rather had the Z with the Nissan S-Tune... oh well. Nice car ya got there anyway!

Thanks eizzle.  It's a blast to drive, 287 hp, 6 speed, performance model with 18" ultra low profile tires.  I've had it up to 130mpg... rock solid. 

I wanted to build her a model of it to keep on her desk at work, I picked up the Tamiya kit, only real downside is the kit is a right hand drive model, but close enough.

espins1 wrote:

eizzle wrote: Those things are so sweet! I had an SRT-4 for about two years, but I would have rather had the Z with the Nissan S-Tune... oh well. Nice car ya got there anyway! Thanks eizzle.  It's a blast to drive, 287 hp, 6 speed, performance model with 18" ultra low profile tires.  I've had it up to 130mpg... rock solid.  I wanted to build her a model of it to keep on her desk at work, I picked up the Tamiya kit, only real downside is the kit is a right hand drive model, but close enough.

Man, its fun at that speed I had my SRT-4 up to 145 and that was about all I had left, pretty darn fast, to fast for me! Yeah, I wish somebody would model an SRT-4, but it doesn't seem like its ever going to happen, since they are out of production now