RC-Monster Forums - View Single Post - Local hobby shop is closing.. another victim of the economy :(

Finnster · 11:08 PM

So Ive been thinking more about this and what caused them to fail, and I've decided all is not lost for the hobby

More than anything I think it was run just poorly enough that its such a competitive business that the store just wasn't good enough, and a slowing economy made wounds far worse. The guy had just moved and expanded to a much bigger and better location, in part to increase the offerings (rockets, "science" crap, etc) in the store and gain visibility, but...

The stuff they had and introduced was not all that unique nor well priced, nor in great variety. You get most of it online for less, and sometimes had to or special order it bc it wasn't in stock. I had to order lots of things special as he didn't carry them. Even stuff such as paints. Sold shells, but barely any paints. Forget about airbrush paints. I had some airbrush paints ordered, but eventually just went to Micheal's instead to buy createx paints for way less.
Bought one set of tires there in 3 yrs as they were too much over tower. Rims were ok, but hard to find the right size/style. Wrong hex or offset.
If it as a revo, savage or tmaxx part, it was in stock. Other stuff, IDK, hit and miss.

Now I know you don't want to tie a bunch of money up inventory that doesn't sell, but to a certain point, if people are just going to expect you don't have the parts, they are not going to bother going. Esp when they will have to special order or buy online anyway. Basically that is what I did when I no longer had any TRX, losi or hpi veh. And might as well just buy the stuff he did carry I needed as I could just up the amt on Tower/Amain and use a bigger coupon and save shipping.... (Another hobby shop that closed last year was like that, "would you like to special order it?" "Uh, no. NM". They did have a popular 1/10 scale track on site as well. Not enough to save them.)

Lastly, customer service. As said he claimed he would use great CS service to make up for the higher prices to drive people to the store. Too bad his CS wasn't that great. Little stuff added up I think. He could be a real d1ck to kids coming in the store, and talked to them like they didn't know what they were doing, or they were just there to steal stuff, or both. Plus he had a bit of that NJ smartass attitude. Kids may not have a lot of money to spend, but they do have parents, and often get hooked and become future customers.
Personally, I bought my Sav XL there. Now I paid more there than I would have online (by a bit too,) but A.) was promised and expected some help w/ the nitro motor as it was my first time using one. B.) felt weird always coming in to look at them, not buying one, stop looking, then show up looking for parts one day lol. Plus thought I'd throw him a bone.
Ok, so I had a spare motor from another model I got on ebay and later sold off as a roller. Motor was fine and used it a bit, but I'm a nitro n00b and let it get hot a few times, 300F, so didn't feel right selling it. Better to keep practicing tuning on that motor and sell the K5.9 as new and bring down the total cost of the kit some. Ok.

Now I've been running the Sav w/ the motor for about a liter and its doing alright, but working it out still. Go to run it one day, and it will not start. 45min and nothing. I was so pissed I was ready to quit nitro for good. But, notwanting to give up so easy (and knowing it was something prolly simple) and went to the LHS to cash in my "one free tune w/ veh purchase."

So I go in, explain the situation. He's giving me some advice. Try buying a new glow plug and try to start it myself out back. Nothing. Go back in. He tells me, "yeah, I can have the repair guy/nitro guru look at it, it'll be $35. "
-"$35?! What about the one free tune? I just bought this 2 weeks ago."
"Well its not the stock motor. You put in a diff motor."
-"Dude, its a stock losi 427. You sell those things too. This isn't some exotic motor."
"Sorry there is nothing I can do. I would still have to pay the repair guy."

At this point now I'm really pissed. I've been a loyal customer for 3 yrs, (and he often reminds me of this) paid more than I need to for the truck to support the store, and the end of the day, it shouldn't matter if they are turning needles on a 5.9 or 427. Its all the same, and quite easy. (why he didn't offer to do it personally IDK.)

Fine then. Screw it, I'll figure it out myself. Took the truck home. Turned out to be the glow ignitor batt was low. Knew it was something dumb. That was in Sept, and I've barely bought anything from there since. Just a gallon of fuel, and one a-arm. Everything else online or the one other lhs (more fuel lol.)

So I guess the moral of this incredibly long story is that successful stores have to first have good prices and good inv, and secondly have good enough CS that you don't chase customers away. If that makes your margins tight, then wth do you want from me. I'm sure there is someone else out there who can do it cheaper and friendlier.

	(#14)
Finnster KillaHurtz Offline Posts: 2,958 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bucks Co, PA	Had a couple of days to reflect on this... - 01.24.2009, 11:06 PM So Ive been thinking more about this and what caused them to fail, and I've decided all is not lost for the hobby More than anything I think it was run just poorly enough that its such a competitive business that the store just wasn't good enough, and a slowing economy made wounds far worse. The guy had just moved and expanded to a much bigger and better location, in part to increase the offerings (rockets, "science" crap, etc) in the store and gain visibility, but... The stuff they had and introduced was not all that unique nor well priced, nor in great variety. You get most of it online for less, and sometimes had to or special order it bc it wasn't in stock. I had to order lots of things special as he didn't carry them. Even stuff such as paints. Sold shells, but barely any paints. Forget about airbrush paints. I had some airbrush paints ordered, but eventually just went to Micheal's instead to buy createx paints for way less. Bought one set of tires there in 3 yrs as they were too much over tower. Rims were ok, but hard to find the right size/style. Wrong hex or offset. If it as a revo, savage or tmaxx part, it was in stock. Other stuff, IDK, hit and miss. Now I know you don't want to tie a bunch of money up inventory that doesn't sell, but to a certain point, if people are just going to expect you don't have the parts, they are not going to bother going. Esp when they will have to special order or buy online anyway. Basically that is what I did when I no longer had any TRX, losi or hpi veh. And might as well just buy the stuff he did carry I needed as I could just up the amt on Tower/Amain and use a bigger coupon and save shipping.... (Another hobby shop that closed last year was like that, "would you like to special order it?" "Uh, no. NM". They did have a popular 1/10 scale track on site as well. Not enough to save them.) Lastly, customer service. As said he claimed he would use great CS service to make up for the higher prices to drive people to the store. Too bad his CS wasn't that great. Little stuff added up I think. He could be a real d1ck to kids coming in the store, and talked to them like they didn't know what they were doing, or they were just there to steal stuff, or both. Plus he had a bit of that NJ smartass attitude. Kids may not have a lot of money to spend, but they do have parents, and often get hooked and become future customers. Personally, I bought my Sav XL there. Now I paid more there than I would have online (by a bit too,) but A.) was promised and expected some help w/ the nitro motor as it was my first time using one. B.) felt weird always coming in to look at them, not buying one, stop looking, then show up looking for parts one day lol. Plus thought I'd throw him a bone. Ok, so I had a spare motor from another model I got on ebay and later sold off as a roller. Motor was fine and used it a bit, but I'm a nitro n00b and let it get hot a few times, 300F, so didn't feel right selling it. Better to keep practicing tuning on that motor and sell the K5.9 as new and bring down the total cost of the kit some. Ok. Now I've been running the Sav w/ the motor for about a liter and its doing alright, but working it out still. Go to run it one day, and it will not start. 45min and nothing. I was so pissed I was ready to quit nitro for good. But, notwanting to give up so easy (and knowing it was something prolly simple) and went to the LHS to cash in my "one free tune w/ veh purchase." So I go in, explain the situation. He's giving me some advice. Try buying a new glow plug and try to start it myself out back. Nothing. Go back in. He tells me, "yeah, I can have the repair guy/nitro guru look at it, it'll be $35. " -"$35?! What about the one free tune? I just bought this 2 weeks ago." "Well its not the stock motor. You put in a diff motor." -"Dude, its a stock losi 427. You sell those things too. This isn't some exotic motor." "Sorry there is nothing I can do. I would still have to pay the repair guy." At this point now I'm really pissed. I've been a loyal customer for 3 yrs, (and he often reminds me of this) paid more than I need to for the truck to support the store, and the end of the day, it shouldn't matter if they are turning needles on a 5.9 or 427. Its all the same, and quite easy. (why he didn't offer to do it personally IDK.) Fine then. Screw it, I'll figure it out myself. Took the truck home. Turned out to be the glow ignitor batt was low. Knew it was something dumb. That was in Sept, and I've barely bought anything from there since. Just a gallon of fuel, and one a-arm. Everything else online or the one other lhs (more fuel lol.) So I guess the moral of this incredibly long story is that successful stores have to first have good prices and good inv, and secondly have good enough CS that you don't chase customers away. If that makes your margins tight, then wth do you want from me. I'm sure there is someone else out there who can do it cheaper and friendlier. Last edited by Finnster; 01.24.2009 at 11:08 PM.