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

ssspconcepts · 01.24.2009, 11:57 PM

Right on target...successful LHS ingredients:

1. Fair prices
2. Inventory
3. Good CS
4. Activity base (i.e., indoor/outdoor race track)

Back when we lived in WV is when I built my first brushless monster truck. Nothing special...it was a FLM Maxx with a novak BL motor/ESC combo. Everything that I had built prior to that came from a kit and was pretty much easy to assemble. However, that FLM Maxx had some parts that required a little grinding/polishing to make eveything fit just right...and the drive train had to be strengthened to handle BL power. At that time, I was using 32P gears and had a RR steel sur with the stock junk traxxas pinion. That thing was eating those traxxas pinions left and right until I figured out the problem (steel and aluminum don't mesh well!). So I ordered a couple steel RR pinions online...and in the meantime I figured I'd drive up to a LHS that was about 35min away and buy a few more RR steel pinions so I'd be able to run my new BL monster truck over the weekend. Not only that, I was psyched to take my just finished Maxx up to this hobby shop that advertised a track, large inventory (to include RR gears), friendly service, etc. When I showed up with my truck and asked the owner if he had any RR 32p steel pinions, he indicated that they no longer carried them. BTW...he didn't know or understand what 32p meant. Well I hated to waste a trip...so I tried to strike up a conversation and see if there was anything else I needed or was interested in buying. Apparently this irritated the blob (and owner) behind the counter because he looked at me and said "whut do ya do with that pritty alum truck? Drive it around the living room?" Not the smartest thing to say to an adult customer that comes strolling into your establishment with a $2500 truck under his arm. With any amount of luck, that customer just might spend some serious loot if you are nice to him. I mean what a dumb ass...he had tons of 1/5 scale stuff (FG and MCD) and I was trying to talk to him about the pros/cons of those RCs versus the nitros. I was genuinely interested in buying one and I had brought proof into his store that I could indeed afford to buy one of his FG/MCDs! Freaky thing is that another customer in the store looked at me and looked at the owner behind the counter and said "I don't think he's interested in your FGs anymore..." LOL. I have had numerous similar experiences so I just stay away from the LHS scene unless I am in pinch for connectors, CA glue, diff fluid, etc. LHS CS awlays seems to be the same...some blob that knows it all or some kid that doesn't care and certainly isn't trying to figure it out.

	(#15)
ssspconcepts RC-Monster Aluminum Offline Posts: 834 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aubrey, Texas	01.24.2009, 11:57 PM Right on target...successful LHS ingredients: 1. Fair prices 2. Inventory 3. Good CS 4. Activity base (i.e., indoor/outdoor race track) Back when we lived in WV is when I built my first brushless monster truck. Nothing special...it was a FLM Maxx with a novak BL motor/ESC combo. Everything that I had built prior to that came from a kit and was pretty much easy to assemble. However, that FLM Maxx had some parts that required a little grinding/polishing to make eveything fit just right...and the drive train had to be strengthened to handle BL power. At that time, I was using 32P gears and had a RR steel sur with the stock junk traxxas pinion. That thing was eating those traxxas pinions left and right until I figured out the problem (steel and aluminum don't mesh well!). So I ordered a couple steel RR pinions online...and in the meantime I figured I'd drive up to a LHS that was about 35min away and buy a few more RR steel pinions so I'd be able to run my new BL monster truck over the weekend. Not only that, I was psyched to take my just finished Maxx up to this hobby shop that advertised a track, large inventory (to include RR gears), friendly service, etc. When I showed up with my truck and asked the owner if he had any RR 32p steel pinions, he indicated that they no longer carried them. BTW...he didn't know or understand what 32p meant. Well I hated to waste a trip...so I tried to strike up a conversation and see if there was anything else I needed or was interested in buying. Apparently this irritated the blob (and owner) behind the counter because he looked at me and said "whut do ya do with that pritty alum truck? Drive it around the living room?" Not the smartest thing to say to an adult customer that comes strolling into your establishment with a $2500 truck under his arm. With any amount of luck, that customer just might spend some serious loot if you are nice to him. I mean what a dumb ass...he had tons of 1/5 scale stuff (FG and MCD) and I was trying to talk to him about the pros/cons of those RCs versus the nitros. I was genuinely interested in buying one and I had brought proof into his store that I could indeed afford to buy one of his FG/MCDs! Freaky thing is that another customer in the store looked at me and looked at the owner behind the counter and said "I don't think he's interested in your FGs anymore..." LOL. I have had numerous similar experiences so I just stay away from the LHS scene unless I am in pinch for connectors, CA glue, diff fluid, etc. LHS CS awlays seems to be the same...some blob that knows it all or some kid that doesn't care and certainly isn't trying to figure it out.