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Skippy wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 2:18 amI don’t want to get started on parts availability sucks my lhs doesn’t even want to order AE items because it’s a pain in the a**.

I work at a hobby shop. Just buy directly from Team Associated.

Associated sells and ships directly to customers before they even ship to distributors like Horizon or HRP (which is way before the distributor can ship to the hobby shop). Hobby shops are the last to get Associated products so there really is not any reason for hobby shops to carry Associated stuff any more.

Mark Westerfield wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 5:07 am

Skippy wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 2:18 amI don’t want to get started on parts availability sucks my lhs doesn’t even want to order AE items because it’s a pain in the a**.

I work at a hobby shop. Just buy directly from Team Associated.

Associated sells and ships directly to customers before they even ship to distributors like Horizon or HRP (which is way before the distributor can ship to the hobby shop). Hobby shops are the last to get Associated products so there really is not any reason for hobby shops to carry Associated stuff any more.

Keep telling people that and you won't be working at a hobby shop for much longer.

Dangeruss wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 6:48 am Keep telling people that and you won't be working at a hobby shop for much longer.

He has a point though. Why buy from a local hobby shop when you can get it quicker and often cheaper direct from Associated because Associated makes a lot more money selling at retail rather than trade prices. Shops are just going to stop selling a lot of Associateds products.

Tamiya USA does it right, if you want to buy direct from them you are paying MSRP on everything to make you buy from hobby shops and only use them as a last resort.

My local hobby shop always seems to get stuff the same time as amain or any of the online shops do including horizon.

Associated doesn't want distributors they want to sell it all direct and make the extra profit. Why sell to distributors and take 30-40% right off the top of the kits. The way they are creating a membership club to steal even more customers away by giving deep discounts that hobby shops are not allowed to advertise I feel like they won't be getting the hobby shops business much longer anyway. Tracks will suffer the most as well as track customers.

Mark Westerfield wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 5:07 am I work at a hobby shop. Just buy directly from Team Associated.

Worst Salesman Ever!!!

I've been in internet retail since 2007.

Direct to consumer is the way.

Any biz "suffering" needs to evaluate which community they are attempting to profit from.

Our hobby shop already stopped carrying AE stuff.

FYI - this discount code currently works for a $10 discount on the preorder. I'm already a 99 cent member, so not sure if that is required or not.

AEMember25

Edit: looks like membership is required

-Use Promo Code AEMember25 to get $10 off your next $50+ order. Limit one per Membership Club account. This expires in 30 days and applies to almost everyting we offer.

Frankentruck wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 11:04 am This expires in 30 days and applies to almost everyting we offer.

I foresee the expiration date getting shorter in the future...

I live in California all discounts are a moot point since taxes basically negate the “discount”

KidAgain wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:38 pm I live in California all discounts are a moot point since taxes basically negate the “discount”

I understand that. AE doesn't charge shipping or taxes to me in Texas so it works out pretty well. If Amain didn't charge me taxes I would buy more from them.

It is all good for shelf queens and occasional runners, but this is not good for the racers. If you don't have trackside parts support you either carry a hobby shop on your back or accept that every crash or hard landing could ruin your day. Granted, most of you crash less often and less severely than I did/do.

1911Colt wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 4:03 pm If you don't have trackside parts support you either carry a hobby shop on your back or accept that every crash or hard landing could ruin your day.

Profoundly insightful to think about. What's the best vehicle to race? One you can get parts for. Someone who races at a lot of different places would know best but, are there any well stocked tracks?

Sure, companies have never wanted to compete for shelf space so, "We don't carry Losi" or "We don't stock Associated" isn't new... but the manufactures simply not making parts is.

Meanwhile Traxxas offers exactly what everyone wants, inexpensive kits with plentiful and affordable parts... but somehow were never able to outgrow being the Rodney Dangerfield of the hobby...

Frankentruck wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:57 pm If Amain didn't charge me taxes I would buy more from them.

With monthly coupons and rebate points, it usually works out pretty good.

Unfortunately, Associated and Traxxas don't allow coupons on normal orders. I just made a $200+ order, but only $60 was eligible for monthly coupons.