Mini-rant: the slow painful death of the hobby shop

[markbt73]

I was just out running errands, and across the street from one of the places I had to go is a HobbyTown. It's the closest hobby shop to my house (both the old one and the new one), so I pop in there for miscellaneous stuff when I need it. If there's something specific or big-ticket, I go to the big good local shop across town (Tammie's Hobbies in Beaverton) but it's a good 45 minute drive.

All I needed was one outdrive bearing for a Stealth transmission. One simple 3/8x5/8 bearing. I asked for it, and the guy went over to the wall-o'-parts, which is now behind a long counter (it used to be accessible to the customers). I watched in increasing frustration as he read the size on every packet, even the ones that were obviously too small (you can't estimate five-eighths of an inch? Seriously?) before telling me that they didn't have any.

"What about the box of bearings under the counter?" I asked.

"What box?"

"You guys used to have a plastic box with dividers with a bunch of different sized bearings in it."

"Did we? Oh, I don't know anything about that. Sorry." By this time I was annoyed, and hadn't had lunch yet, so I just said "Forget it" and left. I thought about checking the little shop in the mall, but then I remembered it's December 1st. I'm not walking into a full-fledged mall on a Saturday at this time of year without a machete. I ran the rest of my errands, grabbed Carl's Jr on the way home, and now here I sit, still missing a bearing that used to be available at a moment's notice at any hobby shop worthy of the name.

This isn't the first time I've had problems with this shop. I'm a tinkerer, a do-it-yourselfer; I don't care what a part is meant for; if I can see that it will do what I want, I'll take it. But now, with the wall-o-parts inaccessible, I have either try to explain what I want, or already have a part number to tell them. It's frustrating. I wonder if they've done the math: how many things got stolen off the wall versus how many things I've gotten somewhere else or ordered from Tower because I didn't want to deal with some clerk who can't find his rear end with both hands. You want to talk "loss prevention;" what about lost business prevention?

Regardless, I hope there's a strong enough market for cheap Chinese helicopters and Traxxas monster trucks, for their sake, because this "real hobbyist" won't bother with them anymore.

Guess I'm going across town tomorrow...

[scr8p]

i don't think many "real" hobbyist use hobbytown anyway.

my local hobbytown is the same way, it's really only good for a couple things....... for me. my brain is always turning with ideas. if i see something hanging on the hook behind the counter i think i could use i'll grab it. but when you can't see half of what is on the wall because of these sliding pegboard racks they have in front of the main wall, and can't go behind the counter to dig around, i don't leave there with much when i do go there. if the owner is there, different story. he knows me well enough, and trusts that i won't rob him blind. he'll let me behind the counter (when he's there when i am), but not his employees......... which is understandible.

[flipwils11]

Regardless, I hope there's a strong enough market for cheap Chinese helicopters and Traxxas monster trucks, for their sake, because this "real hobbyist" won't bother with them anymore.

A very prophetic statement but yes this was what I feel like when I go to one of those stupid hobby town places, which is rare.

I also agree on the wall of parts because I love going through all that and grabbing a few extra things just because I happened upon them. I don't think this kind of consumer buying behavior will even resonate however for the hobby town business model.

[GoMachV]

I think they only service traxxas lol!

I could walk blind folded to the bin at tammies and pick then out I know hobby town may be closer but I'd pull my hair out with their incompetence!

What area are you in now?

[Russ Winn]

I share the sentiment, as well. The last few times I went to the local Hobbytown, was for Dubro or K&S materials (and they wouldn't come near me, because it wasn't a bolt-on item). It's also very frustrating to get anything Associated, unless it's a RTR TC4...and good luck on any parts for that. Unless you want Traxxas, you may as well order online. But I think the big reason is because they're catering to todays' "instant gratification" generation...marketing, you know.

I'm so thankful that a REAL RC shop opened up down the street from me...I hope they're around a long time.

[markbt73]

I guess I got spoiled when I lived in St Paul, MN, being only a mile away from Hub Hobby Center, which, rather than contracting, actually DOUBLED in size over the 10 years I was a customer there. Friendly, knowledgeable folks, parts for just about everything (I wasn't into vintage stuff then, but if I ever get back there, I'm planning a full day to rummage), and fair prices. If you're anywhere in Minnesota, I can vouch for them.

Gomachv, I'm SE, near Mt Scott. So Beaverton is quite a haul. I always try to sneak in a stop at Tammie's if we're going to that side of town for another reason.

[GoMachV]

Dude, your not too far from me (wood village) and I have those bearings "in stock" come get em

I'll just order more when I reorder from Boca

[LTO_Dave]

The only two hobby shops in my area are 45-60 minutes in opposite directions, and neither are really worth going to.

The one that I've gone to since a kid still has a huge wall of old parts, but you're not allowed behind the counter. I've found some older parts there, but nothing amazing. It still looks and smells like it did 20+ years ago with the exception of the new Traxxas garbage.

The other newer place is huge and deals mainly in models and diecast, but the entire parts wall is covered in Traxxas junk. They have a few new AE parts, but the only brand they concentrate on is Traxxas.

And if you don't have a part number, don't even bother asking for something.

[THEYTOOKMYTHUMB]

Believe me, I understand that HOBBYTOWN sux and I'm thankful to have http://www.reoraceway.com/ just 30 minutes away(now Jay should give me a nice discount ), but if it weren't for them there'd be either nothing or some other whack chain. If you have a Hobbytown be thankful. It's better than nothing... which is what a large population in the U.S. has!! I mean it's still a WAY cooler toy store than Toys R Us.

It's up to the R/C industry to broaden the hobby and inflate good hobby shops. Until then... welcome to HOBBYTOWN USA.

[flipwils11]

I guess I got spoiled when I lived in St Paul, MN, being only a mile away from Hub Hobby Center, which, rather than contracting, actually DOUBLED in size over the 10 years I was a customer there. Friendly, knowledgeable folks, parts for just about everything (I wasn't into vintage stuff then, but if I ever get back there, I'm planning a full day to rummage), and fair prices. If you're anywhere in Minnesota, I can vouch for them.

Gomachv, I'm SE, near Mt Scott. So Beaverton is quite a haul. I always try to sneak in a stop at Tammie's if we're going to that side of town for another reason.

Hub is decent but is frequently out of things especially associated parts. Looking for B4 steering knuckles? Oh we can order that... Yeah, so can I, from Tower Hobbies. But luckily they still have other stuff including kits, the wall of parts, and other stuff.

The best place by far is RC Car Kings in Burnsville south of St Paul. They sell on eBay too: http://www.rccarkings.net/

[markbt73]

I guess I got spoiled when I lived in St Paul, MN, being only a mile away from Hub Hobby Center, which, rather than contracting, actually DOUBLED in size over the 10 years I was a customer there. Friendly, knowledgeable folks, parts for just about everything (I wasn't into vintage stuff then, but if I ever get back there, I'm planning a full day to rummage), and fair prices. If you're anywhere in Minnesota, I can vouch for them.

Gomachv, I'm SE, near Mt Scott. So Beaverton is quite a haul. I always try to sneak in a stop at Tammie's if we're going to that side of town for another reason.

Hub is decent but is frequently out of things especially associated parts. Looking for B4 steering knuckles? Oh we can order that... Yeah, so can I, from Tower Hobbies. But luckily they still have other stuff including kits, the wall of parts, and other stuff.

The best place by far is RC Car Kings in Burnsville south of St Paul. They sell on eBay too: http://www.rccarkings.net/

Yep, I spent a lot of time there too. I picked over their shelf of used cars many times. It seems like that's where everyone dumps last year's race cars, and you can get them for a song. But again, it was a long drive, since I was living in Maplewood.

[highwayracer]

I actually like going to the Traxxas store every few months. I love seeing all of the different types of cars and trucks (all traxxas)...and of course the helicopter section...which is now huge.

What I most enjoy is the discount bin that contains parts from the "imported" manfacturers (Associated, losi, etc...)...these aren't the AE or Losi parts....tse are the good old Team Assoicated and Team Losi Performance items from years ago. Yesterday, I picked up some stealth gears (diff and idler) for .25 cents...each. The rest of the items are a little bit more...at $1.

I thought I cleaned out their inventory, but it looks like they had some on the peg hooks. Thank god they had to make room for all of those helicopter parts

But to be fair, if you wanted to know about a traxxas product...or crawling / bashing, these guys are experts. When you go there, make sure you have your traxxas part number.

[dldiaz]

Our local HobbyTown is staffed mostly by folks [kids] that know everything about the latest body to come on the same old Traxxas chassis,
but, they don't know the first thing about tinkering with any sort of R/C car.

There is one older fella, an old racer, who is very helpful / resourceful,
if he's not there, forget it...

I only go inside the store about three times per year.

[RichieRich]

I agree with highwayracer. The only reason to go to the Traxxas store is to check the clearance bins. You never know what you'll find there. Most of the time it's nothing but I've found several deals too.

[vwjuice]

Mark- who was it that you talked too there? The Asian guy is pretty nice and fairly knowledgable, there is an older gentleman that always wears overalls his name is Todd and he is very knowledgable but he's only there once in a while to help out. Then there's another guy that's in his early 30's and has dark hair, he's pretty much useless.

I definitely agree that Tammie's is the best place around to get parts and help.