LHS Etiquitte

[space_doc]

If I ordered something (an ESC) from my LHS and they can't get it because it's on backorder, is it considered poor form to cancel my order and order online? I like my LHS and don't want to offend them by taking my business elsewhere. Please help.

[SteveP]

I guess it depends on how quickly you need it. I always like to support my LHS for all the obvious reasons. If you don't need it right away, there's no harm in waiting. If you DO need it right away and someone else can deliver, then I don't think you have an option. I would imagine everyone would be out of stock on the item if it's back-ordered. If not, then your hobby shop may be limiting themselves to a single supplier that doesn't carry enough inventory. You know the old story, you can't sell what you don't have!

[prime]

I think you are in the right to cancel a back-ordered purchase.

The business model that some LHS are banking on is dead. If the LHS doesn't diversify their market beyond their local customer base by leveraging the Internet for 24/7 sales, they will not stay profitable against their Internet competitors.

[This message has been edited by prime (edited 02-19-2001).]

[pp13b]

i agree with steve..

[NervousXtian]

okay.. is it wrong to ask a LHS to match an online price (including shipping charge in your qoute).. and would you take your buisness elsewhere if they would not match it??

my closest local hobby shop is filled with idiots (qouted me a different price on a kit that i saw the week earlier priced 30 bucks cheaper.. then said it was never that price)..

i have other local shops but they're a lot farther away.. some shops tend to be real competitve and others don't.. i live in a big city.. so i'm not sure if you small towners have this same problem (where your shop HAS to mark up more to profit)..

otherwise.. i'm in sales (electronic and previous furniture) and i know the standard mark-up on furniture to be about 100 points and electronics to be around 20points.. anyone know the mark-up on RC equipment.. i've always wondered that (i don't mind paying a decent mark-up.. i know people need to make money).. but i've always been curious of how much it is marked up???

any ex- rc shop workers out there know???



[This message has been edited by NervousXtian (edited 02-19-2001).]

[BigCatDaddy-Outlaw]

I agree with steve.

I disagree with prime.


Prime, some of have no choice but to support our LHS. What happens to those who have no credit cards, what happens if you favorite online shop server breaks? There are other variables to think of. Alienating those who really care about the hobby, and are in business for us is a bad presedent to set.

[space_doc]

Thanks guys. Well, I'm in small town USA. There are two hobby stores around here. One's 30 minutes away, the other 45. Then there's Tower in Champaign about an hour and a half. Tower is well known and has lots of stock, but I prefer my LHS because they really take care of you. Last week the RC guy gave me a bag of pinions to test out, see what I like, and bring back what I didn't want. Didn't ask for any money until I decided what I wanted to keep and brought the rest back. Anyway, thanks for the different points of view.

[Mark98SS]

The important thing to remember is that while the mail order guys will have the best price you will get personal service at the LHS. You can ask questions & if they're any good they will tell/show you how to do mods, repairs & tuning. Try bringing that RC10GT you just put together to the the LHS for tuning help. If they sold it to you they'll help get it running. Mail order: your on your own! One of the best thing to happen to the R/C scene in my area is when the Hobbytown hired a dedicated R/C enthusiest. Now I go in there & not only find decent stuff in stock, but get suggestions from an experienced racer on how to improve.

[DJ BlendeR]

Wow, I whole bag of pinions, geez, I havent heard anything like that happen here. I know exactly where Badracer is coming from. I went to one of the LHS around here, and I have a touring car and it seemed like he didnt want my business because of it. He was running trucks on the track and I was asking about like when he though he would be ordering some parts for TCs and when he'd race them and all that. So he acted like a jerk to me when I asked him and then I was asking some stuff about suspension I think and he didnt change. Thats why I have you guys. Now I dont have to look like a complete idiot. And if I do, well you dont know who I am atleast http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[RCJunkie]

Wow, I guess I'm pretty lucky with my LHS. RC isn't real big around here but the shop I go to is realistic. I support them as much as possible and they appreciate my business but if they can't come within 10 percent on price I order it from tower. Usually when the LHS orders for meit comes in two or three days if its in stock. I buy my big ticket items from the LHS so I have someone to go back to if there is a question or a problem. And yes if they had my money and could'nt get my part within a reasonable amount of time I would ask for it back because they are realistic enough to know that I could order everything online.

[prime]

BigCatDaddy-Outlaw,

No where in my post does it say I believe it's better to buy online than from the LHS. All I'm saying is that they need to augment their business model to keep from dieing off. In reality, the LHS that that chooses to sale online as well as locally is more profitable, caries more stock, and a wider variety of that stock, and can offer lower prices due to higher volume.

I didn't invent this concept - it's commonly known as the "clicks and mortar" business model.

[Zedstr]

i must say that it is very rare for any local business, let alone LHS, to even want to compete with a internet ad. Let alone try to compromise on one. my problem with my LHS is all about customer service though. my LHS isnt what i would consider a 'race ready' type of store, ie. it NEVER has what i want or need, and they are grumpy about ordering. i exclusively shop online for everything for my gt. i am proud to say my LHS is out of state and includes phone charges, because that is where i can get satisfaction.

[ammoace]

I live in a town of over 100,000 people (Abilene, Texas) and still only have one LHS. It is a side job for this guy. He runs his LHS out of a room in his Full scale auto Machine Shop. He carries mostly Associated and since the T-Maxx has hit the shelves, not in his store, he grudgingly is starting to have Traxxas parts. He still has to order everything that isn't associated and his suppliers always seem to be out of stock. I ordered new Arms and Titanium turnbuckles at least 2 months ago and they still haven't come in. This has happened everytime, Out of stock that is, I have ordered from him, to include the intial purchase of the T-Maxx. I still go to him because he is a real nice guy. He just has poor business sense. Besides, I am buying two associated cars through this BB and will need his parts and services. One of the cars is the RC10LS and not in production that I can find. This type of forthought is needed to look out for your own best interests in the future. Besides, he also has a LOT of tuning, building, and general technical knowledge that he gives FREE. You can't buy that online.
AMMOACE

[The_Ne-Go-She-Ate-r]

Basically what i think my lhs is for , its to go check a product out or by an a arm or a body. Becouse hobby shops justa are crazy with there prices. They have a team t3 in there for 255$ when you get order it from omni models for 180$ what really doesnt make sence is that they sell rcca that has all the ad's for tower, omni and so on but people still would rather pay an extra 50 to 60 bucks for a kit. I also know since they order straight from the company there even cheaper then what we see in raca. I say if its on backorder at your lhs Cancel it, order it on your own and get it faster and cheaper. Also i read that someone said what if i dont have a credit card, C.O.D

[24601]

I think the issue all comes down tot he quality of your hobby shop. I have found that the two Hobby Town USA in my area are stocked with nothing but complete morons. I hear them lie or give wrong information all the time. Tell them they are wrong, and instead of learning they get defensive and say things like "well, just tell me what you want so I can ring you up." I have no problem going over these guys heads, and I usually go in there with part number in hand. Maybe if I was in to role playing games they would help me. That is all they are ever talking about. Have you seen the hobby guy on The Simpsons? I've got a store full of them.

[space_doc]

Well, since the LRP Pro Reverse is on backorder, no one has any. I thought maybe I'd find one off the shelf somewhere. My LHS only has a (one) Rooster in stock. and besides, I'd want a SuperR instead. I guess I'll just wait for the order to get filled. The guys at my LHS are really good. The store owner (trains and plastic kits) was smart and hired an RC'er to run the RC department. Great move. The guy knows his stuff and has helped me a lot. I'll keep my business there for now.

[XXXER]

I have 3 LHS's around by me, 1 is about 10 minutes away, the others are about 20, there are 2 that are about a block away, one is a hobby town that is worthless. i have stopped going to the closer, because the other, not the HT, has more of what i need, die hard race stuff! There is no racing blood by where i live, so instead of waiting to order a part, i just go straight to the further one away, doug knows that i do, and he does not mind, i still go there to get the low down of what is happening, and i am going to apply there shortly in hope of getting some people there that know what exactly they are doing.

[BigCatDaddy-Outlaw]

Well Ne, Tower doesn't do COD, unless you are an established customer.


Prime, I live in a small town (100,000) most of which is military, so our LHS is meant to be just that, Local. Within about an 90 min drive, there are about 4 other shops that sell orders online.


LHS are vital to the survival of the hobby. You buy from them, and the ones with knowledgable people help out the newbies as well as the vets when they have questions, and that is what some of us need.

[Mark98SS]

Originally posted by BigCatDaddy-Outlaw:


LHS are vital to the survival of the hobby. You buy from them, and the ones with knowledgable people help out the newbies as well as the vets when they have questions, and that is what some of us need.[/B]


Well said. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

[hpiguy]

Tower takes checks, money orders(even an underage kid can buy a M.O. with cash), and debit cards (not a CC BTW, a check card, all you need is an account to get one).

I hardly go to my LHS. They are overpriced, NEVER have my parts in stock unless it's Traxxas or Duratrax, and doesn't have a track or any desire to make a track. He sells only beginner RTR and will order parts only on a demand basis. The help is also uninformed and sometimes downright rude. They once even sent a guy to my work to ask me a question about a car this guy bought at their store. How bigga cahones do they have to do that? At least they admitted I knew more about cars then they did though.

Tower is the exact opposite. I go with mail order.

My LHS has to EARN my business, not just ge *** handed out for pity, or a nostalgia feeling.

This is how MOSt LHS have become. If they were all so good the mail order business would die off. Instead it has thrived.

[cc488]

I race my R/C stuff on tracks, against other people. My LHS is also my local track, if I want that track to race on, I need that Hobby shop to be open. When was the last time those big mail order houses, held a race?

Simple as that.

[24601]

Originally posted by cc488:
I race my R/C stuff on tracks, against other people. My LHS is also my local track, if I want that track to race on, I need that Hobby shop to be open. When was the last time those big mail order houses, held a race?

Simple as that.

I will be sure to drive to Georgia for m next parts.

Actually, it isn't really that simple, as you may have seen in the previous posts.

[foo]

Originally posted by cc488:
I race my R/C stuff on tracks, against other people. My LHS is also my local track, if I want that track to race on, I need that Hobby shop to be open. When was the last time those big mail order houses, held a race?

Simple as that.


I race at a track too. None of the hobby shops around here have a track. I pay an annual membership fee and a fee every race day to race. All the help I've gotten was from people who race at the track, the web or books and magazines. I've never gotten help from the hobby shops.

Having said that though, there is one LHS I do buy stuff from occasionally but if I can buy stuff overseas for 1/2 to 2/3 the price (and that includes shipping!) why would I buy locally?

[LatexMantus]

I really think this whole arguement depends on what your LHS is like. If the people are friendly, helpful and knowledgable, then people will gladly support them. If they are rude, crude and morons, then people shouldn't support them. They have to start to realize that the LHS is no longer the only option and it is easy to shop online for anything you need. I can understand a LHS being a little more costly than Tower Hobbies simply because of the amount of product moved, but only to a certain extent. I'll pay $20 or $30 more, but I can't justify paying $70 more for something. And if the shop is good, then it should survive. If not, it will die out. That is just the way things are, people are loyal if you give them a reason to be loyal.

[jboyce13]

thanks mantus.....well, that pretty much much sums everything up. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

[space_doc]

Well said mantis. Well, thanks to all who shared their thoughts on this.

[cracknee]

In defence of hobby town. The hobby town in my town actually has alot of rc-10 parts and the punk kids that work there actually know some stuff about rc. If they didnt have the part i needed ,i would just order it myself. I see no point in having the hobby shop order somthing for ya when you can order it yourself.

[prime]

I wouldn't mind paying an annual fee, to be a member of the local race club, and a small fee for each race. I think the owners of local race tracks deserve some racer community backing. There aren't any RC race clubs that I know about here in Houston. Too bad too, I spend a lot of money on my hobbies.

[cc488]

Yes I, too, would pay a clubs fees to race somewhere. But around here the hobby shop at the track is a great shop with knowledgable and helpful staff. It is run by a husband & wife "Team" that really works hard giving us a place to race.