The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Just a thought, maybe the recipient of emails should check their spam and trash boxes as some emails are routed there by the computer and not the recipient. I know this as fact as I learned this the hard way some time ago and check out the spam box every time I am looking at my emails.
LEN1
Liked by firefighter and hermank and
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Hi Stephen and Website Admin,
Since most people are complaining about the lack of hobby shop specialist for the model boat builder. Maybe this site could sell products, provide links to knowledgeable people to help solve a problem ( which we do already)
Since most people are complaining about the lack of hobby shop specialist for the model boat builder. Maybe this site could sell products, provide links to knowledgeable people to help solve a problem ( which we do already)
Liked by firefighter and Redpopman and
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
I used to go to that shop on Deansgate, what was it called ?
Red Budd
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
The only hobby store in our area carries rc cars, boats, planes; then several scales of trains, plastic model car, boat and plane kits. Then too are
those warriors to go with your computer or board games. They sell puzzles, paints, supplies, kites, and parts, parts, parts ! Plus a big RC car/Truck service counter area at the back of the store.
The last time I was buying boat supplies the boy at the counter was asking me questions about my project. I brought out my phone to show him photos because he said he liked model boats too. Then he shows me his model boat that he bought off the shelf at the store, a RTF water toy jet ski!
I agree with many of you, hobby stores in general can’t give you the personalized care unless the clerk is a specialist in your hobby area. Or, they refer you to a regular customer who will assist you 🤔🙋🏻♂️
those warriors to go with your computer or board games. They sell puzzles, paints, supplies, kites, and parts, parts, parts ! Plus a big RC car/Truck service counter area at the back of the store.
The last time I was buying boat supplies the boy at the counter was asking me questions about my project. I brought out my phone to show him photos because he said he liked model boats too. Then he shows me his model boat that he bought off the shelf at the store, a RTF water toy jet ski!
I agree with many of you, hobby stores in general can’t give you the personalized care unless the clerk is a specialist in your hobby area. Or, they refer you to a regular customer who will assist you 🤔🙋🏻♂️
Liked by firefighter and Len1
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Hello DuncanP, I completely agree with what you have said. About 20 years ago I collected a range of fire engine scale models. I would go to the shop ask to see and handle the model I was interested in buying. I was able to see the finish, the quality of the fittings and decide if that was the one I wanted to add to my collection. Now days, if what you receive is not of good quality or has a bad paint finish you have all the inconvenience of having to return the model and there is no guarantee that a replacement model is any better.
Greg 👍
Greg 👍
Best regards,
Greg
Greg
Liked by Len1
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
I used to work in the Model Shop at the end of Deansgate in Manchester as a Saturday job and also during college vacations. I had been making models since I was about 8. When in model shops I found it great to physically touch and assess whether the part I was wishing to buy was suitable. Also I could just buy one strip of wood or metal tubing rather than a pack of say 10. For example I needed about 3inches of brass tubing but even if I can get just a single one the postage is more than twice the price of the part! A few months back I wanted a strip of wood but because they come in 1m lengths they could only send it by courier which was £7.60 and yet the strip of wood was only £1.26!! This is because the post office wouldn't accept that length. In the old days walk in the shop, look choose, pay and take away! D😀
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Firefighter a good morning
It is indeed very difficult for a starter in this field of making Modelboats.
When I started I was 14 and had the help and advise of an old rat. Thank god. In the early 60ties there were no computers or internetsites. I m living in Antwerp and up to 2000 there were 8 shops for our hobby. Today only 1. I hate to go onto the Chinese website. I like the conversation with the owner and I keep on saying to others to go the shop and avoid as much as possible internet. I can understand that it is more difficult when you live in a rural area but you also have a lot of green around you 😊therefore you are lucky that you have found this site
Where you can ask everything and get different answers from different builders who had the specific problem and how they have solved it.
Glad that there’s one more builder to the hobby of building boats
Thank God !!👍👍👍😊
It is indeed very difficult for a starter in this field of making Modelboats.
When I started I was 14 and had the help and advise of an old rat. Thank god. In the early 60ties there were no computers or internetsites. I m living in Antwerp and up to 2000 there were 8 shops for our hobby. Today only 1. I hate to go onto the Chinese website. I like the conversation with the owner and I keep on saying to others to go the shop and avoid as much as possible internet. I can understand that it is more difficult when you live in a rural area but you also have a lot of green around you 😊therefore you are lucky that you have found this site
Where you can ask everything and get different answers from different builders who had the specific problem and how they have solved it.
Glad that there’s one more builder to the hobby of building boats
Thank God !!👍👍👍😊
Liked by firefighter
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
I agree with the comments that have been made. We have this problem of internet sellers that are not professionals and it is often obvious when you get their reply to your emailed question, or don't get a reply at all. A lot of what they say is BS and as a newcomer to the hobby I am learning fast. In the past, having told them I am new to the hobby and what would they recommend, they have sent me links to some of their products that even to a beginner are not what I want. I think it is more likely the links sent are items they want to sell either because they are an item which is slow to sell or an item that they have over stocked or even a discontinued item.
I am now starting to learn which retailers you can trust for good advice and after sales service and those are the people I am starting to regularly use.
It is correct that the internet has helped the demise of the high street model shop as it has done with other retail outlets. I am guilty of buying online partly because I live in a rural area and partly because of my Arthritis. I now find it difficult to drive even small distances. A few years ago when I lived in a different location I was more than happy to drive 100 miles round trip from where I lived then to the city to visit the model shop but that shop has now gone. I think it is also fair to say that apart from the internet, greedy landlords and councils have also been to blame for the closure of many high street shops.
There is nothing like going to a shop and looking at the actual item before you decide to buy.
Greg 👍
I am now starting to learn which retailers you can trust for good advice and after sales service and those are the people I am starting to regularly use.
It is correct that the internet has helped the demise of the high street model shop as it has done with other retail outlets. I am guilty of buying online partly because I live in a rural area and partly because of my Arthritis. I now find it difficult to drive even small distances. A few years ago when I lived in a different location I was more than happy to drive 100 miles round trip from where I lived then to the city to visit the model shop but that shop has now gone. I think it is also fair to say that apart from the internet, greedy landlords and councils have also been to blame for the closure of many high street shops.
There is nothing like going to a shop and looking at the actual item before you decide to buy.
Greg 👍
Best regards,
Greg
Greg
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
What’s a local retail shop? I live in Lytham St Annes (next door to Blackpool and it’s famous tower/ I mean boat show 🙂 ) so you think b there’s a retail store within 200 miles of the place but sadly there isn’t unless someone can prove me wrong ?🤔
Red Budd
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Lew,
You are on the money with LHS and boats. Most know nothing! But, to give the devil it's due, most of our models are custom and the ones that LHS sell are usually Chinese with Chinese electronics. Almost 99% of the electronics I use I have never seen in a LHS. Same for fittings, ect.
We are probably the smallest of the RC market. They do not want to waste the time, space and $ to stock slow moving products.
Follow the $$$$$$$$$$
You are on the money with LHS and boats. Most know nothing! But, to give the devil it's due, most of our models are custom and the ones that LHS sell are usually Chinese with Chinese electronics. Almost 99% of the electronics I use I have never seen in a LHS. Same for fittings, ect.
We are probably the smallest of the RC market. They do not want to waste the time, space and $ to stock slow moving products.
Follow the $$$$$$$$$$
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
I recently bought an RC tank (on line) for a major U.S. retailer an it arrived without the charger (XT60 plug) and they don't have any in stock so I can't run it. I gave them a 3 star rating and my review is not on their site. They only show 4 and 5 stars.
As for local shops, the personnel might be knowledgeable about RC planes or cars but usually not in scale model boats. Some try to BS their way through a question.
Lew
Florida, USA
As for local shops, the personnel might be knowledgeable about RC planes or cars but usually not in scale model boats. Some try to BS their way through a question.
Lew
Florida, USA
Lew
Florida, USA
Home page: https://www.RCFlorida.org/lmb
Florida, USA
Home page: https://www.RCFlorida.org/lmb
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Greg
I agree with ToraDog. We have all helped the demise of the local hobby shop by purchasing on-line.
Personally I just don't revisit shops or sites where the service is lacking.
However I have always found that if I ask a specific question regarding an item being offered for sale, I usually receive a response.
Most suppliers are in business to make a profit and responding to questions, unless relating to a specific item they sell, is not, I suspect, something high on their agenda.
Fortunately there are sites like this one where you can seek guidance and hopefully receive help and advice.
dave976
I agree with ToraDog. We have all helped the demise of the local hobby shop by purchasing on-line.
Personally I just don't revisit shops or sites where the service is lacking.
However I have always found that if I ask a specific question regarding an item being offered for sale, I usually receive a response.
Most suppliers are in business to make a profit and responding to questions, unless relating to a specific item they sell, is not, I suspect, something high on their agenda.
Fortunately there are sites like this one where you can seek guidance and hopefully receive help and advice.
dave976
Liked by Len1 and firefighter and
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
I know what you mean about retailers. I'm waiting for a reply because of a lack of description on the website of a product that I'm considering buying from them. It gets frustrating after a while.
Liked by firefighter and hermank and
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Greg,
I think that you are spot on. I do have a caveat or two though.
There is a difference between hobby shops and hobby suppliers or manufacturers. In the case of the latter, many are small concerns that are run out of the garage, so to speak. Many are not the prime income stream for the owner either. As such, it often takes quite a while for a response, and sometimes they do get lost.
Then there is the internet itself with it's trolls and junk mail. I would hate to have to spend time weeding my way thru all that each day.
Another point I'd make, and this is a pet peeve of mine too, is the loss of the neighborhood hobby shop that gets replaced by an internet based company that is only concerned with income. Most of them, from what I have seen, could not even build a model if it came with directions. Nor would they care to. Sadly this is the state of our societies now, instant gratification at the cost knowledge, experience and trust. We get what we pay for.
Without forums such as this one, all of the model based hobbies would be disappearing. Look at the questions posted on airplane, helicopter, radio and all the rest of the forums. it use to be that your LHS answered those questions. No more.
Sadly, I agree with you, but we aren't alone...yet.
I think that you are spot on. I do have a caveat or two though.
There is a difference between hobby shops and hobby suppliers or manufacturers. In the case of the latter, many are small concerns that are run out of the garage, so to speak. Many are not the prime income stream for the owner either. As such, it often takes quite a while for a response, and sometimes they do get lost.
Then there is the internet itself with it's trolls and junk mail. I would hate to have to spend time weeding my way thru all that each day.
Another point I'd make, and this is a pet peeve of mine too, is the loss of the neighborhood hobby shop that gets replaced by an internet based company that is only concerned with income. Most of them, from what I have seen, could not even build a model if it came with directions. Nor would they care to. Sadly this is the state of our societies now, instant gratification at the cost knowledge, experience and trust. We get what we pay for.
Without forums such as this one, all of the model based hobbies would be disappearing. Look at the questions posted on airplane, helicopter, radio and all the rest of the forums. it use to be that your LHS answered those questions. No more.
Sadly, I agree with you, but we aren't alone...yet.
The Lack of Help and Advice From Model Retailers.
Sitting here waiting for some glue to dry I thought I would chat about retailers. Since beginning the hobby I have on occasions asked retailers via email advice on their products with a view to making purchases. Most retailers happily reply but there seems to be a growing number who don't reply at all or those that do reply and say that they will find out about what you have asked and get back to you but never do.
With the economic crisis the country is going through at the moment with many people not having the financial resources to have a hobby are these lacklustre model shops so busy with sales that they can afford to be indifferent in response or not reply at all to emails enquiring about potential sales.
Now I'm not saying that all model shop retailers are the same. Far from it. There are some very good ones out there and they have had my money. But because I am seeing the lack of response from a fair few I have taken to sending the same enquiry to more than one retailer at a time in the hope that I get at least one reply.
Not getting replies can be very frustrating. I think it is becoming common place across the internet because I sell items on Etsy and one of their rules is that you are required to answer messages sent to you by prospective buyers within 24 hours. If you fail to do so your account is penalized by the loss of a percentage amount on your overall selling rating. When I have asked questions of other Etsy sellers it is amazing how fast they reply! 😁
Anyway, I though I would just share my thoughts on the subject.
Greg 👍
With the economic crisis the country is going through at the moment with many people not having the financial resources to have a hobby are these lacklustre model shops so busy with sales that they can afford to be indifferent in response or not reply at all to emails enquiring about potential sales.
Now I'm not saying that all model shop retailers are the same. Far from it. There are some very good ones out there and they have had my money. But because I am seeing the lack of response from a fair few I have taken to sending the same enquiry to more than one retailer at a time in the hope that I get at least one reply.
Not getting replies can be very frustrating. I think it is becoming common place across the internet because I sell items on Etsy and one of their rules is that you are required to answer messages sent to you by prospective buyers within 24 hours. If you fail to do so your account is penalized by the loss of a percentage amount on your overall selling rating. When I have asked questions of other Etsy sellers it is amazing how fast they reply! 😁
Anyway, I though I would just share my thoughts on the subject.
Greg 👍
Best regards,
Greg
Greg
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