I would have posted a "like" but unfortunately another hobby shop closing and clubs being hard to find deserves more of an "agree" comment. We are all facing that, even here in Florida where this area has a lot of retirees who are more involved in hobbies than young people.
Lew
Florida, USA 🇺🇸
I would have posted a "like" but unfortunately another hobby shop closing and clubs being hard to find deserves more of an "agree" comment. We are all facing that, even here in Florida where this area has a lot of retirees who are more involved in hobbies than young people.
Lew
Florida, USA 🇺🇸
The biggest problem is that most of the big European model producing companies in the world (Germany, US, UK etc) have either closed, amalgamated or sold to Chinese companies, or are having their kitsets made in China which is a no win situation. Chinese companies also sell their own kits cheaper which is why the European companies have gone. Most of the things you can buy in your LHS are made in China now anyway,- either from China or by China for other companies. The same stuff you can buy from many local shops, you can buy on Ali Express cheaper (just a longer wait) as the local shops hike all the prices up, (here sometimes by 400%+)
I bought a small electronic unit a while back on Ali Express for around $1.80, - later I saw the identical item on our main NZ selling site (TradeMe) for $25 ! - why would you buy it here?- happens with everything here.
JB
The biggest problem is that most of the big European model producing companies in the world (Germany, US, UK etc) have either closed, amalgamated or sold to Chinese companies, or are having their kitsets made in China which is a no win situation. Chinese companies also sell their own kits cheaper which is why the European companies have gone. Most of the things you can buy in your LHS are made in China now anyway,- either from China or by China for other companies. The same stuff you can buy from many local shops, you can buy on Ali Express cheaper (just a longer wait) as the local shops hike all the prices up, (here sometimes by 400%+)
I bought a small electronic unit a while back on Ali Express for around $1.80, - later I saw the identical item on our main NZ selling site (TradeMe) for $25 ! - why would you buy it here?- happens with everything here.
as it already has been said it is a worldwide problem. Part of which can be attributed to the cell phone mentality and the lack of any thing that requires a hands on approach. They want to spend all their time with the phone and do not or can not use their brains and hands at the same time.
as it already has been said it is a worldwide problem. Part of which can be attributed to the cell phone mentality and the lack of any thing that requires a hands on approach. They want to spend all their time with the phone and do not or can not use their brains and hands at the same time.
That is bad news but unfortunately happening all over. Perhaps if we didn’t buy so much on line and visited the shops more it might help. Part of the problem is that the shops are now few and far between.
That is bad news but unfortunately happening all over. Perhaps if we didn’t buy so much on line and visited the shops more it might help. Part of the problem is that the shops are now few and far between.
AMAZON is not always the cheapest source, however, one does receive items, at the advertised price, very promptly (usually). A cluster of us utilize SHOE-GOO for many things (it's an adhesive in a squeezable tube). $14 at CANADIAN TIRE, $11 at MARK'S (a "division" of Canadian Tire), $10 at the local hobbyshop. Hobbyshops are not always priceleaders.
I am a modeller & an Amateur Radio Operator. I hav had to return a lot of AMAZON purchases as they turned out to be NOT what the quasi-English-language advert promoted them as being. The worst category? Electronic kits with instructions "not in English language". Sure AMAZON returns your $$ most of the time, but I suffer great disappointment when I find out that I can't utilize the technology that was at my fingertips simply becuz I speak the 2nd-most-popular language on Earth.
AMAZON is not always the cheapest source, however, one does receive items, at the advertised price, very promptly (usually). A cluster of us utilize SHOE-GOO for many things (it's an adhesive in a squeezable tube). $14 at CANADIAN TIRE, $11 at MARK'S (a "division" of Canadian Tire), $10 at the local hobbyshop. Hobbyshops are not always priceleaders.
I am a modeller & an Amateur Radio Operator. I hav had to return a lot of AMAZON purchases as they turned out to be NOT what the quasi-English-language advert promoted them as being. The worst category? Electronic kits with instructions "not in English language". Sure AMAZON returns your $$ most of the time, but I suffer great disappointment when I find out that I can't utilize the technology that was at my fingertips simply becuz I speak the 2nd-most-popular language on Earth.
Gentlemen modelboat builders
This becomes a „World“ Problem.
In Antwerp we were blessed with 7 shops. Now we only have 1 luckely his son has stepped in so with a Little Bit of luck i can do my Shopping weithin 10 minutes Walk from where i live. I m member of 2 clubs and they love to order in China. When you Go to the shop you pay a few Cents more but you have it straight away as this shop has a huge offer.
As a principal i Never order in China
I Hope people realise what the Future will bring of this carries on
Gentlemen modelboat builders
This becomes a „World“ Problem.
In Antwerp we were blessed with 7 shops. Now we only have 1 luckely his son has stepped in so with a Little Bit of luck i can do my Shopping weithin 10 minutes Walk from where i live. I m member of 2 clubs and they love to order in China. When you Go to the shop you pay a few Cents more but you have it straight away as this shop has a huge offer.
As a principal i Never order in China
I Hope people realise what the Future will bring of this carries on
A branch of NZs largest hobby shop has now closed in the capitol,- there is only one left in Auckland now with a reasonable range of models. Very few left in the country these days, unless it's plastic models, trains or RC cars. You can't even find a model club apart from a few plane/UAV/heli clubs now,- most meetings seem to be arranged/announced on social media due to the costs involved running a club, ie permanent venue, council requirements, H+S etc etc.
Same goes for full sized car clubs, which just seem to be random meetings (no advertising on radio or TV.) We had a big Japanese car meet locally, a while back, only discovered it by accident. Probably over 100 cars turned up from all over but never heard a word about it. Hot-rod clubs are the only ones which might have yearly advertised shows (like our local one at the beach) All on social media these days, if you know where to find it that is.😐
JB
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A branch of NZs largest hobby shop has now closed in the capitol,- there is only one left in Auckland now with a reasonable range of models. Very few left in the country these days, unless it's plastic models, trains or RC cars. You can't even find a model club apart from a few plane/UAV/heli clubs now,- most meetings seem to be arranged/announced on social media due to the costs involved running a club, ie permanent venue, council requirements, H+S etc etc.
Same goes for full sized car clubs, which just seem to be random meetings (no advertising on radio or TV.) We had a big Japanese car meet locally, a while back, only discovered it by accident. Probably over 100 cars turned up from all over but never heard a word about it. Hot-rod clubs are the only ones which might have yearly advertised shows (like our local one at the beach) All on social media these days, if you know where to find it that is.😐
