LHS vs. Mail Order

[jasonrcfreak]

I recently had a not so pleasant experience with a mail order shop out of California who shall remain nameless. I understand that their regular and walk-in customers are their main priority; but if you're are gonna have a mail-order business also, then those customers deserve the same attention!!! Don't be half-assed about it.

I cancelled my order and went to my LHS, Hobbytown in Overland Park to check on the parts. They had all but two of them which they had to order. My total ended up being about $3 more at Hobbytown than from the mail order place. Big woop. Guess I shoulda check there in the first place.

If you have any mail order horror stories you'd like to share, go for it!! :D

[Big Wig]

It's nice to support the local shops but I think the shop should be worthy of your patronage.

There are 3 shops that I frequent and only one shop owner is a real hobbiest. Unfortunately that guy doesn't help newbies in the least, instead he berades them if they call with "stupid" questions and he's a moody jerk to all that enter his store. His place is the nicest around and I won't spend a penny ther anymore (and I'm no newbie).

Another place is owned by a super nice guy who I call my freind. I buy some of my stuff there just to show support. I don't buy a lot there because, although this guy is my freind, he regularly lies and knows less about the hobby than I learned in my first week.

The 3rd place is owned by a pretty nice guy who is all buisness. He knows little about the hobby (and cares even less). What he is doing is hiring knowledgeable people and holding events that promote the hobby and entice newcomers. For this, he has my respect and I'm slowly starting to buy more and more from him.

I mostly mail order because most of what I need would need to be ordered from the LHS anyway so I just do it myself and save some trips. I have had very good experiences with several mail order hobby shops.

Back in the 80's the LHS scene was so different... There were RC CAR specific stores all over, most of which had tracks. There were clubs galore and shop owners were usually die hard hobbyists that were ready and willing do dish out their years of knowledge to get a new guy involved. I really miss those days.

[r.c.dealer]

When I used to live in Sunrise, FL hobby shops would come and go. As soon as one would close another one was open. This was in the '80s though.

If you ever go to King, NC you should check out King RC they are pretty nice people. When I got into the hobby in '89 my first real rc was a Tamiya Lunch Box. I accidentilly fried my transmitter by putting the batteries in backwards:eek: But they replaced it for free!!!Ever since then I have become a regular. But i also buy parts mostly from mail order becuase its more convenient, and the HS closes after I get home from work.:( But I have had good experience with that shop, and there prices are competitive with the mail order shops:cool:

[reptilian]

I have found the mail order to be more convenient, but costs more due to shipping. My advise is to do your homework before purchasing anything. Then, find out the exact part number and description. As far as friendlyness and knowledge, think of it this way. It is a retail product (remember all the different brands) with a low profit margin & is very technical in nature. Now, go to Best Buy or your local Ford dealer and start asking the sales or parts people techical questions. Can you see the distorted looks on their faces?

Find other users of your favorite or potentially favorite rig & ask their advise.

Go to your local track with gear in hand, ask the others to help you and watch how much help you will get. It's alot by the way!!

Avoid those businesses who don't treat you like you think they should!

[Unregistered]

This online hobby shop in california wouldn't be Ace by any chance, would it?

[reptilian]

No.

I have no experience with ACE. The online HS to which I am referring is Nitrohouse.com. If you have an Ofna product, Nitrohouse.com is the place!

[jasonrcfreak]

Hey Unregistered!!

Yep, that's the place I'm talking about! :D How did you know? Have you had similar experiences with them?

[johnnybgood]

except fpr one thing nitro house doesent even have a walk in hobby SHOP!!! My girlfriend lives down in the same town they are located an I called one time to see if I could go in and look around and they said its a mail order only wherehouse

[reptilian]

Have to take your word for it, Nitrohouse.com is a least 2000 miles from here. Nitrohouse is literally next door to Ofna. When I have called with parts questions, I always get what I need. As you can see from my location, I am in a big city. There are 3 LHS's stocking car/truck stuff & many more that can order. So, for me to use an out-of-towner says alot.:)

[jives]

I do mail order for the most part, I buy what I can from the LHS like fuel, paint and non-vehicle specific parts (Got my HPI EVO II from them). They only carry a few parts for any of my cars; if I see a part for any of mine I buy it even if I don't need it hoping maybe they'll start stocking more parts. About the only vehicles your guaranteed to walk in and find parts for is the T-Maxx and TC3, because that’s what most of the people who work there own.

I’ve dealt with Ace as one of my on-line sources; they shorted one of my orders but the made it right without any hassle. Tower is my main one, I think they have a special UPS line just to keep up with my orders :) But Tower has shorted me before as well and one call is all it takes to make it right.

OT: I’ve read good things about Nitro house wish they had a better website but I think I’m just spoiled by tower’s. Any of you know if they carry the 3 split rims and racing tires for the MP?

[ShinHed]

Here in Savannah, our local hobby shop is called "The Best Hobby Shop" and it's nowhere close to being "The Best". I had to wait about 10 minutes until the chick behind the register stopped yacking about how she had to go to court for drunk driving. When she placed my order, I had to wait a Month and a half for my parts to come in and it was $20 over what I could have gotten from Tower. Now, I order my parts from Japanese dealers on eBay. If the parts you need are of a Japanese company (Tamiya, Kyosho, Yokomo Etc..) you can always get it cheaper than even Tower. Most of the things I get are Half the price.

[DS5160]

My nearest hobby shop is 30 minutes away. By the time I travel there and back, sit in traffic, and wait in line, I've spent more than the $5-6 on shipping. That's assuming they have the parts I need in stock. I now call before I make the trip. I don't like wasting that much time. My recent experiences have been that the guy at the shop claims to have the part in stock on the phone, but when I get there, the guy made a mistake. Oops. Shoots over an hour of my day to make the trip. I've had no problems with mail order, and it's more convenient.

I'd like to support the local shops, but they have to earn my support. One shop had my loyalty, but they've lost it due to incompetence. This problem is heavily affecting the book business. Basically for any business, if I'm given the customer service, I'll go back. Even if it costs me a bit more.

[Usagi]

my LHS are also mail MO too. So I rate them ALL bad!

[rcaddikt]

I would much rather buy from a LHS. When I lived in Wisconsin there were 2 great LHS's. ABC Hobby & Trackside Hobbies. Now I'm in Ohio with 1 LHS and it's hit or miss any time i go in there. The prices on the the bigger items (kits etc.) are astronomical. I'm assumeing because he knows he's the only HS for 40 miles. So, I use mail order mainly. Because the prices are better and they have 8 times the inventory. Every now and then though I need to "physically" go buy something. It gets old to me ordering and waiting for it in the mail.

[timberwolf211]

I agree that LHS need to earn support. I try to buy stuff there when I can. But they don't always have the part I need or the supply to browse other than Traxxas parts. Also they don't carry certain lines of products cause their vendor does not deal with them.And they are not very experience in RC the only thing they know is what everyone has taught them.But I do have a couple other hobby shops around that have more experience but their prices are not what a online hobby shop is. I reccomend this everyone when finding a LHS see if the people that work there are friendly and know a thing or too about RC cause a 30 minute trip to the LHS will be worth more cause the person behind the counter will be able to teach something you didn't know before. But if there are no LHS around then mail order is only choice.

[Usagi]

I buy where I am wanted otherwuse I am not happy. LHS or MO.

[LOTUSXXX]

SIDHAD- Dude, I think that is pretty womanly of you to come on this nationwide message board, and start talking about someone elses personal buisness and i am not talking about the hobby shop itself! I think if you have a problem with your local shop, you should go to them and talk to them about not having the part! how do you know the part want ever backordered, or something like that? Also, just remeber, if you ever need that little bit of fuel tubing, golw plug, battery plugs, ect., you go to tower and you pay more for shipping than the part even cost! IF you dont support your local shop then they will never be there even when you need little stuff like that while you are out at Lake Meyer Racing! Thats right I live in Savannah buy stuff from the Best hobby shop ll the time and guess what I even work there. And the girl you are talking about is my best freind so, jstu watch what you say. We never talked bad about you, so please dont do the same to us. thank you very much!

[nitrothugg]

i try to support LHS's but when you keep ALL the damn parts 3 feet behind you on the OTHER side of the damn counter that sucks. yeah, yeah , yeah....just ask and they'll let you go back there, so whats the point of keeping it back there?!?! and the people who say that shipping on mail-orders are too much, actually, you break even or even cheaper still with mail-order. i support my lhs by getting fuel, paints, plugs, tires and wheels, but spending extra money on big items at the lhs is just plain not shopping smart. and whats up with the terrible customer service being a NATIONAL trend? i have 3 shops in a 25 mile radius and only 1 worker is inviting. i hope shop owners are reading these posts.

[reptilian]

The common thread, in this thread (clever huh?), has much more to do with the LHS's attitude and helpfulness. How in the world can any LHS carry all the parts we need on a walk-in basis? To me, be nice, helpful, appreciative and stock as many popular and common items as is profitable. I want my LHS's to make it fun and easy to buy.Attitude is everything!! If it is going to take a long time to get a part, just let me know. Look through this thread and you will see several mail order and LHS's getting good reviews. Last, remember that when customers have a bad experience they will tell 10-17 people, a good experience 1-5. I realize there can't be much profit in a $3.50 bottle of shock oil, but don't act like it should be a privilege for me to do so.;)

[TxFilmMkr]

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX
SIDHAD- Dude, I think that is pretty womanly of you to come on this nationwide message board, and start talking about someone elses personal buisness and i am not talking about the hobby shop itself! I think if you have a problem with your local shop, you should go to them and talk to them about not having the part! how do you know the part want ever backordered, or something like that? Also, just remeber, if you ever need that little bit of fuel tubing, golw plug, battery plugs, ect., you go to tower and you pay more for shipping than the part even cost

If you work at this shop, instead of perpetuating the bad attitude that was shown to one of your customers by flaming him on a forum filled with even more potential customers, you should be asking him what you can do to help him and try to get him back in the store. That's just business common sense.

IF you dont support your local shop then they will never be there even when you need little stuff like that while you are out at Lake Meyer Racing!

He was in there trying to support your shop and pay your check. Maybe you should do a little more to support this so called "Best Hobby Shop". After all, mail order will always be there, but by the sound of it, this LHS might not, since it seems as though the employees are driving away customers.

Here's a customer who came into a store and had a bad experience, so he's posting it in a forum thread that deals with just that subject. I don't blame him. The only difference is that I would have complained to the manager of the shop that day.

Thats right I live in Savannah buy stuff from the Best hobby shop ll the time and guess what I even work there. And the girl you are talking about is my best freind so, jstu watch what you say. We never talked bad about you, so please dont do the same to us. thank you very much!

You need to tell your friend to take on a more professional attitude while at work. In addition, instead of treating customers like a burden, she should fulfill her job responsibility which I would imagine was customer service, not pis$ and moan about going to court for drunk driving, an offense which only echoes her lack of respect for herself and others.

The bottom line is this guy was in there to buy stuff in the first place, so he was trying to help out the LHS, while paying a premium to get his stuff the same day and have a little face time with a real person in the process. He got neither. It sounds to me like your attitude and your store sucks, and if the owner/manager was smart, he'd can the two of you and get some real help.

[LOTUSXXX]

TxFilmMkr- see this is the thing, you are only looking at this on one side. Now i am not goign to sit her and argue with you, but this goes back to a respect thing. First of all,y ou do not know me now the other individual who you talking aobut and saying "suck", so like I said to Sidhad, you shouldnt be talking about either one of us. 2nd of all, like I said before, not every shop can carry every product, so it may have had to be ordered, and seeing as how is an unusual foriegn part, it was probably backordered. 3rd, he whould not be complaining about a 10 minute wait, I or my coworker may have been with other customers at the second he walked in. I have been to fast food resturants and waited longer than 10 minutes. And what you said about doing one on one buissness with someone is something that never came out of his mouth, he simply wanted a part right then and there. We obviously couldnt have provided him with that part at the time so he ordered it online. He still had to wait either way! But most importantly, why are you defending him? Let the man talk on his own behalf. And oh yeah the thing you said about the store and my attitude sucking, your wrong, the only person whos attitude sucks would be your my freind. SO why dont you levae this up to me and Sidhad, who I bielive is who I initially addressed my response to.

[jasonrcfreak]

what's the old saying?? Something like "It takes a long time to earn a customer............but only seconds to lose one!". Something like that...........you get the point. That applies to LHS's and M.O.'s. You should treat all customers with equal kindness and respect, whether they are buying a $3.50 bottle of shock oil, or an $800 kit. Word of mouth spreads like wildfire It can make or break any business.

[Interstate]

My lhs, (like most others it looks like) is run by people who do not really know what they are doing and the prices are about 30 or 40 bucks more for akit than at a place like tower or ehobbies. The place is not a well run place nor is it kept up to make it look like they do something during the day. guy at the counter - "uhhh, we don't have that part right now..." me - "wait, i think i see it right there, yeah that." "uhhh, that won't fit 'cuz the super nitro RS4 is bigger" "i know, but that's the part number on HPI's site, i'm positive that will fit" "uhhh oh, yeah, whatever..." i've started with ehobbs a couple years ago they started going down the crapper (pretty much outa business) but they were alright with orders, just kinda slow to processing the order. then i switched to tower, first order they sent me a wrong part, (my fault) i didn't mind, sent it back got the right one i didn't really mind that but my parents frowned upon tower. the second and third order went smooth as glass, but the 4th order, they sent me some plastic shocks that were obviously not aluminum and were probobly sent back from another customer trying to fraud some money out of tower. 5th order, smooth. 6th order is en rout. Most people that work at, own or do have a good lhs usually will say support your lhs, they give you helpfull kowledge. I think that's BS, one lhs worker told me kyosho was going out of business! but, when i have over 10 bulletin boards and a few chat rooms to ask questions about kits or parts, i can get a hundred points of view or oppinions or advice. And from guys like the RCCA editors who's life IS RC and know they're talking about, i trust them, not some idiot at an lhs. (not saying all lhs workers are idiots or stupid) The lhs/MO owners, managers, workers need to realize that we are money walking in the doors, we are money in the envelopes! even if they are just buying 3.50 shock oil, next time they might buy a $500 TXT. probobly not from the lhs because you treated him like crap, he interpreted that like: "i don't want your money, go away! i have no time for newbies!" I however have too much patience for stupid people like at my lhs, they are not some of the fastest engines in the shop, so i try not to ruin their day, and not mess mine up. i just stay calm and take my business elsewhere!

[Mr.man]

I love my hobby shop, they have great prices and great customer service. off-raod practice is free on wensday

LHS rtr evader $149.99 @ tower $169.99
LHS losi xxx-t matt francis $209.99 @ horizon $249.99
LHS losi xxx-nt $209.99 @ horizon $269.95

Its just the little things that cost like bateries(dynamite 1500 $20)
and bodys(xxx-t $25):)

[ShinHed]

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX
SIDHAD- Dude, I think that is pretty womanly of you to come ...........guess what I even work there. And the girl you are talking about is my best freind so.......to us. thank you very much!

Haha,
Honestly your prices need alot of work. The only reason people go is because its close. When they realize how lame you guys are, then they order elsewhere like me. I ordered my parts from another country and it was here faster and cheaper, even with EMS express shipping!!!! One part I got from you guys was 9.99, 3x what it cost!! Now, come on!

And the names Shinhed.

Smuck

[ShinHed]

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX
TxFilmMkr- see ..............with you, but this goes back to a ..........Sidhad, you shouldnt be talking about either one of us. 2nd of all, like I said before,............, I or my ...................... minutes. And what you said..........of his mouth, he simply wanted a ..........dont you levae this up to ................ addressed my response to.

You can't possibly work at the hobby shop. You seem as if your 10 years old. Look at all your spelling mistakes and bad grammer and how imature you act towards other board members. How old are you?

[LOTUSXXX]

I am 18 homslice, jsut suck at typing, now why change the subject? And honestly, I really dont care, its your money, and you are gonna do what ever you damn well please with it, i give up.

Shinhed- smuck, mighty big words, of course you would say something like that since you are hiding behind your computer!

[ShinHed]

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX
Shinhed- smuck, mighty big words, of course you would say something like that since you are hiding behind your computer!

Your right. I'm gonna keep all my rage behind my computer. I'm not gonna let this silly discussion turn to real life fisticuffs. Grow up.:rolleyes:

[XXXER]

Originally posted by ShinHed


You can't possibly work at the hobby shop. You seem as if your 10 years old. Look at all your spelling mistakes and bad grammer and how imature you act towards other board members. How old are you?
Everyone makes spelling errors, even yourself, I see two in that post

Please guys, take your argument elsewhere, and keep it clean.

Thanks
-Steve

[jasonrcfreak]

Can't we all just get along??? :D
This is a kinder, gentler thread! :D

[HauntedMyst]

I'm one of those people who thinks everyone needs to earn my business, local or internet. Locally my expectation is that they have reasonably competative prices, a decent amount of stock on hand and helpful, knowledgable sales people. I don't mind paying a bit more if I can get an iteam when I need it and if it's something I'll need help with. I've had plenty of experiance with places like The Best Hobby Shop and I just don't shop at those places any more. When I travel on business, I get to visit quite a few LHS's and more often then not I'm disappointed with their service.

Luckily, my local Hobby Town is excellent with their customer service and they stock just about everything I need. Those that they don't carry, they get in a very timely fashion. About 50% of my flexible hobby money goes to my LHS, the other to internet hobby shops or ebay. I get most of my shells and consumables at the LHS. For cars and radios, you can't beat the deals you get off the boards or ebay.

LOTUSXXX,
If you are an example of the type of person that works at that shop, no wonder Shinhed went else where. If I worked at a place and read someone had a problem there, my first response wouldn't be to try and tell him and everyone else he's the problem and call him names, it would be to try to correct it and regain a customer. Instead all you did was show not only Shin, but the rest of us on this nation wide message board that the people working there aren't professional or helpful in any way shape or form. When those types of businesses go out of business, it's not the fault of the consumer, it's the fault of the owner and his staff for driving away business. BTW, this is a message board, nothing in the posts are between two people. Any one can comment at anytime and you pretty much invited others comments when you came on and responded to this thread like a wank. If you want something to be private, take it to Private Messages or email. Here is an idea, show your boss at the LHS this thread and see if he's happy with how you handled it.

[ILv2Xlr8]

<bgsound src="http://php.iupui.edu/~eamuneva/pics/numnuts.wav" loop="1">

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX
TxFilmMkr- see this is the thing, you are only looking at this on one side.

That is becuase there IS ONLY ONE Side!
TxFilmMkr is right, and so is ShinHed, but apparntly Lotusxxx doesn't understand that the "Customer is always right"

No matter how irate or off base you customer is, there should be absolutely nothing except your best effort to calm that customer down and help them as much as you can.

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX

But most importantly, why are you defending him?


Most importantly, why aren't you helping him?

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX
And oh yeah the thing you said about the store and my attitude sucking, your wrong, the only person whos attitude sucks would be your my freind. SO why dont you levae this up to me and Sidhad, who I bielive is who I initially addressed my response to.

Originally posted by LOTUSXXX
I am 18 homslice, jsut suck at typing, now why change the subject? And honestly, I really dont care, its your money, and you are gonna do what ever you damn well please with it, i give up.

Shinhed- smuck, mighty big words, of course you would say something like that since you are hiding behind your computer!

LOTUSXXX, your response is absolutely unbelievable. Your attitude is completely immature, inept, and seems hopeless.
You need to get out of the retail business, or your attitude needs to change if your business has any hope of succeeding. Had your attitude had any freaking business sense, than ShinHed would be praising how you calmed him down, and took care of his problem, and he wouldn't be posting anything negative about your shop here.

ShinHed, I suggest you bring this up with that stores manager, and if the manager is unsupportive, than that store is not deserving of your business, nor anyone elses, no matter how much extra it cost you get it all online.

[jacknjul]

The Best Hobby Shop...912-353-9979. If they had a web page or published email address, I would forward them this link. I can't believe that the owner of this shop has any idea of the kind of people he has working for him.:mad:

[ILv2Xlr8]

I wonder if they got a FAX?

[jasonrcfreak]

Rule #1-The customer is always right!
Rule #2-See Rule #1!

[TxFilmMkr]

Well, Lotus, it seems as though the other members of the RC community have come out in support of ShinHead. You had the chance to be a better salesman.....um, salesboy and not only win back a customer, but also possibly attract new business and you blew it. I hope your boss does see this thread and sees how his employees are driving his business into the ground.

How's that, Homeslice?

[ProjectTwin]

I sense...somewhere in the near future..

http://www.hpionline.com/Lock_Images/Master/L10.jpg

Jason

[timberwolf211]

Please note he used a MASTER LOCK!!!!!:D

[tony b]

I almost always go for the LHS for big stuff or when i need many little things, on onesy/twosy stuff I might order online or via phone, but I've found the prices no better for me online or over phone, in fact my LHS beat the ***** outta tower's prices on my car and radio (saved 20 on my TC3 Team and and 50 on my 3PJS)...

[MaxRC]

I go to my local hobby shop to race. And when I am there, I may need stuff that I didn't bring along. I don't mind spending money then...

I've spent anywhere from $50 to $100 on parts, motors, tires, and etc.

I haven't purchased a kit from a hobby shop in, gosh, over 4 years.

But with all the parts and race fees I am paying for at my hobby shop, they love to have me around. They know me by my first name, and offers to help in any way possible.

I've never ordered a part that didn't come in on time.

Lee Cao

[HauntedMyst]

Originally posted by jasonrcfreak
Rule #1-The customer is always right!
Rule #2-See Rule #1!

Actually, this is a silly saying which has been twisted into the creedo of American Customer Service and it is functionally worthless. If you've ever worked in any situation you quickly realize the customer is not always right, and frequently they are wrong. That doesn't mean you provide poor customer service, it means you educate them and if possible lead them to a solution you can provide. In my photography business, I've people place orderrs usually in the $500 to $1000 range, quite a bit more then the photo studio at Sears which is the kind of work people are used too. That doesn't include alot of prints since their paying for my uniqueness and hand coloring work. I've had people call me up and say "Since I am ordering such an expensive print, can I have the negative to make christmas cards out of it?" They think since they have paid for the sitting fee they have a right to use any of the pictures. Is the customer always right in this situation? Nope, photography doesn't work that way. Esssentially what they want is more of my work for free and I don't do that. Instead I explain the copyright issues and have put together an additional reasonable add on package for just such an occasion. They understand and are happy from there.

Example: I see this one frequently at my LHS. You work at an LHS and some one comes in and buys an HPI RTR. Rather then listening to the sales person, and ignoring the manual, they load the thing up wth fuel and drive it at top speed for 2 days ultimately seizing the motor. Now he brings it jammed back in the box calling it a piece of junk and damanding either a new one or his money back. It was his first RC car, he expected it to be more durable and longer lasting. He can't believe it froze up because of something he did, right? After all, any "toy" that costs $400 should just run and run right? Is the customer (always) right in the this situation? No way. They've seen this happen before, time and time again. They know they can't return it to HPI as defective since it's not defective. So under the motto of the "customer is always right" do they give him another one (which he will also probably destroy) or refund his money and eat the cost on the hopes this guy will become a long term customer? No way! Their best recourse is to calm the guy down, explain to him how he managed to seize the engine, offer the repair it for the price of parts and a small reasonable fee and then educate him on how not to do it again.

[RichieRich]

jasonrcfreak - Hey! I've been to the Hobbytown in Overland Park. I like to hit different hobby shops when I'm on business trips. Those guys were really helpful when I was looking for body posts for an Nitro RS4. Just so you guys know, if you need rear posts for an RS4 you have to buy this gigantic expensive parts tree. Not only that, you have to buy two!! They suggesting using some TC3 posts which were way cheaper and fit with a small amount of finagling.

BTW, I agree with HM.

[TC3 Benjammin]

Yeah, and that drunk turbowhore behind the counter needs to be fired too.

[Nutter]

I just thought that I might mention that I get better and much more friendly service at the coffee shop near work than I do at and LHS (hey, I even got a free cupcake on Friday!! now *that* is how you please a customer! :p).

The best LHS is one that's pretty close to work, only a few minutes walk away. I've spent several hours there before just digging through parts boxes (and ended up with a 6ft long reciept.. hehe). The guys there are really helpful and nice to talk to, even if they don't know too much, but they do know a fair lot atleast. Another LHS isn't too bad, if you talk to the right guy.. of all the people there only the owner and one other guy knows anything about cars (one guy there doesn't know a thing about ANYTHING they sell :rolleyes: ). There's another LHS which is about the same, and one that they are knowledgable, but I get the feeling that they don't really want to talk.


-Nutter

[RS4RCER]

Originally posted by TC3 Benjammin
Yeah, and that drunk turbowhore behind the counter needs to be fired too.


LMFAO!:p

[T3_Racer]

LotusXXX, you need to chill the hell out.
First off, I've been to your "hobby shop" while staying in a condo in South Carolina. I fried the speedo in my T3 and needed a new one (an Atom to be exact); I also needed some gears and my friend that was with me needed an ESC as well. As we enter the door, the stench of smoke wafts out, dispite the no smoking sign we had seen earlier. As I venture futher I notice some {insert discriptive adjective here** guy sitting behind the counter completely ignoring me. I walk around to try to find some gears suitable for a T3, none to be found. I ask if you carry RRP gears, the employee didn't even know who/what RRP is. The situation looks bad, but I look for another, more "competent" person behind the counter.
Enter "turbowhore." The last person I would have gone to, but my options had ran dry. Didn't know a thing about ESC's; mearly pointed to a shabby display case filled with a whole 3 ESC's, an Atom, and Explorer II, and another (I forget.) Dissappointed, but desperate to run my car, I shell out some inane amount of money for the Atom and 2 feet of wire. I ask for the receipt, so I can have proof of purchase, "turbowhore" claims that you are out of printer paper and can't help me out. Convieneint...
Your service was horrible, the employees inattentive and unskilled, your shop a wreck , and your prices OUTRAGEOUS. When someone like Shinhead tells you what is really up, try to help him out instead of being a total ass. Now you have two people that are no longer coustomers, whatcha think about that, Homeslice?

[rc-jockey]

On the topic of Supporting lhs it's pretty much in aggreement that they need to be supported or they will be gone.
I have a question, when is the last time anyone here "Clicked on a Banner" to show support for this or any other Website / Forum. The website is becoming harder to support, by showing banners that no one is Clicking on.
Face it the free internet ride that everyone is use to will soon be over I know this from having a Website that does 30,000 page views a day and it makes $3.00 profit a day.

[ProjectTwin]

Someone has some serious issues....

Jason

[RS4RCER]

You know I was going to stay out of this debate but damn I cant resist!

I am a shop owner(Marine Repair Industry).....I dont advertise and do plenty of buisness! By MY CHOICE of not advertising I can offer my customers better rates on labor and parts!

Now about the LHS and Mailorder debate...
As a local buisness owner I will support my LHS Racing Program and I buy what little odd&ends I need. I will however not pay for his 2 children's future college education(some of his prices are just insane!) Is it my fault he chose a store location with high rent(the mall)? No, it's not! I was all for supporting him when he first opened......not so now! He has a boat does he come to my shop?(that's not the point and really a whole nother point and story!).....Why don't I support him becuase he's a jerk....liar....who has no interest in the aspect of RC Car Hobby! Well he has a racing program you say so he has some interest right? Wrong!! 3 of us Racers set up his program and run it...he's in it for the fact he can sell replacement parts on raceday! It's all about money to him........With our local economy issues factoring in and the lack of customer help/service he provides I as a LBO(Local Buissness Owner) give his shop 2 more years MAX!

Harsh you say??? Well I say its the truth......Like I told him I was racing before your shop came about and I will be reacing long after it's gone!

Why should I pay 2x the price in his shop and recieve no customer support/service? When I can call a 1800# and get someone(75% of the time) knowledgable about the hobby/industry/products they are selling or promoting!!!

I have asked for items several time which he can get to be ordered.....offered to prepay for them and was given some lame half assed excuse about why he didn't order or couldnt get them!

So for me it's Netsales and 1800#'s......

[ProjectTwin]

EDIT: There, NOW I have some issues

LMAO@Jeep.

Don't assume everyone is talking about you...

Jason

[ProjectTwin]

:)

Jason

[TxFilmMkr]

Being relatively new to RC compared to most of you, I'm normally lost on anything outside of my little 1/8 scale buggy realm. I don't know the difference between a TC3 and a XXXT or whatever it is, and I never owned a Tamaya Lunchbox or a RC10. One thing I do know, however is paintball, and a lot of the same Local Shop vs. Mail Order stuff goes on there too.

Take for instance the paintball shop that opened in the Katy, TX megalopolis-mall, Katy Mills. This place has to turn enough profit to pay rent in one of the roomier spaces which is also a corner shop next to an entryway. The rent there must have been outrageous! But this guy opens a little paintball shop there with barely enough inventory to fill a quarter of the store. His prices were 2x what they should have been, and being at a mall, he had no field to help attract business. The first time I saw it I told my wife, "Sweet, a paintball shop here in the mall. How convenient." My opinion changed after my first and only visit, where I saw:

poor selection
outrageous prices on what they did have
total lack of employee knowledge about the sport
worst of all, employees shooting airsoft guns at each other with no eye protection and a store full of people

Needless to say, the store was gone in 6 months.