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AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

Old 09-25-2010, 05:55 AM
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Luchnia
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

The gov screws you over then has to bail you out. The only problem is they screw over EVERYONE and only bail out a few that can get through the legal rangle. The rest fall by the wayside and lose their hard earned dollars and many forgot what this country was all about because of the gov. [:'(]
Old 09-25-2010, 09:04 AM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

Cisco
it would have to a model aviation themed house.
Like having the girls represent classic planes... Miss P47 and Miss F104
... although, I think we will have a hard time finding a girl to be Miss Yak
Old 09-25-2010, 09:09 AM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

i'm trying to grasp the concept here is the complaining that there is someone on the inside of the AMA that has a vested interest in hobbico, then yes that would be highly unethical especially if that person is on the board or some high position, there may even be legal avenue that you can pursue in such a case .

if not then this is business it is the way things have been since the dawn of man, you can't really sit there and think it was the AMA's fault .

from the way it reads it sounds like someone wanted the AMA to cough up some money and help the hobby shop, heck why not the AMA take YOUR money and buy the dieing hobby shop sounds like a sound investment don't it ?


Old 09-25-2010, 10:13 AM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

I think the concept that Hobbico over the last 15-20 years has slow acquired such a large share of the Market place with no real competition besides Horizon is hard to ignore. Also the fact that they have dropped or at least thinned out many product lines for unknown reasons other than to assume it's to redirect the Modeler to products that are more profitable for the Corp. If these business practices where on a larger scale industry we be talking antitrust issues, but our little industry is just not big enough to get any attention.

Now add the AMA involvement issue into the mix??? I think it hard to say absolutely something unethical is going on but it sure worth keeping an eye on. not often I'll agree with Hoss, but a stretch or not, it's a legitimate point for discussion
Old 09-25-2010, 10:52 AM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: scale only 4 me
Now add the AMA involvement issue into the mix???

What AMA "involvement"?? And is it at all possible that Hobbico drops items because they are not selling well enough to keep stocking them? Or is the only reason that the big bad greedy company wants to deprive us and drive us towards what Hobbico wants to sell??

It is called "capitalism", you know, the opposite of the "socialism" so many of you so fervently say is going on.
Old 09-25-2010, 11:47 AM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

I can't count the number of small Lumberyards Home Depot put out of business,,, Try buying decent lumber, plywood or hardware now-a-days, It just not available.
Capitalism running amok over Selection and Quality I'd say.

Same scenario only with toys,

p.s.
Don't put words in my mouth
Old 09-25-2010, 12:13 PM
  #57  
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: Hossfly

Anyone care to comment about Hobbico taking over ACE RC? There are a number of factors that might bear consideration.

1. The Hobbico conglomerate, Tower, Great Pains er, uh, Planes (just a joke!) has a vast history of taking over smaller companies and throwing away everything but what suits their easy markets, especially the better wood kits.

Gone from the scene, via Hobbico, includes the original Bridi, Goldberg, Top Flite, Marks Models, Laneir, Wildcat Fuels, and I'm sure you can find others. Of course some are still marketed under the original names, yet I find there is no real connection to the originals.

2. For example the ACE distributed Thunder Tiger engine line. The little TT .40 is one of the most user-friendly engines that I know of. Have you a recent Tower catalog? IIRC it sold for about $90. Go to the Tower website and that little beauty is now $139.99, and ''limited stock''. So where will the other prices stop?

3. Of course the operation of the business world is not what AMA can, or should even try to control. OTOH when I see AMA's Marketing Committee having ONLY the top 3 players in the industry along with the current AMA Executive Vice President, I just cannot help but feel that there is something missing. IMO, missing are at least three - an equal number - aeromodelers that have NO connection to the aeromodeling business world outside the $$$ they spend to fund their own individual sport/hobby.

IMO that is the only way the committee can equally represent the modelers in these big business deals.

4. Remember that Hobbico does not restrict its business just to RC, airplanes, and/or cars. It covers the entire hobby spectrums including plastics. As a model airplane person you are in the minority. So do you want your AMA representatives to be beholding to just the top level individuals that don't really need YOU ????? [sm=pirate.gif]
Think seriously and objectively about what is happening.
Do you have a suggestion?

Dave Olson
Old 09-25-2010, 12:23 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: KidEpoxy

Cisco
it would have to a model aviation themed house.
Like having the girls represent classic planes... Miss P47 and Miss F104
... although, I think we will have a hard time finding a girl to be Miss Yak
Yeah KE!
Dressed as 60's stewardesses? 40's W.A.C.s ? etc.?
AMA Charter for a "mile high" club?
Old 09-25-2010, 01:10 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

home depot heck look at the damage walmart has done all by it's self .............. BUT still has nothing to do with the AMA !

if you felt so pasionet about the little guy where were you ?
you could have doled out the money to keep them a float why does it have to be the AMA's problem ?

so let me see if i understand some people think the AMA didn't give the little hobby shop a helping hand and the big guy came along and gobbled them up and thats how some justifiy blaming the AMA, is that right ?
Old 09-25-2010, 01:11 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

Hoss, you point out an ugly situation with the Fox guarding the hen house.
In response, I see a lot of palms up shrugging going on, including me.
Unless you've got a proposed remedy, I'll just have to continue walking around stuck in a palms up shrug......[sm=confused.gif]
Old 09-25-2010, 01:18 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: The_Mad_Hatter_632
some people think the AMA didn't give the little hobby shop a helping hand and the big guy came along and gobbled them up and thats how some justifiy blaming the AMA, is that right ?
What I think is seen as a problem is that the AMA has only the "Walmarts" of the hooby industry on an AMA committee. Why aren't some of the smaller (not LHSes) US modeling related companies on it? Were any ever asked? The issue is not that Hobbico is on the committee or Hobbico's business practices outside the AMA. It is more of "why only three giants?".
Old 09-25-2010, 01:32 PM
  #62  
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

question cicsco is what your saying is that the big 3 hobby companys are....
a. doing all the advertising
b. there are people from the hobby companys serving on the board of the AMA

as far as the big 3 at one time in this country if you were buying a part for your RC plane it was coming from one of only two distributors in the U.S. , now we do have more the problem is that the chinesse have moved in and are taking over so hobby companys like horizon , hobbico are on borrowed time, and if it hurts to hear the truth sorry , they are going to have to fight the chinesse invasion, look around your workshop look through out your house for that matter,check the build label on the driver side door of your car...how much do any of us have in our homes that says made in theUSA.

this is all i'm saying the little guy can not compete with the chinesse they would have gotten' run over anyway, the dropping of your favorite part or plane well thats called progress, they are or have replaced it with something better may not be your opinion but it is the way it is .........................

Old 09-25-2010, 01:37 PM
  #63  
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

A. No, I am not saying that.
B. They are on the Marketing Committee.

I am saying, at the very least, it looks inappropriate.
Old 09-25-2010, 01:48 PM
  #64  
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: dbcisco

A. No, I am not saying that.
B. They are on the Marketing Committee.

I am saying, at the very least, it looks inappropriate.
How so?

I say kudos to the AMA for getting the high powered, most successful help available.

Maybe some would have liked to had the marketing reps from Ace, Sig, Goldberg and Lanier?
I think some were talking about dinosaurs and not changing to keep up in respect to the AMA.
Well maybe the four above mentioned companies could serve as examples.
Old 09-25-2010, 01:48 PM
  #65  
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

ok now that i understand that is a unethical business practice that some how should come to a end very fast ......................

the AMA as a organization should not be playing favors like that and being in there positition they should not have company people on any board postition, but money is the root of all evil and it does not discrimiant ..................... 
Old 09-25-2010, 01:53 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

Great marketing advice. A magazine that costs the members $2M/year, a failed PPP, and membership that is lower every year.
Old 09-25-2010, 02:01 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: dbcisco

Great marketing advice. A magazine that costs the members $2M/year, a failed PPP, and membership that is lower every year.
1. The comittee has only been in place a few years.
2. It's all in the eye of the beholder. You could just as well say "a first class, multi-facetted monthly magazine for a mere $18 a year" What a bargain!!
3. The same people who clamor for something to attract the unattractable playing Monday morning quarterback. The ony way PPP could have made it (or any other enticement for the parkie bunch) is if they got full benefits with no membership fee. They dont want to play, and they dang sure don't want to pay. I say "feed 'em fish heads"
4. A membershp that has declined over the past few years experiencing hills and valleys as it has throughout it's history?Again, glass half full, glass half empty.
Old 09-25-2010, 02:22 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

Guys, lets not get carried away.
When we first heard of the embedding of the Marketing Committee
we asked about what looked like a clear Conflict Of Interest.
Prez DM assured us that the conflict was identified at the onset
and the conflicted ran under the restriction in place in our rules.

If you need more info,
consult the Membership Manual for dealing with and restricting CoI,
and search RCU for conflict of interest threads going on last year
Old 09-25-2010, 02:24 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: K-Bob
They dont want to play, and they dang sure don't want to pay. I say ''feed 'em fish heads''
No need to cast aspersions anyone who doesn't choose to join the AMA.
Old 09-25-2010, 02:33 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

None intended. But in the context of attracting new members, I think that, in general, it (enticing parkies) is a waste of time.
Old 09-25-2010, 02:35 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: KidEpoxy

Guys, lets not get carried away.
When we first heard of the embedding of the Marketing Committee
we asked about what looked like a clear Conflict Of Interest.
Prez DM assured us that the conflict was identified at the onset
and the conflicted ran under the restriction in place in our rules.

If you need more info,
consult the Membership Manual for dealing with and restricting CoI,
and search RCU for conflict of interest threads going on last year
Yes it was, and the issue was (I thought) settled. Now we have it rear it's head again under the cover of a recent distributor aquiring a small player.

Somebody over on the "other site" suggested it was only because someone still had a burr under his saddle.
Old 09-25-2010, 02:41 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


ORIGINAL: K-Bob

None intended. But in the context of attracting new members, I think that, in general, it (enticing parkies) is a waste of time.
I wholeheartedly agree. It seemed you were saying the "parkies" (I like that word) were too cheap to join the AMA. That is like saying people who play mini-golf are too cheap to join a coutry club with a golf course.
Old 09-25-2010, 04:46 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC


First time I'm reading this thread and I am umsure if there is a problem. I umderstand ACE Hobbiywas purchased by Hobbico. Perhaps Ace Hobby was up for sale. Maybe the owners wished to change their business plan. Maybe it was time to sell ACE Hobby. I have not read here what the real reason is for the acquisition. I could guess there are many, many reasons for the sale. But if we are going to get upset over the purchase by Hobbico I would like to know the root cause or reason for the acquisition. I have read here a lot of theories and not the real reason for the purchase & acquisition. I see it, as a business decison only. Has anyone the inside scoop? From there, we can discuss further.

Sledge_78
Old 09-25-2010, 05:36 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

ORIGINAL: sledge_78
I umderstand ACE Hobbiywas purchased by Hobbico. Perhaps Ace Hobby was up for sale.

Once again, Hobbico did NOT purchase Ace. Thunder Tiger, who owns Ace, decided to close down Ace and made an agreement with Hobbico to distribute Thunder Tiger and Ace products in North and South America. Hobbico does not own Ace, or Thunder Tiger. This is just like when Futaba closed down their service and distribution center in Irvine, CA and signed Hobbico on to do their distribution and service.
Old 09-25-2010, 05:54 PM
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Default RE: AMA after Hobbico's Takeover of ACE RC

Silent,

Thanks for the clarification. I read all these posts one after the other and got lost in the dialog. Am I correct then in saying Thunder Tiger made a business decision and we lost ACE hobby as a retailer. It seemed reading through there was feelings toward conspiracy etc., etc. It's a shame ACE is gone I guess, It just seemed there was assertations that Hobbico and the AMA were instrumental in the demise of ACE. It just seems like a business decision.

Sledge_78

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