Wow I would have to strongly dis-agree with this. I would ask if either of you have worked in a hobby shop? I did in my younger years. The largest profit margins for R/C related products is a mere 40%. That is for items like Dubro hardware and the like. Engines are around 30% as were kits. Radios were usually priced out at 25%. Byron kits got us a whopping 15%. By the time we payed Haz Mat shipping for fuel we saw maybe 10% but needed to sell fuel to sell airplanes. I have known several shop owners that have gone broke trying to survive. Very few were ever able to actually retire comfortably.

Compare this to clothing and grocery stores that have upwards of 200% markups. It's a shame that people would cast such a stone at shop owners. For the most part it takes two things to want to run an R/C hobby shop. A love for the sport and a love to see people succeed in the sport. I am dissapointed to see people feel this way about the retail shops.