Part of the enjoyment for me is meeting the folks that have been doing this for a long time so I usually get whatever I can from the LHS. That means I buy a decent amount of supplies (glues, balsa, CF rod, hardware, etc) from them but considering they don't carry parts for what I fly, I am out of luck.

The store here in peachtree city is run by a couple older gentleman that are great for advice and info as to how to solve a problem...I was about to go down there and ask him to hold a deans plug for me while I soldered (left my helping hands at the other house) and they probably would have been happy to do so.

Most of the hobby stores I go to are this way but I have been to the "other" type as well. One hobby store near my home city I no longer go to because I hate feeling like I am in an antiques store.

The guy seemed nice enough at first and I had probably bought parts from him 20 times for my axe but the last time I went in became just that, the "last" time.

The owner was talking with another customer so we wandered around looking. My bro picked up a blade cx off the shelf (guy has models built and setup all over so people can see what they are buying rather than look at a box) and all of a sudden the owner stops his conversation and drops the "hey! be careful with that, its my demo and I don't want it broken"

Now, I can understand if it was kids playing around in the store, but I'm almost 30 and my brother is definitely no child either so I don't want somebody talking to us as if we were. If you don't want someone to touch your model then it shouldn't be on the shelf in plain view where it can be touched (hang it from the cieling or keep it behind the counter but don't put them out there as if you want folks to check them out). It's not like it was a .30 or larger heli.

So, my bro says to the guy: Well, I guess I won't be buying one of those then if it is going to break by me just touching it I certainly wouldn't want to try flying it. The owner has some other smartass remark and I bought the one item I "needed" put the rest of the stuff I was going to buy back on the shelf and we left.

I don't like that kind of environment for a LHS and know I have seen it in more than a few of em....walk around getting watched as if you are about to steal or break something. Surely, not always without reason as it happens without a doubt but a simple "I don't mind you handling the models but please be careful and if you break it you bought it" would be fine. Watching me like a hawk and scolding people is a sure way to lose business to the online guys.