Yeah, I posted a string about local hobby shops going away. We just lost our favorite.. economy just drove him out of business. He actuall tracked his business for the past year and a half, and showed it to me on an Excel Spread sheet chart. Very dramatic how things changed (dropped) somewhat casually until about last August when the crap hit the fan.. then it was like the bottom fell out.

His business went to nothing, no models sold, very few engines and radios.. selling mostly small parts and some railroad stuff.

And, he was one of the better ones because he would match the large mail order places penny for penny, right down to the shipping.. meaning, you could get it from him for just about exactly the same cost as mail order so it was good to support him and his shop because he was local and available.

But, he finally got tired of his income only equaling his overhead.. no salary for several months can certain taking it's toll.

Tower hobbies has always had their frequent buyers program, whatever they call it, but you pay to join and then, depending on how much you buy from them, eventually get it back in lower or free shipping. (nothing is actually free, you pay for it one way or another).

CGr.