I found this airplane giveaway at this website, Even though I'm new to the hobby, it sure looks like a lot of good stuff -- or am I missing something? Do the planes they are giving away on their prize list really cost that much or are they crappy?

It seems the moderator (GrnBrt) has edited out your link, so there's no way to answer your question. Sorry.

If it is the one I am thinking about, then yes those are the RETAIL prices. However I do not know anyone who would pay retail for anything.
Take for example above site says Kyosho Spitfire Retail $249.99. Tower will sell it for $169.99. TopFlite Elder retail $159.99, Tower $74.99. Still if I could win anything they have up I'd be happy, retail value or sale price!

Last time I checked, my LHS prices were only a few bucks more than ordering by Internet after taking into account the shipping charges, and in my case, the $$ exchange rates. For that $5-$20 extra, I can look at the product before buying it, and if I buy it, I don't have to wait 2 weeks for it. On the other hand, their selection can't hold a candle to the Internet.

It is a promotion giveaway at another forum site (unnamed) and the prize prices are suggested retail price. Kind of like the window sticker on a new car. If you pay that price you are an "A #1 sucker" As for the other comment, that the internet has a greater selection, for advice, anyone can put anything on the internet, doesn't mean it is true.

I guess it wan't clear to all that I was refering to the product selection available to be bought over the Internet. I buy 40% of my RC equipment online, 35% at the LHS, and the remaining 25% from local hardware stores.

I understand buying on the internet. I do a certain bit of business there also. I still like to hang around the LHS and shoot the bull. For me it is an hour's drive to a good hobby shop. It's easy to shop on the internet and can be done after normal store hours (1am). Plus you don't have to make a list to remember what to buy the next time you go to the LHS, you do it right then.

What is the LHS? local hobby shop? I just gave a quick run thru some of the reviews for planes they are giving away, looks like decent enough stuff. didn't mean to put anybody uptight by putting that link up there, i didn't realize there was a restriction on who i am allowed to post links to.

i suppose i will do my reviews online, get all the info from other forum members on a model, then compare prices. if it is significant enough to buy over the net, then there i go! otherwise, i love the idea of giving local merchants my business. imagine a world with no stores, only online shopping! aieeee!

On second thought,

Why would you guys erase the link I put in? Is there some sort of war I don't know about? I thought this site was supposed to be a place to chat about stuff and now I get the picture that you are censoring stuff. For someone new to the hobby, this sure stinks. I have gotten around and regardless of the retail price, these are real airplane kits they are giving away. Why is that somehow bad? Even more to the point, why are you guys going out of your way to dis this other site. I think both sites are useful and it's beyond me why there is censorship going on. By the way, the site was RCAirport.com.

Considering that THIS site got it's start by spamming the boards at Flightlines, and RC Showroom, as well as flooding their users email boxes with spam, it is a bit hypocritical for the owner of this site to ban links to RCAirport, RCflightunlimited and the ezone, but he owns the place and he gets to do what he wants. Such is the tyranny of the free press.

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Also when you order from the local Shop you see what your getting.
In the 80's I worked in a sporting shop and the owner used to ship out items that had flaws or maybe even didn't work right.
He told me that less then 3% would go through the trouble of returning an item.
TH has pulled a scam on me and I felt spooky about buying from them again.
So I went shopping and located a very nice Airstrike RTF.
It is in Beautiful condition.$349.00
After what TH did to me I removed the LOGO from the wing.
They don't pay me to advertise for them.
Before you know it they will be sending banners to trail along the back of the plane LOL
Just my 2 cents