I ordered almost everything mail order to start out in the hobby and here are my reasons why.

There are three decent size LHS in my area. One is heavy into cars and doesn't have much of an inventory in airplane stuff but I'm told will match Great Planes prices on a large order. They're right down the street. For a large order in the future I may try them out.

The second has a good inventory but their prices are high. They are personable and professional to deal with but about $3 worth of gas away.

The third has the best inventory, decent prices but the owner in my opinion is cocky, doesn't seem to appreciate your business (never says thank you and acts like he's doing you a favor), and is the farthest away from me costing about $4 for a single trip to the shop.

I ordered my sim for $200 and about $100 worth of other stuff from this third shop and probably $75 worth of stuff from the second one. Never a thank you or any smile or anything positive. Every transaction here has left me with a negative feeling.

I ordered all the main stuff mail order. Five reasons. First their prices especially after the volume discounts are lowest. Second, they have free shipping on large orders once you join their super saver club. Third they charge no state tax. Fourth I received everything in three days, much faster than if the LHS had to order anything for me, which they would have had to. And fifth and most important they are the friendliest people to deal with, very professional and don't give me one bit of a hard time if I have to return anything. I figured I've saved at least $200 over time using these guys and I'm a newbie with one airplane and all the accessories to go with it.

I'd prefer to support my LHS and probably will now that I'm not in such a hurry after having my first airplane but it isn't hard to understand why anyone would have the same feelings as me and lean heavily towards mail order. I only hope the third LHS reads this - they'll know who they are if they do - and tries harder to be appreciative and courteous to customers by saying thank you with a smile at least after every order. It's really not that hard - geesh!!

Well concider yourself lucky to have LHS in your area. My LHS closed about 5 yrs. ago when the owner pasted away, and the closest hobby shop is over two hours away.
NEDYOB

Although I try to support my little LHS because I have a couple great ones,I dont blame you for your choices considering what you've got to deal with. EVERY hobby shop I go to now matches Tower Hobbies prices,AND as long as I order by tuesday,I'll have it by thursday or friday. And any hobby shop that doesnt offer "friendly" customer service now days had best start looking into other buisiness alternatives given the dying hobby shop buisiness. They need all the buisiness they can get! And they better not try to rip people off(many do).

So why are you posting-What is your point?

I have several hobby shops within 30 miles of me however, usually when I have gone to them do they have all of what I want. Therefore most all my business goes to online. Easy fast and usually cheaper. Of course one thing in my favor is I have been at this hobby for 50 years and have most eveything ( quite a stockpile) I need other than aircraft or radio related. When I do order it is always a fair sized amount and would probably require me to travel to several LHS to get it, not sensible.

Tower isn't going to be there when you need fuel for the weekend. There might be some slightly higher costs, but there are also real benefits. What's a lost weekend worth to a person?

I'd bet that if you stop and talked to the unfriendly fellows, you'd find them welcoming you with a smile when you come in the door.

I hear what you are saying...I used to have to drive over an hour one way to a great hobby shop.....now I have 3 to choose from and all are closer...
I know what you mean by attitude we used to call the owner of the closest hobby shop the hobby nazi..He didn't see the need to paint prop tips, if a student went to his shop and mentioned painting tips he refused to sell the student the paint....
Now the downside to not supporting the LHS...if you need a small item quickly to get back in the air, your done for a few days...
What would mail order do with their prices if there weren't a LHS...
Keep going to the one shop..as they get to know you it'll get better
Good Flyin

Just today I was working on my EFlite Blade CP and was unsure of how the main shaft was to be removed. I called my LHS spoke to a guy that knows me by name over the phone (not having visual recognition) and asked him. He answered my questions and saved me from doing more damage to my helicopter while I am trying to fix it. Try to get one of these online dealers to help you out like that. Support your LHS!

Going to the hobby store should be fun, not just an errand. Going to our LHS is usually a social event.

My "LHS" is an hour drive. Believe me, there will come a time you wish you had one (out of fuel on a Friday, no props of the right size, etc.)

I throw business to mine even though it costs a bit more.

Where in PA are you?

I have 3 LHS here all are about a half hour drive from the house but only 10 mins from work. I have only been to 2 and at the first one I bought serveral hundred dollars worth of stuff the first trip back a few days later for a few hundred more. I would give them a call and they were down right hatefull. I went to the second a couple minutes farther from work and they are very nice peps and have a huge inventory so now I buy everything from them and told them why. I called the first owner and he was oh well!!! Guess he doesnt need my business so it all goes to the other guy and glad to do it now, I proably spend several hundred a month in his store as I am constantly building new toys to fly or sale. I ahve ordered online and most of them are very cortious just dont want to wait no patience. LOL Good day to all. Mike

I have three, (4 if you count Hobbytown USA) to choose from. Theres more the same distance, but these are the ones that consistently have what I need AND a decent attitude about customer service. (I get just a little put off when I get ignored; or worse, blown off when I ask a n00b question. So i just don't frequent the shops I find with that attitude issue)

All the shops i have access too are a minimum of 30 minutes and $6-$8 fuel away for me. (Chev tahoe eats gas [:@]) Sooo.. I make the stops to whichever shop is along the way as I am running other errands with my wife. Gives me the chance to get face time at the shops, and saves me money in gas because I'm not making a special trip there.

I've yet to order online, unless eBay and RCU count, but I am sure i will eventually, its just too easy and I like the idea of shopping from my desk chair.. (Lazy I know..)

[sm=thumbs_up.gif]
It's a great place to meet people that share the same wonderful hobby and exchange experiences.

My LHS is 2 miles down the raod from where I work.
Since I'm new to this hobby the owner has been a huge help in getting started.

Our LHS owner is a club member and supporter. Although I do order stuff on-line, most of the time I'm purchasing $10-$25 worth of stuff. Small items on line, when you tack on S&H charges gets really expensive. The LHS owner doesn't always have what I need, but he usually does. He'll match on-line pricing if he can, and he donates stuff to the club for our training program and fund raising. Airplanes are only a small fraction of his business, and we're glad to get his help and support.

Brad

It seems only those who have or had run a hobby shop are painfully aware of how tiny a profit margain they have to deal with. Averaging approximately after overhead a 10% profit.

Yet too many wonder why there are fewer and fewer hobby shops carrying RC aircraft or hobby shops at all. And only those in the business are aware that over 120 hobby shops closed last year. Oh well, there will always be mail order. lol

CCR

The 2 closest hobby shops near me make most of thier money sell RC cars. They do sell airplane equipment, but it just doesn't have the broad public appeal that cars do.
As a result, the ariplane support is obviously not thier top priority. Therefor I often mail order my supplies. No one seems offended. They know they don't carry the odds and ends like they did in the past.
I think many LHS have adapted to the new markets, the park flyers, the cars and boats. The surface vehicles and park flyers tend to be more impulse buyers. Or gifts for adolescents. Thats where they make thier money. We, the airplane guys, are almost burdensome with such a multitute of obscure hardware and finishing products and details. And some of this stuff is requested so infrequently its really pointless to stock it anymore. So, mail order it is. The LHS owner know this and accept this. I can support them in some cases, with the very fundemental stuff they are likely to carry.
So, don't feel bad about it. Its just the way the business is nowadays.

I would never buy fuel from Tower.

One of my LHS just went out of business in the last few months, didn't want to try and survive another economic downturn. The other one, cannot answer questions as they are a car shop. Literally, they know nothing about flying. The one guy that does, that I happened on and really wanted to help people, is now out with a boot on his leg. He flies at the same field I do and have never seen him there. Anyway, I treat this hobby the same way I treat my golf habit, if I research the information I am looking for I have no problem buying the item online. If I get my info from the LHS I don't mind paying for the information. I believe in supporting your LHS, IF they have the info you need. Basically, now I just go there for things I need in a pinch.

I guess we in South Georgia got lucky. We've got www.hodgeshobbies.com located near Americus, Ga. It's one of the BEST shops around! People drive in from other other states to visit this shop. I've heard stories from several people who have said they've been there ONE time 2 years before and the owner KNEW THEM BY NAME! He's a GREAT guy and if you go there and say you're new to the sport and want to buy something like a P-40 or a P-38 or an EDF jet, he'll actually try to talk you out of it and talk you into buying a cheaper trainer, even though he could make more money selling you what you THINK you want, but obviously can't handle! He cares as much about customer satisfaction and continued interest in the sport as he does about running his business. He knows if he sells you a plane that you're happy with and you can actually fly without smashing it to bits in 5 minutes, you'll be back for your second plane when you're ready. He'll even take the time to tell you about the plane you're buying, some of the tips/tricks of putting it together, and it's even flying "quirks". He stays in business because he actually CARES about the customers' satisfaction with flying. Sure, you might find a slightly better deal online, but you won't find someone who will remember your name, your plane, and help you out if you have any trouble with it. To me, that's worth a few extra dollars, just to get "Obi-Wan-Kenobi" knowledge from someone who knows flying, loves flying, and LOVES to make his customers happy by giving them the best possible plane for their needs and abilities. It's sad that some business owners just DON'T understand that simple principle.... if I go into a shop and get treated like they're doing ME a favor by selling me something, that's the LAST dollar they'll ever get from me!

You're very lucky to have such a shop. The "I'm doing you a favor" attitude really sucks when you know how easy it is to smile and say "thank you" instead.

On the attitude issue: Sometimes the most knowledgeable people have a little bit of attitude. There's only so many times you can answer the same question and not get tired of it. Sometimes a little patience with a guy like that will yeild you some very solid info, wheras the nice guy may be giving you answers that he really doesn't know enough to give.

Perhaps they had read your 'what to buy through mail order to save a buck' thread. I'm sure that they answered questions and were so happy to sell you the few items you forgot to order.

Yeah, and my three to four hundred bucks I've spent there so far without so much as a thank you or smile would have gone further mail order. They would have given me 35 bucks off the order if I saved it all up for a one time order -minimum - and I would have saved on the tax. On top of that they'd be courteous on the phone and say thank you after every order. I'm sure they will even answer questions as all the ones I've had they've answered quickly and with a friendly attitude.

Another friend of mine, Jim, at our club warned me about the third shop I mentioned. He was about to drop close to 500 bucks on an order and the same fella I'm talking about was taking the order. When it was time to ring the order up he looks at another guy working behind the counter and says 'ring him up, I got something to take care of'. This really burned him up! Jim's a private businessman who swears by the principle to keep the local guys going but he's like - "I'll never buy another item from this guy". He shops the second shop I mentioned where the prices are a higher but like I said he's a local businessman and swears by the policy to keep it local.

I'll keep buying mainly mail order but occasionally when in a pinch sometimes from this third shop, and probably help to keep him going for small things I need from time to time. Maybe I'll start saying 'your welcome' at the end of each order after the silence and ring of the cash register. Knowing this guy though, cocky as he is, he'd never say thank you then for sure! He'd be like 'hey you need that item don't you and I have it in stock and am helping you out. Where would you be without me and my favor to you? Waiting for a few days at the most' Yeah, right! If it's a big ticket item, I can wait. An so can my pocket!

Attitude is a two-way street. Perhaps the guy is a little socially awkward? Have you introduced yourself?

You may not have the experience yet that makes you value a local shop. The experience I'm talking about is that perfect day, spoiled by the lack of some necessary item. It happens to all of us eventually, and it makes a person appreciate the local shop. I don't really expect any more from them than I do at the grocery store in terms of pleasantries. I'm not doing them a favor by shopping there. It's much more akin to them doing me a favor by being there. I don't doubt for a moment that most hobby shop owners could make a little more running a store in a more popular line of retail. In any event, it's a business. I don't go there primarily for friendship or to be thanked for going there.

Your questions may be answered by mail order places for the moment. That can change, however. Just like LHSs, they're squeezed by prices from overseas. I spread my money around.