Eastern Ohio LHS
 

I pretty much got told today to keep my mouth shut by a manager of one of our LHS's in Boardman today. The store was only opened a couple months ago. A newbie was looking at ARF Trainers, anywhere from Alpha 40's, Nextars, Sig Kadet Senior, etc. He was also looking at a aerobatic plane to buy - again his first plane. The manager was polite about it, but none the less, I was only trying to provide the guy another alternative / opinion.

I mentioned that I loved my Rascal 40, and remarked that it was a great flyer, weather flying slow, or even doing some moderate aerobatics. I personally think it flys better than a Kadet. It will hover / torque roll, but mine also has a Saito 72 stuffed in it.

I think the manager was looking to sell stock he already had, not something he'd have to order in. I'm not a store owner or manager, but am a businessman, and know that a sale is a sale, no matter what the plane, be it a Rascal, or Kadet, and I guess if I can't feel free to give advise in a hobby store to a newbie, then I won't be buying from "them" anymore either. They're the only local store open on Sundays, but too bad. I'll wait till the week day now.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

the Kadet is a far better trainer than the Rascal... while the Rascal is nice... I just don't think a beginner needs a plane that can hover and torque roll....

gonna side with the shop owner on this one

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

With exception to the fact that the guy wanted something to advance to. In other words he didn't want just a trainer. All in all, anybody's entitled to an opinion without creating interference or controversy (of which I provided, without being rude or obnoxious).

Guess it doesn't really matter. I still have 3 others close by to shop with, and if I choose, I can swallow my pride and shop there too if I want.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

All in all, you're probably right... Kadet is much sturdier and is easy to work on.

Rascal is still sleeker and can do more with the airframe though (in the air)

I'm still entitled to my opinion though. If anything he should have rebutted me with my first line above (sturdy, easy to work on).

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

Your both right.

Gibbs

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

It also kinda depends on how all this went down. Did you walk up and interrupt their conversation without being asked for an opinion? I would have had some words for you myself even if you were Bob Violett or similar. If, on the other hand, the newbie was just wandering about the store and you spoke up? Well, that's an entirely different manner. It also depends a lot on EXACTLY what the manager said and not what your hurt feelings recall him saying. If I was in your place I believe I would have suggested that he stick with a trainer and look forward to a Rascal in the future.

Again, I wasn't there and don't know all of the details.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

Unsolicited comments by anyone are not appreciated in any place of business. The merchant was right about chiding you for interrupting while he was trying to make a sale. If I understood your post correctly the buyer asked the merchant and the merchant was responding.

Get over it, eat a little crow and go back and shop the hobby shop. If it happens again, shop somewhere else. :)

Regards,
doubledee

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

Essentially, the conversation between two salesmen and the customer were informal. The manager (one of the salesmen in this case) explained to me that this guy had purchased 2 helis and a small electric plane from them already. When I say the conversation was informal, it was literally talk between fellow hobbyists (at least that's how I saw it).

Wouldn't the odds be that if this guy bought 3 models off this store already, he'd be listening to the store anyway???

I don't know... I always thought the more information the better. I've been in lots of stores where an opinion is valued, and I guess I'll just leave the chips fall where they will.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

If you had come in with the guy you'd have a RIGHT to speak.
If you worked for the store you'd have a RIGHT to speak.
IF you were asked by ANY of the involved parties for an opinion you'd have a RIGHT to speak.

As it was, you were merely butting in. Unless you overheard something unsafe being said, IMO it was time to be quiet.

You could always talk to the guy AFTER he left the store or stopped talking to store people.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

If you look at several current posts here in the beginners forum, you'll see what and who I was talking about.

I'll shut up now. Appearantly I'm just a moron and a loud mouth.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

shaq555,

There are a multitude of reasons why the LHS owner more or less told you to butt out. As stated in my previous post, "get over it". Go have a beer and relax.:eek:

Regards,
doubledee

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

SHAG555 - I trust you will remove your derogetory comment about me before I need to file a complaint about it.

You requested comments and I gave one. Mine were not derogetory.

Thank you.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

I would have spoken to them after their conversation when he was wondering around or after he left the store. It's the guy's business. He can tell people whatever he wants.

I am a computer guy. You don't know how many times I walk around CompUSA or some other chain store and hear the employees giving horrible advice. I kinda grit my teeth and bear it or if the person is totally clueless, I wait until the salesman walks away and give my opinion.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

The whole reason I posted this thread is because these two salesmen were pushing the guy to make the purchase of a GP Cap, build it and let it sit until "he would feel confident flying it", plus sell him a trainer. I mentioned the Rascal because the guy wanted something "a little more than a trainer", which is exactly what the Rascal is.

I think a lot of these salesmen these days in chain hobby stores think that because they sit during idle times and practice on the simulator, they become experts at flying. By the way, I am in no means condemning all hobby store salesmen, this has just been my experience in this particular store.

Pete - Thanks for the crutch.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

Clarification - I was not referring to Bruce88123 as a Commie. My appologies Bruce if I didn't word my post correctly. I was referencing "freedom of speech".

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

Not sure how that's a crutch for you. I'm just saying I wouldn't blatently interrupt a conversation now matter how clueless the salesperson is or how much I know on the subject. I wait until the salesperson is gone and give my opinion.

I like to think I've saved a few people from making very costly mistakes, such as buying a $599 DVR/DVD/dinner making machine when all they wanted was a $5 cable to connect their camcorder to the computer and copy their home videos.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

I seem to have mislead several of you that I blatently interupped this conversation. There were two salesmen, me and this other guy in the RC section of this store. It was a completely informal conversation and the guy was kicking the tires. This wasn't a hard pressed sale or anything. Appearantly I'm not expressing all the facts to you guys or I was at fault. It's not like I went in and pushed the salespersons aside and told the guy to ignore their opinions. As I indicated before, the guy bought 2 helis and an electric plane (according to the manager) from them already - so he'll probably listen to them anyway.

My comments were open and friendly. I did not in any way rebut what the salespersons recommndations were...

I cant win on this forum, and I really didn't want to anyway, just merely wanted to let off a little steam... But there are some on here that will dig until the store security video is posted showing the conversation.

Whatever.

RE: Eastern Ohio LHS
 

I'm going to side with the Hobby shop on this one. While the rascal might be a good compromise plane, if the buyer had the money and the desire, there was nothing wrong with the approach of buy the trainer, learn to fly it, and then move up to the CAP. The Cap will be far more acrobatic than the Rascal, and chances are, the buyer would end up buying the Cap anyway. The Hobbyshop owner is not just in business to promote the hobby. He's in the business to promote sales. And a sale of a plane that has to be ordered is not equivalent to sale of a plane in stock. The plane in stock represents cash already out the door for the owner. The longer it sits in the shop, taking up shelf space, the lower the return on investment. If I were in that position, I'd be pushing the plane out the door as well.

You did state that the owner was polite about it. I would compliment him for that. After all, your in there to have fun. He's in there to feed his family.

Brad