Bert93

OK, here in NJ i have noticed that many local hobby shops have been disappearing. 8 years ago i could go to any mall and see 1 or 2 hobby shops in that mall, but now there is only 1. 1 hobby shop in one mall out of about 6 local malls. Is this happening anywhere else in the country or world? or are we truely a dying breed?

CadillacDTS2001

internet is the main hobby shop now a-days
we are not dieing. if anything we are growing

Anomie

A lot of Hobbytown USAs have popped up here, and several of the older shops have closed in the last few years. I often talk to people in the hobby, and they order from the 'net most of the time.

I agree with Taylor - I think the online availability is dropping local sales.

Bert93

so... we're being replaced by internet sales?

CadillacDTS2001

do you own a hobby shop?

DarkFire989

Yeah, when i moved to my town i had 3 hobby shops. Guess what. They are all gone. You guys are right, the hobby world has transfered to the internet.

Mr. Mugen

The lhs's cannot keep up with the prices online. Online shops have little to no overhead.

-Inverted-

Mom and Pop shops can barely afford the initial + monthly purchase requirement needed to become a great planes or horizon hobby distributor, either Hobbytown USA or online is probably the majority of rc sales.

Hobby Shops with a race track and support for the local race vehicles do however have a MUCH higher income as racers need the part now for the race in 10 minutes and such.

Foxy

Here in greece it's a growing hobby. Shipping costs proclude orders of large items from the internet, not to mention greedy greek customs collectors charging you through the ass and keeping the item for up to three months. Anyway, yeh, all of this adds up to the fact that the hobby shops here do well. I'm even thinking of opening one myself, as there is not currently one in the largest shopping centre in Athens. I'm a little worried about overhead, but confident it could be a success. The greek market is some 20years behind the US though, the end is coming for us too, but it won't be happening anytime soon.

Bert93

no, but i miss the days where i could go to the mall and look at the rockets and slot cars and RCs. Now i have to drive 50+ miles to do that, and the only time i do that is if i need new parts and dont want to buy off the internet. I feel it's less fun to stare at a computer screen all day looking at products.

Beasley1

There is 2 Hobby Towns by me. They are always packed when I go in there. Thats why if I need something right then, Ill go there and get it, if not ill order on the web.

nitro _ burner

LOL have you guys been to AUS?? we have nothing, well i know of 4 shops across the city (but none that are all that close)and in the RC availability we have almost nothing compared to you guys, especially in the hop-up line we realy dont have all that much, shure we have enough to keep us satisfiyed but not as much as all you guys. Your all lucky!!!

Bert93

What City? I live near Philadelphia and i dont even know of 4 hobby shops in philly.

nitro _ burner

AUS=Australia, you know that country down south. "Down Under"

RICnitro MT2

Here in England we have a fair few hobby shops all containing good stock, but u have to travel a long way because my nearest is rubbish unless u are really into warhammer and model trains. So my nearest one really is about 50-60 miles away, and i'm not being funny, but thats a hell of a long way to drive unless your going on a shopping spree

which i wouldnt seeing as it is soooooo expensive, thats why im making the most of it when i come over to florida on holiday.

rc monkey

It's worse over here, I know of 3 hobby shops that are all over 30 miles away, 2 of the owners are prats and the one nice one closed a few weeks ago[:@] I buy all my stuff online - in alot of cases its less than 1/2 the price of a hobby shop and I don't have to deal with arrogant people.

Bert93

I know the country but what city in the country?

Nick2618

He is from adelaide just look at his min profile.

Are hobby town usa located in just one part of the country?? Because i do not think there is any near me in fl.

nitro _ burner

yeh i live in adelaide, SA. and what is this hobby town thing??

Bert93

I never heard of a "hobby town" either

SAVAGEJIM

I though Australia was a continent!

Anyways, the only RC stores that seem to thrive, as someone already said, is HobbyTown. On-line stores such as Tower are also going very strong. RC distributors (middlemen[:'(] ) are growing as the hobby grows also. Since RCs are so expensive, I wish I could get RC gear for the price distributors pay for them.

Nick2618

OK well everyone including me are asking about hobby town usa. So found there site http://www.hobbytown.com/ and if you go there you can type in your zip and they will tell you where the closests stores is. For me it is like 45 mins to hour.

nitro _ burner

country, continent same thing