are there any local usa shops out there ? shipping is killer

RCCommand.com
RCtankwars.com

Most of the local shops have been killed by the internet, that and about 15 years ago the govt found out that small businesses could be a cash cow, and proceeded to milk them to death.

I saw this happen in the model train industry first. where certain companies would sell to anyone who had the cash instead of only selling to established shops. Now, with the model train industry in such a decline that the oldest and largest manufacturer, Marklin, is in receivership, everyone is crying the blues.

Think about it. You go in to a shop and see a Tamiya tank with a retail of say $700. Being net savvy, you immediately think "oh my, I saw that same tank on a Hong Kong sight for $500. I'll buy it there.". So, you save $100, because the shipping is another $100, and when you need the paint and other goodies for your mail order tank, you pop on down to the local shop. And he's gone. I wonder why?

I supported my local shop in Jax for years, before tanking was popular. Remember when the first Tam Full Option tank came out? What was it? Just about all my tanks came from them when I lived there, and my radios, and all the paints and other supplies. What they did not have and I personally did not carry, I bought on the net. They did not carry any of the detail parts, and for that and for a couple other reasons I formed etoarmour.com to carry the detail and functional parts for us tankers. When I started the company, the entire line of Schumo and another supplier would fit in a shoe box in multiples with room left over. Not true today. I at this time have in excess of 250 different parts, in multiples.

Depending on what you are looking for, some hobby shops may have it. such as paints, adhesives, plastic stock for scratch or semi-scratch building, tools, etc. However, I doubt you will find a single retail shop in USA that has 1/16 detail parts. Not enough money in them for a local shop to carry them generally.

You may consider Raidentech (not local, but that means no sales tax). Not everyone's favorite, but I and others love their prices. Here's an example or two.

http://www.raidentech.com/3868-1-tank.html

http://www.raidentech.com/upgrade-38...iakv-tank.html

Free shipping coupons for Raidentech are readily available on the web, so that takes care of that problem.

Isn’t there an app for that?

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9156063/tm.htm

You can deal with Matomart from Toronto. A good place to deal with.

Cheers John

I'd guess one of the only brick & mortar shops carrying RC tanks would be at the AAF Tank Museum in Danville, VA.

http://www.aaftankmuseum.com

Bob, I know what you mean by the shops closing. When I last was in JAX this summer it looked like everyone has folded except Hobby World & those idiots at Hobbytown USA.

Yup, they're all gone except for Hobby World. Hobbytown is still alive? Thought someone would have burned them out long ago. After all, it IS Jax!

All the Hobby shops in my town moved out or closed there doors in the last 25 years Riders hobby was the last to go just 8 years ago and they mostly sold RC Cars and Planes .

Jimmy