My lhs gets the kits after I have had them for at least 2 to 3 weeks and that is if he gets them at all. I will buy my supplies there but as far as new release they have not a clue.
He doesn't know what to order, when to order and sometimes I wonder if he knows how to order. Trains are big here so that what they stock the most of.
I have to tell him what kits to buy and when things are coming out.
He says he is a "plastic" guy and knows what's hot. I don't think so.'
I mostly buy from VLS and some other mail order places to get what I want.
My two cents worth.
Rccon

If I had a LHS I would buy there, I live in a rural remote area because I choose too. But aside from food and farm supplies there isn't much to be had here in the way of shopping and nothing in the way of hobbies. I do have a Hobby Lobby in the big city about 50 miles or so away and I get there about twice a week. But as so many of you have pointed out they do not have much and being a chain they cannot order it as you could in a smaller Mom and Pop shop. Being in business I can tell you that as a small business you can not carry everything as that is capital tied up collecting dust and that doesn't make you money. You have to have product that moves, that puts money in your pocket and money to restock the shelves and pay the light bill. While I would love to to have a shop that has everything it can not be done, but what you need to do is talk to the owner and tell them to get you this or that model as a special order, in time if enough product group is sold it makes sense to carry it. But product collecting dust is real estate wasted. So support you local hobby shop but let the hobby shop know what you would like to buy, then buy it if they get it.

You know. my lhs is VERY expensive, a tam king tiger on the shelf for 70 bucks plus tax! which add ups to 80 something bucks! but then ive got another one, 30 min away from my house. not so bad as long as you make a special order! which took me a month and 2 weeks and 4 phone calls to get! but i can kinda udnerstand a but since it was christmas, so when i show up, iam missing my tam m-20

Frank

Well, I am really in the 'boondocks' as far as an LHS is concerned. Nothing at all where I live (although I can get Vallejo from an Artists supply shop). The nearest? Around 300 miles away in Vallodolid or (slightly nearer) in Gijon...

Well that leaves buying mail-order. The big 'names' here in Spain vary from the good to the appalling. Jordi Rubio of metal barrels fame, is total garbage. They advertise various products which they never have, when they do it takes them 3 weeks to arrive. Another 'delightful' aspect of living here is the stranglehold Verlinden has on the market. You can get AM as long as its Verlinden.... Resin figures? Yep, Verlinden...

So, all my business (or 95% of it goes) to the States, Or the U.K. or (increasingly) Hong Kong. The latter gets me kits quicker than I could in Barcelona or Madrid and at an average saving of 60% (including shipping)

LHS' Nope, never seen one of them...Jim

Just received the Skybow Walker Buldog I ordered 2 days ago from Accurate Armor. Cost me £ 12. Including postage... go figure as they say in America.
I use my LHS a lot, I'll be popping down there later as it is, but as explained before, he can't carry the stock and choice that the internet makes possible.
I found that since I've been on the net, I've started buying more on the net. Progress??

Henk

10 minutes ago I got my Skybow WC63 from Accurate Armour - ordered online on friday. Ditto to Henk's comments...Jim

Hi Keith,
I really like your ideas for a LHS and would like to wish you all the luck in your endeavor. All of them are excellent. I particularly like the AB booths.
Today I will be going and visiting my LHS. I live about an hour away from it and its my only option besides ordering online or thru the mail. But to be honest I wouldnt trade having to drive to it for the world. The shop is family owned and operated and the same guy that took care of my needs as a child is still behind the counter with his son today. And best of all when I got back into modeling he remembered me from 25 years earlier before I moved away from this area as a kid off to school. I dont get there often but when I go see him its visiting an old friend, we talk about everything. I hope everyone has a place like this to go too. Long live the LHS, they all need our support. Cheers Kevin

When I first started modelling, before my 20 year hiatus, I could go to any corner sweet shop and buy an Airfix 1/72 aeroplene kit in a small plastic bag. A bit further, but still on my route to school was a corner newsagent called Lewis's, that had a small room devoted to boxed construction kits, they had Airfix, Revell and Monogram.
These days I have to get the Yellow Pages out just to find somehwere that 'might' have a kit to sell. As far as I know there are 2 model shops in Liverpool, UK. It's a big city! One is more of a toy store, and only ever has the main manufacturers in, but does sell a few scenic materials and Tamiya paints. The other has a tiny room full of aircraft, and hardly ever gets new stuff in. Oh, he has 2 plusmodel items as well. He's had them for 6 months. Overpriced.
The nearest 'good' model shop to me, living in Cheshire is in Halifax. To support my LHS I would have to buy him models. I don't think it's supposed to work like that.
I can get anything I want on the net. Cheaper. Quicker.
If you have a LHS near you that sells what you want....great. If they don't sell what you want, or they sell it at a higher price, then they're going to lose out.

Vinnie

Vinnie is totally on the ball here - I won't support a LHS out of sentiment. The kind of LHS' which should be supported are those like Jamieson's Models in Glasgow. whenever I go to Scotland, it's my first port of call (apart from Accurate Armour ) Ian, who i've known for more than 25 years has IMHO the 'Model of a Modern Model Shop' - huge stocks including AM and more importantly knows what he is talking about... Anyone visited any of the 'Antics' chain in the U.K.? - now that is the epitome of a waste of time...Jim

I am pretty lucky here in Houston to have a great LHS: Hobby Island. Scale modeling only, no trains or RC. The owner runs a friendly, knowledgeable, well-stocked shop (kits, AM, supplies, references). If he does not have it in stock, he will get it for you in a reasonable amount of time. He gets all of the new kits as soon as they are available here in the US. He supports numerous local modeling clubs and, while I am not often able to make it due to family committments, Saturday mornings there are like a model club meeting with all of the regulars who stop by. On top of that, his prices are very good, working out to about 2 or 3 dollars more than the online shops here in the US.

Keith

Luckily, I don't work too far from London, so I can visit Hannants occasionally. Chelmsford and Braintree have more railway-orientated model shops which sometimes have stuff worth picking up.

When I go back to visit my mother in South Wales it's a great excuse to visit D9 Models in Newport and the model shop in Hereford, which has a stack of Tamiya and Dragon, including old Dragon. And railway stuff.

Unfortunately the really local (only about a mile) from my house closed up a while back. I still miss that place...loved walking in there

Sean

Hello all. I made a post here about LHS and what they do or don't carry. That was based on going to the Hobby Maker in Bedford. He has very little in the way of armor, the same fig. sets all the time and by the time i order on-line and pay shipping I save about $5-$10 on most things. I've been going there since 95 when I moved here. In the last couple of years I just buy all my models at Squadronfest or order on-line, I can get more for my money.

That is true I get some great stuff on Ebay buy there so far in between that it's like hiting the Lotto when you do.

Funny thing is I went to my local hobby shop and seen his prices that I told him I can get this stuff 20-40 % off online. And at first he got real mad; then I proposed a deal that if I buy a certain amount can I get a discount and now I don't buy online anymore because he gives me a good discount.. But some times theres that resin kit on Ebay you have to have.

But I try my best to support my LHS. We are friends now and I am building him a web site to promote his sstore front just get that little extra ad's out there for local people who live in the area because this county here there's alot of people with PC's.

Thats just my 2 cents

Happy Modeling
(++) (++) (++) #1:35

I would support my LHS. But the problem is that there is no competition in my City there is only one sole hobby shop and their main focus is R/C planes and cars.
I do buy paint and glue from them....sometimes.
I asked one of the workers if he could get some Tamiya figures for me and he said maybe........maybe!! do you want me to buy from you!! He orders in the whole Tamiya catolouge once maybe twice a year. And If you miss out on the Item you have to wait till they re-order.
I do how ever buy models from a LHS when I visit my Nana in a city 1.5 hour drive away (both ways) Good prices and good service. Though usually there isn't too much OD armour.
If there is something I want online or if I want to make a large purchase I will buy online.

I buy every thing I can from my LHS. I have only purchased one kit on line in the last three years.

They are very good at ordering any kit I think I want to get my grubby mitts on. And thier prices are as good or better than the on line stores.

They also stock a very good selection of armor and aircraft from the major model companies.

I like to support my LHS and usually purchase tools, paint , supplies and some kits there. Unfortunately they carry no aftermarket stuff like PE or barrels so I must purchase that stuff online

I think a common thread is appearing here. I know the USA is a much larger country, square mile for square mile, but per head it seems the USA is much better served by model shops than the UK. I've lost count of the number of times I dragged my partner out on sunday to go for a 'drive', only to serendipitously come across a little model shop, I never knew was there (honestly dear), but then been dissapointed by the bare shelves and lack of choice.
For anybody in the Northwest (UK), if you fancy seing a really poor model shop, take a drive out one day to Northwich. You won't be dissapointed......if you really are looking for a poor shop.

Vinnie

Iam really lucky to have a huge hobby store.
by me. i have him order a lot of stuff for me..
if its not in stock
here is the web site wall to wall
planes tanks cars

http://www.bayshorehobbies.com/

I have a few additional observations about hobby shops...

1) It is one of the "last bastions" of the mom-n-pop world... unlike computers, electronics, pet stores, and clothing ---- where everything in one city mall is the same as in another city mall, model shops in particular have their own flavor... I love finding a new shop on my many travels.

2) Most hobby shop dealers try to do too much... from a businesss perspective, they try to carry RC, Models, Trains, Sci-Fi, and arts and crafts...I think this is probably the wrong approach in many instances.... set up multiple stores, but be known as "the specialists" for a certain genre. Phil's Hobbies was the 1:35 king of the world in terms of figures, models, accessories, and paints/supplies. He still carried some trains and other things, but they were dead inventory. He also had wonderful selection of books and magazines, and that kept folks coming in.... but not younger kids.

3) Focus on "the modeling experience"... again, Phil had a great pool of "regulars" that were there every day I walked in... Saturday you almost needed an appointment to get in the door. He did a lot of special orders... 25% off list if it wasn't in stock! Things like the AirBrush idea I mentioned would have gone over great!

Tell me what YOU think (besides selection and price) would make your local shop more desireable and would earn them more of your business?

4) i could see that

well some things from far away GREECE.
well a ssome of u i live in an isolated island where no hobby shops are present.

My only choice is a 8 hours travel by shipe to Athens that i usually go twice a year. There there is good selection of Hobby shops, especially to figures that i am interested more now.
On the field of armor and diorama supplies things are good but not any PE or any aftermarket stuff..
On specific items like Woodland Scenis or Hudson and Allen stuff not any chance also.
So i have to get them from outside Greece anyway .

Also there is the price cost . Being financially tight u cant afford to be loose on prices. I mean here in Greece all AFV vehivles or nice artillery pieces cost 44-46 euros plus 8 shipping to me that goes more than 50 euros!!!! at the same time to get them from Hobbyeasy with the post rate charged is no more than 21 ...so ......i cannot set that aside. I like to support LHS and i have friends working there , but i cannot afford that kind of price differencies.

So that my guide..my financial survival over the hobby i adore, and in parallel to support the LHS in the way and power i can if they dont rob me !!!!

I believe if your LHS helps you in any way, you should try to return the favor by helping back, you just haft to weigh the good from the bad.

Now I have heard some say they were able to do very well with their LHS, but it seems as though everything I needed, they never had in stock at my LHS, I think I would fall over if I went in there, and they had what I asked for.

Kerry

I consider myself extremely lucky. Our local shop has a great selection, not only of kits, but also aftermarket stuff and figures. I have only purchased one kit online, and that was at the shop owners advice and after e-mailing their distributor and trying to work out the pricing disrepancy (one product in that product line was priced at nearly twice the price of the rest of it).
Our club gets great support from the shop, plus as handy as it is to be part of this online community, it is great to go hang out at the shop with other actual modelers. My opinion? It is definitely worth paying a little more. After all, when you are trying to finish up that masterpiece the day before the contest, an online shop ain't gonna' get you a bottle of paint to replace the one you just spilled in time to get it done! By the way, if you are ever in Grand Junction, Colorado, stop by and check out Hobby Hut Models.
Jim