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08-28-2005, 06:53 PM
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Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
 SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL HOBBY SHOPI hate shopping for model shipbuilding kits, tools and materials on the Internet. What may seem like a good bargain is oft times not. A good example of this happened to me recently. I’ve wanted an Amati Keel Klamper for some time now, but was put off by the high price: $70.00 at both of the major model shipwright supply outfits. I found one at Micro-Mark for $51.00 and decided to order it from them. While a savings of $19.00 was indeed a good buy, I was shocked at the shipping cost of $10.75. And this is only for UPS Ground! To add insult to injury, a few days later I visited a local hobby shop and found one for $49.95! With the 5% Maryland sales tax, that totals up at only $52.45. Plus, I would not have to wait for the item to be shipped to me by UPS Brown; a very appropriate color for them as every package that they’ve delivered to me looks like #$%& when it arrives. I’ve been building wood model ships as my primary means of relaxation for almost a year now and I’ve fallen into the trap of ordering on-line without even looking at what is available at the local hobby shops. I have been guilty of relegating these businesses to the purchase of incidental items like glue, X-Acto blades, a bottle of paint or two, etc., etc. Unfortunately, where I live is convenient to only two hobby shops and both are a half an hour drive away. I visited the smaller of the two shops about a month ago after a visit to my dentist who is close to the shop. While not very well stocked with items for the model shipwright, they had an Amati Plank Planker (nipper) for only $9.95; $5.00 cheaper than the lowest price that I could find on the internet. In addition, they carry a very good supply of high quality basswood, brass stock and just about every X-Acto tool, blade or part that is available plus good quality paint brushes and ACC at very reasonable and competitive prices. The other hobby shop within a half hours drive is a Hobbytown USA “Super Store”. This is a hobby shop that if they ain’t got it, chances are you can probably get along without it. In addition, they carry a good inventory of Model Shipways, Amati, and Artesania Latina kits. The prices are the same as or very close to the Internet suppliers. Another service that they offer that the Internet cannot provide is the ability to open the box and see exactly what you are buying. The salespeople are top notch and will gladly order you any kit that is normally available to them. Plus, when I was trying to decide which magnifier strength would suit me, they happily pulled out every one that they had and let me try them on for best fit. Surfing the Internet for what you want is just not in the same league as being able to walk around and peruse all the goodies at a decent hobby shop and the face-to-face contact with their staff just can’t hold a candle to over-the-phone customer service. Yeah, there’s the cost of gas to get there and back and sales tax and perhaps this cancels out the shipping costs of ordering on line. But, somewhere in the mix is the old “penny wise, pound foolish factor”. The bottom line is that if I use my local hobby shops as my primary source of supply, even if they are a few dollars more on a particular item, I’ll help ensure that they’re still around in the future for when I just need that one bottle of glue or paint or X-Acto blades. Al 
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03-08-2006, 06:55 AM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
You are indeed lucky to have 2 nice hobby shops that close to you. When I first moved to Lynchburg we had 2 hobby shops also. One was owned by a young man that liked model car racing. I brought in one of my boats to show him and he seemed to like it. But a few months later he was gone and out of business.
The other shop was owned by 2 elderly sisters and quite a bit larger. They had a fairly good stock. I had just moved here and at the time I wasn't ready to start building boats again. 9 months after my visit to the larger shop the 2 sisters decided to quit the business and retire. Now we don't have any hobby shops. The closest cities are over an hour either North or South. They don't have any hobby shops either. So I am forced to buy online if I want any supplies. I would gladly support my local hobby shop if I could. |
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03-08-2006, 01:48 PM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
"Ditto" I also would be an avid supporter of my local and even national hobby shops if they supplied decient kits/accessories/tools.
In my experience, the locals do not have a large range but can order in for you and at an elevated price.... (Profit) In New Zealand, we seem to be a bit of a "Backwater" for specialized Hobby items. I might stand corrected, but I have not found here what I have found on the Net but in saying all the above, I do buy things like CA, etc from the locals. Personally, I am an avid internet purshaser. (I feel I have no choice....)
------------Members' Signature------------
"There are never any problems.... The only problems there are, are ones we create for ourselves...." (HOF Circa. 1988 )
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03-08-2006, 07:01 PM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
Hello everyone!
I have a Hobby shop about 5 miles away. I'm glad he's there. He's been in my area at least 25 years. Has a lot of knowledge about all hobbies. His store's main focus has changed many times over the years. His focus right now is remote control cars and trucks. I guess that's how he's been able to stay in business, going with the flow! Rick
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03-09-2006, 03:07 AM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
Well I would support my local Hobby shop, but there are only 2 that are worth walking in the door in the entire country, The Netherlands. I am not trying to knock the country here, but they do not have a "very well stocked" shop for walk-ins. There is one in Amsterdam but is limited in its scope. I have to get 90% of my supplies on the internet, either from England or America. This is such a rich source of maritime history that you would think that every town and village would have a ship wrights hobby store. I have visited all the local VOC (Dutch East Indies) ships and the reconstruction of the royal seven provincie fleet. I am trying to relocate back to America and relish the ability to go to a local hobby shop and get 90% of what I need instead of guessing on the internet. Thank you for this post.
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03-09-2006, 02:11 PM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
I always go to the local hobby shop, he's got a big nice shop with virtually everything. From tin soldiers to jet powered r/c fighters and everything inbetween. He's a little expensive though but then who's being mr cheapo if you're planning a two year build.
------------Members' Signature------------
Here our soldiers wait in the line, to hear the battle cry. Victory is near, my sword will drink blood and i will fight in the dawn of battle.
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03-09-2006, 02:51 PM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
I'm pretty lucky with a well stocked small hobby shop just a mile from me. I can get CA glue or wood in a pinch when I need it but best of all the owner has agreed to help sell my models on consignment as I complete them. I may not get top dollar but I don't have to worry about shipping them.
Dave
------------Members' Signature------------
"With the knowledge of hindsight, they were a piratical-looking crew." C. Alexander
Currently: MS USS Constitution Finished: MS Bluenose 1921, AL Clara May, AL Open Hull HMAV Bounty My pipe dream: Graduate to scratch building
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08-09-2007, 01:43 PM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
I don't know why . Hobby shops are pretty thin here as well. I know of only one and I have to drive a fairly long way just to get to it.
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08-09-2007, 06:23 PM
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Re: Supporting Your Local Hobby Shop
Hey! I think I am going to move to Lynchburg and open a hobby store! I
would have a monopoly!  Seriously though, I live in Denver, Co. and we do not have a hobby store (that I can find) that has any decent supplies for wooden ship building - i.e. wood.  Some of them have a couple of kits but they are 50% more than the internet sites, so I have to go to the internet to get a kit. It is likely these kits at the stores have been on the shelf for 15 years, so I do not trust them. I like to support the local stores if I can. We have had four stores close in past two years and now I am down to four and two of them are Hobbytown USA stores. Richard
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