Okay I passed by a local hobby shop today, one I haven't been to in years. It's a multi-hobby store, with cars, crafts and planes as well as trains, but trains have their own wing. There was a seemingly friendly guy at the the trains counter and I was looking for Atlas Code 55 N scale turnouts. He asked what I was looking for and then pointed out they had Peco Code 55 truntouts. I told him I wasn't interested in those because the rail height is not compatible with true Code 55 track. Then he told me that I should be using Code 80 turnouts "Because turnouts are the most likely place where derailments happen" and that "the only real difference is the height of the rail." (Umm, NO, the tie size and spacing is better in most Code 55 rail...) I told him I'm set on Code 55 since I wanted the prototypical look, but he didn't seem to listen. I then asked you, "Are you mainly into N scale?" but he proceeded to respond with a "Listen, I know what I'm talking about" kind of response. I told him that I just converted to N from HO. He was chatting with a few frequent customers who I assume belong to the same club as he and later he asked me, "So what prompted you to switch to N?" I told him that I do the modern era and that my autoracks and superliners wouldn't look or run well on my old HO layout. He then told me "Well you're gonna be kicking yourself for making that decision." I told him, "You can run more trains in the same space as HO." His reply? "No that's not true...That's why you join a club. You can have wide curves on a club layout" I told him I didn't have the time or money to invest in a club. What an idiot. You think that someone who works in a train department of a hobby shop would have knowledge and respect for all scales. I told him "N scale is growing" and he went on to say, "No one's buying. I should know, I sell it!" I didn't want to make a scene but I should have informed him that it's not selling because PEOPLE BUY THEM ONLINE! Edit: Was told by the moderator to remove the name of the hobby shop for legal purposes. But if you want to know (it's in the Southern CA area), feel free to PM me. Like I mentioned, it's not a trains-only store.
Well, you see, after that first statement you were wasting your time. You didn't really think you'd make him see the error of his ways, did you? In front of his train club buddies?? There you go. No reason to go back and get more aggro... :yes: Regards Ed
heh heh, "No one's buying." From him, that is. I wonder why? What a salesman. Such a snob about his preferred scale that he loses a chance to make money. If I told my your story to my sister (who runs her own retail store) she would be outraged. I don't know why, but there does seem to be something about the hobby business that certain people would rather be know-it-alls than sell you what you want. I can't think of another arena where I hear so many stories about dumb retail workers.
Not so much dumb....just set in there ways. I have encountered a few like that myself. Thats one reason I like doing business with good N Scale retailers like Chuck at Feather River and George and Deb at Wig-wag. Never any BS, get answers to my questions, order whatever I want, and great prices.
I think a lot of people clerking at hobby shops took the job because of their interests in the hobby, not due to their extraordinary sales skills or even a willingness to serve customer needs. I'm not even sure some clerks are interested in the store's needs for that matter. It's an ego thing. I rarely ask for information or advice unless I'm dealing with somebody that I know a bit and they likely know me as a repeat customer by this point as well and they know better than to try to baffle me with bull or impart their own views on me. A good salesman will identify the customer's needs and then help them fulfill those. There's no shame in admitting that you don't know something or that your personal hobby interests lie elsewhere. If they know what their store carries, they should be able to direct you to your options and let you decide. And even if a customer is wrong, it's not good salesmanship or even polite to whack him over the head with it. There are ways of making suggestions that are far less offensive. On the topic of N sales versus other scale sales, I also find brick and mortar stores that have reduced their N inventory and complain about online sales competition. I guess the "other" scales appeal to the masses more than N, but I think it's also regional to some degree. Online shopping has been a plus for N scalers. I'd suggest that any LHS wishing to take advantage of the N scale sales might want to consider an online outlet in addition to their regular store.
Funny, because this particular hobby store DOES have an online outlet...I came to this store because the prices advertised on their online shopping site for Atlas C55 turnouts was really good, but upon arriving at their store they probably do the typical drop-ship thing and not carry it in their brick and mortar inventory.
Both these online retailers are also supporters of trainboard and I personally use both of these retailers and highly recommend them.
It's the age old "what works for me should work for you" thinking. Model railroading is such a personal hobby, there just isn't a right way to do things. Everyone decides for themselves for better or for worse. track, everyone picks what works for them. scale, everyone picks what works for them. Clubs, or no clubs, it's a personal decision. What store to shop in... I'm sure you made your decision.
My local hobby shop (the big one in Saint Paul) has simular issues. In a discreet matter, I asked them if they would provide a discount for a bulk order on track. I went on to explain how I like the fact that they have been in business since I was a kid modeling HO and how they have many hard to find rolling stock available in N scale. I also stated how I would like to throw my support and money to my local hobby shop as opposed to an online retailier if possible and I often do. But when one is buying a large order of track the $2 to $15 dollar differance per items adds up huge. In my track order example it was a price differance of over $1200.00!! His response.....no we probably cant do that....then the solid answer of no sorry. I was blown away. This is the largest hobby shop in Minnesota in business for over 20 years and sells everything at MSRP. I would have thought to have my business he would have attempted to make some kind of offer. This is also why most of my locomotives are purchased online. The majority of my equipment is purchased online with exception to some scenery items, limited track purchases, some rolling stock, and magazines. I will be ordering my track for the Canton Division online.
I worked in retail hobby stores for over 5 years and then retail computer store for another 5. All I can say, pesky customers. Why do they bother, er, I mean,
That's why, IMO, the LHS are losing and going out of business. High Prices, Lack of Service, and doing trains as a sideline.
I have had my issues with one LHS on bad advice. Another gives no advice but charges full list and will try to sell anything to anyone just to make a sale. I learned two years ago to rely on the people at Trainboard for advice and found a reliable, knowledgeable, straightforward on line dealer. On line dealers have certain items on sale to attract customers and will perhaps not give a huge discount on all items. I will never surf around and order, say, Unitrack from one and unpainted boxcars from another just to get the absolute best price on each and every item. I have no issue with paying somewhere around 10% more than the best possible price in exchange for the reliability and information I receive from a particular dealer.
Here's another example; A year or so ago, I was in the market for a heap of Atlas c55 track & switches. First I contacted Chuck at FRT's who quoted me around $240us ($360aus) incl intl shipping. I then contacted the local train store (only 2 in Brisbane btw) and received a quote of around $700.00aus. mg:. I really can't figure out why there is such a huge price difference, esp since the local guy directly imports the stuff!!:sad:. My track & switches arrived a week later from....yes you guessed it...California!! :teeth:
[FONT=""Trebuchet MS""]Unfortunately this is not an uncommon story. As much as I prefer to support local Mom and Pop businesses if they do not wish to stock what I want then I will shop elsewhere. There are plenty of options available. As Colonel mentioned the shops that advertise on Trainboard are highly recommended. Not just because they advertise here, but because the their online reputation depends on it. As your experience has highlighted, reputation of a hobbyshop is everything. [/FONT]
Even though I have two excellent LHSs available to me, I find myself starting to order more frequently from Chuck simply based on availability and price. One of my local shops with the greatest selection is all MSRP and the other discounts, but doesn't have a lot of what I'm looking for on hand. Of course, Chuck's service is also first class. David
I just want to emphasize that my experience was the exception and not the rule. I have over a dozen LHSes within a 40-mile distance from my home, most of them trains only, and they've been good people and treat all scales equally, though I don't know what it's like if you're into S or Z...those are the rarest ones. There's even one multi-hobby shop near me where the trains department is *strictly* N scale! I can't wait to tell them this story... I have not soured on LHSes completely, some are great. One of them I visted last week and just a few minutes before closing, this woman and her daughter comes in and needed to buy a birthday present for her railroad modeling husband (it was his birthday that evening). She ended up buying a large package of WS HO scale figures. The store owner happened to have some leftover gift wrap in the back and volunteered to wrap the gift for her! So most LHSes I've seen are class acts. It's just that one store which I will never shop at again.
Oh I forgot to mention this classic quote from the condescending hobby store train guy: "HO and N trains cost the same...but in HO you get more plastic for your money!"
