My nearest LHS is about 5 miles away from me. They're a multi-hobby store that sells model airplanes, general kits (model cars/ships, etc), model vehicles, military models, Pinewood derby cars, general hobby paints/tools and model trains (namely, N-scale trains exclusively). Since I've been a customer there, they have a short aisle rack with N scale rolling stock/containers, a few Kato boxed sets, a glass display case of Kato/Athearn/Fox Valley locos and MTL rolling stock, and a display wall with detail parts and accessories (Atlas track, MTL couplers, etc). Well today I walked in and to my dismay found the display wall replaced by Pinewood Derby car bodies and accessories. The former contents of this wall were moved a few feet to the back wall in a space less than half of the previous wall.The aisle rack had a bare minimum of N scale rolling stock and is now home to model military tanks. The glass case remained mostly the same. The owners recently celebrated 20 years of owning this store, and there's always a decent amount of customers there when I visit. They just started a Facebook page. In this case, the actual store doesn't seem like it's going anywhere, but the volume of model railroad/N scale is dwindling seemingly into extinction. I overheard another customer ask the staff about model RR items and the staffer referred the customer to other model rr stores in the vicinity without hesitation. I went to the store with only one thing to get - a single strip of cork roadbed - all but $1.10 - and I bought that. What to make of this?
Just me speculating but I'd bet the mark-up for MRR items isn't as much and there isa general decline in hobby dollars so getting tthe most "bang for the buck." might have something to do with it. The shop here started selling other items a few years ago. He ws primarily large scale with a short wall of HO and another of N. He said he was getting more traffic looking for RC parts than train stuff so he started carrying small parts. He makes more money on the small parts sales then the MRR items. Another shop stopped carrying anything in N and only a small amount of HO becuase he didn't want to carry all the small parts variations (couplers specifically) the shelf/wall space could be used for something else. Being in LA I could see why they'd send you somewhere else. When I go out there on travel I try and visit a different shop each trip. I've hit most of the ones in Model Railroader at this point and some are definately better than others. You wouldn't be near Burbank would you?
Some of it though is attitude though too. Some dealers just don't want to "deal" with us. They make a better return selling Pine Wood Derby to the local Boy Scout Troop this time of year and into the Spring. The local shop here in Champaign sells mainly train sets and that is it. If I need something I can't find on-line, I have one hobby shop north of me and one south of me. Both are exclusive train stores that deal with mainly HO and N. Sign of the times. I think Model Railroading is more of a craftsman type hobby that requires more building than other hobbies. dealers in most shops today just want to sell something in a box that runs and breaks then support it with parts. Just my observation.
I have to travel about 20 miles to my LHS (without the L). The Internet, the economy, plus the dying breed of modelers are tough on RR hobby shops. My "local" shop is Model RR only and as "things" condense, I expect it to weather the storm. There is room in the parking lot but it seems to be doing OK.
There is a "hobby" shop within eyesight of my house. Well, it was until some new construction blocked our view. Anyhow, unfortunately it is more of a craft shop. If there is anything which stands out, it's R/C, then some plastic model kits and a few games. They do have paints and glues. There is a "model RR" section, but it's about 24 square feet of pegboard, with common as rain stuff, left over from the other shop in town that owner ruined about a year and a half back. They'll gladly order stuff in, but the time waiting and price at list or slightly above, no thanks. My next choice is a 260 mile round trip. That one is a real hobby shop with a lot of trains, but the gas and time to drive it, is not worth while. I only wish for having such short drives as the rest of you!
I feel very spoiled as I live in a town with a lot of good hobby shops including a fairly well-known one that is almost entirely model railroading and is only a few miles from where I work. There's another one that is basically all trains also that is a bit further east and it's also very good. There's a multi-hobby store in a western suburb that has a decent RR selection, and another all trains hobby store a little further west than that. There is another hobby shop that is mostly trains that I pretty much avoid for various reasons. Most of these are within a 30 minute drive of my house. The tendency to buy online is perhaps less pronounced here and I think that may be due in part to the fact that we don't need to buy online just to avoid paying sales tax.
my "LHS" is in a western suburb of Baltimore, and take just over an hour to get to. I rarely visit unless I'm already up there for something else. I order from them online a fair bit - even for fiddly stuff like styrene and glue. There's a Hobby Towne closer, but they have . . . customer service challenges which I just can't stomach. I tend to by as much stuff form other shops when I'm traveling as I di locally.
Haha I think you know which store I'm talking about It's a pity with this one since the owners are cool folks and in the past they've stocked some hot BLMA items I couldn't even find online, and even sold to me at a discount price (they have a web presence and sell online, and will sell you at their web prices if you mention it at the counter). There's even a large N scale club down the street and their members are frequent customers. There's another store in Burbank that's exclusively HO-N-O-S-G scale trains and they seem to be doing okay. But aside from one weekend in March where they celebrate their anniversary with a big sale, all their prices are MSRP.
YES!!! Support Your Local Hobby Shop NOW When They Are GONE........................ Of all of us, here on TRAINBOARD (there are other websites also), that live within driving distance of a Hobby Shop, especially a local family owned business should count ourselves very LUCKY! Your old-time LHS is going by the side of the road. Online Sales are eating away at the customer base that every LHS needs. People will "showroom" (go look at an item in a store and then buy online) in their LHS and this killing at lot of stores, not just our LHS. Example: BEST BUYS is fighting for it's life RIGHT NOW. This Christmas season could be the end of their business. I'm very lucky in the aspect that I live in an area that has 2 excellent LHS within 15 miles of my house. I try to buy just about everything I can from these these places. Both are locally owned, I know the owners on a first name basis. One of the LHS has an online presence and gives as good prices as I can get online, NO shipping cost, just SALES TAX added. Plus with me being an NMRA Member, I get 10% additional discount. Want something ordered? How fast do you need it? Can it be ordered in with the regular restock order? Or do you need it YESTERDAY? PRIORITY ORDERING is available, just add at little for shipping. Both LHS support our, NMRA, functions with door prizes at our Swap Meets and social functions (Christmas dinners) also. So it may cost me some gas money to drive to them, I might spend a couple of pennies more, but you won't run into any other local Model Railroaders ONLINE. Spend an hour talking to your friends, advising somebody new to the hobby (especially a youngster[with Mom, Dad or Grandpa in tow]) about how to get started and telling about them about local train clubs/layouts/swap meets to be seen. This won't happen ONLINE, it has to be face to face. Our hobby needs all the new people we can get if the hobby is going to survive. I'll admit I buy some real oddball items online, TRAINBOARD's Trainstore, YAHOO'S N Sale Yard Sale and there are a few USED N-Scale dealers out there also. I'm NOT much of a fan of FEEBAY anymore, too D*** many charges to sell items now (especially for the small seller). I will do research online about items and then purchase them at my LHS. 'Nuff Said
