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tupers

You're Perfect Lms?

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I read a lot on this forum and others about people being less that pleased with the Local model shops. So Im giving you all a chance to bare all and say what you're perfect shop would be.

For me it would be:

Lots of RC Helicopters and Cars/Trucks/Buggys. You get the idea.

Full spares that never run out for all models in stock.

At least 3 people behinde the counter. An expert for helis, an expert for cars and an expert tech guy (you know the kind that just knows every thing).

Everything at 10% off with more discount for regular customers.

In house or local ground for flying helis and running vehicles.

Open from 8:00AM to 6:00PM. Because you can you can't always get down during work hours.

All the latest products from all thier surpliers.

Lots of models built and ready to test.

I think thats just about it really. So come on guys and gals have you're say, what would you're perfect model shop be??

Tupers

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I read a lot on this forum and others about people being less that pleased with the Local model shops. So Im giving you all a chance to bare all and say what you're perfect shop would be.

For me it would be:

Lots of RC Helicopters and Cars/Trucks/Buggys. You get the idea.

Full spares that never run out for all models in stock.

At least 3 people behinde the counter. An expert for helis, an expert for cars and an expert tech guy (you know the kind that just knows every thing).

Everything at 10% off with more discount for regular customers.

In house or local ground for flying helis and running vehicles.

Open from 8:00AM to 6:00PM. Because you can you can't always get down during work hours.

All the latest products from all thier surpliers.

Lots of models built and ready to test.

I think thats just about it really. So come on guys and gals have you're say, what would you're perfect model shop be??

Tupers

I think everything you said is a great idea except for the store hours, 11:00 to 8:00 at night is better. I dont know about where you live but most of the morning tme is used for ordering parts and shop up keep and everything after 3:00 is for customer service. As people have a very bussy days these days, our web shop gets the most hits after 8:00 and our store customer usally dont show up untill after the mid day of on thier lunch break. Saturdays and Sundays you might want to open earlier but 8:00 seems really to early.

I also like display models,such as a TT-01 with all of the hop ups so customers can see what the parts look like and how they work.

Just a few ideas from our shop here,in Japan.

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I think everything you said is a great idea except for the store hours, 11:00 to 8:00 at night is better. I dont know about where you live but most of the morning tme is used for ordering parts and shop up keep and everything after 3:00 is for customer service. As people have a very bussy days these days, our web shop gets the most hits after 8:00 and our store customer usally dont show up untill after the mid day of on thier lunch break. Saturdays and Sundays you might want to open earlier but 8:00 seems really to early.

I also like display models,such as a TT-01 with all of the hop ups so customers can see what the parts look like and how they work.

Just a few ideas from our shop here,in Japan.

I would just like a shop that carried Tamiya parts. I usually end up ordering online since nowhere carries them around here. Maybe I got too spoiled when I was in Tokyo and I could basically pick up anything I needed without having to order it online. Has it changed much there, or are parts still readily available?

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Great Ideas from 'tupers' and 'bakaguyjean' above.. My Add ons:

Have Indoor Off-Road (all dirt) and On-Road (carpet) tracks. Also Outdoor for Off-Road (nitro) and On-Road Tarmac for EVERYTHING...

Also, Track/Practice time at a reasonable cost.

I live in a city that never sleeps (Las Vegas) so my shop would be like the Casinos open 24 hours a day..

I can dream..

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beer, topless ladies & big tv's - but i would probably never leave!

so would make do with one that actually stocks tamiya kits & tamiya paint - not scaletrix, hornby or cheap HK rc!

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my lhs(lms) is perfect. when i walk in the door the owner greats me by using my last name :P and then i preseed to one of the chaps who works there and crack up a conversation with him (about rc stuff of course). i can spend a good hour or 2 in there as they have time to spend with there customers not that they arnt busy( they are) any help of advice i need i can be sure of getting it from there. i have a few hobby shops with in 30 to 45 mins drive of my house and i always use that one simply for the service i get.

i would recomend them to anyone. :)

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my lhs(lms) is perfect. when i walk in the door the owner greats me by using my last name :P and then i preseed to one of the chaps who works there and crack up a conversation with him (about rc stuff of course). i can spend a good hour or 2 in there as they have time to spend with there customers not that they arnt busy( they are) any help of advice i need i can be sure of getting it from there. i have a few hobby shops with in 30 to 45 mins drive of my house and i always use that one simply for the service i get.

i would recomend them to anyone. :D

haha glad it`s not just me who is/was treated like that :P Wayne Davis used to do the same with me, when I walked into his Dad`s shop. And now when he walks into my workplace every now and again, he still does it :)

And where is this shop you speak so highly of?

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I'd Like one that doesn't quote me a price for something, order it in then charge "VAT" on top of it. Or: "I'm sure i said that was each not for a set"

Or will do me a favour For free (like change two battery packs into stick packs) seeing as i spend most of my disposable income in there, and not charge me 10. (I know it's only a tenner, and i know their time isnt free, but i recon i spend 200 a month in there, on average)

I'd like one that takes my enquirey seriously, and not just... "Oooh not seen one of those." Then gets upset when i order it from Japan- saying i should support my LHS...

Or taking the $"% with prices, charging one guy more for one kit, because he obviously had more money, then laughing about it infront of the regulars...

Obviously wont name names but it just gets on my nerves something rotten.

Ah i feel better now. Who needs a shrink when i have you lovely people to whinge to?!

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there are a few models shop in my general area however alot of them are expensive. which ok compared to the likes of ebay its expected but some are generally ok. but alot of the time some of the stores workforce look to push a sale rather then give the advice your looking for. service is generally good to a point but when they have talked themself out of a sale for 1 item they tend to become rash and try to sell you anything.

i think the workforce in most models shops are not RC model collectors but merely model collectors and maybe not even that in some cases. and i think that is the let down with stores. that dont specialize in a give area of modelling but look at a whole aspect. they have limited knowledge is certain areas of what there dealing and it clearly shows.

obviously this is just my opinion and i think the reason for this opinion is the fact i more the type of person that likes people to step up and say i dont know rather then people pretending they do. and pretending they do is the type of feeling i get when speaking to model shop workers

hey Topforcein if youre still reading this thread what model shop are you talking about Penn Models i'm guessing ?

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I would just like a shop that carried Tamiya parts. I usually end up ordering online since nowhere carries them around here. Maybe I got too spoiled when I was in Tokyo and I could basically pick up anything I needed without having to order it online. Has it changed much there, or are parts still readily available?

Parts are pretty much everywhere here for Japanese makers,but good luck with anything from America,or Europe. Most people drive Japanese but there are a few European and American fans out there.And getting parts for them can be hard.

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but alot of the time some of the stores workforce look to push a sale rather then give the advice your looking for. service is generally good to a point but when they have talked themself out of a sale for 1 item they tend to become rash and try to sell you anything.

I really hope you're not in the retail trade. You can hardly go into shop and expect them not to try and sell you somthing. I know they could do it a bit more subtly and it is anoying when they try and make out that they are experts in everything but come on its thier job.

Tupers

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I really hope you're not in the retail trade. You can hardly go into shop and expect them not to try and sell you somthing. I know they could do it a bit more subtly and it is anoying when they try and make out that they are experts in everything but come on its thier job.

Tupers

I totally understand- But sometimes it would be nice for them to recognise the difference between 'enthusiasts' and someone wanting a toy.

Also the "Oh that ones not very good/ popular [They don't have it in stock] But i can order it in for you if you'd rather have the unpopular one"

Just makes me giggle when i hear it

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I really hope you're not in the retail trade. You can hardly go into shop and expect them not to try and sell you somthing. I know they could do it a bit more subtly and it is anoying when they try and make out that they are experts in everything but come on its thier job.

Tupers

i understand they have to try and sell yet too me in certain stores in my area its not the fact they try to sell you something it the fact they try and force sell you something. and again they dont need to make out there experts in the model alot of them explain the model perfectly however they take it that step further and make out the model is something you know its not. in all fairness they over step the mark in the 2 areas i've highlighted. but this is only in the ones that dont specialize.

i used to go to 2 models stores when i was younger they have closed now. both was run by elderly gentleman but the one store specialized in plastic models (Airfix,Revell etc) the other store was RC only (Planes,Helis,Cars,Boats) these 2 stores was a wonder to go to because they both didn't fabricate information to sell you something they knew what they was selling and sold it they didnt need to twist the truth on the models. where as the stores today just dont seem to employ the people that take interest in what store is selling or are only interested in a specific thing the store is selling and it shows.

i think a perfect store will train its staff to a degree of understanding for what that store sells. and also train them not to go beyond the truth when it comes to selling something. i'm happy with the LMS in my area thou i would be happier if they would stick to the truth more often about the things they sell. i'm not thinknig of my self here i'm thinking of beginners who could be stung by poor information or over fabricated information

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The bottom line is....

1) selection and parts that will meet your requirements

2) can answer to questions or problems concerning RC

3) lowest price

4) located a short distance to where you live or work

5) operating hours that suit your schedule

6) lets you try out the model before you buy

7) free snacks and drinks while visiting the shop

8) if you are a female customer: serve by some hunk and if you a guy: well some beautiful gal whose

purpose is to serve you (don't get any wrong ideas here)

9) offer a good exchange program or sells your old RC in the shop

10) never have to line up to get in or pay for your purchase

Done dreaming? :huh: Wake up :) because it ain't going to happen :(

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there are a few models shop in my general area however alot of them are expensive. which ok compared to the likes of ebay its expected but some are generally ok. but alot of the time some of the stores workforce look to push a sale rather then give the advice your looking for. service is generally good to a point but when they have talked themself out of a sale for 1 item they tend to become rash and try to sell you anything.

i think the workforce in most models shops are not RC model collectors but merely model collectors and maybe not even that in some cases. and i think that is the let down with stores. that dont specialize in a give area of modelling but look at a whole aspect. they have limited knowledge is certain areas of what there dealing and it clearly shows.

obviously this is just my opinion and i think the reason for this opinion is the fact i more the type of person that likes people to step up and say i dont know rather then people pretending they do. and pretending they do is the type of feeling i get when speaking to model shop workers

hey Topforcein if youre still reading this thread what model shop are you talking about Penn Models i'm guessing ?

yes you would be correct in guessing it is PENN MODELS in kingswinford. i would'nt use anyone else. i find alex is one of the best to see in there.

i did used to use ace models in the arcade in dudley it self back in the early 90's untill they stoped selling tamiya for some reason?????.

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The other Saturday I wanted some polycarbonate paint, nothing fancy, just a PS-1 and a PS-4, I drove 27 miles to a place 5 miles north of Southampton, nothing there, detoured south into Portsmouth on my journey back, nothing there, so I drove 43 miles to one in Worthing, no PS-1 or PS-4, and with a price tag of 5.99 on a tin of their Custom Colour paint, I won't be giving them any of my business. So all-in-all, 150 and miles and half a tank of petrol to get no paint!

I'm afraid it's the internet for me.

Mud.

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Parts are pretty much everywhere here for Japanese makers,but good luck with anything from America,or Europe. Most people drive Japanese but there are a few European and American fans out there.And getting parts for them can be hard.

The exact opposite in the Vegas area.. NO shop in my Valley supplies Tamiya parts, but they sell the kits and paints :) ...

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Well, my old haunt (Hub Hobby Center in St. Paul, Minnesota) came very close on a lot of points:

1) selection and parts that will meet your requirements

They have been in business since roughly the Middle Ages, and still keep coming up with boxes of new-old-stock parts, and about twice a year have a clearance sale on kits to make room on the shelves. This meant there were very few older kits left hanging around, but you could score some amazing deals if you went in at the right time.

2) can answer to questions or problems concerning RC

It's always nice going in and having the guy behind the counter know more than you, and these guys do.

3) lowest price

Not the absolute lowest, but a lot of times if I figured in shipping costs they were about on a par with mail-order.

4) located a short distance to where you live or work

Less than a mile away from my old apartment.

5) operating hours that suit your schedule

I think they're open till 8 or 9 most evenings.

6) lets you try out the model before you buy

They have a couple "demo" cars for rank beginners, and they will gladly open a box to let you check out a kit before you bought it.

7) free snacks and drinks while visiting the shop

No, but once I was in there when the guys at the parts counter went to get lunch from the fast-food place next door, and they asked me if I wanted anything.

8) if you are a female customer: serve by some hunk and if you a guy: well some beautiful gal whose purpose is to serve you (don't get any wrong ideas here)

Nope. That one girl who worked the cash register during the Xmas season was kinda cute, but that's it.

9) offer a good exchange program or sells your old RC in the shop

They have a consignment-sale case for used vehicles. I sold, and bought, many cars via that case over the years.

10) never have to line up to get in or pay for your purchase

Being the best means you're busy. But it's a big store, and they 're well enough staffed that the lines are never too bad.

So it is possible to run a good hobby shop. It's just too bad that more places don't follow their example. I really miss shopping there.

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Well markbt73, I guess 9 out of 10 is close enough...much better than 1 out of 10.

Sure like to hear LMS/LHS complain about their customers. I guess there is alway 2 sides to every story. :unsure:

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wow! You are a dedicated modeler. Gas(Im from the states) isn't cheap these days.

150 and miles and half a tank of petrol to get no paint!

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My perfect LMS is the one I walk into that has 5 or 6 vintage NIB's on the shelf at stupid low prices on the day I walk in.

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come on...many of the things i've read are just ridicolous.

a Shop is a business, and is made to make a profit, like everything.

it has many taxes and costs... free snacks? cheap prices? not even in a Porsche dealer you get these...coffee excepted.

a shop in a centre of a good city does not have the same cost of some hong kong shed, and the same KIT is ombvious it costs a lot more.

my local hobby shop is still alive and profitable by train and static car collectors, because if it was for rccars was already bankrupted.

and yamita.

how can you say that gasoline in not cheap in usa?

here we pay more than 2 dollars one litre, we have little diesel cars and not big v8 vans for a motivation, or you think we all love to death our fiat 500s and piaggio vespas?

:blink:

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oh no. You misunderstood me. I wasn't implying that by any means. It would be weird for me to say 'petrol'. I drive a pesky little 4 banger.

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this morning i'm quite acid. :blink:

and i need new gears for my 103GT but can't find to my profitable but SLOWWWWWW local hobby shop :P

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