Starting My Own Hobby Store!

[loaded]

He will do good prices, you need to buy thousands though. A thousand sounds like a lot, but it isn't really.

Paul.

[28yoKid]

Hi guys,

My store is nearly done. All the products/text/prices on there are just mock (don't get too excited) at the moment to give people the feel of the site.

would love to know your thoughts

www.rcmonster.co.uk

28yok

[Matt_N]

My store is nearly done. All the products/text/prices on there are just mock (don't get too excited) at the moment to give people the feel of the site.

So I can't get a Lunchbox for a penny? **** it

Matt

[HereBeMonsters]

Looks nice, though a little "thin" for my monitor - running what should be a fairly standard 19" TFT at 1280 by 1024 pixels. It's only in the middle third of the window.

[Singapore_959]

looks fine to me. XP, 15"laptop screen

looks fine but once you have more categories then the left column is going to be a long one and your new products won't be seen unless one scrolles done - propably not idea.

Link to Tamiyaclub and local race clubs around your area might help build business.

Good luck!

[blakeatron]

When I first saw this thread I thought it was another fade into the night idea...

But the website looks very promising, very similar to other websites in its layout. However I think this is a good idea as people are familiar with the workings.

I also like the 'live' product count - you must have a bundle of cash invested!

Good luck - and hopefully might be ordering off you when your up and running

[28yoKid]

When I first saw this thread I thought it was another fade into the night idea...

But the website looks very promising, very similar to other websites in its layout. However I think this is a good idea as people are familiar with the workings.

I also like the 'live' product count - you must have a bundle of cash invested!

Good luck - and hopefully might be ordering off you when your up and running

Thanks for the compliment

I am messing around with figures tonight...! I hope I can offer everyone something of value...time will tell...

Just got ok'd by Tamiya today so I am really chuffed.

I will try to offer some group buy deals via the RC Monster newsletter.

I aim to be up and running properly within 4 weeks.

28 Yok

ps thanks everyone for their feedback, I have requested a link to the Tamiya club to be added under useful links!

[28yoKid]

Looks nice, though a little "thin" for my monitor - running what should be a fairly standard 19" TFT at 1280 by 1024 pixels. It's only in the middle third of the window.

Thanks for the feedback HBM. I did flag this up with my dev, but apparently it is to do with optimising the site to work with the largest number of browser types....or maybe my budget!

[HereBeMonsters]

Having been a web developer for a while I know what he's on about. It's always a nightmare with different browsers. In the end I decided that anyone who didn't use FireFox was a troglodyte so I built everything with that in mind.

Although of course for "actual" work (as in, sites I built where I didn't get paid in beer, guitars or car parts) it all had to be xHTML Strict. Nightmare!

Looks very promising, I like sites where I can search parts/hop-ups etc. by chassis type and part number as well. I like your prices as well!

[mrfreezeuk]

The sites looking good, hopefully a good place to buy in the UK now its not so good buying from HK anymore.

[28yoKid]

The sites looking good, hopefully a good place to buy in the UK now its not so good buying from HK anymore.

Mrfreeze, what do you like to buy?

What would I need to do to get your custom?

28

[backtomyroots]

Congrats, site looking good. Just one thing, the Traxxas Stampede VXL RTR has a picture of the Traxxas E-Maxx .

Good Luck with the site & sales !

[mrfreezeuk]

Mrfreeze, what do you like to buy?

What would I need to do to get your custom?

28

To get my custom , Quick delivery times and a good choice of off road Tyres and Wheels, body shells and the latest Tamiya kits. also things like motors Batteries. Basically the sort of stuff stella sells

i dont mind the odd Traxxas or HPI model aswell.

im looking forward to the site being up and running and i've already set up an acount for the news letter.

good luck

Darren

[Gruntfuggly]

One comment on the site:

When I clicked on the 'larger picture' link, it changed the size of my browser (Firefox) to the size of the original picture, but with a larger picture inside it. Not very nice...

[matisse]

looks great, be nice to have somewhere new to shop, roll on xmas!!

nice work mate.

matisse

[28yoKid]

One comment on the site:

When I clicked on the 'larger picture' link, it changed the size of my browser (Firefox) to the size of the original picture, but with a larger picture inside it. Not very nice...

Thanks for the feedback, I have fwded to my dev.

28

[28yoKid]

Mr Freeze and Matisse! Thanks for your kind words.

I am aiming to stock as much as I can for sale. However, I will prob start out with cars 1st then motors/wheels...etc... Gotta learn to walk, then run! But I am aware of your needs so don't worry!

If you want anything -just ask.

What speed of delivery would you be happy with?

Thanks

28

[Chris Harte]

Right I decided to do a little test run of your site

This page has the prices in the wrong place. A savage 100 and a lunchbox with no esc 200!!

5. Our Contract

When you place an order to purchase a product from RC Monster, we will send you an email confirming receipt of your order and containing the details of your order. Your order represents an offer to us to purchase a product which is accepted by us when we send email confirmation to you that we've dispatched that product to you. Any products on the same order which we have not confirmed in a Dispatch Confirmation email to have been dispatched do not form [color=#2F4F4F]par of that contract.[/color] Should be part of that contract. Might be worth adding how you charge for goods. When order received or when order dispatched.

8. Overseas Orders

We accept orders from any country, via bank transfer. Paypal orders must be paid via a Verified account, and ALL orders will be followed up by a phone call to ensure the account is yours. Maybe add what currency all orders are to be made in.

Nit pick ones; Hornets title is not consistent with other products

Do you really have 56 ansmann smackers in? average stock seems to be about 8-11.

[Chris Harte]

Also if your wanting to stock bearings drop an email to this fellow

http://www.rcbearings.co.uk/

It is Laughing potato off RCkingdom

http://www.rckingdom.co.uk/smf/

[GGtrialer]

the site looks great. im running WinXP and firefox at 1400X1050 res. xHTML huh. humm. havent used that. whats the difference between that and HTML?

for me, delivery speed of the standard 7day (well that her in the USA) is fine.

[retroman]

Good luck with your project The website looks good.

My advice would be to keep a close eye on pricing for what you are selling. Here in Chesterfield, UK, I have seen several people try and start RC model shops in the last three years, and sadly they all went under

A friend of mine, who I buy the bulk of my RC stuff from, has his shop in the cellar of his house, so no overheads!! And he always beats any genuine internet price as well.

My suggestion would be to make yourself known to local RC racing clubs, as they can be the "lifes blood" of model shops, and see what they would use you for. If there is a hardcore of members that run say, a TT01, then it would be worth buying a few TT01 kits in, splitting them for spares, and selling the spares at retail.

Just a few thoughts from inside Retroman's head I do wish you the best of luck with this, and I may use you if you have any bargains!

[28yoKid]

Right I decided to do a little test run of your site

This page has the prices in the wrong place. A savage 100 and a lunchbox with no esc 200!!

5. Our Contract

When you place an order to purchase a product from RC Monster, we will send you an email confirming receipt of your order and containing the details of your order. Your order represents an offer to us to purchase a product which is accepted by us when we send email confirmation to you that we've dispatched that product to you. Any products on the same order which we have not confirmed in a Dispatch Confirmation email to have been dispatched do not form [color=#2F4F4F]par of that contract.[/color] Should be part of that contract. Might be worth adding how you charge for goods. When order received or when order dispatched.

8. Overseas Orders

We accept orders from any country, via bank transfer. Paypal orders must be paid via a Verified account, and ALL orders will be followed up by a phone call to ensure the account is yours. Maybe add what currency all orders are to be made in.

Nit pick ones; Hornets title is not consistent with other products

Do you really have 56 ansmann smackers in? average stock seems to be about 8-11.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for taking the time to test-run! It is always a bit of luck for me when someone does that. Up to today, all prods/prices were mock. I definitely don't have 65 smackers!! Thanks for pointing out about the errors with the contract. I have a new contract that I will upload before trading starts.

ps I will def drop an email re the bearings

Thank again,

28

[28yoKid]

Hi Guys, I am making a plea for help!

I am in the process of sourcing bearings for the kits. And I am struggling! So if anyone here has knowledge of which models use which bearings and doesnt mind helping me, please get in touch.

thanks

28

[Jonny Retro]

Grasshopper, Hornet, Pumpkin & Lunchbox all use 9x 1150 & 1x 850 bearings

Edit: Frog & Brat both use 12x 1150 bearings, 4 of which are supplied in the kit, so they only need 8.

Pajero MTW takes 3x 850, 2x 1510, 2x 1260 & 9x 1150.

Edit (again): TL01 + derivates & the Baja Champ take 24 1150 bearings.

Going back to some other questions earlier in the thread - I really expect goods to be dispatched the working day after I order them, and arrive the day after that for couriered parcels, 2 days for 1st class post, 3 days for 2nd class & Parcelforce, unless it's really cheap postage - it often isn't - I resent packing full whack for postage, top end retail prices for boxes & packing materials, time taken to pick, have a fag & then pack the goods, and a margin on top, only to have retailers sit on my order for a week before sending it.

If you ever decide to stock paints, please don't do what Hannants, Fusion Hobbies & (today) Time Tunnel Models have done to me - claim they have the paint in stock, then fail to deliver it & the only explanation given is a refund & an "out of stock" message. Badwords

[Chris Harte]

Right second test for you as it looks live, more realistic prices.

I have to note Ithere is no quantity button anywhere on the site on any model so I have to click add to cart more then once to get the right number of items I want. Long winded.

http://www.rcmonster.co.uk/index.php?main_...;products_id=20 items required seperately missing.

http://www.rcmonster.co.uk/index.php?main_...dex&cPath=7 No add to cart button for one item

http://www.rcmonster.co.uk/index.php?main_...pping_estimator no state or province list. Just says please select

Weight on shopping cart doesn't work. I added 9 rock crawlers in my basket and it kept saying weight 0KG. The out of stock works though

Condition of use clause 4 maybe add how written consent can be got.

No advance search button, only found on site map.

No specials button either only found on site map

Checkout proccess works A***. No problems. I ordered a lunchbox but didn't pay. I got straight through to paypal. It stayed in my shopping basket after aswell.

Do I believe that your paypal logo has to link to paypal in order to be able to use it. Not sure on that one.