Hobby Shop owner rub you the wrong way

[f1_indy2000]

I know we all have a sense of humor that's interesting in our own ways, but the other day I went on a quest to find some things for a new project I'm wanting to work on. I went to my local hobby shop and they didn't have what I wanted. I came home and called the other shop on the east side of Indy and they didn't have what I wanted but suggested I might call the guy up in Lafayette. He'll probably have it. I have dealt with that guy from over the years and I'm sure if any of you here are from Indiana have dealt with him too, so I will not mention his name. Anyway, I called and was a little hesitant but thought why not. I called up there and he answered the phone with a disinterested Hello. I went on to explain what I was looking for and he was like yah we have them, hundreds of them and I don't have time to look. Why don't you make a road trip up here. Is that all good bye. I hung up thinking what a jerk. However, I do know that the guy is straight up weird. Its like the guy has the trump card of knowing he has it all and tough for you if you don't do business with him. So thats my story and was curious if any of you have had bad dealing with hobbyshops in your neck of the woods?

 

[bigB]

I know we all have a sense of humor that's interesting in our own ways, but the other day I went on a quest to find some things for a new project I'm wanting to work on. I went to my local hobby shop and they didn't have what I wanted. I came home and called the other shop on the east side of Indy and they didn't have what I wanted but suggested I might call the guy up in Lafayette. He'll probably have it. I have dealt with that guy from over the years and I'm sure if any of you here are from Indiana have dealt with him too, so I will not mention his name. Anyway, I called and was a little hesitant but thought why not. I called up there and he answered the phone with a disinterested Hello. I went on to explain what I was looking for and he was like yah we have them, hundreds of them and I don't have time to look. Why don't you make a road trip up here. Is that all good bye. I hung up thinking what a jerk. However, I do know that the guy is straight up weird. Its like the guy has the trump card of knowing he has it all and tough for you if you don't do business with him. So thats my story and was curious if any of you have had bad dealing with hobbyshops in your neck of the woods?

Oh definitely. When I first started frequenting one of my LHS, the guy behind the counter looked at me with my two young boys in tow, and said 'Yeah, Thomas & Friends is in the back...' to which I replied "We're not here for that and my boys are very well behaved." I found it presumptious especially after Ive had at that time been in there often and purchased numerous HO items. At the same time, I dont expect every counterperson to remember me and my buying habits. But Im thick-skinned so its all good.

 

[nwdrummer379]

I called a hobby shop across the county to ask if the decals I ordered were ready. Before I could get halfway through my question I was interrupted with an irritated "YEAH, THEY'RE READY SO COME GET EM." He acted like I called every hour or something People..

 

[jackn2mpu]

There's one local to me that has the same attitude to people, especially if you're new to the shop. And this guy thinks he knows everything about whatever railroad you're trying to model. Sad part is he's the only local shop in the Trenton, NJ area. I do know the shop was up for sale earlier this year - don't know what happened.

Or you get the shops where almost everything is behind the counter and asking to see something is like asking for the counter person to move a mountain. Sometimes you want to look at a model (engine, car, whatever) to see what it's like. If you don't like it the counter person gives you a dirty look and goes back to talking to his cronies.

People bemoan the non-support of the local train shop or hobby store. I submit it's partially due to people like this, especially if you're a newbie to the hobby which is when you need all the support you can get. Can't blame it all on internet sales; even some of those stores act like they're doing you a big favor. Won't name names but one is a big store out in Colorado.

 

[BSVRR]

Worst experience I had was at a store in Des Moines, I had selected a couople of Atheran A/B F7 combos and odds and ends, had about $180 worth of stuff on the counter, I asked him to price match a retail store on a single cheapo bachman car i needed to complete a set, we're talking the ones most stores buy by the case and sell for $6 bucks or so, I call them grandkid cars, drop em, break, oh well 6 bucks and we had fun.

Got a lecture about how he can't even buy them that cheap yada yada yada. So i walked out the door with a clerk apologizing for her bosses behavior and voiding the sale.

 

[galaxy]

Playing a little devil's advocate here:
1}Many shops cannot cary EVERY THING we want, WHEN we want it.
2}Some requests WE may not consider "wierd" but a shop owner canespecially if hard to get items.
3} sometimes even the shop can't get it in.
4}If they have to order from a suppier, they may have minimum ordering requirements to meet first.
5} they may tell you "we have it come and get it" in an effort to get traffic through the store...they can always tell you they sold out if you show up asking for it.
6} many hobby shops are hurting in this economy and so some get "testy".
7} If you want it bad enough you will buy and pay for it.
8} Like My Other HAlf's boss: he knows they are greatful to even have ajob in tis economy and he can always fire them. SO shut up and put up and do as told. SO may be the hobby shops. They KNOW if you want it bad enough you will buy!{see #7 above}

Some are also "overworked and underpaid"....especially if sole proprietors...the bookkeeping has to take place after shop hours.

 

[BSVRR]

Time's are tough for everyone from what I can see.

You're right though, we'll all bite the bullet ultimately if we want it.

And people have always complained about prices.

I'm just glad there are still options that I don't have to give my money to jackwagons. And shoppin online just isn't as fun as digging through shelves and re-arranging inventory...

 

[NH Mike]

Time's are tough for everyone from what I can see.

You're right though, we'll all bite the bullet ultimately if we want it.

And people have always complained about prices.

I'm just glad there are still options that I don't have to give my money to jackwagons. And shoppin online just isn't as fun as digging through shelves and re-arranging inventory...

Yes times are tough. Tough for consumers and tough for businesses. It doesn't cost a cent to at least be courteous and truthful to a customer whether new or a long time one. I'd rather be told over the phone in a polite manner that the shop doesn't deal with a certain distributer or company than be told to come on down and then find out "oh, is that what you meant?, we don't carry those".

Once a customer is lost they almost never come back and almost never recommend that shop to others. Owners and their sales people who treat customers badly are only hurting themselves.

 

[TrainboyH16-44]

In times of trouble, courteousness can help, not hinder. Unless you're tremendously ill-suited to retail, you should be able to at least pretend that your business isn't sinking.
My local shop isn't thriving, as to be expected, but they moved to a new bigger location this summer. The owner and his staff are courteous, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable - exactly as they should be. It's a damn good shop, and I hope that's why they're still afloat.

 

[jackn2mpu]

In times of trouble, courteousness can help, not hinder. Unless you're tremendously ill-suited to retail, you should be able to at least pretend that your business isn't sinking.
My local shop isn't thriving, as to be expected, but they moved to a new bigger location this summer. The owner and his staff are courteous, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable - exactly as they should be. It's a damn good shop, and I hope that's why they're still afloat.

That's the kind of shop that's all to rare nowadays. The last real train shop in the area was like that right up until the guy retired. If he didn't have it in stock (wasn't the world's biggest shop) he'd order it for you and if the order was late for some reason he'd get with his supplier and be square with the customer waiting for his stuff.

 

[aviserated]

Hobby Town USA, Duluth, GA. is the closest to me (40 miles away). He is open 7 days a week (talk about no life), but he is friendly.

 

[Trussrod]

Hello to all above and those that may follow. As some of you may know I'm trying to get my model RR supply business, 'Foothill Station Model Railroad Supply', going and it's meant to help offer you forum members some reasonable pricing and courteous service along with my knowledge of various things when I can?

I will be up front with you about item/s you may want as to weather my supplier has them available or if I need to check with my supplier if they can get it? I'll also let you know by email just what the story is as far as obtaining the item/s along with an expected delivery date if available? You should be given the courtesy of at least an email contact about your inquiry.


I need to get busy and start adding items to my existing web site but which items will be of the most interest to the forum members? The site has taken a back seat to my Mothers care but since she passed in Aug. my time isn't as consumed as it was.

Your input via a message or email is appreciated and this is meant to be a mail order type of arrangement.

I too could could relate a couple of instances about a shop owner who was less than courteous many years back and I dropped at least $100.00 each time I went there and that was often twice a week. I was only in the shop one last time to buy a Magazine only he had and then I subscribed to it and never went back again! That was at least 25 years ago too!

 

[TRAINFAN9510]

I went into my lhs after work one day (i work on a road crew for now so i looked pretty dirty and ragged). I was the only one in the store and i overheard a few isles away the owner telling one of his employees he was leaving and to watch over the store. The employee said there was just one guy looking at the train stuff. The owner said yeah he looks really trustworthy and they both laughed. At this point i had rounded the corner and said, u can trust me, im an ohio state graduate and in the process of becoming a police officer. The look on his face was priceless lol

 

[CBCNSfan]

I don't seem to have that problem at all. Here in the Maritimes a hobby shop owner has to work at it. Customers just arn't that plentyful and the competion with the online mail order business keeps them hard at it. If they don' have it they will try their best to get it for yousoon as posible. I believe they have an exchange system of stock between shops. Can't say I've met with any negative feelings in the area. Except for the cities I doubt there are any local hobby shops in the towns around here.

 

[diburning]

My LHS (the one closest to me) had this one woman who was rude to everyone. She even yelled at me once. They had the best prices around short of eBay, and the majority of their customers are Lionel O gauge fans, so their HO section, although large, can sometimes have stuff that is sold out elsewhere at a very good discount price.

After she yelled at me, I stopped going there, but I was desperately looking for something that had been sold out for a while, but thought that they might have it in stock (they did!) so I stopped by. Turns out that the woman was fired (good riddance) and about half the staff were new people. So, I started shopping there again (honestly, it's not the owner's fault).

The shop is actually a Lionel repair center (which takes up about half the building), and the retail arm of a G-scale manufacturer. They carry a large inventory of HO and G scale stuff, a decent inventory of N scale, and they carry everything on the Lionel catalog that is in stock. (Literally everything! They brag about it too!)

 

[ChevelleSSguy]

These owners have to start realizing that any customer now days will just go to the internet and order anything they want at often times a far cheaper price. Unless that store makes good money selling online and ebay. You have to be a lot more then just nice now if you want customers to keep coming back.

 

[Y3a]

A couple of things........
first, I'd rather go to a hobbyshop run by a jerk that had everything I needed vs a friendly guy who has nothing I can use. I can grit my teeth for a little bit.

Having worked at a hobby shop, and having a personality that helped sell stuff to people, I got customers to by lots more stuff on a whim, and I always treated the customers as if they were intermediate or better hobbyists in whatever field they worked in. I did everything but RC cars. they had 4-5 high school kids who worked, had fun and could close the deals. I did RC boats, airplanes, and model RR and plastics.
We did have a guy who was friends with the owners and he started working there during the day after being layed off from his gov't job. HE was a jerk to the RC car customers, most who were 7-18 years old. He chased away 80% of the RC Car customers in about 5 months. He killed the hobby shop. As profit fell, employees were cut, and all our hours were reduced. Unfortunately, they didn't get rid of the jerk, and 7 months after having to relocate to a much smaller place, they closed. Another guy had just started a similar shop, and his place got all our old customers. They too hired several old shop members including the jerk. They were smart however.... after he was observed arguing with a customer he became the permanent Stock Boy. His job was to check in all merchandise, put price tags on it and put it on the shelves. He was specifically told to NOT TALK TO THE CUSTOMERS unless you have to, like answering specific questions. After about 10 years, they closed too, but just because the owner got tired of the commute.

 

[vato loco]

Honestly, I don't care much for any of my LHS in the Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellis county areas here in Florida! All of them have a higher than God Attude and are condescending when they talk to you UNLESS you are spending 300% higher on that new Kato/Atlas Unit they just got in. I was never made to feel welcome or comfortable in any of them! I online shop as much as possible now! I miss the old days...."Chester Hollies Hobbies!" That was a fun place to shop in it's day just bring a duster and and a gas mask!LOL's

 

[bn-1000]

Sorry, I don't have any real 'horror' stories for you from 'Down Under'. I do have two LHS here in Melbourne (that's Australia, not FL ) which carry a decent amount of US stock but the turnover is very, very slow. When I go into the stores only once every 6 months I struggle to see any change in the stock on the shelf. Also if I want to order a specific production release (say, Atlas), forget it! We seem to get the leftovers from the US, if they are available at all, so I only order direct from the US now. None of that is necessarily the fault of the staff or owners however. I can't really complain about the staff and their attitude. Most of the time they are helpful.

All of my purchases now are from US internet-only stores and LHS who have online shopping carts and I have discovered when ordering from them, unless the item is a current, up-to-the-minute release, chances are the item is not in stock despite what the "Quantity in Stock" says on their website. Too many times, I've place an order, continued through the checkout process and paid only to receive an email apologising that the online store hasn't been updated and "we don't have the item - sorry!" I always contact the business first to confirm.

Having said that I must say 90% of them have been absolutely exemplary in helping me source some old, out-of-production Atlas items. They have bent over backwards in allowing me to buy from OZ, even though their online shopping carts will not allow international orders. As a result I will continue to return to the same businesses in the future.

Also I buy from a select few eBay sellers in the US and I cannot speak more highly of them.

Regards,

 

[bnsf971]

Ihave two horror stories, one from my LHS here, and one from a manufacturer.
First, I went to my LHS to get a decoder for a locomotive I was planning to run at our club's open house. I bpought the decoder, took it home (100 mile round trip), installed it, put it on the programming track, and it promptly went up in smoke. I put it back in the pakage, and drove back to the LHS, along with the locomotive. The owner recognized me, and asked why I was back so soon. He told me to go to the repair guy in the back to be taken care of. The repair guy took care of me, all right. He told me to send the decoder back to the manufacturer, it wasn't up to them to stand behind their stuff. I got another. Decoder, since I had to have one, paid for it, and left. I paid more for the gas to go get the replacement than the decoder cost. A month later, I HAD to get something for our club at that shop, and the owner asked how everything was. I told him, politely and firmly, why I wouldn't be making any more personalk purchases from his shop. He got a horrified look on his face, went back to the decoder section, pulled another decoder off the shelf, and handed it to me. He said that's what he meant about being taken care of. I haven't been back, but only because I've been involved in other things lately.

Next, I bought a steaam locomotive from another hobby shop at least a decade ago. It was from the then-current release, though it was about 2 years old. I took it home, put it on the track, and the motor promptly went up in smoke. I had just paid $300 for it, and it was the only one the LHS had, so they suggested I call the manufacturer. I did so, and the guy that answered the phone was not helpful at all. I told him what I needed, that I had just bought the engine, and would they prefer to send me a replacement motor, or for me to send in the engine for repair. He smarled, "this isn't a G**-D***ed museum! We don't carry parts for that s**t!", and hung up on me. I have never purchaded another one of that company's products, and you will not find one of their products in my train room. I hve since found out the Rude Guy was the owner of the company. I won't say who he wasa, but his first name is James, and his last name is the same as that of a national trucking company.