What I learned today at the LHS

[Harry62]

Went to Hobbytown in Johnson City Tennessee today for the first time (it’s an hour to go to Asheville where we used to live for about 20 years…..have went to Asheville Hobbytown several times…..good group of folks there, btw) and , it is now an hour to Johnson City location of Hobbytown from where we live now……

What did I learn?

They are super nice folks there as well…..not pushy….one fellow really knew his stuff about RC’s, but wasn’t arrogant about it

They have a great selection of stuff

I learned for the first time how heavy an Outcast 8S BLX weighs when you try to pick it up when you have only messed with 6S before

MIP drivers may cost some money BUT they are WORTH IT (brought some home with me)

You do feel a sense of accomplishment by leaving without spending $5,000

IF YOU LIVE NEAR JOHNSON CITY…… Hobbytown has a MANICURED TRACK next door to it… less than a minute walk from the front door, and…..
if there aren’t any races scheduled (usually not a problem)….AND
its not raining……..
For $5 you can have the use of the track for as much of that day as you want (comply with business hours, that is…..)

now what kind of deal is that, folks!!!??

but please, CHECK WITH THEM for availability…..and….
its not a huge track, GREAT for 2,3, and 4s…..6S is definitely maxed for the course….

So…….all in all, the LHS has put out a LOT for us Hobby people. So, even though I have relied on the Internet for much of my business, especially because I live out in the middle of nowhere…… I learned today that I would like to support my Local Hobby Shop by giving them some business from time to time….if you can do the same, please do……

THANX

I'm the exact same way my store is hour 20 or so well worth it they know they're stuff. It's always go for one thing and get more. We do have a Hobbytown about 100 miles away but I prefer my independent store, I'd much rather support the little guy trying to survive. No offense meant.

 

[Jon NC RC]

I'm the exact same way my store is hour 20 or so well worth it they know they're stuff. It's always go for one thing and get more. We do have a Hobbytown about 100 miles away but I prefer my independent store, I'd much rather support the little guy trying to survive. No offense meant.

None taken whatsoever.....mom and pop shops are great....I am not a fanboy of a certain store......it just so happens the ones that treat me well are both Hobbytowns.....simply coincidence.....

 

[ncnative]

It is amazing.to see how different these places.can be.....even if they are the same brand franchise......

I started this thread because I really wanted to shout out a good report on Johnson City TN location....and no I'll will towards the Asheville Hobbytown.....the RC guys there were cool to me....I just wish they had more SQ foot for a store......and the JC TN store has a track next door. BONUS!

As a person who lives literally out in the middle of nowhere....most times I do my purchases online. But my suggestion to you guys is, if you have a hobby store that treats you good, give them a little bit of your business because they rely on it. It made me want to change how I do business and give them some of my money which is another way of giving them my support.

As far as those who have been adequately described as lacking...... Well......you be the judge of what you chose to do.....I know what I WON'T do.....

I'm just glad I have 2 good ones to chose from!!!!

Thanks

That was my original intent with my effort to make my purchase and support a local small business. I was just entering the hobby after being out of it for 20+ years and I wanted to get advice and do future business with the Hickory Hobbytown store. They quickly turned me into a "former" customer after their lies and shady dealings and taking my money. It's bad business to inform customers of "special rules" and "fine print statements" after the transaction has been made. Yes, we exchanged some harsh language but I don't like being lied to. His loss.....he got my bad review. I too find it easier and safer to get my stuff online but someday when things are back to normal (we hope), I can visit stores and see things in person. I'm an old guy and I like to see and touch what I spend my money on.

 

[SrC]

Seeing something tangibley in person adds some value to the purchase. I agree. I seen many bad and good ones. Takes me all of 30 minutes to figure out if I want to use a certain LHS. Now there are so few. I find that the LHS that are more the pompus ones suck. Seems like they have something to prove.
I know what I want, if they don't sell it. All I need to know.
I don't need a lecture why I should buy another brand or part that they do have and why. That I am making the wrong choice. Or forcing a differnt brand. Like an old LHS shop I used to race at. Had all the kits everything years past , most brands. Now they are a Traxxass only shop. Track is long gone. Makes me want to puke when the owner is trying to sell me Tarxxass lipos and chargers. When I needed and asked for regular 4s lipo. I don't need that whole Traxxass eco crap and all the reasons why. Waste of an hour drive in traffic.. I order online.

 

[Jon NC RC]

That was my original intent with my effort to make my purchase and support a local small business. I was just entering the hobby after being out of it for 20+ years and I wanted to get advice and do future business with the Hickory Hobbytown store. They quickly turned me into a "former" customer after their lies and shady dealings and taking my money. It's bad business to inform customers of "special rules" and "fine print statements" after the transaction has been made. Yes, we exchanged some harsh language but I don't like being lied to. His loss.....he got my bad review. I too find it easier and safer to get my stuff online but someday when things are back to normal (we hope), I can visit stores and see things in person. I'm an old guy and I like to see and touch what I spend my money on.

Any business that treats a customer like what you just described will not get any repeat business from me..... I reserve that right as a customer when given a choice.....

Seeing something tangibley in person adds some value to the purchase. I agree. I seen many bad and good ones. Takes me all of 30 minutes to figure out if I want to use a certain LHS. Now there are so few. I find that the LHS that are more the pompus ones suck. Seems like they have something to prove.
I know what I want, if they don't sell it. All I need to know.
I don't need a lecture why I should buy another brand or part that they do have and why. That I am making the wrong choice. Or forcing a differnt brand. Like an old LHS shop I used to race at. Had all the kits everything years past , most brands. Now they are a Traxxass only shop. Track is long gone. Makes me want to puke when the owner is trying to sell me Tarxxass lipos and chargers. When I needed and asked for regular 4s lipo. I don't need that whole Traxxass eco crap and all the reasons why. Waste of an hour drive in traffic.. I order online.

I would too, under those conditions, definitely!!!

 

[Jimbobjr]

Philadelphia doesn’t have an honest to goodness hobby store? Wow…too bad , it’s nice for kids of all ages to go in to an actual store and look….compare, find stuff they never knew existed…..find something they think is super cool…….

It’s hard to believe, but there are no decent ones where you can go look around. There’s a small one that’s more like a guys living room, he does a lot of online stuff.
People have money around philly too.

Hickory store is full of arrogant unbathed jerks.

Kind of like this guy...

 

[ncnative]

It’s hard to believe, but there are no decent ones where you can go look around. There’s a small one that’s more like a guys living room, he does a lot of online stuff.
People have money around philly too.

Kind of like this guy...

View attachment 169904

Well, I'm not sure if those Hickory guys were reading comics or viewing child porn on their computers but I had to almost beg them for their attention just to place a 700 dollar order for my buggy and accessories. I'm not making this up.....my wife was with me. When I finally got to pick it up 10 weeks later (after being first told two weeks), the owner's chief "assistant" threatened to throw me out of the store after I informed him that I would seek legal action if I found they had tampered with my order. The box had the factory seals broken which I didn't like. This "assistant" reeked of cigarette smoke and body odor so bad and was unmasked also so he was somewhat dangerous considering the lack of Covid prevention in the store. It was the end of 2020 so indoor masking was still the norm here in NC. That store owner should have sent him home to take a shower and put on some clothes that he hadn't slept in. No concern for a public image in my opinion. The store is a joke.

 

[Jon NC RC]

Well, I'm not sure if those Hickory guys were reading comics or viewing child porn on their computers but I had to almost beg them for their attention just to place a 700 dollar order for my buggy and accessories. I'm not making this up.....my wife was with me. When I finally got to pick it up 10 weeks later (after being first told two weeks), the owner's chief "assistant" threatened to throw me out of the store after I informed him that I would seek legal action if I found they had tampered with my order. The box had the factory seals broken which I didn't like. This "assistant" reeked of cigarette smoke and body odor so bad and was unmasked also so he was somewhat dangerous considering the lack of Covid prevention in the store. It was the end of 2020 so indoor masking was still the norm here in NC. That store owner should have sent him home to take a shower and put on some clothes that he hadn't slept in. No concern for a public image in my opinion. The store is a joke.

no way man.....while there aren't a whole lot of hobby stores out there, THAT type can close down, IMO

TERRIBLE 'business' practice.....

 

[ncnative]

no way man.....while there aren't a whole lot of hobby stores out there, THAT type can close down, IMO

TERRIBLE 'business' practice.....

Maybe I shouldn't single out one particular Hobbytown store on this forum but I'm just trying to alert fellow enthusiasts about this craphole "toy store" as in don't waste your time or money there. To top things off, I noticed last night that all three reviews I had made on a variety of social and business type media had been "scrubbed/eliminated". I guess the owner had seen too many like mine since I noticed them also.

 

[Jon NC RC]

Maybe I shouldn't single out one particular Hobbytown store on this forum but I'm just trying to alert fellow enthusiasts about this craphole "toy store" as in don't waste your time or money there. To top things off, I noticed last night that all three reviews I had made on a variety of social and business type media had been "scrubbed/eliminated". I guess the owner had seen too many like mine since I noticed them also.

I’m with you @ncnative ……I am more than happy to give a good business my business……and avoid stores that don’t measure up…….

 

[ncnative]

I’m with you @ncnative ……I am more than happy to give a good business my business……and avoid stores that don’t measure up…….

My thoughts exactly......and that goes for all types of stores that sell "life's necessities" that we must purchase on a routine basis. I hate to keep harping on Covid but with my wife and myself both being retired and older folks, we are still very cautious about where we go inside at. If it looks dangerous, we shop elsewhere or another time. I know there's all kinds of crazy info floating around about the pros and cons of masks and vaccines but we have been fortunate so far with social distancing and hand cleaning and we don't mind wearing the masks and have recently started the vaccine process. I still don't feel safe though. I'm not paranoid though.......just cautious. Our government and the rest of the world have shown their moronic talents here and I have trouble believing that they have any idea about how to get a handle on this.

 

[arrmadillo]

No hobby shop still around here unfortunately, but remember the days their were. Every Saturday meeting the usual suspects and hobby shop hopping, then hitting the clubs at night and bar hopping.

 

[Jon NC RC]

My thoughts exactly......and that goes for all types of stores that sell "life's necessities" that we must purchase on a routine basis. I hate to keep harping on Covid but with my wife and myself both being retired and older folks, we are still very cautious about where we go inside at. If it looks dangerous, we shop elsewhere or another time. I know there's all kinds of crazy info floating around about the pros and cons of masks and vaccines but we have been fortunate so far with social distancing and hand cleaning and we don't mind wearing the masks and have recently started the vaccine process. I still don't feel safe though. I'm not paranoid though.......just cautious. Our government and the rest of the world have shown their moronic talents here and I have trouble believing that they have any idea about how to get a handle on this.

There were two things I said at the beginning of all of this. Speaking as a nurse ....

number one, you're trying to control a virus? Have fun with that.....

Number two, we will know a lot more about this whole thing when it's all done.....

 

[Velodromed]

There were two things I said at the beginning of all of this. Speaking as a nurse ....

number one, you're trying to control a virus? Have fun with that.....

Number two, we will know a lot more about this whole thing when it's all done.....

You got that right! All we can truly do is ‘try’ to control our own actions. With my physical damage, compromised immune system and now my wife’s cancer… we have been extremely careful during this time. She is a loaner, uncomfortable around people. And I’ve become one over the years so it’s easy for us. Fortunately we can both can work from home as well. At the very beginning, in February of last year, we combined households with my aging parents and have all done our best to take care of each other.

I love history. Not the studying of it really, I just love classic literature and have read many thousands of old and ancient books over the course of my 51 years. I’m sure this is why I’m so damn wordy and wright too much. So I agree with you there. We will know far more about Covid as the decades pass by. I don’t think it’ll ever be ‘done’ though. Once a virus morphs to affect humans it’s here for ever it seems. All we can really do is mitigate the damage and learn to live with it.

 

[ncnative]

There were two things I said at the beginning of all of this. Speaking as a nurse ....

number one, you're trying to control a virus? Have fun with that.....

Number two, we will know a lot more about this whole thing when it's all done.....

So you are a nurse? If so, I'd like to personally thank you for your front line service during these difficult times. The medical profession has certainly proven it's HERO status now. Just please stay safe. Let me ask you this.......medically speaking....do you think it will ever be "all done" as you say? That's a huge fear of mine that it will be with us forever. My doctor thinks so and that we as a human race will eventually deal with it through better vaccines and hopefully the virus eventually mutating itself to a very mild state. Who knows?

 

[Jon NC RC]

So you are a nurse? If so, I'd like to personally thank you for your front line service during these difficult times. The medical profession has certainly proven it's HERO status now. Just please stay safe. Let me ask you this.......medically speaking....do you think it will ever be "all done" as you say? That's a huge fear of mine that it will be with us forever. My doctor thinks so and that we as a human race will eventually deal with it through better vaccines and hopefully the virus eventually mutating itself to a very mild state. Who knows?

Well, thanx..,.hard to tell myself I'm a hero when patients or their families chew us out....glad it's not very often....

But thank YOU

My thoughts are much like your Doctor's......

COVID is a virus, like influenza. ( flu).....so , it may be around for a good while

They pushed out vaccines on the quick, as more studies are done, more.effective treatments may very well become available.....

People may very well build up their own immunity after exposure as well....

That's my hope and my 2 pennies

Time will tell

No hobby shop still around here unfortunately, but remember the days their were. Every Saturday meeting the usual suspects and hobby shop hopping, then hitting the clubs at night and bar hopping.

No hobby shops.in New Orleans?!?!??!!!

You'd think major.cities would have at least one.....

Here's your chance to open your own business, @arrmadillo


My wife and I are going to go to South Padre Island for a month this winter in January. My brother lives in Houston. We were going to spend a few days in New Orleans to do some sightseeing, but I think we have scrapped those plans because of all the rain you guys have been getting. I know it's a few months away....are we jumping to conclusions or is it a mess there?

 

[ncnative]

You got that right! All we can truly do is ‘try’ to control our own actions. With my physical damage, compromised immune system and now my wife’s cancer… we have been extremely careful during this time. She is a loaner, uncomfortable around people. And I’ve become one over the years so it’s easy for us. Fortunately we can both can work from home as well. At the very beginning, in February of last year, we combined households with my aging parents and have all done our best to take care of each other.

I love history. Not the studying of it really, I just love classic literature and have read many thousands of old and ancient books over the course of my 51 years. I’m sure this is why I’m so damn wordy and wright too much. So I agree with you there. We will know far more about Covid as the decades pass by. I don’t think it’ll ever be ‘done’ though. Once a virus morphs to affect humans it’s here for ever it seems. All we can really do is mitigate the damage and learn to live with it.

You and your wife sound a lot like my wife and me. We got real lucky....I was already retired and she retired about a month before all this hit last year so we didn't worry about work exposure. We also don't care to be around large groups of people......I haven't for years so this isolation hasn't been too rough on us. It was tough at Christmas last year with small groups of family and probably will be again this year. I too have become "wordy" on forums and emails to my relatives and friends but it's a substitute at least for not being face to face with them.

 

[Jon NC RC]

You got that right! All we can truly do is ‘try’ to control our own actions. With my physical damage, compromised immune system and now my wife’s cancer… we have been extremely careful during this time. She is a loaner, uncomfortable around people. And I’ve become one over the years so it’s easy for us. Fortunately we can both can work from home as well. At the very beginning, in February of last year, we combined households with my aging parents and have all done our best to take care of each other.

I love history. Not the studying of it really, I just love classic literature and have read many thousands of old and ancient books over the course of my 51 years. I’m sure this is why I’m so damn wordy and wright too much. So I agree with you there. We will know far more about Covid as the decades pass by. I don’t think it’ll ever be ‘done’ though. Once a virus morphs to affect humans it’s here for ever it seems. All we can really do is mitigate the damage and learn to live with it.

I can relate......my wife.and I are not reliant.on constant social interaction.....some of our friends are, though.....

We get plenty of interaction at work (both nurses).....

When done with work, we like to have peace and quiet by ourselves.

I agree, we do the best we can, without going crazy.....

 

[SrC]

Well, I'm not sure if those Hickory guys were reading comics or viewing child porn on their computers but I had to almost beg them for their attention just to place a 700 dollar order for my buggy and accessories. I'm not making this up.....my wife was with me. When I finally got to pick it up 10 weeks later (after being first told two weeks), the owner's chief "assistant" threatened to throw me out of the store after I informed him that I would seek legal action if I found they had tampered with my order. The box had the factory seals broken which I didn't like. This "assistant" reeked of cigarette smoke and body odor so bad and was unmasked also so he was somewhat dangerous considering the lack of Covid prevention in the store. It was the end of 2020 so indoor masking was still the norm here in NC. That store owner should have sent him home to take a shower and put on some clothes that he hadn't slept in. No concern for a public image in my opinion. The store is a joke.

^^^ I relate 100%. Been there numerous times. In that scenario.
Wanting to "Support your LHS" was a marketting strategy by the Mfrs. and distributors to bolster languishing Sales years back. How about supporting the customer better maybe??? Only then will sales increase! No one talks about that!!! LHS's are not all RC Gods to bow down to.
I want to puke every time I hear someone say "Support your LHS" blindly. It became a slogan driven by Mfr's and now Hobbyists like to use that. We are supposedly humbled by the concept. Sure, in perfect world sounds great. Who doesn't want to patronize a mom and pop family shop? With a nice experience spending our $$.
I will patronize any establishment when and where I please. No matter the product or store, not just a LHS. It is just about being a consumer and being treated like one.
I am confident with most of my purchase decisions and very familiar with RC in general. I buy online with confidence because many LHS's just suck. I never seen a LHS that could educate me more in this hobby than what I know.. At least in my geographic area. It is rare to find a LHS that caters to my needs/what I want locally. Unfortunately.
Much of this is subjective and many RC'ers depend on a LHS for knowledge. I get that. I see many RC'ers lose interest because of the bad LHS apples out there. Sometimes, not always, a simple phone call before driving an hour or 2 will weed out the worst of them.
I like browsing any LHS I am near, by chance, in my travels.. I enjoy it. I may develope a good relationship and patronize them. I am always open to that. But it is rare that I will specifically need to go to one for something. If I like the LHS, I may buy something as a last minute in store impulse purchase. Just for the experience.
There just aren't any good LHS's left, near enough for me to drive to.
If you find one, by all means, use them.

Edited.

 

[jondilly1974]

My GF is a nurse (RN), but took a position outside the bedside years ago. My son is a step down RN and frequently has to care for C19 patients. I think this will eventually wind down to an endemic just like the other coronaviruses that we live with. We will all get immunity one way or another. Either by taking the vaccine, contracting the virus naturally, or both. I believe I had C19 in April 2020 and also have two doses of Moderna in March/April 2021. I will likely take a booster if offered/needed just to be as careful as possible. I can’t afford being sick as I’m self employed. I didn’t have any side effects from the vaccine other than general soreness at the injection site. While I took the vaccine I am not evangelical about it. Everyone needs to do what’s best for themselves. I just hope everyone is healthy and happy in life.

Thank you to all front line workers, nurses, docs, techs, first responders, retail workers, food workers, transportation, et al.