Sometimes!!

[GerryW]

Those of you who have a local hobby shop, I'll put the plea in to use them - the nearest to me, is now well over an hours drive away, we used to have 2 or 3 in the local town, now the only one is 3 or 4 towns away.

[Tim Marlow]

I use mine when it’s open, but it too sells on eBay. It is Frome model centre, and hasn’t been open much in the last twelve months. Most of what I do these days is a bit specialist (28mm gaming stuff) and not stocked in any quantity by my LHS. My purchases from the shop are usually glue, paint and thinner, but they are my first choice if I can use them. My old haunt (Salisbury) also has a good well stocked LHS, and almost all of my Vallejo paint collection (around 150 items) originally came from them. Unfortunately restocking these days means going elsewhere because I moved!

[Dave Ward]

My Local Hobby Shop is Antics, either in Stroud, or in Gloucester - either way, it costs me £7.20 return bus fare to visit one of them ( I don't qualify for a bus pass - yet! )., You can tell that online buying is a no brainer - added to that my limited mobility, and it's not even worth considering. I lurk on ebay, visit most of the online retailers, almost on a daily basis, and I have a lot of patience.............
Buying a 'wanted' model at a discount is part of my enjoyment, knowing that I paid below the odds just adds that final touch! :thumb2:
Dave

[GerryW]

Fully understand that a lot of shops have already gone - and it's easier online - I must admit that I'm guilty as anyone and do most of my 'hobby shopping' online, mainly because local shops don't stock what I want/need/use - but if I can buy local, then I will, even if it's online)
Sorry, drifting off topic.

[minitnkr]

Only one LHS left,12 miles away by freeway & mostly radio controlled stuff & slot cars. Search evilbay but don't find much anymore. Can't believe all the poorly executed printed stuff. PaulE

[Mini Me]

Paul, speaking of poorly executed printed models..........have you seen the printed M18 Hellcats some joker is trying to palm off on unsuspecting shoppers on that same unnamed auction site?? Rick H.

[minitnkr]

Yes, as I'm constantly on the lookout for a decent M18. A travesty. PaulE

[Mini Me]

Very True.........just pitiful!

[Allen Dewire]

I'm just like Dave Ward when it comes to buying kits. I had a wish list and it is now empty except for two items that I probably will never be able to get unless I sell my soul. I check the auction everyday and you do get lucky. It takes patience and time, but in the long run, it pays off. Yesterday I got lucky and got a kit for €0.90 more, delivered, than to buy it from an online store and have to pay postage on top of the sell price...

I have only had 2 experiences where there was a mix up and I got the wrong item and they were fixed quickly. I think the fact of 2 identical items selling for way different prices is that people think the first one will go high, so they bid on the second one and hope it will be cheaper. In times like this, I bid on the first one and hope I get lucky. Other times, I think people don't see or realize there is a second identical item in the auction.........

The thing that gets my goat the most, is people offering an item with a start price 2-3 times higher than one can buy the same item for from a shop!!!..........

Prost
Allen