Niggled by my model shop

[Guest]

Although I have Hannants Warehouse nearby I do visit my local model shop for bits and bobs, I like to support them but today I came out empty handed.

There are plenty of kits there but I never find what i want, sometimes I see a review and want to build that kit or sometimes I just want to build a motorbike or car as I do a lot of military. so I ask "Have you got this or that" all I get is no, but we are getting some more kits in, or no we wont stock that. as I see it my local model shop is geared for occasional modellers. I have been visiting that shop for years but never get discount, on Birthdays and Xmas and when I want a few kits and bits from hannants I always get a good discount. I spend up to two hundred quid If I did not have Hannants nearby I would have to buy online.

My model railway shop is very well stocked but the owner always trys to sell me something more expensive than what I want, this puts me off. So I buy online (Oh you dont want that this is more expensive but................)

I buy my figure painting oils and sable brushes are bought from my local art shop and again as a regular customer I get a good discount. us serious modellers should support our local model shops but if they dont stock what we want we have to go elsewhere. Then they shut down and we cannot get our bits and bobs we invariably need at inopurtune moments.

:smile11:

[Guest]

I am in complete agreement, if you don't use it you will loose it!!

We are very lucky in Halifax to have a very good model shop and I will always try to get what I want before looking on line. When I was a youngster I used to work in a model shop and now I think it is such a shame to see so few of them left. Even the big chains like the Beatties have gone and now it is down to toys and computer games. Support your local businesses as much as you can because on line buying will slowly kill them all off.

[Guest]

We are lucky around oxford, howes model shop. The only trouble now its mainly ready to run stuff.:smile1:

[Guest]

Years ago you could drop into the model shop for a coffee and a chat (Which Hannants Warehouse Staff promote heavily They have sofas and a customers models display)

Now the staff at model shops are not particually bothered whether they talk to you or not. if you are into Radio controlled then yes they are but they know nothing about injection moulded kits. I do use my shop but am increasingly buying online or from Hannants warehouse.

[wonwinglo]

Hannants got where they are because of their absolute dedication and ability to supply what the modeller wants,their cottage industry listing alone is proof that companies can supply the unusual if they will go out of their way to source them.

The modern get rich quick merchants who have no knowledge of the products that they sell let alone any business acumen, soon get found out,once more there are far too many suppliers who lack any communication between the purchaser,to run a successful e-business you need a dedicated web master and someone who will reply to your e-mail enquiries promptly,something that many do not do.

Having said this there are still a lot of high street retail businesses who think that they can survive without being on the internet,their failure rate says it all,a bad day in the shop when it is raining can be supplemented with a well prepared web site that brings in the rent.

Yes the whole world is a competitive place,but without trying to run a properly balanced business with the right stock,and plenty of it ! plus attention to detail then things can go bottom up very quickly,we just have to accept that the high street is no longer a place from where everyone buys from,people may have plenty of money to part company with but those same people have very little time to spare,modellers especially would rather be using that precious time building their models at home,and a lot of this means buying online.

Years ago you could drop into the model shop for a coffee and a chat (Which Hannants Warehouse Staff promote heavily They have sofas and a customers models display)Now the staff at model shops are not particually bothered whether they talk to you or not. if you are into Radio controlled then yes they are but they know nothing about injection moulded kits. I do use my shop but am increasingly buying online or from Hannants warehouse.