andyknight Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I like to support my local hobby shop where possible but as they don't sell Baja's or therefore the spare parts that go with them I am forced to buy online. Now this isn't an issue for me as I can normally get next day delivery but for the every day consumables I still like to use the shop. However this latest visit this afternoon has left me surprised. I walked in and asked for silicon diff oil thinking that there might be a limited selection but I was bound to find something that worked. The response I got was "sorry we don't stock diff oil". Now correct me if I am wrong but doesn't every RC car use diff oil of some description? I could forgive them for not having the grade of oil I was after but this was a flat out "we don't stock it". How do high street model shops expect to keep going against inline only retailers when they don't even stock the everyday consumables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oh How Original Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Not every RC uses diff oil no. But they should still stock at least a couple of different ones. To be honest, my local hobby shop only ever has 6 bottles in total in stock at any given time, same for shock oils. Unless it's a big RC shop, they do tend to be quite crap for stock. Most of the ones like Modelsport and RC Modelz, that don't have that much on show, but have massive stock rooms, usually stock everything. Then the smaller shops with everything on show is a sort of 'what you see is what we've got' sort of affair. At least that's what I've found on my travels. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderwolf Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 alot of people and compaines fill their diffs with grease instead of oil. however most people, racers especially, use oil, even stocking a few bottles would have been worth while, things like oils, screws, body clips, etc, all the things we use all the time and loose all the time would keep atleast some cash flow moving thorugh the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 If that's the shop near us then they never have anything that you need. Mmr is s small ish shop that is on the high street and they seem do stock most things and more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I have some diff oil if you need some for tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyknight Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 It was als hobbies in wolverton. have you got any 10k? Don't need it for tomorrow as my gearbox case and other bits don't arrive until Monday. Running on grease for now that came from the factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QRC Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I prefer to use local rc shops and support the local business community, but their stock levels are always very low and offer to order in, will offer price matches to Internet based shops within reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherry Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 I try to support local but they are barely ever open, even when they are supposed to be. Emails are rarely answered and vague when they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 It's only 1k Andy so like water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si Coe Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 The shop near me isn't really a car shop, mostly planes. But he keeps a fair stock of basic consumables and that gets me inside. When there I've been known to buy the odd servo, quadcopter, boat etc that takes my fancy. Its the oldest sales trick in the book - cos it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberdog-styles Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Closest model shop to me stocks most stuff for 1/10 racers but is also mainly aircraft but will order pretty much anything for any rc within a week or 2. For me the problem are the staff. The owner of the shop is great, takes the time to talk to you and help if needed and has a good general interest in rc as a whole but one of his members of staff is just an ignorant lil so n so. The sad thing the owner isn't there most of the time which is why I don't go so much anymore and order offline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khevolution Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 My Local, isnt so local (about 40ish mins ) and they really only cater for the heli/aeroplane guys, dont get me wrong they do sell RC vehicles, but dont seem all that interested in them. As much as i would like a LHS i could pop into, i pretty much do most of my RC shopping online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Al's Hobbies, says it all..... Sellers of old stock, bl Orion kit which they claim is fine for use....been two or three unwitting purchasers on the forum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCpete Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I live in Edinburgh and there has only ever been two shops! Back in the 80's and 90's they were full of RC cars and all the spares and other bits you would need. I would stand and look at all the high end kits on the top shelfs, for hours sometimes. Nowadays one of them sellls just a few Tamiya kits, they now sell model trains, slot cars, air guns and dolls houses! The other while they still sell RC cars they now do a lot more quads and planes. I bought my HPI Trophy from them even tho i could of got it cheaper elsewhere, i thought i would support my LHS. I too went in the other month for diff and shock oil and there was none! i asked about it and he said that he doesnt stock it anymore!.....sometimes i do miss how it used to be, but oh well online it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCbutcher Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) Business is brutal I'll go to the cheapest online source which is usually someone's local hobby shop so it's not wrong. I've only been into two lhs one was modelzone not great. The other was pathetic the owner isn't intrested and he orders online to sell over the counter anyway. He made me wait 4wks for a part to come in from China he said that's why it was so expensive. I think he was just doing me over being young and not knowing anything about rc. I brought a brand new kyosho car the only one he ever had in stock mainly hay small planes. But he didn't even tell me to break it in and I told him I knew nothing. He sold me a fuel filter for Edited May 22, 2015 by RCbutcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMaxxDave Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 My LHS is Bolton Model Mart. Owner is great. Ive. been going there for since 2000. And for the consumables they are great. And they usually stock most things or will try to get a part within a week or so. Little longer than ordering online but i like it in there and the staff Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutting42 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 To the OP's comment. The high street trader is always going to struggle against big online companies for stock. The high street is paying much higher rents than a business run from a home or warehouse and competing on the high street with clothes shops, restaurants and cafes with 400% markups. The only way they can survive is selling big ticket items like full kits and rtr stuff. They will get away with the least spares stock they can as it takes space and offers low cash flow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex97 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 My local store in St Albans dont stock anything, their cheapest Jr connectors were Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevo2551 Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 I have 2 shops both about a hour round trip (not including 30+ mins talking and picking their brains) and both are pretty good, one holds less parts stock but are a bit cheeper on sone things, and the other is Bolton model mart. Great shop, well stocked and always a tech guy around for advice and help if I take the car in and plonk it on the desk :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMaxxDave Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Bolton model mart. Great shop, well stocked and always a tech guy around for advice and help if I take the car in and plonk it on the desk :-) Ahhhh the good old just plonk it on the desk. Done that several times myself and watched several other people do it to. Very satisfying. Lol Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h4rri75 Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 One of my 'local' ones [all of them are 20+ miles away] is a HPI dealer. I wanted the basic settings for the Savage 25 carb needles and they didn't want to know. Ask for a basic tune up service and they weren't interested. Shame as I tend to impulse buy a lot and they are just losing money by turning customers away. Another has fuel but that's it in terms of Nitro, they have a couple of electric cars though. I guess it's difficult as we all tend to shop online now and have it delivered. I try to buy local when I can though to support these guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si Coe Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Plonk it on the desk is probably one of the best ways to test a shop, though the response will vary depending on the question. North West Models near me will happily sort a nitro engine or a glitchy radio even though cars aren't really their thing, but I've also known places where despite being great for electrics they don't have a clue about nitro etc. Shop staff are human, and shops are businesses. To make money most aren't restricted to one type of model (BMM for example does a lot of trains and plastic kits, NWM is mostly planes) so you can't expect them to be experts in all areas or have stock for everything. I never hold it against a shop that its 'not for me' because I know I have very specific requirements. What I don't like is place that are dismissive because I'm not into whatever they do specialise in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonysmini Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 (edited) One of the best I've found was Cleveland Models, it was run by a guy called Simon I think. (Not been there in about 5 years.) He had a couple of boxes of most kits, a good supply of spares, good access to hop ups and was really good for advice too I remember being in there when someone brought in a cheap Chinese nitro and asked him to fix it, he took a good look, advised them well and sent them away happy with some good sound advice. Not many around who would do that. Edited May 24, 2015 by tonysmini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher 46 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Now days i recon its best to Just do your homework work out what you want watch some youtube vids can be a good Source of knowledge some Times theres always someone With the setup your looking for make or simular and you can learn from their mistakes also this forum is Great im New on here but been playing With rc everything since my grandad got me hooked im Just saying really thats why the lhs are dying people are getting savy using the Internet and a bit of Common Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davida Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Personally i think diff oil is a general consumable item so would think it would be stocked by all shops. The problem some shops have is nearly everyone goes online to find the best deal, sadly the days of loyal customers are gone. I'm lucky my local shop is DMS racing so pretty much have everything i ever need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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