Countdown Hobbies nearing 6 months under new ownership!

Jan 19, 2005 16 Replies

We are fast approaching 6 months since we took over Countdown and would like some input good, or bad not that there is any bad and any suggestions you mihgt have on how to improve Countdown. We will be striving to be the leader in supplies for High Power Rocketry while being our general areas best overall hobby shop. So dont hesitate give us some input!



Buzz matters. As a non-customer I have heard only good comments.

My past experience with Countdown as a vendor was 100% negative. I have no recent experience to compare.

You want input? Zero access restrictions.

Jerry

OK, my first feedback...

When I see someone say 'WE are fast approaching 6 months since WE took over.." and "...give US some input!" but the note isn't signed with a name, and the 'sender' is a corporate entity, then I blow off the 'personal touch' approach.

I'd suggest actually posting a name (even if it's just a first name)...

David Erbas-White

I'd guess "Bruce" (as in the sender's e-mail: " snipped-for-privacy@countdownhobbies.com")...

-dave w

Picky, picky, picky . . .

:)

I'd like to see some pricing, greater detail of products offered and a way to order online from your website. There are so many vendors that allow easy review and ordering of their products that I won't spend time calling someone just to find out if they are cheaper or if they have something in stock.

I've been to your site in the past and quickly left when I realized how much effort it would take to find out what you had and what it cost. I've been that route before with others and when I ask the vendor what they have I get a reply email asking me what I want and they'll let me know if they have it. This has happened several times and not one of the vendors got a reply from me, I just went somewhere else.

I'd suggest spending a little money and let a professional set up your website for e-commerce and see what happens. You just may have to hire someone to fill orders and do the shipping each day.

Good Luck!!!

Andrew

Countdown needs a better website. You don't necessarily need to have a method to buy online, (would be nice) but people need to see everything you have listed, availability, etc. Saying you have BSD kits or PML components is not enough information. What components? Which kits?

Speaking just for myself, when I make a decision to buy from someone, price is not always the driving factor. How much stuff you have is. I'm usually buying stuff for scratch builds, and the less vendors I have to go to in order to get what I want the better. If I know I can get everything I need in one order, dealing with one outfit, the more likely I am to order from them. Which brings me back to the website issue. I can't make a decision to buy if I don't know what you have.

U.S. Rockets

I agree with some of the other comments about your web site. If you want to sell via the web you have to make it easy to do so. You may be a great local hobby shop and your walk-in customers may love your inventory selection, but I can't "see" it without a phone call.

sorry to hear about the past being such a bad experience. It shouldnt be any more we are taking pride in making it a good experience.

Well sorry about that I am speaking on behalf of me ( Bruce Jones ) and my mom who I bought the store with ( Mary ) Next time ill remeber to say who I am. I run the store full time and my mom has another full time job and helps out when she can. If you want to know anymore about us let me know.

Bruce

Hey great input and if you might haev noticed an e-commerce site popped up for about a month there but then I got swamped with the in store holiday rush and had to wait, But I will be making a fully functioning online webstore in the near future and until the I have listed every brand we carry at least and will be adding some more detail to that list. If you want though always feel free to just drop me an e-mail snipped-for-privacy@countdownhobbies.com and ask if something is in stock, I check my e-mail often.

I was a Countdown customer and still have the link to the site.

First notice I had was around 10/25/04 with nothing for sale. I have been watching up until just before Christmas. I only saw a few 24mm reloads , several 29 mm SU motors and several Loc rockets so I bought some where else. Ken

Hey sorry to hear that we did fall a little behind in our first Holiday rush, BUT we are striving to be the best we can to better serve you the customer and you can expect nothing else but great things from us in '05 please keep checking out the website becuase it will soon be the BEST online hobby store around.

Bruce,

You might want to try

formatting link
and use their website complete software to make your own e-commerce site. I did for my business with a minimum of hassle. I would recommend this to Jerry Irvine too as his site is in need too. Its not as hard as you might think.

- Someone

Sales doubled when USR shifted from "ecommerce" to Instaship on a manual site.

USR had the first rocket vendor website and 2nd or 3rd ecommerce site.

Jerry

What, you sold two rockets instead of one?

Maybe in you dreams.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required