Retail Price, Hobby Shops, & Discounting

Jim Stanton · 2003-07-24T20:34:40+00:00

First let me say that I do not have a particularly strong feeling onthis subject one way or the other. I wonder why some (clearly not all)hobby shops get angry when the topic of mail order and internetdiscounters comes up. I shop at Wal-Mart because they discount. I goto Sam's club and Costco for the same reason. When I buy a car I don'tpay retail. When I bought my condo I didn't pay the asking price. WhenI buy a new mattress I don't pay retail.Why do I need to feel guilty if I find a Kato locomotive for 20% offlist online somewhere?Should hobby shops be felt sorry for or should they try to become morecompetitive?Is there a different standard that should be applied to hobby shopsbecause they supply us with recreational items instead of basic humanneed items?Is it rational for hobby shops to be angry at online discounters?Should hobby shops collectively apply pressure to their suppliers(wholesalers) for selling to online stores?Do hobby shop owners look at their business too much like it is ahobby and not really a business?Is supporting your local hobby shop even though they charge fullretail artificially boosting the industry?Are the benefits of shopping at a hobby shop (location, take it hometoday, service, questions, etc) worth the difference between retailand discount prices to most people?What can hobby shops do to get you to shop there more often?I'm looking for some sense in this. I like my hobby shop but don'twant to feel guilty getting a good price somewhere else.Jim

Jul 24, 2003 62 Replies

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crosstie 23 years ago

Employment is a lagging indicator...I'd stick to modeling if I were you...

Jeff Sc. Better Than Ever, Ga.

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JCunington 23 years ago

Not to start a political go-around here, but in Bush's defense, this recession was a long time in coming. The kick-off, IIRC, was when Thailand revalued the baht and the Indonesian currency/economy went in the dumper back in '97. It's been a ripple effect ever since. The dot-com bust, the Enron scandal and subsequent fallout...

True. It takes time to compile the statistics. It also takes time for business to recognize the need for more people and get them hired (back).

Unfortunately I'm in one of the areas of the country that's still lagging. Glad you're seeing better times, Jeff. I hope it gets here, and soon!

Jay CNS&M Wireheads of the world, unite!

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