Reopening of Hobby Shops

Temperature checks?

My local hobby shop, The Rail Yard, never closed. He says it's a necessity, for many people's mental health. He's done a fair amount of business even with a reduction in hours.

Scott Smith

maybe try to get a web pages up- I know alot of the older guys don`t have them- so ask a younger person help you set one up

( It`s easy) & we can all help you increase your sales...Just a thought 

I wish all the hobby shops that used to be around could reopen. I miss Davis Electronics in Cincinnati, The Crossing in Clifton and L&N in Louisville, Toy Train in Dayton. I'm sure there are more...

Jeff

 Unfortunately, people get old and their bodies wear out. Their minds are willing but their bodies aren't.                      

Mine like some others is closed but doing phone orders, curbside pickup, that sort of thing. I called Tuesday to see how they were doing and to see if they got my check, doing okay and got my check. I will have to see about arranging with them when we both can meet on a Saturday since I can't make the week hours because of work. I think in two weeks or so I'll call back to see what I need to pickup what is waiting on me.

I don't think I've been inside a train hobby shop this century.  All of the places I deal with have web sites, so unless the owner has come down with the virus, they've all been open.  I've been hitting Ebay quite a bit the past couple of weeks too, just wish the sellers would do their part and ship the items in a timely manner.  It's sad when I can get stuff from the UK faster than I can get stuff from 3 states over.

I need to look, there may not even be any hobby shops around here anymore!

@Postwarman posted:

I wish all the hobby shops that used to be around could reopen. I miss Davis Electronics in Cincinnati, The Crossing in Clifton and L&N in Louisville, Toy Train in Dayton. I'm sure there are more...

Jeff

 

Davis Electronics in Milford (Cincinnati), Ohio was one of the best train stores ever! It got me back into the hobby after about 15 years out.  What a store, had everything and prices were great. A repair department that was excellent. He dies  and his son sells everything!! What a collection he had. Brown and green state sets, the Sears 2347 C&O GP-7..I liked Joe Davis a lot!!! 

Does this include the already-out-of-business ones, too?

Hobby shops are certainly non-essential businesses, that’s for sure. You can’t argue otherwise with a straight face. 

@Dave Warburton posted:

Hobby shops are certainly non-essential businesses, that’s for sure. You can’t argue otherwise with a straight face. 

Non-essential for whom? 

Who needs a hobby shop anymore, web sites, eBay and many other ways to get hobby supplies then going to most hobby shops that have very little and don't care if they do. 

It's 2020, it's past the hobby shops time.

Dave

@jim sutter posted:

 Unfortunately, people get old and their bodies wear out. Their minds are willing but their bodies aren't.                      

And the younger generations either aren't financially able or just not interested in keeping the shops open.

Hobby shops are a thing of the past, nobody or I should say very few want to invest the dollars or the time in a business that has very little return. 

Dave

Small hobby shops are definitely becoming a thing of the past. Large shops will stay alive partially because they are willing to adapt to mail order, technology and social media.  If your not willing or able to do that in these times your pretty much out of business.  

@Cincytrains posted:

Davis Electronics in Milford (Cincinnati), Ohio was one of the best train stores ever! It got me back into the hobby after about 15 years out.  What a store, had everything and prices were great. A repair department that was excellent. He dies  and his son sells everything!! What a collection he had. Brown and green state sets, the Sears 2347 C&O GP-7..I liked Joe Davis a lot!!! 

They had that Jim Barrett guy upstairs in the parts department too!  Wonder whatever became of him...😉

Curt

So many of the great small shops that dated back to the golden years of toy trains are gone or about to be.  Even the shop that I did Lionel repair/restoration work for is long closed up, owner is in his mid 90's.   Yes the big ones that embrace all avenues of selling from online with excellent e-store that has live inventory numbers, to mail order and attending shows or a actual store.   I just missed out on going to the original Madison Hardware, but did mail order things after Mr Kuhn bought it and resold much of it from Michigan.  Right now, I am hoping for easing of the restrictions out in NYS so that Gargraves can resume production as i have an order in for OO track.  Right now, I cannot even run trains. They have the straight sections but are out of stock(despite what their website says!) of the curved sections in both 3 and 2 rail.   Locally, everything is closed still, however other than basic modeling supplies, most of my engines/rolling stock/track are all online shopping or train shows.   AD

I realize that Arkansas isn't anywhere near the hobby center of the known universe, but the nearest hobby shop to me (I live in Conway, AR) is RAIL AND SPRUE in Jacksonville, AR) -- about 35 minutes away.  The owner provides a daily summary via e-mail of recent additions to his inventory. I review it every day. He also sends listings of products accepted on consignment  which is helpful to niche collectors and to the sellers.

The best way to keep local hobby shops thriving (at least surviving) is to purchase items from them and not wander off to websites to save a buck or two.  Further, there's no charge for free (but valuable, experience-based hobby advice). That's a great service provided by many "mom & pop" shops. 

Just saying ...

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

I disagree with some of the comments that Hobby Shops aren't needed.  Sure every product they sell can be found online and potentially maybe for less, less shipping cost.

But nothing beats establishing a personal relationship with the shop keeper and with the ability to walk around the shop and looking at everything they have for sale.  

Many a time, I've found items that would have never have shown up online.  This is especially true of items that are second hand from a former hobbyist.   For example I found a reel of electrical wire and later due to my inquiry I got it at no charge.  I have found railcars, transformers, motors etc this way for little to no cost.

I've learned a lot from those guys.  Its also real easy to show them what issue you may be experiencing and they can many times determine the cause and recommend a viable solution. 

Part of the "fun" of this hobby is the interaction with the people in it.   I've met some interesting folks while in a hobby shop and if the shop has some kind of weekly or monthly gathering it makes the experience that much more interesting.

For example, there was a shop here called Wild Bill, well I met Bill and his partner while attending a monthly gathering in the parking lot near a hobby shop.  He had great deals.  Then when he established his shop, my association with him continued.  You can't beat the personal touch when it comes to customer service.  

I wish all the shop keepers much success during this time and hopefully they will survive long enough for things to return to normal.

@Dave Warburton posted:

Hobby shops are certainly non-essential businesses, that’s for sure. You can’t argue otherwise with a straight face. 

Since they allowed Walmart, Mijers, etc. To continue selling clothes and TV's, etc., they should never have forced the others to close. Besides the fact they were out of the very items they were allowed to be open to sell. 

@david1 posted:

Who needs a hobby shop anymore, web sites, eBay and many other ways to get hobby supplies then going to most hobby shops that have very little and don't care if they do. 

It's 2020, it's past the hobby shops time.

Dave

Unfortunately if you build anything you need them. How many guys whine about a $2 item and a $12 shipping charge plus they are hoping it's actually what they need. Paint matching, etc. I like the local guys.

Utica is a three hour drive across the state for me. 

quite honestly i'm worried about my favorite shop

its how he puts food on the table and he doesn't have website and as far as i know he is strickly brick and morter and he is older and probably more at risk

i have another shop in the same way but haven't been there in almost a decade

i keep telling my godfather to take me but even when he promised me he would i never went so i gave up asking

i don't buy online because i've seen horrifying images of trains destroyed during shipping

as a railroad who will purchace mostly used equipment i wanna know something works before i run it through what i call the Fenix Trampling Ground

Well...as usual...some of the posts had to be deleted and/or edited because of statements that were way out and/or just bad info that doesn't help this situation.  Topic closed...