Hobbyshop morale !

[Rich64]

I have a question regarding "hobbyshop salesmen". Or the lack of motivated salesmen in the hobbyshops I visit. I drive truck over the road and from time to time when I get a chance I stop into a hobbyshop to buy something for my Rustler. The only problem I have is finding one with a salesman that is motivated and inspired enough to give any useful information or make an effort to sell me something. Usualy they seem as though they could care less if I bought something or they act as though they are too good to be bothered to actualy have to help customers. The one thing I can't stand is when my wallet is busting with cash and the salespeople don't care enough to take my money. Also I can't understand why someone would have a bussiness and then not stock the shelves with items that they are supposed to have in stock. Like batteries ??? Whats so hard about keeping batteries in stock. I don't know how many times I've walked into a hobbyshop to buy a couple 7-cell batteries, only to walk out empty handed. I have had these problems at small shops and big chain stores ( HobbyTown USA). Oh well,I guess you just can't get good help anywhere these days.

[pedeboi364]

jonelzoe and i have THE GREATEST little hobby shop in our area (we r in M**** woot! go us!!!) great service, most of the time at least, usually not very busy so i can get in and out pretty quick with what i need. I can also order parts from them and they get shipments every 2-3 days. I could also spend months just checking out everything they have, it's really small mind you, but as we all know having a lot of rc's in the shop is more valuable than walking space ;) but ya, they have it all and do it well...thanks Xtremehobbyworks!!!!! (shout-out, wooo!!!!)

[jonelzoe]

jonelzoe and i have THE GREATEST little hobby shop in our area (we r in M**** woot! go us!!!) great service, most of the time at least, usually not very busy so i can get in and out pretty quick with what i need. I can also order parts from them and they get shipments every 2-3 days. I could also spend months just checking out everything they have, it's really small mind you, but as we all know having a lot of rc's in the shop is more valuable than walking space ;) but ya, they have it all and do it well...thanks Xtremehobbyworks!!!!! (shout-out, wooo!!!!)
pedeboi's right they have excelent service and you can tell that they care about the coustomer and enjoy rc

[GregV]

My first job was at a Hobbytown USA in New Milford CT. Awesome shop for all hobbies. I helped anyone that walked through the door no matter the size of the sale. I remember selling a $.59 pack of Dubro screws to an older gentleman who demanded a senior citizen discount and I recall having $2,000+ sales around the holidays. The owner of the shop made it fun to work there, maybe that's why I had no problems helping customers. :)

[pedeboi364]

or maybe your just greg, cuz greg is awesome....? i would love SOOOO MUCH to work at my LHS, and i will as soon as i get my own car....

[Philderbeast]

That is my dream. I want to open the largest hobby shop in the state of oklahoma and have an outdoor track for nitro circle track, offroad, and onroad, and an indoor track for electric on road, offroad and circle track cars. I want to be so large that the nationals will come here more often, and hold events at my club. I want mainly to be sitting in the back, or out front, working on customers rides. That would be my job. I would love it.

[OldSchoolRC]

i think you truly have to be passionate about the hobby to be good behind the counter. If it's just a job, it shows.

There are three shops close to me, i walked out of the closest one last weekend without buying anything at all as the 1 guy working behind the counter was flying the real race simulator instread of helping people....that was frustrating, and rude...and there were several people in the shop! i stood at the counter for 10 minutes, then left. it should not be on me to get his attention, that's not how it works.

On the other hand, i went to the other shop a little further away, got a friendly greeting, got some chit chat from a worker there who was also a weekend racer, and found the part i was looking for was not in stock. So what did he do? pulled out his weekend race ride and took the part off of it and sold it to me at a discount since it was used. Guess where i'll be going next time - that is true customer service. (Thanks Hobby Hut!) Bringing your passion makes all the difference.

[Daveo]

It kind of goes both ways in the hobby shop business. I mean yes there are workers out there that are rude and don't care, but there are also many customers that are just plain insane. The hobby shop I frequent is very successful. They have a knowledgable staff and are very curtieous. They go out of their way to service the customer. However, the clientel that shops there are wealthy people that buy "toys" for their kids and then complain when something goes wrong. These people have the means to call lawyers, have government officials send letters, and even have the credit card companies go after the shop. They don't understand that it is a hobby and things break but part of the fun is putting them back together. Then there are the kids themselves who come in and feel that they know more than anyone behind the counter. How exactly should the sales person handle being called an idiot? The sales guys are human too. I am not trying to say that all hobby shop employees are flawless and the problem is yours, but I have seen the other side of many posts like this one and know that many times there is more to the story than meets the eye.

[pottsgroverc]

Traveling around, this is typically what I have found. 3 types. The first type is the type we all hope for: helpful, informative and stocked. The second type is a pure racing shop. If you don't know what you are talking about, then they really aren't interested in you. They only want the hardcore racer. The last one, and most typically Hobbytowns, are stores that sell much more than just rc stuff. RC is only a small portion of overall sales. These shops don't want bothered with difficulty and/or the knowledge isn't there to help you. Also, these places typically have minimum wage, part time worker who just wants a few extra bucks to spend on his warcraft party. Finding places like Hobby Hut, Steel City Hobbies, Wolcott Hobby, etc. are few and far between, wish we could have more of them.

[Kevin Trudel]

I personally work at Wolcott Hobby in CT and love my job. Although it's not my full time job, I work there on the weekends. Helping someone out and getting thier car/truck running or fixed is almost as great of a feeling as winning a race. To see the smile on the people that walk out of the shop and to know they are satisfied. Believe me, I'm not doing the weekend gig for the money, just for the sport of the hobby and meeting new people.

[OldSchoolRC]

This is turning into a very interesting post...


It kind of goes both ways in the hobby shop business. I mean yes there are workers out there that are rude and don't care, but there are also many customers that are just plain insane.

i agree 100%. I ran a restaurant for nearly 10 years, and believe me, i had some strange customers! (For those in the area, it was right across from Zerns Farmers market....you know we got some strange people over there - how's that old joke go? "what's a mile long and has 1 tooth? The line for funnel cake at Zerns!")



Then there are the kids themselves who come in and feel that they know more than anyone behind the counter. How exactly should the sales person handle being called an idiot? The sales guys are human too. I am not trying to say that all hobby shop employees are flawless and the problem is yours, but I have seen the other side of many posts like this one and know that many times there is more to the story than meets the eye.


I agree there too. i have been called many, many names. (why is it people insist on you honoring expired coupons?? and get so fired up over 50 cents??)

So having been on both sides of the aisle, i have a ton of respect for those shops that treat their customers right, and that's where i go whenever i can. But there are some that don't get it. Not just in hobby shops, but all over. I'm picky as top service was always my number 1 mantra for myself and my team, and it drives me nuts to see people behind the counter simply earning a paycheck. I'm very attuned to it, and you have to be able to read people, know where they are coming from and adjust yourself accordingly.

when it comes to RC, a lot of times, i know my stuff a heck of a lot better then the people behind the counter. Not waving my own flag, but i am a freak about this stuff, so i expect that and don't bring in an attitude about it. I do my research, and know exactly what i want when i go in. Some people catch onto this right away, and some don't. it's no problem. As a customer, i want attention, service, product knowledge and a certain level of respect. As the person making the sale, i obviously want you to buy something - preferrably more than you walked in for, walk out happy and excited, and come back next week. When something on either side of that equation is missing, it throws the whole thing out of whack.

I would never call an person an idiot though .......there's a wide line between being a discerning customer and being a disrespectful jerk.

I should really open a hobby shop and put this local guy out of business - he's got me all fired up and giving hobby shops a bad name. :)

[pottsgroverc]

(For those in the area, it was right across from Zerns Farmers market....you know we got some strange people over there - how's that old joke go? "what's a mile long and has 1 tooth? The line for funnel cake at Zerns!")


Ha, ha, ha!!! Awe, Zerns. Bringing reality to the phrase "more tattoos than teeth." But hey, you can get something you don't need for a really good price up there.

LHS's are just like any other business, you have good and your bad. And their employees are just the same. They have their good and their bad days. I am surrounded by great shops so guess not as much of a problem for me.

[DaveC]

Show me a hobbyshop employee that's on commission for sales and I'll show you a guy who can sell you anyting you want.

You cannot expect hourly people to give a rats butt about selling. They make the same paycheck if you aren't even in the store.

They usually only work there so they can get their hobby stuff for employee discount.

My LHS will always order anyting I need that they don't have, and they are automated enough with inventory control and Point of Sale software, that I can call and find out if they have what I need in stock, thereby saving me two trips.

[mx757]

I must be lucky with my local shop. the owner / one RC department employee is a great guy named stan. I have seen him cannibalize parts off his own trucks to get a customers truck running. i just started into this hobby a few months ago and he has been great in helping my with any issues i have.

[pedeboi364]

the guys at our shop (jonelzoe and me) are really great, one guy even took his whole show stampede (stock but for show in the shop) apart to get me and IDLER GEAR... and anyone with a pede or traxxas tranny or and tranny in general knows that taking one apart takes a fair amount of time...

[jonelzoe]

yah they are great they spent a half hour after closing time just to show me the best nitro car for a noob

[pedeboi364]

lol, wow.. i remember they stayed open an extra 10 mins. to get me the right A-arms for my pede...

[Mouse4666]

My LHS has some funny people, sometimes the people are flying a jet on a flight simulator and go straight up and reach 60,000 feet and then they try and find the airport, the one time I say they actually did in a couple of minutes!

[Scorpion3443]

we just got a new hobbyshop in my city and its great the people there are very helpful and are really nice but i live on the northeast of the town and they are on the eastside but they are opening a track on the northeast where our old dump was and its huge they said their ordering something like 60-70 tons of clay dirt for the track they have a website

[roadrunnr43]

weve got on about an hours drive from here, and the service is good.
the only reason that it could be bad is if there helping another customer.
but then you just have to be patient and wait untill there not busy.
but otherwise its pretty good. If you bought your truck before seeing what stuff
the shop carries (Me), its not a problem, theyll order anything on the
planet if you have part number. Its also nice not to have a 'chain' shop,
because here they'll remeber your name.

[Taylor]

this thread went dead :(, i liked this thread. We have a shop in collinsville, il called Gateway rc, and i went up there with my friend and his dad, and his dad buys all kind of junk from this guy, so he is real peachy with him, and i called him up to see if he had some parts i needed to fix up my rustler, and the total was like 15 dollars and two of the three parts were not in stock so he hung up on me when he saw my total!!!!!!! :eek::eek: But about the best one around is in St. Charles, MO it is called mark twain hobbies, all of the staff are great, and they have all brands there not just traxxas, I went there and had an hour long talk on fuel with one employee it was great!!!! :D:D
If you are around that area you have to check it out.

[Maxx man]

I work in a little mom and pop animal feed store/hardwere store and all sorts of people complane that all our stuph is $5 more expensive then say home depots but we buy it for almost as much as they sell it because we cant get things in very large bulk to get those discounts.
there are only 2 lhs neer us and one of them is hobbytown and they get mad at me all the time for getting something thats an off brand truck (towerhobbies nitro st-15) and not getting something from them. Then there is a place alot closer called GPA hobbies and they are always nice to me and try hard to help me with everything they can and try to answere all my questions. they are also a really small store probebly only 30-40ft long and
20ft wide of shopping area but they have tons of stuph as far a planes and trains but only carry traxxas witch doesnt bother me at all even though I dont have a traxxas I cant hold it against them since traxxas's are good deals for the people that are serios and just starting but they mostly only carry begginer stuph since there arent any tracks around annapolice that I can find but it is one of the best shops Ive been to in a long time!

[Taylor]

there isn't anything wrong with traxxas its a big company so a lot of people carry them, but the service stinks at my place!

[Maxx man]

I like traxxas alot all there stuph is really cool. one day i may get a slash for some fun and maby race my freind next door has a rulstler and his brother has a 2.5 t-maxx but nobody else on our street practically has one that i know of and its not a deveopment so ist not like they see us driving our cars arround:( ohh well maby the hobbie will grow around annapolice soon so sombody puts in a track:rolleyes:

[boone722]

I Have the same problem with my lhs.It's unreal that they have that mentality about service.He never has anything I need and it's is mostly the stuff you break.(Of course) I compare it to walking into a music store or record shop.All the employees think they are Rock gods of some sort :eek: !!So I always have to order it online.

[LSXEric]

^^ What you have is a "race shop" More of an advanced guys. Same with my hobby shop. The other types are all around good shop, and a shop like big comany.

[Maxx man]

now I just went to hobby town and I think it was the maneger that I talk to and he was really nice I wonder if the other guy got fired but i never been there on a week day though. I still like gpa but they dont carry anything but traxxas and non rc stuph.

[Fiero_Man_121]

the one shop i go to is a literal hole in the wall but the guys their are awsome! their mostly fly boys but they are always positive, they are just now starting to get into the good stuff... cars, but they always help where they can and let the costumer do their thing. the prices are competitive and even though their car parts selection is very weak, they make an effort to order what you need no matter what brand, they even opened an account with mrc just for me even though i decided to hold off on buying the sbv2 at the time.

[Maxx man]

well i have a place like that to but most of my rc stuph comes from online just because the prices are so much cheaper (for the most part and because ima towerhobbies supper saver so i get free shiping) but I usually get small stuph from the hobby shop like gears broken parts ect.

[Greg B]

I handle all the repairs for my local shop. Man you guy's are hard on stuff.
And yes I have seen it all.
You would be amazed at what people can do with wire and zip-ties.



Greg B.

[Maxx man]

well every time I go to hobby town usa (the big hobby shop near me) I get critisided for everything I do:eek: and IM not kidding I even bought a battery pack and the guy said it might be to small for my truck and I said ohh its ok I have a block of foam to use and he just gave me a dirty look and handed me the battery then when I told him I had a slash and that I bought it online he basically said that that was a dumb chioce and I should have gotten it from him but before I said that I said I got money twords one online and I said the same thing at the other hobby shop and he said when it comes in the mail bring it on over and he will "hook it up" so i never go to hobby town usa unless I absolutly have to

[muffinmann]

i have a similar problem we had two lhs in our area one was closer to home seemed to care more would sell used vehicles in his store for people and even had practice and outdoor track he is the one i liked dealing with but he went out of business the other shop its like pulling teeth to get any answers or recommendations from makes me hate to go there .