Hobby People - anyone have similar experiences?

[BDM]

I bought a Compeition Electronics Pit Bull charger through the mail
order side. It arrived and I found the seal broken and the connecting
wire ends were twisted showing it had been wired to something before. I
call Customer Service and the guy says, "yeah, alot of that stuff is
scratch and dent." What the hell does that mean? The ad didn't mention
they were selling used stuff. Back it goes. I eat the shipping
charges.

I used to go to their local store in Lake Forest, CA to be met by
several of the rudest people I have yet to do business with in a hobby
shop. The attitude is over the top. They argue, are hesitant to help,
and don't even acknowledge you as they hand you what you asked
for...that is, if they even have it. They even used hard sell tactics
on my five year old! I've been there five or six times and it's always
the same. I have spent alot of money there in the past (just ask my
wife!) and they just lost any chance of getting any more from me. I'm
done with Hobby People.

There's only one other local hobby shop; Gyro Hobbies. I will be going
there, up to Ultimate, or doing mail order in the future. It's a shame
it has to be that way, since I've been doing business with Hobby People
(Hobby Shack) for many years, but I don't believe paying customers
should be treated like crap.

Anyone have similar experiences?

Brian

[kenji]

In article <MPG.1bbf1a54f67b8aae989736@news.cox.net>,
BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote:

> Anyone have similar experiences?

Are you the type of person who really slows down on the expressway to
get a good look at the carnage of a bad auto accident?

[BDM]

I'm struggling to see the relevance of your reply...

In article <kenji-AB958F.09213525092004@news.ftupet.com>,
kenji@ripco.com says...
> In article <MPG.1bbf1a54f67b8aae989736@news.cox.net>,
> BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Anyone have similar experiences?
>
> Are you the type of person who really slows down on the expressway to
> get a good look at the carnage of a bad auto accident?
>

[kenji]

In article <MPG.1bbf2331d5bf7e7d989737@news.cox.net>,
BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote:

> I'm struggling to see the relevance of your reply...

You post a bunch of paragraphs of how over time you and your kid were
systematically degraded by the store over along period of time. then you
ask for others to share their tales of woe.

You want to gawk at other's misfortune.

[BDM]

Umm..., not really. Just wondering if I have had a series of mishaps
that others had not experienced.

Do you have something to add to this besides your unrelated commentary?

Brian

In article <kenji-834BEC.10253525092004@news.ftupet.com>,
kenji@ripco.com says...
> In article <MPG.1bbf2331d5bf7e7d989737@news.cox.net>,
> BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm struggling to see the relevance of your reply...
>
> You post a bunch of paragraphs of how over time you and your kid were
> systematically degraded by the store over along period of time. then you
> ask for others to share their tales of woe.
>
> You want to gawk at other's misfortune.
>

[George Williams]

BDM wrote:

> I used to go to their local store in Lake Forest, CA to be met by
> several of the rudest people I have yet to do business with in a hobby
> shop.

It's not exactly rudeness - it goes deeper than that. They
were attracted to the hobby in the first place because they
are fascinated by objects and don't relate well to people.
I don't think there's any way round it. If the store were
to hire personable, friendly chaps, they'd soon have to fire
them for lack of technical knowledge.

[kenji]

In article <MPG.1bbf456626fc475a989738@news.cox.net>,
BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote:

> In article <kenji-834BEC.10253525092004@news.ftupet.com>,
> kenji@ripco.com says...
> > In article <MPG.1bbf2331d5bf7e7d989737@news.cox.net>,
> > BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I'm struggling to see the relevance of your reply...
> >
> > You post a bunch of paragraphs of how over time you and your kid were
> > systematically degraded by the store over along period of time. then you
> > ask for others to share their tales of woe.
> >
> > You want to gawk at other's misfortune.
> >
> Umm..., not really. Just wondering if I have had a series of mishaps
> that others had not experienced.
>
> Do you have something to add to this besides your unrelated commentary?

Yeah. My opinion:

You should have stopped shopping there a long time ago,if things are as
bad as you describe.

I think alot of employees of hobbyshops are by default kinda geeky. the
owners of the LHS have to have someone who is knowledgeable and
sometimes they oveerlook that the employee might not be a "people
person".

Could it be the people are low paid and don't really care about you. You
get what you pay for and the same goes for the help on your staff. We have
hobby town in our area and I must say the ones who know what they are
talking about are way cool and helpful. The ones who don't have a clue are
not very personably nor helpful.

I have had similar experiences with Hobby Shack in the long past. That's
why it's in the long past.

--

Ryan - RnRpinball, Inc.
www.RnRpinball.com

Other Recomended Web Browsing
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www.midasrecords.net
"BDM" <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1bbf1a54f67b8aae989736@news.cox.net...
>
>
> I bought a Compeition Electronics Pit Bull charger through the mail
> order side. It arrived and I found the seal broken and the connecting
> wire ends were twisted showing it had been wired to something before. I
> call Customer Service and the guy says, "yeah, alot of that stuff is
> scratch and dent." What the hell does that mean? The ad didn't mention
> they were selling used stuff. Back it goes. I eat the shipping
> charges.
>
> I used to go to their local store in Lake Forest, CA to be met by
> several of the rudest people I have yet to do business with in a hobby
> shop. The attitude is over the top. They argue, are hesitant to help,
> and don't even acknowledge you as they hand you what you asked
> for...that is, if they even have it. They even used hard sell tactics
> on my five year old! I've been there five or six times and it's always
> the same. I have spent alot of money there in the past (just ask my
> wife!) and they just lost any chance of getting any more from me. I'm
> done with Hobby People.
>
> There's only one other local hobby shop; Gyro Hobbies. I will be going
> there, up to Ultimate, or doing mail order in the future. It's a shame
> it has to be that way, since I've been doing business with Hobby People
> (Hobby Shack) for many years, but I don't believe paying customers
> should be treated like crap.
>
> Anyone have similar experiences?
>
> Brian

[Frater Mus]

On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 at 15:25 GMT, <kenji@ripco.com> wrote:

> You post a bunch of paragraphs of how over time you and your kid were
> systematically degraded by the store over along period of time. then you
> ask for others to share their tales of woe.
>
> You want to gawk at other's misfortune.

Looks to me like he's trying to learn whether his experience was an
exception or the rule.

Valid question, valid thread.



--
L.V.X., brother mouse
http://cbsrmt.mousetrap.net/RMTdb/ CBS Radio Mystery Theater database
http://greyhound.mousetrap.net/altus/ retired racing greyhound
http://www.mousetrap.net/~mouse/cs.html How to get good phone support

[FLYBOY2000]

I have to say that Hobby People in Lake Forest, being new ( location) is actually one of the friendliest...and that isn't saying too much.
I have found Gyro and Ultimate to be awful..In fact my wife, fiance' at the time went in to Ultimate in Orange two years ago to get me a ERGO 46..now that was about a $450.00 Heli kit and she could not get a single counter person to help her, so she left they never smile nor ask if they can help..they just kinda glare at you. Gyro is no better in my opinion.. They seem to have a new computer system there that is tied into the internet and when there are no managers around they spend their time chatting on the phone and looking at stuff on the net i.e.. personal stuff. I've been left standing at the front counter for 5-10 mins at a time so they can finish a personal call. But what else can we do.. Sometimes you just have to put up with it so you can get those small items that you don't want to wait for in the mail...
just my opinion.

[C G]

FLYBOY2000 wrote:

> I have to say that Hobby People in Lake Forest, being new ( location) is
> actually one of the friendliest...and that isn't saying too much.
> I have found Gyro and Ultimate to be awful..In fact my wife, fiance' at
> the time went in to Ultimate in Orange two years ago to get me a ERGO
> 46..now that was about a $450.00 Heli kit and she could not get a
> single counter person to help her, so she left they never smile nor ask
> if they can help..they just kinda glare at you. Gyro is no better in
> my opinion.. They seem to have a new computer system there that is tied
> into the internet and when there are no managers around they spend
> their time chatting on the phone and looking at stuff on the net i.e..
> personal stuff. I've been left standing at the front counter for 5-10
> mins at a time so they can finish a personal call. But what else can
> we do.. Sometimes you just have to put up with it so you can get those
> small items that you don't want to wait for in the mail...
> just my opinion.

Actually, you don't have to put up with it. You can choose to spend
your money elsewhere. You also can interrupt the person if it's obvious
that what they are doing is personal. If this is the only shop in town
and you are trying to support them so you can buy that $5-10 part
immediately rather than waiting for mail order, you can also talk to the
manager/owner. If network access on the computer, or personal use of
the phone, is a problem, the manager can remind the employees that the
computer and phone are for BUSINESS purposes and that any non-business
use is forbidden. If the non-business use continues, the manager can
install tracking software, or disconnect the network access. They can
also remind their employees that the phone is there to allow customers
to call the store and that lengthy personal conversations prevent this.
From what I've seen many businesses do a lousy job of teaching
employees that while they are working, the customer comes first.

[BDM]

Interesting observation, FLYBOY! Maybe what the gentleman said earlier
about a certain type of person (prefers things to people) being drawn to
the industry is indeed the root cause. I have had isolated bad
experiences at nearly all hobby shops I have frequented over the years,
but none as consistent as HP in Lake Forest. I guess it's just the luck
of the draw. I have had by far the best luck at Ultimate, and actually
had quite a few conversations with the staff where I have received some
great tips and advice. It's kind of what I have come to expect from a
shop. I'm excited and interested and I expect them to be, too. Then
again, I don't do this for a living ;^)

Additionally, I'm always surprised when I go somewhere ready to spend
money and I am treated badly without cause. I just don't see how that
computes to people in customer service-oriented industries.

Thanks for your input.

Brian

In article <FLYBOY2000.1dhmcb@rcgroups.com>,
FLYBOY2000.1dhmcb@rcgroups.com says...
>
> I have to say that Hobby People in Lake Forest, being new ( location) is
> actually one of the friendliest...and that isn't saying too much.
> I have found Gyro and Ultimate to be awful..In fact my wife, fiance' at
> the time went in to Ultimate in Orange two years ago to get me a ERGO
> 46..now that was about a $450.00 Heli kit and she could not get a
> single counter person to help her, so she left they never smile nor ask
> if they can help..they just kinda glare at you. Gyro is no better in
> my opinion.. They seem to have a new computer system there that is tied
> into the internet and when there are no managers around they spend
> their time chatting on the phone and looking at stuff on the net i.e..
> personal stuff. I've been left standing at the front counter for 5-10
> mins at a time so they can finish a personal call. But what else can
> we do.. Sometimes you just have to put up with it so you can get those
> small items that you don't want to wait for in the mail...
> just my opinion.
>
>
> --
> FLYBOY2000
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> FLYBOY2000's Profile: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=20173
> View this thread: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=279337
>
>

[animal1313]

BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.1bbf1a54f67b8aae989736@news.cox.net>...
{snip}
>
> I used to go to their local store in Lake Forest, CA to be met by
> several of the rudest people I have yet to do business with in a hobby
> shop. The attitude is over the top. They argue, are hesitant to help,
> and don't even acknowledge you as they hand you what you asked
> for...that is, if they even have it. They even used hard sell tactics
> on my five year old! I've been there five or six times and it's always
> the same. I have spent alot of money there in the past (just ask my
> wife!) and they just lost any chance of getting any more from me. I'm
> done with Hobby People.
>
{snip}

I've been to dozens of hobby stores in the 'greater' Los Angeles area
and have found that Hobby Warehouse in Lakewood is by far the worst.

As with your experience, they are rude. They also give bad advice,
don't know anything about older RC cars (2 years or older), have no
idea how to custom-fit something, and never have frequently broken
parts in stock. For isntance, I had tried 3 times to get a screw set
for a mini-T over two months. They responded each time with "Didn't we
order that? I guess it never came in. You want us to order it for
you?"

If I want a hobby shop to order something for me, I'll do it myself
online. There are only two reasons why a shop is necessary in the
first place. One, to have a place to share experiences and ideas with
people in the same hobby. Two, to have the bloody needed parts on a
Saturday afternoon after you have just hit a curb at 40mph.

I don't much care for the comment that these sales people might not be
"people persons". That's unacceptable in retail sales. I understand
the clerks are paid nearly minimum wage, but they get a toys at cost,
have a job which benifits their hobby, and are rarely overworked.

Slightly off topic, but have you noticed that the prices from online
stores and brick-and-mortar stored are the same? How can this be
unless there is some hanky-panky going on at the distribution level.

Animal

[George Williams]

animal1313 wrote:

> Slightly off topic, but have you noticed that the prices from online
> stores and brick-and-mortar stored are the same? How can this be
> unless there is some hanky-panky going on at the distribution level.

I noticed the prices are the same, but it's reasonable if they both
pay the same wholesale price to the manufacturers. When the manufacturers
sell items in their own stores, they usually price items to avoid
undercutting their distributors. One example of that is Dremel, which
sells (or used to sell) items directly. The last time I checked, their
prices were quite a bit higher than prices for the same items from Micromat
or local hardware or electronics stores. But it's not hanky-panky in Dremel's
case, because I asked them straight out about the prices, and they said
they didn't want to undercut their distributors.

[sal_bass]

i recently started in this hobby one year ago. got into it full
swing. two touring chassis and about $4000 dollars later i'm, like
you, surprised at how some hobby shop people lack BASIC (forget being
a people person) communication skills. and i'm talking most ages.
not just kids.

while the argument that these people, much like computer people, don't
deal with people much, in general, so their attitude is justified, is
bogus and very sad. it also reinforces the geek/dork stereotype of
the R/C community. and that always seems to reinforce the whole "toy
cars/planes/trains" mentality as well.

i'm quite the technical nut myself but have an active social life and
still do. but that's beside the point.

went to my local shop and asked about brands and quality of the
product and reputation, parts availability....the guy looked at me
like i'd asked for technical specs on the Lockheed SR-71. to top it
off....he dismissed me by saying..."Tamiya? no serious racer would
mention that brand" and walked off....i never said i was going to
race....WHY do they always assume that????

and let's say for a moment that Tamiya is the worst brand out
there....the Fox News of R/C.....why bother selling it? they had a
few kits in stock. new stuff.

it seemed like most of his knowledge came from magazine ads. i don't
want to buy into trends.

a few phone calls to some larger shops out of state yeilded the same
thing. uninformed, uninterested, and not "familiar with that brand".

so i decided to do something i've never done before...shop on-line.
went to towerhobbies.com.

while the shipping times are a pain for stuff i need right away...i
simply purchased a second kit as back up for each of the kits i'm
currently using. if something breaks i've got back ups. small screws
and driveshafts i keep multiple spares of in stock.

while it's probably the more expensive route, i'll never have to worry
about being stuck without some small $1 dollar part. and i'm TOTALLY
self reliant.

i don't believe in giving second chances. retailers get one shot with
me. if they blow it, i won't waste any more money.

the worst came from Sheldon Hobbies. i called and asked if they had a
kit in stock. i was told they did. then, i get a call back two weeks
(!) later saying that they in fact, did not have it in stock. i kept
cool and asked about another kit, he said they in fact had it. when i
asked if they had the particular polycarbonate paints in stock for
that model, i got: HEY, how am i'm supposed to know THAT??? huh?!?!
how?

a stunning display.




BDM <metzb1@remove.yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<MPG.1bbf1a54f67b8aae989736@news.cox.net>...
> I bought a Compeition Electronics Pit Bull charger through the mail
> order side. It arrived and I found the seal broken and the connecting
> wire ends were twisted showing it had been wired to something before. I
> call Customer Service and the guy says, "yeah, alot of that stuff is
> scratch and dent." What the hell does that mean? The ad didn't mention
> they were selling used stuff. Back it goes. I eat the shipping
> charges.
>
> I used to go to their local store in Lake Forest, CA to be met by
> several of the rudest people I have yet to do business with in a hobby
> shop. The attitude is over the top. They argue, are hesitant to help,
> and don't even acknowledge you as they hand you what you asked
> for...that is, if they even have it. They even used hard sell tactics
> on my five year old! I've been there five or six times and it's always
> the same. I have spent alot of money there in the past (just ask my
> wife!) and they just lost any chance of getting any more from me. I'm
> done with Hobby People.
>
> There's only one other local hobby shop; Gyro Hobbies. I will be going
> there, up to Ultimate, or doing mail order in the future. It's a shame
> it has to be that way, since I've been doing business with Hobby People
> (Hobby Shack) for many years, but I don't believe paying customers
> should be treated like crap.
>
> Anyone have similar experiences?
>
> Brian

[Fundy]

Finally - someone starts a thread that I WHOLE HEARTEDLY agree with. I can't speak for all Hobby People outlets, but the one in Lawndale is the WORST service I have ever seen. They are so rude and easily upset if you ask any questions - AS IF WERE SUPPOSE TO KNOW THIS FROM BIRTH!! No one knows about RC unless someone else told them, but they act like your the dumbest person on earth. The worst part is the real technical nuts in hobby stores are such GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS and they think they're so cool cause they get to put someone down and hold themselves up on a petistal because they know more about stupid toys!! I guess for those losers - that's your only win in life so live up that little victory. :rolleyes:

[kenji]

In article <Fundy.1x290b@rcgroups.com>,
Fundy <Fundy.1x290b@rcgroups.com> wrote:

> petistal

if you're gonna have a good rant proper spelling comes into play.

pedestal

[sonofabitchsky@hotmail.com]

Fundy wrote:
> Finally - someone starts a thread that I WHOLE HEARTEDLY agree with. I
> can't speak for all Hobby People outlets, but the one in Lawndale is
> the WORST service I have ever seen. They are so rude and easily upset
> if you ask any questions - AS IF WERE SUPPOSE TO KNOW THIS FROM BIRTH!!
> No one knows about RC unless someone else told them, but they act like
> your the dumbest person on earth. The worst part is the real technical
> nuts in hobby stores are such GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS and they think
> they're so cool cause they get to put someone down and hold themselves
> up on a petistal because they know more about stupid toys!! I guess
> for those losers - that's your only win in life so live up that little
> victory. :rolleyes:
>
>
> --
> Fundy


I agree. But its not just Hobby People. Its many many retail stores.
Radio Shack used to be like that. Super nerd employees who in order to
feel some signifigance in their pathetic lives, need to talk down to
the average joe who doesn't spend all night getting arroused by the new
edition of Semi-Conductor Weekly. They can go flux themselves.

My advice, do not support stores with bad employees. No matter what.
Go elsewhere, online, whatever.

[E-Challenged]

In a hurry one day, I paid $10.99 for a bag of Coverlite ( plane covering material) at an HP store in Fountain Valley that had been priced in error, it should have been marked $4.99, their normal price. Came back a week or so later to get some credit against the overpayment and make some other purchases. The clerk referred me to the manager. I explained that the Coverlite had been mislableled as to price and after some some discussion, I even showed him some other packages on the rack that had been mis-labeled and some that were marked $4.99.The "manager" disagreed about the mis-labelling and refused to credit me for the extra that I had paid. After trying to convince the manager otherwise, my temper finally flared not just from this instance but from many other disappointments with HP's policies and I said "screw you, you have just lost another long time customer and maybe lots more" He lost his temper and told me " There's the door". This manager apparently doesn't believer a customer is ever right. I don't like hobby shops that assume all customers are potential theives and hide small parts in cabinets behind locked glass doors. I don't like hobby shops run by accountants were "we just sold the last one and won't get any more for 2 maybe 3 weeks, not my fault!!" I don't like hobby shops where they have never built a model and don't understand the terminology. :mad: