I still like to go into a shop and see what I am buying when possible. Friday, whilst in Manchester couldn't resist having a look at the new Modelzone in W H Smiths and bought accessories.

The problem with internet buying is the trouble you have to go to if things aren't right and it has to be posted back for exchange or refund.

On BBC radio 4's Moneybox programme the other week it was mentioned that if you bought over the internet, you have a right to a refund if you don't like the goods, but if you buy from a shop you are only entitled to a refund if the goods are faulty. On Euronews this was featured and the EU are soon to pass laws about consumer rights for exchange/refund (2015 I think).

Tony.

This is nothing new. I went to the USA over 30 years ago and was driven to the "biggest and best hobby store" that Dallas had to offer. It was little more than a shack, situated on a dusty backroad behind Love Field airport. The old proprietor was quite a character and showed me around his workshop at the back of the store, but it was the almost total absense of big-ticket stock items that amazed me. There was ONE two-channel Futaba radio and maybe three or four assorted small i/c engines and, apart from some House of Balsa model aircraft kits which he'd bought cheap from the wholesaler, that was it. The rest of the stock was balsa, ply, glue, paint, Solarfilm etc.
He explained that the big mail-order stores could sell these big-ticket items cheaper than he could buy them, so most modellers bought almost all of their expensive goods this way and just used his store for convenience or for bits they'd run out of. In a country where the local store can be 50+ miles away I guess that mail order makes sense, but I do feel for the poor soul who invests his time, money and effort into opening a model shop just to have customers come and handle his stock then clear off and buy it cheaper on the 'Net.
I'd be interested to hear from our Aussie and Kiwi members about how they buy their modelling goods.

Dave M

Hi People…

I had a shop some twenty years ago (general goods), in the south lakes Ulverston and remember one miserable Sunday afternoon a lady called in for a bag of sugar and when paying.., she said “ I can get this ten pence cheaper at Tesco “… so I had to say it… NOT ON A SUNDAY YOU CANT….LOL

Once trading opened up seven days a week we closed.

The son in law has just started on the Post and we had a chat about this… and we think he will probably be one of the remaining workers over the coming years as you say all the shops closing, we will still need delivery and return pick up.

No need for shop front sales if all are looking for products on line.

I still have a problem buying a book on line… like to see/ feel the item size of print pictures all that, and when it comes to buying a model boat or piece of kit, I do like to see it talk to the person I am buying it from.

So as you Bob… I travel miles to Lancaster Model shop, to buy items and usually order motors and hold it with them until I call next time as I do not want to see them disappear.

Our local paper shop is also struggling as many read the news on line and order magazines direct.

Its all a new world of cloud storage and hard drives, makes my boxes of magazines in the garage look very old world.

Best regards,

Ian

I tell you what. Io would not mind being a shop keeper. If the shop was for model boaters run by model boaters who actually knew about model boats. Seems very difficult to find the knowledge in this day of helicopters, planes and cars running about all over the place. Would not mind even having a pool in the back to try them out on. Now that would be my kind of shop.

Andy (looking forward to winning the lottery)

I think that maybe true. you only need to look at any high street these days to see the decline in any shop.

Andy