[wildoliver]

Just a quick question, what is your local model shop like?

I only ask because after a really long break from modelling, there were always good and bad of course, but pre internet there were lots of little aladdins cave type model shops, usually with an old man running it with boxes and boxes of what can only be described as useless C**p under the counter, as well as a selection of models etc.

Now all that seems to exist (round here at least) is clean fresh looking shops, filled mostly with toys, air rifles (I do shoot too but I don't want to go to a model shop to buy shooting equipment) plastic junk and a few models. Oh and rude staff.

Allow me to elaborate.

Trying to get back in to things cheaply I'm building a car up out of bits basically, intention of running it a few times, see if I want to get back in to the hobby or if it is a passing phase, if I want to get back in to it I'll buy a proper model probably a losi and go from there. So I have a collection of mardave/schumacher/losi parts and bolt them up and I have a car, only thing I'm lacking is a pair of fairly long turnbuckles for the steering, as the original ones from the front suspension are no longer long enough due to a chassis change.

1st stop Bridlington. Usual reception is only describable as apathy, but he's ok, no turnbuckles in stock for any car, so I buy some piano wire to make a pair of temp ones up.

Yesterday 2nd stop. "A small model shop in scarborough". Walk in greeted by a smile! Hi have you got any steering turnbuckles at all? What car is it for? It doesn't really matter said I, it's for a hybrid so anything really........here comes the beauty. "Oh that means I have to look through all the boxes though to find you some" at this point she became openly hostile and couldn't be bothered to do the most basic of jobs. I'm not asking a lot for goodness sake, I'm trying to buy something here, all I want is a bit of professionalism. Eventually her attitude becomes offensive and I realise she doesn't have the faintest idea what she's looking for so say don't worry I'll go to the other model shop.

Stop 3. Walk in better this time, much bigger shop although most of it is filled with toys and games, find almost what would do the job on display! They have rod in steel or brass and m3 slip on ends that I could solder/braize or weld on. Thinking if worse case happens I could buy some of that I'll go and ask if they have turnbuckles go to counter, young girl and older man, man serving so ask girl, she I must say was brilliant, friendly and helpful, says she doesn't know and to ask the chap, he becomes free and proceeds to deride me, comes out with comments like well I can't find them unless you know what car they are for. I tell him there is no car it is made of bits, he basically shrugs his shoulders and refuses to help????? I'm trying to buy something here ffs!

So what do I do now? The answer I go on to modelsports website or even better ebay, I look up turnbuckles on ebay and guess what there is dozens, from about 99p. I can see from the pictures ones about the right size (it isn't even delicate engineering this I can play with about half an inch adjustment.

So end result local model shop loses out this time on a small sale to the internet. When I come to buy another car they will lose out on that too, if any friends or family want anything similar they will be advised to keep away from these two shops, and eventually they will probably go bump citing the internet as the reason they can't survive.

Simple fact of life, people will pay inflated prices to buy from a person, provided that person is helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. They won't pay through the nose to be insulted, sneered at and generally receive rude unnaceptable treatment. My business wouldn't survive if I was rude, it infuriates me that people think they can get away with it. I hope the owners of said shops read this post actually. And for the record I wouldn't excuse it but could understand if I was a 15 year old spotty chav in a tracksuit, but I'm late twenties and was smartly dressed and polite.