This is all going out of shape..... I shop for lots of parts from Asia, I run predominantly Tamiya cars, which means I am at the mercy of Hobby Co, so I now buy spares, in bulk from Asia as it is pointless expecting Hobby Co to actually carry it in stock.
All my AE spares come from the UK, same for chargers etc.
Lets not forget, if the distributor hasn't got the part, or is very unwilling to support, then people WILL and DO go overseas, but the model shop doesn't 'lose' that sale, as it was never there's in the first place.
Times are tough at the moment, we don't know whether the bank refused to carry a Microtech any more, or their business model had collapsed, or whether their change from onroad focus to more off-road did it, but it is pointless blaming it on people buying from abroad.
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