Darren, please do not take my post as a personal attack.
I am merely venting frustration in that I had a list of stuff I wanted to buy today and I have two really good model shops near me that I know I could have got everything on my list but both are now closed on the only day that I am able to get to them.
I don’t question your dedication and the amount of time you spend supporting the sport by attending national, regional & local meetings and I was unaware that you had a presence at these meetings as I’m an average club racer and those meetings are far from my ability. I’m also not saying that you guys aren’t entitled to a day off, this is not the case.
I have supported DMS since I moved to Watford in 1995. I have bought 4 nitro cars, 1 electric buggy, 2 RB engines, pipes, loads of fuel, many tools and lots of spares in that time. I also used to go to the back field at Parmiters on a Sunday to run my Hyper 7 and subsequently my Losi 8 (Both bought from DMS and setup/tuned by you). My name is Jordan, you will recognise me if you saw me.
Like you, a young family and other commitments take up much of my time and as a result Saturday is the only day I am able to go to a shop to get the stuff I need. As an average racer with limited talent but loads of enthusiasm for RC, I rely on guys at the track but most importantly the model shop owner / shop guys to give advice or support for the products I have bought or want to buy.
Sitting in front of a computer reading manufacturers descriptions of a product (written by a marketing person) and clicking “add to cart” isn’t the same as going into a shop and talking about the product, buying it and taking it home.
I mentioned that I am surprised that in the current economic climate that a specialist retailer is closed on traditionally the busiest shopping day of the week. You have made the decision based on your declining takings but I am sure that if you asked around that you would be surprised at the feedback about closing on a Saturday and how much business potentially has been lost as a result. Surely I am not the only one who feels this way?!
The reason for my decision to purchase from the 3 sites I mentioned was
purely made on the cheapest price and stock availability alone. My thought process here is that if I have to order online and have stuff delivered I might as well shop around and get the best price. This would not have been a factor if I had the opportunity to purchase from DMS or MK today. Even if you did not have the item I wanted in stock, you could have ordered it and I could have picked it up next Saturday (Thats the way it used to work..didn’t it?)
Regarding the remarks re: JE Spares. I have never had the urge to drive 178 miles on a Saturday to JE Spares to buy some parts so was unaware that they were closed on a Saturday. I live in Bushey, they are in Manchester!?
Please accept my apologies if you feel that my rant was targeted at you, this was never my intention, I was merely venting frustration as instead of building my car with its new ESC, motor, building/filling the shock and diffs with oil, I sit watching TV and responding to your reply instead.
I know what I’d rather be doing.
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