Greg. He was replying directly to posts on the MR and Train Orders, not here. I reposted his reply here.
Bruce Chandler reported:
"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." --Abraham Lincoln
Take moment and enjoy the fine sense of ironic humor shown by Dr. Chandler, writer on the internet.
Gulp. Good show, Bruce. Will readers get the double effort - let alone yours?
Wendell
OK, read the entire MR thread, and I would be insulted if I had posted on that thread and been accused of “hype”, there is no “hype” on that thread, only the nasty retort from the Caboose Hobbies guy.
You read it and tell me if there is any “hype” at all, the same respectful posts and the same, actually less, speculation.
Vic Smith said:
Greg. He was replying directly to posts on the MR and Train Orders, not here. I reposted his reply here.
Well Greg someone at CH took it that way. I can’t access the Train Orders posts anymore. And I don’t know what other online forums he might be referencing (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Interesting…
Like you Vic I don’t have access to Train Orders. However I did read back the entire thread posted on MR Greg linked to. I agree that the thread was very neutral in it’s content, however I did not read the Caboose Hobbies response as an accusation of ‘hype’ specifically on that thread. Rather I read it as a ‘generic’ response, most likely posted on many of the fora where threads of that nature started.
I considered it as a ‘Notice of Clarification’ to an announcement that I thought could have been made in a more clear and concise manner. If the information could be posted on fora after the fact, why could that information have not been included in the flyer I received in my inbox? Looking at it from that perspective part of the ‘hype’ could be attributed to Caboose Hobbies vague announcement.
That being said, the work ‘transition’ means the current ‘situation/condition’ is about to change, not cease to exist, and as such I also see some of the ‘hype’ as being originated by folks who always see the glass as half empty.
Bob C.
This showed up in the television news…try to ignore the brainless “news” anchors if you can. The neighborhood the owner is talking about is a lot like where my shop is: Denver’s downtown is expanding and neighborhoods are gradually going upscale, a deadly recipe for small businesses like train shops. The handwriting (you get priced out of your space) is on the wall. Like he said, “It’s only a matter of when.” The problem of finding new affordable space ain’t as easy as it sounds. Most small businesses are marginal enterprises in low-rent districts. It sucks but it’s true.
edit: embed code didn’t take. Here’s the link:
http://kdvr.com/2016/08/06/worlds-largest-model-train-shop-denver-landmark-facing-uncertain-future/
He says it all on the video, do business a different way. Different from retail brick and mortar. The reporter quotes him as finding a warehouse location.
Unfortunately, doing Internet only sales at full list does not work.
Sigh.
Greg
deleted
I never visited their store but have bought some items from them online. I wonder what percentage of their business was walk in vs. online, that may be a clue as to whether they can survive without a store front.
It is official. As of the end of September, Caboose Hobbies is a fallen flag.
Later,
K
Sad, but understandable and not unexpected. There is a right time for all of us to retire (if we’re fortunate enough to retire), and it sounds like the combination of their stage in life and the Denver real estate realities made the circumstances right. I feel mostly for everyone who works there.
Still, I’ll miss that place.
RIP, Caboose Hobbies.
Dam! What’s going to happen to Lane Stewart’s microlayout! ??
"…Caboose Hobbies
July 18 at 12:59pm ·
Hello everyone!
Caboose Hobbies has NOT announced they are closing in any way. Caboose Hobbies rumors and speculation abound on the internet. Don’t believe anything you see on the internet forums. It is pure speculation.
Time marches on and initial speculation confirmed…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cry.gif)
Or maybe we’re not supposed to believe this?
Sad indeed, I wonder with all the brick and mortar stores closing how well Walthers is doing since they were a major supplier to many of these. In some cases they may now be the only choice for certain items.
I thought Walthers just sold catalogs. I mean, every time I tried ordering something out of their catalog, back when I was in N and HO, whatever I wanted was always out of stock.
Reminds me of a song from my youth!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ
Perhaps it needs redone “internet killed the the local corner store”.
I personally am a huge fan of the local mom and pop stores (price matters not) service matters most. Shame to see them go.
**" Rooster " said:**Perhaps it needs redone “internet killed the the local corner store”.
And add “We couldn’t have done it without ya!”
David Maynard said:
I thought Walthers just sold catalogs. I mean, every time I tried ordering something out of their catalog, back when I was in N and HO, whatever I wanted was always out of stock.
When I was in retail hobbies we had a saying, order three times what you want to have so you can get half of what you have to have. In Walthers’ defense, most hobby manufacturers are not operations on the scale of GM or Boeing. Some were even of the kind who might contract three production runs a year in between the owner living the rest of life and working to pay the mortgage. Somewhere in the middle of this is, for example, Microscale Decals: a pretty small business for all the product which comes from them.
Before I got started making battery R/C control systems in 1985 I used to make H0n30" kits of Victorian Narrow gauge Railway rolling stock under the brand name Puffing Billy Models. I even made some USA Narrow Gauge kits.
Caboose Hobbies were the first export customer I had after a visit I made to Denver during an early National Narrow Gauge Convention. They took quite a bit of stock from me that made that first foray into the Narrow Gauge market a success. Repeat orders kept coming.
Thank you Caboose Hobbies. What a fantastic contribution you have made to our industry.