RE: Big jump in kit prices at Tower
[quote]ORIGINAL: Shimano Something I have not read anyone mention as a reason for price increase.. The fact that the economy around the globe is being destroyed. The value of the Dollar is getting lower and lower, our country's credit rating has gone from AAA+ to AAA, to now AA. Oh, did the News Media not mention this?? what a surprise.. I suppose most of you out there will get defensive over my comments, but that really only comes from not knowing about what I said, and wanting to believe its not really true.  [/quote] Well Put. It is the dollar not the price of the products. Stuff is way cheaper today than 15 years ago. The dollar is worth less.
Posted on: 7/8/2012 9:53 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11147516

RE: Big jump in kit prices at Tower
[quote]ORIGINAL: Gray Beard I took all kinds of photos today of a lot of our machines. I was surprised to find 4 or 5 guys in the shop but there were some shop projects going on. We build custom items for residents, that is how we can afford the equipment. When something new or better hits the market we will often buy it. We have run out of room though. From October to about June the shop is very busy, this time of year it is empty, all the heat birds have flown to cooler climates. Any other equipment you want to know about I probably have photos of. Our shop has pretty much everything you need. I have my own scroll saw and sander, I cut my own kits with those two items for years until I moved here. They work fine but it takes me longer and I can't cut all my own wood.[;)] Gene [/quote] So you use 50k worth of equipment to save $40.00 on a kit? Not many people have that available to them.
Posted on: 7/8/2012 9:51 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11147514

RE: going to open my own lhs
[quote]ORIGINAL: funflyerf4 no hobby town's in NJ why? The cost of real estate to high. Straight from a hobby town VP. [/quote] Yes there is in Sussex county [/quote] Sorry missed that ONE. I think he was referring to company stores. I think that one is a franchise, either way It is also in the 8th wealthiest county in NJ surrounded by the 7 Most wealthy counties in NJ. Also sussex is 91 in the country for wealth next to 4 counties in the top twenty in the country. Deptford can not compare. Just sayin
Posted on: 6/30/2012 7:20 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Car General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11137544

RE: going to open my own lhs
[quote]ORIGINAL: DanMN I was looking into the same thing a couple of years ago. I used Hobbytown's franchise offer as a base for $$ going in. They required $150K as an initial investment on stock products. That didn't include brick and mortar (If I remember correctly). If you are going to do this, make sure you have secured at least that and you should be able to consider it gone. I don't mean that you should go in thinking it won't make money, but don't leverage your house to do it. At the time I was looking into opening a shop, I wasn't able to go independent and be competitive without large minimum orders to Horizon, etc to get decently discounted prices. I'm not saying don't do it, but be careful. The LHS's that I frequent, were started by people who had deep pockets and wouldn't be on welfare if the business failed. They also had enough start up capitol to make a nice shop in a decent location. They are very good at marketing too. [/quote] no hobby town's in NJ why? The cost of real estate to high. Straight from a hobby town VP.
Posted on: 6/28/2012 11:10 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Car General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11135238

RE: going to open my own lhs
[quote]ORIGINAL: STRAFEDOG Has Chick finally retired ? [/quote] dont think so, he is still at it. I used to love going to his shop as a kid. The bottom line is price you need to have best price and you can't because you are not manuf. You also have to collect sales tax which in NJ puts you at 7% disadvantage. Until they level the playing field with the web retail is an up hill battle. Just ask best buy. As far as good service. NO ONE CARES!!!!!! We give great service go above and beyond all the time. We get rewarded by the customer going direct to horizon for the same price because...... you guessed it they "saved the sales tax". Good service is a distant 4th or 5th on the list. If customer service was first why would anyone buy from banana after reading the customer reviews. I think there is a 3 month rule for hobby customers. You get about three months of helping them, selling them products, teaching them what to do before they get enough confidence to start buying from bad banana, hobby king, or nitro. At that point when the stuff does not work, which is most of the time, they have no problem bringing it in and asking for help. The only problem for mr. customer is now that help starts at $40.00 a hour. They also have the option of contacting who they bought it from LOL. How does that work out for them. They get pissed it is my fault they bought junk I do not want to fix, like I said the 3 month rule. [:o]
Posted on: 6/28/2012 8:29 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Car General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11135075

RE: going to open my own lhs
PS I forgot to add YOU ARE IN COMPETITION WITH ALL YOUR SUPPLIERS not a good business model.
Posted on: 6/27/2012 8:35 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Car General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11134638

RE: going to open my own lhs
I have a hobby shop in NJ. Save your money. You will ruin your hobby and in NJ retail is very hard with high cost of real estate. If you do not stock items you will not get very many orders. People can order themselves and save the tax. (a big concern with hobby people) I have 300k in stock and adding all time. I used to love this hobby now it is a drag!!!! Think long and hard.
Posted on: 6/27/2012 8:28 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Car General Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11134634

RE: COMP ARF 110
[quote]ORIGINAL: samparfitt Nice video and flight. What engine and prop size did you use? [/quote] DA 120 with a 26X12 Three blade. Tony
Posted on: 5/2/2012 4:27 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11065961

RE: COMP ARF 110
He is also very modest to!!!!
Posted on: 5/2/2012 4:25 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11065956

RE: COMP ARF 110
The first flight of the Lucky Gallon corsair. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYb1536Mxw
Posted on: 5/2/2012 10:05 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11065541

RE: Evolution 7 cylinder 260cc radial engine - Operation and maintenance
THANK YOU
Posted on: 4/2/2012 6:58 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11025881

RE: Evolution 7 cylinder 260cc radial engine - Operation and maintenance
more pics
Posted on: 3/31/2012 9:18 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11022405

RE: Evolution 7 cylinder 260cc radial engine - Operation and maintenance
Here are some pictures of my Balsa USA Stearman with A evo 260 Radial. Ready for paint and covering. Hope to fly by end of may.
Posted on: 3/31/2012 9:16 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11022403

RE: COMP ARF 110
Thank you I guy named Cris Finck Did the assembly and paint. My time to build went bye bye when I made my hobby my vocation. LOL
Posted on: 3/27/2012 4:41 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11017595

RE: COMP ARF 110
[quote]ORIGINAL: jchorak Tony, What engine and prop combo are you using? Thanks, John [/quote] DA 120 and a 26 x 12 XOAR
Posted on: 3/27/2012 4:32 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11017578

RE: COMP ARF 110
I also went with a sport scale version. The lucky gallon as shown below. Waiting for weather to break to maiden. Tony
Posted on: 3/27/2012 12:44 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11017255

RE: Evolution 7 cylinder 260cc radial engine - Operation and maintenance
Hey Steve Tony from recreation depot. I am having a balsa usa 1/3 Steerman being built by a local Model builder Tom Perkins. I was going to put the 260 on it. Do you think it will be to much, should I use the 160 ? Any thoughts would be great. Thanks Tony RecDepot
Posted on: 11/29/2011 7:09 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Warbirds and Warplanes"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10835479

RE: Disappointed with your
[quote]ORIGINAL: AllAboutFunHobbies [quote]ORIGINAL: harleydoberman This is the new way of shopping and customer service - get used to it. Pretty soon all stores will be a thing of the past and we will all deal directly with MFG's. The days of taking a defective product back into the local store and having someone who uses the product, understands the product, and can FIX the product
Posted on: 9/3/2011 7:12 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "Redcat Racing Support"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10699467

RE: Disappointed with your
This is the new way of shopping and customer service - get used to it. Pretty soon all stores will be a thing of the past and we will all deal directly with MFG's. The days of taking a defective product back into the local store and having someone who uses the product, understands the product, and can FIX the product is going by the way side. Thus is YOUR FAULT - you said it. When the LHS did stock or sell this junk product, that should have been an indication right away. I see thier products once in a while in my shop looking brand new and always not running. I never waste my time with them. I sold a Traxxas Nitro Stampede to a customer, 10ft out of the box starter gears were shredded. Truck never even started. If it was up to me I would hand the customer a new truck. Traxxas prohibits me from doing that. I did not have the gear in stock so the customer must wait. Not a good system, but a system never the less. Traxxas is great about sending new parts at no charge to the dealer or the customer. The part they do not understand is that when a model is deffective out of the box, it should be replaced immediately. It should be their problem to fix or refurb the unit. I as a dealer I make squat on these items, maybe $40.00 on a $375.00 sale, but spend way more time working on them I should have to for free. I do that for the customers sake. When I have had my fill I will close and there will be one less shop around. The consumers drive for "THE BEST DEAL", or "THE LOWEST PRICE" has resulted in "THE LOWEST CUSTOMER SERVICE" but amazingly the consumer is surprised when they can't get service on the cheapest piece of s#@t they buy on the market. That old saying [size=2]YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR[/size][b][/b] has never been more true than in 2011! One man's opinion.
Posted on: 9/2/2011 6:36 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "Redcat Racing Support"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10698970

RE: Another Chinese Turbine? (HobbyKing)
[quote]ORIGINAL: Airplanes400 While many things are made in China, much of the USA is owned by China and Japan. Hitachi is a Japanese Company that is based in Japan. Hitachi merely has distribution centers and warehouses in the USA. It's been that way for many, many years. All Hitachi products are made in Japan, Indonesia, Ireland, Taiwan, Korea, SE Asia, and the Philippines. I believe the only partial assembly that Hitachi may do in the USA is with their heavy construction equipment, which is mostly assembled in Japan. Most everything comes from China... and probably several of the parts of the name brand turbines. China does make excellent products. Matter of fact, if those products were manufactured in the USA, they would be twice the price they are ... maybe more. Much of the parts that go into making US products come from Japan, China and Mexico. For example; Ford, and GM vehicles that are made in the USA have many foreign parts in them. Especially electronics. Sad to say, but without foreign countries like China, many Americans would not be able to afford many things they have. Kind of an oxymoron, heh? [/quote] I agree with you about Hitachi. A Japan based company left the US TV market because of Cheap China TV's. They just started to come back in US recently.
Posted on: 9/1/2011 6:04 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10696520

RE: Another Chinese Turbine? (HobbyKing)
[quote]ORIGINAL: GerKonig [quote]ORIGINAL: Xairflyer [quote]ORIGINAL: Eagleburger Cheap glow and gas engines, radio controls etc did nothing to the price of established brands, neither will a cheap turbine. [/quote] I agree with that, people will always pay more for brand names same as the Primark jeans for a £10 against the levi's for £60 many of this sort of stuff is made in the same factory with a different badge on the back pocket. Same has happened with brushless motors, some will only use brand names like Hacker, I am happy to use chineese copies which cost 1/5th price, I have not had one fail on me yet, and even if they eventually do I will buy another and still be quids in. The Hobbyking Turbine will not replace the Jetcat or Jetcentral brand leaders, but there is still a place for a economically priced turbine. [/quote] You are right. Cheap Lipos from Hobby Partz, HobbyKing and other does not kill the business for the more expensive ones (also from China). But hey, buyers pay perceived value and that is OK. Too many people still believe that price is based on cost:-) Cessna's latest entry in the Sport Aviation market is the Skycatcher. Which is the first general aviation airplane manufactured, yes in China. So, their cost is way lower than the competition. Where is their price? Yes Virginia in line with the competition. Because you pay peanuts for something does not mean you will sell it for peanuts. The cost accountant does not set the prices:-) You price your product according to what the market will bear. the difference is that your profits will be bigger if your cost is low. There is always a market for Hundai and for BMW... Just remember, when Toyotas arrived to this country they were a POS. Different thing now. Nobody would dare to use the word quality and Hundai in the same sentence years back. Things look like they have changed. Gerry [/quote] You are kidding yourself to think the name brand lipos did not suffer bad sales from the cheap china batteries. Just ask my horizon sales rep from whom I used to buy hundreds of lipo's from and now only buy the ones at greatly reduced specical prices or close outs. Trust me they put a dent in the higher priced battery sales.
Posted on: 9/1/2011 5:51 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10696502

RE: Another Chinese Turbine? (HobbyKing)
There is hugh difference in hobby stuff and electronics, but one thing holds true for both. It cost a certain amount of money to produce a quality product. My core business for 20 years was pool tables and 5 years ago we moved into home theater and automation to go with the gameroom package. We also have a Hobby Shop on its 6th year. I learned out of the gate that selling $2000.00 tv's to make 10 bucks was a loser deal. Its not that we could not compete with Best Buy, Circut city, Tweeter, etc why would we want to. They were losing money selling the same products. In 2008 LG lost 330 Million selling flat panel TV's in the US. You might remember LG in super markets years ago as lucky goldstar. Cheap crap TV,s at cheap prices at your local market. When they wanted to take over the world they changed the name to LG (not as chinese sounding) and bought market share by selling TV's below there cost. They were giving 35% of the cost of the TV's or more to dealers to advertise their products. The normal is 2-5%. Hitachi left the US in 2008 because they were losing money on [size=2]EVERY 42" FLAT PANEL THEY SOLD![/size] They hold more patents than any other company for flat panel TV's and now we do not get to benefit from their technology. It got so bad that before Circut city filed bankruptcy the CEO made a statement that they were losing money on 80% of the sku numbers (sku's are products they sell) in the store. [size=3]That whole big store and only 20% of the store made them any money.[/size][b][/b] Tweeter cited flat panel TV prices as the driving factor for them failing. The statement was prices were "IN A RACE TO ZERO" as they filed chapter 7 and closed. You mention GPS, TV's DVD etc, what do thay all have on common now?[size=3] MADE IN CHINA.[/size][b][/b] Competition is good but unfair competition from countries that underpay workers and pollute the enviorment, (where does all the nitro we use come from, Ahhhh trick question CHINA) and use inferior parts is not good. The price of technology will come down over time from market forces. We should not let one country dictate our economic path. Flooding the market with a cheap poorly made product does not benefit anyone other than company taking your hard earned bucks. Remember this a few years from now when things get even worse, we are not in a BAD economy we are in a NEW economy.
Posted on: 8/31/2011 6:00 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10695844

RE: Another Chinese Turbine? (HobbyKing)
P.S. I always wondered why any hobby shop I ever went into the ower was a crusty old man mad at the world. Now I understand why. LOL
Posted on: 8/31/2011 8:56 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10695062

RE: Another Chinese Turbine? (HobbyKing)
WOW what to say. I am finding myself in the unique position of defending Hobby King. Any one who knows me knows that is indeed very rare. I own a hobby shop that does a pretty brisk business. I am outspoken on china sites: HK Bananna Crap, and others. Most sell junk, Read the reveiws, I do not understand why anyone would buy something with a bad review. One customer told me he thought he might get a "good one" DAAAAAAHHH. Out of a need to compete with battery prices, I ordered HK batteries, marked them up, and sell them through the store. This works great for the customer that wants a few batteries, does not want to wait, and wants to make sure the product they buy works. We test every battery when it comes in and before it leaves the store. I have bought HUNDRED's maybe into the low 1000+ batteries. I have had 2 bad out of the box. Thats right 2. I did have 12 come in with male connectors, which after a few emails and some pictures, I got full credit for and got to keep the batteries so I soldered on the right connectors. HK is great for batteries, wire harnesses, and connectors. They have a multi charge adapter with 20 different connectors for 10 bucks. I had a discussion with a us supplier who does not understand how the can do that. The connectors alone seem to cost more than 10 bucks. Its simple. In chiina the connectors are dirt cheap but not as cheap as the labor. All this being said I have bought other products from HK that were junk. You have to pick and choose your selections. While a few people think a cheap turbine will help lower the price of turbines made here, it will. It will also help to lower the standard of living even further for more americans that work for the companies that make them. China flooding our country with cheap crap is only good for china. I have been in retail for over 30 years and it is the worst it has been EVER! This opens a whole can of worms I will not get into. I have a few more items to address, that when I read or hear really grind me. The reason tower and Horizon and other US dist can send someone a new deffective part is because they charge 3 to 4 times the cost in order to stay is business. They are not gouging or ripping you off! Thats what it take for a company to pay rent, taxes, employee benifts, wages, insurance, etc. Buy for $1.00 sell for $4.00 . That allows for customer service and the 10-15% of deffective goods china sends them.. Buy or make for a $1.00 sell for $1.50 does not allow for anything other than poor wages no benifits and crappy customer service. This statement that [b]"I buy from the local shop to try and help keep them in business"[/b] What BS you buy from the local HS because you need a $5.00 part that you don't get free shipping on and when it comes to the large stuff, arfs, motors radios, you order on line why?[size=3] TO SAVE THE SALES TAX?[/size] For 6-7% you throw me and your town and state under the bus. Then wonder why the GOV has no money. Of course you will not hesitate to bring in your new purchase to ask for help with it. At best the local HS get 2 -3 months with a new customer before all the other hobbist that claim to support the LHS start to push them in the direction of HK and others. SO PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT LIE!!!!!!! OK I am done - I'm just pissing myself off more.
Posted on: 8/31/2011 8:46 AM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10695049

RE: Roll call, Great American Jet Rally Hamburg Pa
MORE PICS
Posted on: 8/5/2011 4:01 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10657241

RE: Roll call, Great American Jet Rally Hamburg Pa
MORE PICS!!
Posted on: 8/5/2011 3:42 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10657218

RE: Roll call, Great American Jet Rally Hamburg Pa
PICTURES FROM HAMBURG 2011 FRIDAY
Posted on: 8/5/2011 3:31 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10657202

RE: Local hobby shop want to teach at our field
[size=2]I wanted to qoute someone but instead I think I will start from scratch. I do not want to pick on any one post or person, but some of the things said here make me see red! I own a hobby shop in NJ and been in the hobby for many years on and off since the early 70's. I have won gift cert and mentions from the AMA for membership drives and promoting the Hobby. (for which I do not receive a penny). It frost my cookies when I see hobby guys blast a store as trying to make a profit off a club. As a HOBBY SHOP owner and a current CLUB PRESIDENT I work both sides of this debate. As a club president(we have 60 members) it is very hard to recruit good flight instructors that can even give 1 or 2 afternoons a month. They stand people up, forget appointments etc. The customers , aka club members, call my store to complain because I suggested they join a club. I recommend 4 different clubs within the area of my store. The cost is 58.00 for AMA and 30 to 110.00 to join the clubs. I talk them into this and feel bad for them when the club members will not step up and help. I myself do not have the time to help people at the field. I also think it opens a can of worms. If I help them and something happens like a crash, they think I should fix or replace the equipment no matter whos fault it is. Just not a good way to go. As far as doing this to make a 'Living" and making money from selling hobby stuff to people, what a JOKE. If any of you think that the shop owner is doing this for the money, he would be better of pan handling in the street. If he is offering to help these people I assure you it is not for the 30 to 40 dollars you make selling a foam trainer to a customer and than spending an hour showing them how too use it and then shlepping to the local club to teach them how to fly with it..........WOW big money there!!!!!!!!!!! I have been in retail for a long time (non Hobby) the only reason anyone would open a hooby shop is because of a love of the hobby. It is not a good business model at all. There is no margin in the product and very hard to stay open. If an owner is tryinig to get people flying it is because he wants to share a great hobby with other people. You make money in this industry with web sales and high volume, not one on one good quality customer service. HOO RAY for him for trying to promote the hobby. The club should embrace this and run with it. More than 80 % of my customers do not, or will not join a club. Some due to bad past experiences with a club. They tend to be very clickish in our area. Hobby shop name withheld-I wouldn't want to be accused of looking for free exposure on RCU......... One man's opinion.
Posted on: 7/7/2011 8:28 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "AMA Discussions"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10611170

RE: DLE 55 Issues
[quote]ORIGINAL: VF84sluggo [quote]ORIGINAL: Tired Old Man Worst you can do is peak the high AND the low. [/quote] TOM - what do you mean by this? I'm still struggling to get my DLE30 tuned spot-on. It's close, but I still have a burble at what I assume is the transition from low to high needle. I did read the link, and I think part of my problem is that I have been making too large of a needle adjustment as I chase the proper settings. Also, I'll give the high-first method a try. [/quote] Is burble Bad?
Posted on: 7/4/2011 6:53 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "Gas Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10606132

RE: Savage Flux - alternative to Deans?
EC3 and EC5 are Bullet connectors inside a plastic housing. Deans at best are good for 35 to 50 amps. Will they work past that? Maybe but you are taking a chance with them. Any thing that draws more tha 50 amps needs a good solid bullet connector aka EC5. By far the best way to go. Or you can just use castle bullets with shrink wrap over them (not for the faint of heart) Tony
Posted on: 6/26/2011 1:31 PM by Author "harleydoberman" in the forum "HPI Monster Truck Forum"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10593157