Interesting RC Economy Article
 

Hello,

Interesting...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32586241/ns/business-retail

Thanks for posting, and it certainly was interesting.
I'm just not sure how I should feel about Fine Design struggling ?

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edit - now its working

edit - BS only gets you so far..

edit - wait, I meant to say the economy sucks

Thats great, he blames the economy. It couldn't have anything to do with the way he mistreats people and his horrible reputation within the hobby :cry: :na: :lol:

Karma

I'll be glad to see him gone. I wasn't picturing a bald, middle aged guy who keeps screwing us RCers over though... :neutral:

Hmm.

It is kinda sad really, but then again, if he sells crappy conversion products that are bad copies of other peoples products, doesnt honor warrenties, and over charges for items (along with stealing money from peoples accounts and then blaming hackers... makes alot of sense now if hes in money trouble), then hes gonna see his business go south.

When you look at Mike on the other hand, making quality parts and innovating new designs, its hardly suprizing hes always busy and having to turn people down for custom orders (center diff unit for emaxx for example).

I dunno, kind of sad for him, yet, tough luck I guess...

I wonder if it is also a statement about the viability of a retail RC store vs a virtual online store. Maybe all that overhead is causing premature collapse of the retail establishments. I've often felt that without a companion race track (or tracks) it would be very hard for a retail RC store to survive.

Wow I didn't know he stooped that low....

Maybe Mr. Fine is doing all these scams to fund a qaulity Toupee ???

Cant recall who it happended to, but someone posted a thread about it a little while back- something like ~$500+ worth of boat parts ordered, even though they dont do boats, and he was dragginf his heals about refunding the money (cant recall if the victim got their money back or not). Its bad that some companies keep all your card/bank details on record, anyone could access your accont and take money under the pretence of making a fake order (company employee or indeed hacker). I hate Paypal, but it has its up sides...

Seems to me an online business is a more economic way of doing things nowdays. With an acutal store you need to pay rent, utilities, etc. You also have to deal with theft and other crimes..

But for us racers. You cant race your car online. Need a track to do it! Online hobby shops are killing actual hobby shops

How ever, chris is a pretty much worthless. I never knew he had a actual shop, but nothing good has come out of fine design. Like the money scam stuff, makes me sick how low people go for money:neutral::oh:

I wonder, If Fine design folds, Could Mike pick up importing lehners? I hope so, I'd like to play with more lehners, but not deal with someone i hear is not so honorable.

When is the gov't going to give us a "Cash for Clunkers" on our old beat-up RCs? They could call it "Bucks for Bashers". Of course your new vehicle would have to be more environmentally friendly (read: no nitro) and more efficient (read: brushless/lipo only). I'm gonna give Obama a call right now and get the ball rolling on this one. You guys can thank me later!

Well, it's 47mins later. How did the "bucks for bashers" proposal work out with obama?

I like that idea, 3/4 of the stimulus still isn't spent. Give it to us !!!! Obama is in South Carolina parading his wife around in a new dress. I don't think his ass has formed a dimple on that oval office seat.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a bit there...

What a douche. Not the kinda douche I expected tho. I had pictured him more like this:
http://www.1to10reviews.com/wp-conte...nn1_98683a.jpg

It is hard for retailers tho. One one hand I am glad to have all the online places to find good deals and prices, as the LHSs can get so overpriced. OTOH, if there are no LHS it makes the hobby a real PITA, as you end up having to order and pay shipping one goddam specialty screw that fell out and sidelined your truck for a week. Eh.

Tower (great planes) is one of the largest distributors, and are effectively undercutting the stores they dist to. Hard to compete w/ that. Plus, coming from a few LHSs I've talked to, it sounds like a lot of the RTRs are too good now, as they have decent radios, servos, etc that the store doesn't have a chance on accessories. You wonder what the long term effect on the hobby will be.

I think the best strat for a LHS is to provide the type of service that onlines don't, and come up with some sort of niche. RCM is a great example of a niche retailer (albeit not LHS.) They have to have at least competitive prices, good service, stuff you want to buy actually in stock, and a number of compelling products/advantages to keep people from running online for everything. Not easily done tho. This is def weeding out the crappier businessmen & stores.

I've never had dealings with Chris, but from what I've heard from his customers it's his business that's killing his business. Even long-time customers (like MasterBlaster) have turned their backs on him because of how he treats people and takes advantage of everyone.