|
|
Post by carrman on Oct 3, 2019 21:12:19 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Oct 3, 2019 21:23:12 GMT -8
I just saw that announcement on another forum.
It's maybe a merciful thing them closing the walk-in store now. I've been there a couple times since mbk cut to 1/3rd it's former size and the experience was less than pleasant. Granted it was on show day with lots of shoppers. My wife hated it so much she waits in the car. So while the news is a tad disappointing, maybe it's putting the customer out of they're misery maybe out mbk's misery too. Online, they are real good but the walk-in store seems to be something they've been wanting to do away with.
|
|
|
|
Post by es80ac on Oct 3, 2019 22:18:55 GMT -8
that is unfortunate to hear that they have to close the physical store. Hope this does not impact their level of customer service, as one would expect staff reduction to be part of this change.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevewagner on Oct 4, 2019 5:28:09 GMT -8
October 4, 9:23 a.m., EDT
Amen to the hope posted by es80ac.
Since I've lived in Massachusetts since 1968 (after years in Pennsylvania and Ohio) and haven't been in the Baltimore area for many years, I've only been to Klein's physical store once, when it still was downtown, near Baltimore's city hall, on Gay Street, I think. But I've dealt with the firm happily via the Internet for a long time.
|
|
|
|
Post by godzilla on Oct 4, 2019 16:46:22 GMT -8
My go to place for great deals and all my buys have always been online so closing the store is no big deal,
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by Gary P on Oct 7, 2019 5:03:51 GMT -8
Sad, but it is a sign of the times. Being in Upstate NY, I never had the pleasure to visit the store, but purchased many items from them on line, and also from their auctions on eBay. Still, sad to see another brick and mortar shop closing. Their presence on line is still going to be a good thing for me, but those that were able to visit the store will most likely miss it. Best of luck to them.
edit - typo's!
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Oct 7, 2019 5:38:31 GMT -8
I am planning to go to the Late Oct Timonium show and that sounds like the last chance I would have to darken the door of MBK before they shut the walk-in store. But I'm guessing the place will be wall to wall packed by those looking to get one last nostalgia fix so I don't think I'll be subjecting myself to a real long wait and testing the patience of my long suffering wife. I can already say, been there, done that; that's good enough.
|
|
|
|
Post by rails4dmv on Oct 7, 2019 7:49:24 GMT -8
I'll be at the Timonium show and I'll stop by the store to see if any bargains are to be had.
I had a conversation with one of the staff several months ago when I picked up an order I placed on their website. He mentioned that they had been looking for a larger warehouse because of the sales they were receiving from the website. So I have to guess that search fell through or they got a good deal to stay put.
I've spoken to several different owners of hobby stores over the summer in SC, PA, NJ and NY while just picking up some knick-knacks while I was on vacation. All say they are thinking of either moving to smaller locations, going internet exclusively or closing up altogether. They complain either they can't get enough product in to sell going all the way back to the Chinese factory closings, no foot traffic or when product becomes available that they have to purchase crazy amounts of unnecessary inventory to meet the minimum requirements.
I made a lot of my impulse purchases just peering in those MB Klein window displays before they shrank the store down to what it is currently. I so hope the higher wage increase that passed in the Maryland state legislature earlier this year doesn't force them into having to rethink the business model even further.
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Oct 7, 2019 9:06:35 GMT -8
I'll be at the Timonium show and I'll stop by the store to see if any bargains are to be had. I had a conversation with one of the staff several months ago when I picked up an order I placed on their website. He mentioned that they had been looking for a larger warehouse because of the sales they were receiving from the website. So I have to guess that search fell through or they got a good deal to stay put. I've spoken to several different owners of hobby stores over the summer in SC, PA, NJ and NY while just picking up some knick-knacks while I was on vacation. All say they are thinking of either moving to smaller locations, going internet exclusively or closing up altogether. They complain either they can't get enough product in to sell going all the way back to the Chinese factory closings, no foot traffic or when product becomes available that they have to purchase crazy amounts of unnecessary inventory to meet the minimum requirements. I made a lot of my impulse purchases just peering in those MB Klein window displays before they shrank the store down to what it is currently. I so hope the higher wage increase that passed in the Maryland state legislature earlier this year doesn't force them into having to rethink the business model even further. It would mainly be worth the wait (first the line to get the item pulled, and then the cash register line) if you were buying an expensive item like an engine or sound equipped engine for the show day discount. Right now I don't anticipate any higher cost items that would make it worth all that waiting in a crowded small room. I imagine between the lower profit margins, cost of maintaining a brick and mortar store and employees and not much foot traffic would be the slow or fast death of hobby shops. At least a web presence extends sales far beyond the radius of foot traffic and seems to be a no brainer these days. Any shop without web presence and especially a real-time inventory webstore, is going to be at a major disadvantage and likely won't last. I didn't follow MD changes so higher wages may tip some small marginal operations over the edge. It seemed to me much of MBK's staffer were retired guys who worked there for hobby money and maybe employee discount etc. |
|
|
|
Post by jonklein611 on Oct 7, 2019 9:18:03 GMT -8
It would mainly be worth the wait (first the line to get the item pulled, and then the cash register line) if you were buying an expensive item like an engine or sound equipped engine for the show day discount. Right now I don't anticipate any higher cost items that would make it worth all that waiting in a crowded small room. I imagine between the lower profit margins, cost of maintaining a brick and mortar store and employees and not much foot traffic would be the slow or fast death of hobby shops. At least a web presence extends sales far beyond the radius of foot traffic and seems to be a no brainer these days. Any shop without web presence and especially a real-time inventory webstore, is going to be at a major disadvantage and likely won't last. I didn't follow MD changes so higher wages may tip some small marginal operations over the edge. It seemed to me much of MBK's staffer were retired guys who worked there for hobby money and maybe employee discount etc. The only advantage to the stores without internet purchasing / inventories is you can find a gem buried here and there. I found a few missing pieces that way. |
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Oct 7, 2019 10:31:31 GMT -8
The only advantage to the stores without internet purchasing / inventories is you can find a gem buried here and there. I found a few missing pieces that way. You know back when I was a geologist and traveled for work a lot, I'd get flown to Chicago, St Louis, Alabama, Arkansas, or travel around upstate NY or MA or other places. This was before internet sales and the shops were like you described. I made it a point to visit 2 or 3 hobby shops in whatever city I was in. Probably 75% of the stores there was nothing of interest and I walked out empty handed. There were a few notable exceptions. One was Tinker Town in St Louis, the had D&RGW and other item I liked so I went back on other trips and found goodies. Same with AAA Hobbies in Warwick RI. I still have some trains I bought there as well as a couple of Morning Sun Books. Even the Walk-in store of MBK would have items that were sold out on the modeltrainstuff webstore. I found an Athearn NACC Hamms RBL box car that was on the shelf but was sold out on the webstore. I am not sure I want to fight the crowds and the lines on the chance I find a freight car on the shelves, however, I have just under 3 weeks to decide. I already know my wife will not go in and I don't blame her. |
|
|
|
Post by bnsf971 on Oct 8, 2019 3:25:38 GMT -8
I wonder how this will affect their selling of the models that require a physical walk-in store.
|
|
|
|
Post by Colin 't Hart on Oct 8, 2019 3:45:36 GMT -8
I wonder how this will affect their selling of the models that require a physical walk-in store. Which models might that be? |
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Oct 8, 2019 3:53:34 GMT -8
Athearn/Horizon? At one time, IIRC, they required a physical store which I believe meant walk-in. But MBK does such big business, maybe those requirements can be bent assuming they are still in-effect.
|
|
