46 replies to this topic

[Pappy]

Pappy, I can't disagree with your post. But I don't like hearing it

Pablo, most people sell at a discount on the internet. Karl could do the same thing and still sell at retail at his raceway. 

[Phil Smith]

Double post.

[Phil Smith]

Pappy, I can't disagree with your post. But I don't like hearing it

In Utopia, commercial raceway owners bank-roll profits on all aspects of the hobby, not just certain parts of it.

Back on planet Earth, raceway owners who juggle mail order, sell parts over the counter, and host races - who is doing it successfully ?

Answer: not more than a handful of individuals in the entire world. Troopers like Mike Swiss and Scott Salzberg do it every day, but they are rare individuals.

 

It's a sad state of affairs for those who need a stream of income from slot cars. 

Thank God I personally have no delusions of ever making a penny of profit from this hobby.

Those who do, I'll be pushing a shopping cart down Beach Blvd. on the Gulf Coast soon, see ya there, and we can race !!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

 

That is very true. So why get in the business? Even if you had loyal customers, which as indicated by the responses in this thread, you won't, it's a very hard business to be successful at.

 

You couldn't pick a more difficult, more likely to fail business to get into.

[Cap Henry]

Ask the customers why they are buying from other places. It could be as simple as you don't stock the parts they want. Some people only want a certain thing from a certain company, even if alternatives are available. And make sure customers always know you're willing to order specialty items.

Customer service is the biggest thing, provide good customer service, and people will buy from you just for the simple fact it's easy to deal with you. I have some places I guy that I stock up before I attend a race there as I know past service has lacked, or the exact opposite, some places I'll find stuff to buy just because they do a good job.

[tonyp]

I always try to buy stuff every time I visit the raceway to support them. If I have to buy something mail order they don't carry I alway tell them next time I am in that they should be carrying this or that item so I can get it locally from them.

[Ramcatlarry]

The National Hobby Show WAS held every year at the Rosemont Expo Center in suburban Chicago.  In the 1990's when I started my first raceway, There was a commercial slot car visibility.  Chris Dadd another builder set up tracks to use (I helped in the booths). REH Distributing has been a REGULAR vendor as has PARMA.  Trinity had slot cars display for a time.  The plastic cars  from Ninco, Carrerra, SCX, Scalextric, AFX, and BRM and Proffessor Motor and TSRF have all had vending spaces.  The LACK of commercial car vendors has always been discouraging as a dealer.  The economy IS an issue as to why no one invests in these shows or in (wholesale) stocking inventory at all levels.  Trickel down economics ONLY works when jobs are local and all the cash flow stays IN AMERICA..

 

All dealers should order for a customer and allow 60 days for fulfillment. Cash down never hurts either - 50 - 75%......

[Pappy]

One of the problems with 1/24 scale commercial racing is that something new is always coming out which makes the other stuff obsolete. I use to go over to REH all the time when I had my raceways and you wouldn't believe the stuff they still have from the 60's and 70's. Before you get all excited, the good stuff has already been picked over. So I understand why no one wants to stock a bunch of 1/24th scale cars and parts. The same thing is already happening in Retro racing. 

[Don Weaver]

I'm sure another issue for the commercial track owner is that he mostly has to buy in quantities of 6.  So if a racer wants to try out something new or odd the raceway owner has to be sure he can sell the other 5 or be willing to be stuck with them.

 

Don

[MattD]

I think history would show that the business of selling is constantly changing and most success stories are from people who have learned to adapt or change their business design. Used to be a mom and pop store sold you groceries in the neighborhood. Next a chain store popped up and could buy cheaper and sell cheaper than mom and pop. Next, a supermarket chain came in and ran the simple grocery store out of business. The Supermarket chains bought up each other and the smaller chains disappeared with only the largest chains left. Walmart, Kmart and Target add groceries and make it really hard on small grocery chains. Next up Menards building/home supply adds groceries and takes business from Walmart. This cycle of changing business will continue to evolve and you either have to find your spot or change your business method.

[Samiam]

One of the problems with 1/24 scale commercial racing is that something new is always coming out which makes the other stuff obsolete. I use to go over to REH all the time when I had my raceways and you wouldn't believe the stuff they still have from the 60's and 70's. Before you get all excited, the good stuff has already been picked over. So I understand why no one wants to stock a bunch of 1/24th scale cars and parts. The same thing is already happening in Retro racing. 

Another reason to keep rules consistent. Raceway owners....who has PS Puppy Dogs on the wall? . 

[Dennis David]

Of course the problem is compounded by the fact that so little inventory is actually moved by most raceways that any "mistake" will cause a lot of heartburn.

I wonder if a raceway can can run a program based upon the stock they carry or make purchases on a subscription basis and carry minimal stock, around consumables?

[Ramcatlarry]

Raceways always make more money on rental track time and parties than on racer parts.  Cash and no sales tax on time is nice.  Stocking the Parma parts bins or similar JK parts helps the overhead as does racing programs around RTR cars like FCR or the basic cars from Parma and JK - with LIMITED modifications such as lead wire, braid, gears,or limited alternate bodies....no .005 or 007 bodies to inflate racing costs.  I see some programs limit controllers to non adjustable models such as Parma Turbo or similar brands.

[Samiam]

L

 

Another reason to keep rules consistent. Raceway owners....who has PS Puppy Dogs on the wall? . 

Let me rephrase that. Make rules that keep the parts in stock raceable. No rules changed to make PDs obsolete.

[MSwiss]

Sam,
How does/did an obsolete motor win the most prestigious race of the year, 8 months ago?

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[Samiam]

That's obvious....It's a "Fast One".

[DOCinCanton]

Karl: I feel for you. For this very reason (help keeping the slot car shops open), I have never bought any slot car equipment over the internet. Thankfully (it is Thanksgiving day), I have a litle bit of financial means, so I do what I can by buying from every slotcar shop in Florida. Afterall, when the slot car tracks close down, where are we going to race our cars.

[Zippity]

Karl: I feel for you. For this very reason (help keeping the slot car shops open), I have never bought any slot car equipment over the internet. Thankfully (it is Thanksgiving day), I have a litle bit of financial means, so I do what I can by buying from every slotcar shop in Florida. Afterall, when the slot car tracks close down, where are we going to race our cars.

 

You create a club, like the rest of us...

 

[Pappy]

Or you go to each others house to race. We have eight tracks in our area that we race on. They're not commercial eight-lane tracks and some of them are strictly 1/32 or digital, but it's slot racing.

 

I race mostly 1/32 scale plastic cars now for a couple of reasons. One is they look like real cars and we run them mostly on silicone tires so you don't have to show up with four or five different types of tires to see which one is going to be the best tire that day on that track. We can run one set of silicones for a whole 24-hour race. And they don't dry out when they sit around for a long time.

[Cap Henry]

How does/did an obsolete motor win the most prestigious race of the year, eight months ago?

 

Clearly he's a hack and got lucky LOL.

[hundo]

I am fortunate that we have a 1/32 facility track that we get 20+ guys every Wednesday. There's also a 1/24 track about the same distance, never have been a fan of those ugly no front wheel cars anyway (they are lucky to get ten guys). And their lack of interest with me when I went to there shop turned me off anyhow. I will always buy from "my" track and if I see something online I want, I will ask them to order it for me. If the track goes out of business the odds of having a few tracks in guy garages to meet up at are rare.

 

Our track they let us use the tire truer, and all the tools they have availabe to them. I agree the track owner should talk to the racers and see why they aren't buying, but the racer should ask about is it possible to get the "track" to order the part or see if they can get a bigger supply in stock. Buying online to just save a few bucks is "cutting off your nose to spite your face" And then there's just you cheap bastards that do not care or have no idea what it's like to have your own small business. That's another reason this country is in the shitter, small business owners are down!

 

Good luck with your track!

 

Or you go to each others house to race. We have eight tracks in our area that we race on. They're not commercial eight-lane tracks and some of them are strictly 1/32 or digital, but it's slot racing.

 

I race mostly 1/32 scale plastic cars now for a couple of reasons. One is they look like real cars and we run them mostly on silicone tires so you don't have to show up with four or five different types of tires to see which one is going to be the best tire that day on that track. We can run one set of silicones for a whole 24-hour race. And they don't dry out when they sit around for a long time.

[MG Brown]

Answer: to repair the rental cars that the general public beat to a pulp and then complain about the price of track time.

[hundo]

We pay $10 for an hour, no charge to race on race night. You buy a car they give you a free half hour of track time, will assist in breaking motor in, tru the tires and assit you with setup if you desire. If you don't have a car yet that their running on race night, they'll let you use one or one of the racers will let you borrow one. That way if you don't like the car, you haven't wasted money. For me I tried the stock trans am or the carrera class. We have a good thing going, as I said, 20+ guys each Wednesday. And we get to race cars that look like race cars