I was at my LHS last week, the store owner, who is a friend of mine and works closely with me on our local racing events.

We were having a conversation about racers and stocking the store with 'Race Related' parts.

I warned him that one of the things I've seen through the years is that the 'sponsored' guys generally don't buy a lot of their stuff at their LHS cause they can get a much better deal elsewhere, so it wouldn't be advised to even try to cater to that market.

A) because THOSE racers are always on the front edge of technology, and want the MOST CURRENT stuff in the store and (b)

B) because THOSE racers feel they deserve to purchase stuff at COST or less.

anyway, I left for a Dr.s appointment, and came back about 90 minutes later... and when I walked in the store the owner was laughing...

He said "Remember that conversation we just had about SPONSORED Racers?"

He had just had one of our local hotshoe "Off-Road" guys who is sponsored by CEN and a few other companies come into the store and want a part that was IN STOCK because "HIS SPONSOR" couldn't get it to him in time for his race that weekend.

This was a part that the storeowner said retailed for $17.00

The store owner reduced the price to $15.00 for this guy - and the guy had a FIT.

He said..."I CAN GET IT FOR 8.50 from my SPONSOR...WHAT DOES IT COST YOU?"

The owner informed him of HIS COST and said "YOU DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM ME - WHY WOULD I SELL THIS TO YOU AT MY COST!"

the racer said "Why would I PAY Retail, I'm sponsored!"

....hmmmm


(OOOPS - this was supposed to be in the GENERAL section!)

Ha, ha, I wonder if this "Sponsored Driver" realizes that if we quit buying from and supporting our "Local Hobby Shops", that very soon we won't have ANY WHERE to race and there won't be any reason for "Sponsored Drivers either"!!!!!! Thanks for sharing that info. Ron

not all sponsored guys pull that crap...

What a maroon!! (Yes it is spelled wrong)

The owner cut him a breal at the $15 and he should have been glad to get it. I am sure his sponsor would be proud to know he was being represented by such an outstanding individual. :rolleyes:

Not everyone is like that. I have seen a sponsored guy go to a hobby shop and get something and say his sponsor will send a replacment. And usually the sponsor will hook up the hobby shop with some extra stuff. But I see all kinds of sponsored guys up in the hobby shop buying stuff. It may not be kits, and speed controls, but there is not much mark up on those anyway. THey are buying the $3 to $10 items that are marked up 50%.

That dude is a jackass and needs to be dropped from any deals he has.

It's a shame that people have to be like that. I have deals but still buy things from the LHS, even if it's stuff I get a deal on... When you need it you need it and complaining about the price isn't going to help.

I know we support every hobby shop we travel to. Some, I support too much :D, but isn;t that part of the fun in going to them, getting new stuff??

I have a tire deal %50 but last week needed two sets walked into the LHS and but them at full retail and was happy to do so. Like someone else said if we stopped buying from the track owners soon we will have no place to race!

Even with a deal I support my local shop a 45 minute drive or he brings what I need to the track. He has gone out of his way to help or get what I need when I need it as long as he has the shop I will continue to do business with him. Without local shops were in trouble. Just my thoughts........

We buy as many parts from our LHS as we do from our sponsor.You have to remember that the hobby store ussually owns the track. So if the store closes, so does the track. Do your part, buy from the hobby store and or parts at the track.

well as a sponsored, its his driver duty to help promote, race the products he is sponsoring to help gain sales for the product owner to jenerate revenue and provide a great product for RC racers around the country and conduct him self in a professional way on AND OFF the track, If in fact this guy did act this way, to me he should possible be dump or delt with for his conduct in a hobby store that acually caries his sponsor's product.. I agree not every sponsored driver act's like this.. I myself am with Fantom, but do Gereally support my local hobbyshops and with out getting discounts from them, I don't ask nor do i expect it!!! If is was not for them i probably would not be with Fantom today!!

just my 2cts

Jon Perkins Team Fantom

I Posted this topic for a blatant reason.

IF you are a racer who has a sponsor supporting you. It's very important that YOU as that companies FACE man, that you act professional when dealing with other racers at the track, and equally as important when dealing with the guys in a Local Hobby Shop (WHO Carries your sponsors products, or not)

I can say NONE of the sponsored or discount drivers that I know have acted this way, and I'm sure MOST don't. But it only takes a couple to upset things.

i would have told him i'll take it today and give him back the one i got coming in the mail later!

hahahahahahahha j/k

the hobby shop is there to keep us racing/bashing 365 days a year..most of us buy stuff from the shops as much as the sponsors..nothing beats a short drive when your in a pinch for parts.

Lamballs is in so cal..............lol

Here is a real story for you about a "Team Driver". This happened a couple years ago and its true.
I was at a track that is approx. 2 1/2 hours from home. It was a club race night. I was practicing, it was early. I had'nt been at this track for quite some time, so I was tip toeing around at first. Well I started to get up some speed and all of a sudden I found the Concrete stepping stone in the inside of the backstretch. Tore the bumper off, destroyed the front of the body. But the worst part was it cracked the chassis all the way thru at the right front arm. I'm done, kaput. I can replace the bumper, do some body repair, but the chassis... So i'm sittin in the trailer looking over the car and my buddy says " go check with so-and-so he is sponsered by them he might have a chassis plate.
Well I go see this team driver and sure enough he has a brand new chassis plate. I'm standing there with cash in hand. He could have said 100 bucks and I would have bought it!!
Instead he says " well I don't know how much I paided for it, and I ahhh might need it later.
I'm standing there thinking I did'nt ask you to give it to me. Sell it to me!! I'm a long way from home and I came to race.
I walked away without the plate and a really bad taste in my mouth for "Team Drivers".
I could'nt believe he would'nt sell me the plate. I had told him what had happened earlier and he just said NO.
Well I tried to patch it with a piece of graphite. I remember getting thru the 1st qualifier and then I just packed it up and went home.

What I really regret about this incident is I did'nt contact his sponser and let them know what happened.
I think sometimes if we as the regular racers let sponser's KNOW (good and bad) about their drivers then we are doing the hobby some good for everyone
involved.

Lamballs is in so cal..............lol

Oh, now that's funny!

Lamballs! lol, Im sure for every negitive story theres 5 or 10 good one about sponsored racers. Theres always going to be a Shithead in the bunch, I would imagin that manufacture are different went it comes to there products in sponsored drivers hands, typically 100% drivers are Not to sell products that are given to them by Co. On the other hand, As for the Chassis Plate, that is a "Grey Area" for a couple of reasons, 1.This driver must Not have been 100% because he said "I did'nt remember what he paid for it??? So at that point him prolly being 50%-70% He could of Sold it to you at his Discount,("I don't remember what I paid for it??" Thats BS) And just called and replaced it Monday morning OR, If his other thought as you mentioned was "I might Need it Later" is a small but valid excuse, (NO Racer wants to give up there Last Back-Up part at a race) He should not of even shown you the Plate and said "I did'nt bring an extra one with me" Rather then treat you like a "Mouse" baitting you with a piece of Cheeze, then taking it back. As for the "Hobby Shop Guy" Thats definetly unfortunet, Racers New and Old, Specially Sponsored racer! need to promote and Support there LHS..In all the many years I have herd SOOO MANYYY LHS Go out of Business primarily from lack of support from Hobby Shop TO WeaK turn out due to summer, I see including myself spending $100.00 bucks at any race event local OR away, And ULBRIK $100.00sssssss!! lol Ive seen it, and I don't just mean snowbirdsI love to check out hobby shop after I get my pit set up, because theres always something New or Tricked out that all shop don't carry...Bla, Bla, Bla..lol Later

Here is a real story for you about a "Team Driver". This happened a couple years ago and its true.
I was at a track that is approx. 2 1/2 hours from home. It was a club race night. I was practicing, it was early. I had'nt been at this track for quite some time, so I was tip toeing around at first. Well I started to get up some speed and all of a sudden I found the Concrete stepping stone in the inside of the backstretch. Tore the bumper off, destroyed the front of the body. But the worst part was it cracked the chassis all the way thru at the right front arm. I'm done, kaput. I can replace the bumper, do some body repair, but the chassis... So i'm sittin in the trailer looking over the car and my buddy says " go check with so-and-so he is sponsered by them he might have a chassis plate.
Well I go see this team driver and sure enough he has a brand new chassis plate. I'm standing there with cash in hand. He could have said 100 bucks and I would have bought it!!
Instead he says " well I don't know how much I paided for it, and I ahhh might need it later.
I'm standing there thinking I did'nt ask you to give it to me. Sell it to me!! I'm a long way from home and I came to race.
I walked away without the plate and a really bad taste in my mouth for "Team Drivers".
I could'nt believe he would'nt sell me the plate. I had told him what had happened earlier and he just said NO.
Well I tried to patch it with a piece of graphite. I remember getting thru the 1st qualifier and then I just packed it up and went home.

What I really regret about this incident is I did'nt contact his sponser and let them know what happened.
I think sometimes if we as the regular racers let sponser's KNOW (good and bad) about their drivers then we are doing the hobby some good for everyone
involved.

Wade I know that it wasn't me you are refering to because I will give whatever is in my box.

don't let some idot, pervert your preception of sponsored guys. IMO the only reason I have any is because I will give the shirt off my back if it helps.

Thanks Dave
You and I don't always agree on Topics.
I do respect your knowledge and opinion.

thanks Wade means alot. I might be "retired" but my door is always open.

Like Big John said, for every negative story about sponsored drivers, there are many positive ones. I had a similar experience to Wade's, although it was at an off road race.

I was at a big off road event in my area when I wrecked over a big jump and snapped my B4 in half (look at My Photos on my profile). The track sold parts on-site but they didn't have any B4 chassis. I was told, "go check with so-and-so he's sponsored by Associated." So I did, with money in hand. I was more than willing to buy the chassis from him, but he insisted that I take the chassis for free. After some fast and furious wrenching, I finished out the day without missing a single heat.

I can't remember the guy's name, never seen him before or since. But I'll never forget his kind gesture.

I was at my LHS last week, the store owner, who is a friend of mine and works closely with me on our local racing events.

We were having a conversation about racers and stocking the store with 'Race Related' parts.

I warned him that one of the things I've seen through the years is that the 'sponsored' guys generally don't buy a lot of their stuff at their LHS cause they can get a much better deal elsewhere, so it wouldn't be advised to even try to cater to that market.

A) because THOSE racers are always on the front edge of technology, and want the MOST CURRENT stuff in the store and (b)

B) because THOSE racers feel they deserve to purchase stuff at COST or less.

anyway, I left for a Dr.s appointment, and came back about 90 minutes later... and when I walked in the store the owner was laughing...

He said "Remember that conversation we just had about SPONSORED Racers?"

He had just had one of our local hotshoe "Off-Road" guys who is sponsored by CEN and a few other companies come into the store and want a part that was IN STOCK because "HIS SPONSOR" couldn't get it to him in time for his race that weekend.

This was a part that the storeowner said retailed for $17.00

The store owner reduced the price to $15.00 for this guy - and the guy had a FIT.

He said..."I CAN GET IT FOR 8.50 from my SPONSOR...WHAT DOES IT COST YOU?"

The owner informed him of HIS COST and said "YOU DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM ME - WHY WOULD I SELL THIS TO YOU AT MY COST!"

the racer said "Why would I PAY Retail, I'm sponsored!"

....hmmmm


(OOOPS - this was supposed to be in the GENERAL section!)

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOBBYSHOPS NO MATTER WHAT TO KEEP OUR ENTERTAINMENT THRIEVING:thumbsup:

Everyone likes to be negative about sponsored drivers, but the reality is the only thing the hobby shop really might miss out on saleswise are tires. Hobbyshops don't make squat on speedos and car kits, not to mention that racers only purchase those a couple times a year anyway.

All the money is in the small dollar items and most sponsored drivers purchase that stuff from the hobbyshop. Generally the "sponsored" racers purchase more of this stuff than the others do anyway.

What does bug me are sponsored drivers who constantly buy equipment from their sponsors then sell it undercutting the hobbyshop. Also, all of the "sponsored" drivers who never have nor ever will win anything or do any other stuff to promote their sponsors. Also, when national companies sponsor 10 guys at the same track.

Generally the "sponsored" racers purchase more of this stuff than the others do anyway.

I can attest to that. Quit racing 3 years ago and finally got all my RC debt paid off. By the end of it, I had most everything sponsored or at least % deals. The debt was mainly from the beginning when I bought everything from the hobby shop (tire lathe, radio, com lathe, chargers, extra parts, spring options, shock oils, tools, etc, etc.)

very true stories and the best of the best is that everyone so far understands without hobby stores we dont have a race track .... As most of you know I am the cheapest man in the oval hobby and always will be .... But I still buy the things I need at full retail while at the track ....

The chassis story is interesting as most ppl inthe northeast would come clean with whatever any one needed at the track ... Sorry to hear that story WADE... The B# chassis story is sad that you dont remeber who did the rigth thing and cam clean withthe goods

ROCKET

In defense of a sponsored driver, I was at an event a couple of years ago where I had a poor handling car. After a practice session, I returned to my pit, and Danny B was already there, willing to help me. He looked over my car and offered parts out of his own box to fix the problem. Then, after each practice or race, he was right there again, offering help, ideas, etc. Thanks to Danny, I was able to finish the weekend and make it a fun trip rather than an bad experience.

i have had very very very few true 100% free rides in my rc career...jph (jake) sent me free graphite for the mav car and when i was at the track and had the part the racer needed i gave him the part for free and told that person to please contact jake for pricing. that is one of the reasons you get sponsored..your their to help people running what you run...the manufactuere can't be at every lil race..so you represent the company for them.

i have had very very very few true 100% free rides in my rc career...jph (jake) sent me free graphite for the mav car and when i was at the track and had the part the racer needed i gave him the part for free and told that person to please contact jake for pricing. that is one of the reasons you get sponsored..your their to help people running what you run...the manufactuere can't be at every lil race..so you represent the company for them.

Well spoken!

"want a part that was IN STOCK because "HIS SPONSOR" couldn't get it to him in time for his race that weekend."

His sponsor was less expensive "BUT" if you can't get it in time, what difference does price make.
That guy obviously didn't need the part that bad or he would be willing to pay the LHS price.

I know a few sponsored drivers and they are excellent reps for their sponsors.

On the other hand it is hard to get and keep people in this sport, if you are a sponsored driver you should treat each person as though you want to be treated.

Jim

Next time a guy like that comes in your shop and throws a fit over you only giving him a 2 dollar discount on 17 bucks, then say, "Fine its 30 now" This guy would hopefully be off the team if this was reported to his sponsor. Everything you say and do at an event represents your sponsors. If you act like that, you do not care about your sponsors image or appreciate what they have done for you, therefore you should be off the team.

Support your local Hobby Shops

I cant belive someone was like that.When we had brushed motors I would build at least 10 motors for people that ask. I would use my sponser bushes zapped there cans cut comes .I would do there motors just like thy were mine. and I never took a dime from them.I have taking a motor out of my car to some one that had a better chance to win. I have lent my batteries out. I still bought from my lhs If I was at a race and look at my same batteries compnys batteries and like the numbers I would buy them. Not bragging but not all sponser drivers are not willing to help. I did want ever I had to to help my sponser sell ther product. and put ther stuff in a shop. I know my sponsers would tell you that. I was not sponserd for my driving but for helping racers and helping to sell my sponser stuff. I never sold any thing that I got from my sponsers I would say you have to buy in the shop.