This thread was really touched off a few months ago. As we all know, a lot of RC tracks have closed their doors in the past year. When all was said and done, they just couldn’t afford to stay in business. I was chatting with one of the regular racers at Thunder Road. He was talking about his new chassis and charger. While we were talking, he mentioned why he had purchased the chassis and charger from an on-line retailer, rather than from me. After paying postage, he saved around $5.00 buying the chassis on-line. I pointed out that he could have saved at least $15.00 on the charger, by buying it from me. He said he hadn’t compared prices on the charger, but bought it on-line because he “Thought it would be cheaper, and wanted it right now; rather than having to wait until he could get to the track. It was just easier”.
But then, he launched into a ten minute diatribe about the “high cost of race fees”. (We charge $15.00 for a weekly race; $5.00 for practice days. That’s pretty much an average price for RC tracks, and has been pretty much the same throughout the industry for some years.) I pointed out that for his $15.00 entry fee, or $5.00 practice fee, I provide him with a track to race on, a computer setup to time racing and practice, electrical power, pit facilities, a track tire truer, a track Dyno, bathroom facilities, paper towels and free coffee; and I have to keep him safe, comfortable and warm for 8-12 hours or more. I compared the price of 8-12 hours of RC racing, with two or three hours at a movie theatre, or any other activity he might normally enjoy. He wasn’t impressed with my logic.
Okay; it’s tough for a store front hobby shop to compete with the prices of an on-line retailer. We all know that. I’m assuming we all agree on three points. Perhaps I’m wrong, but they are:
(1) Every one wants the tracks to stay in business.
(2) Tracks have to make a certain amount of money to stay in business.
(3) Tracks can’t, because of the inherent overhead costs, compete with an on-line retailer who has, essentially, no overhead costs.
Personally, I’d be just as happy to concede the whole parts business to the on-line retailers. I could knock at least $20,000.00 off my overhead by doing so. But the racers seem to want tracks to have parts ready in case they break something. Of course, they’ll go to an on-line retailer when they want to stock up on spare parts or make a large purchase.
As far as I know, there are only two ways a track makes money; parts and entry fees. If you want to buy your parts on-line to save money, that only leaves entry/practice fees. It seems we are down to three possible outcomes:
(1) Buy your parts where you race.
(2) Be prepared to pay significantly higher race/entry fees.
(3) Watch the tracks go under, one at a time.
So, let me ask the racers: “How would you prefer an RC track make money? Or, would you prefer to watch the tracks go under, one at a time, until you’re back in the parking lots"? It’s your choice. Thanks; Ernie P.
But then, he launched into a ten minute diatribe about the “high cost of race fees”. (We charge $15.00 for a weekly race; $5.00 for practice days. That’s pretty much an average price for RC tracks, and has been pretty much the same throughout the industry for some years.) I pointed out that for his $15.00 entry fee, or $5.00 practice fee, I provide him with a track to race on, a computer setup to time racing and practice, electrical power, pit facilities, a track tire truer, a track Dyno, bathroom facilities, paper towels and free coffee; and I have to keep him safe, comfortable and warm for 8-12 hours or more. I compared the price of 8-12 hours of RC racing, with two or three hours at a movie theatre, or any other activity he might normally enjoy. He wasn’t impressed with my logic.
Okay; it’s tough for a store front hobby shop to compete with the prices of an on-line retailer. We all know that. I’m assuming we all agree on three points. Perhaps I’m wrong, but they are:
(1) Every one wants the tracks to stay in business.
(2) Tracks have to make a certain amount of money to stay in business.
(3) Tracks can’t, because of the inherent overhead costs, compete with an on-line retailer who has, essentially, no overhead costs.
Personally, I’d be just as happy to concede the whole parts business to the on-line retailers. I could knock at least $20,000.00 off my overhead by doing so. But the racers seem to want tracks to have parts ready in case they break something. Of course, they’ll go to an on-line retailer when they want to stock up on spare parts or make a large purchase.
As far as I know, there are only two ways a track makes money; parts and entry fees. If you want to buy your parts on-line to save money, that only leaves entry/practice fees. It seems we are down to three possible outcomes:
(1) Buy your parts where you race.
(2) Be prepared to pay significantly higher race/entry fees.
(3) Watch the tracks go under, one at a time.
So, let me ask the racers: “How would you prefer an RC track make money? Or, would you prefer to watch the tracks go under, one at a time, until you’re back in the parking lots"? It’s your choice. Thanks; Ernie P.