This appears to be a family business. I bought 3 remote control cars before just before Christmas 2014 @ $600.00. There were 2-3 associates seemingly eager to help me with my purchase.
I had come back because I needed a replacement part and help with the repair (I am a novice, but know the repair is about 10 to 15 minutes work for me, as I have done some minor repair on the cars since Christmas).
The man who "helped" me quickly diagnosed the problem and pulled the replacement parts needed. When I asked for his help in the repair, I met fairly stiff resistance. He told me that "it would be a week and a half before" he could get to it. The tone and rapidity with which this was spit out made it clear to me that his timetable was a likely exaggeration to "encourage" me to take the parts and fend for myself. His disposition was one of mild aggravation at the request. He stated that my repair was "one of the simplest" on such an RC car (was this "encouragement" for me to proceed on my own and/or a jab that my request for help was by his assessment wholly unnecessary, or both?).
The store at this time had, maybe 4 customers in it on this rainy Friday afternoon (very slow at that time), and I counted no less than 6 employees in the store, any of whom could have helped.
I voiced my dissatisfaction with the nice elderly lady at the register (mother?) and the friendly young ~8 year old with her (son of one of the employees?). She was sympathetic verbally (she would bring up the issue with the workers later), but yet she made no effort to ask one of the 6 workers (most of whom were not attending customers) to step in and help me at that moment (poor discernment vs. lack of genuine concern?).
I left with the idea that once they had my $ there was really no need or desire to help, despite the fact that I was there spending more to by (what seem to be over-priced plastic) replacement parts. It seems that good business practice would be to cultivate "new" (novice) RC car purchasers to encourage future purchases, if nothing else (let alone common good service practices of following through after the sale). All this in the age of the internet, where replacement parts and even RC cars, etc. can easily be bought online.
I will not be giving any more business to "The Hobby Connection" in Easley, SC on Hwy 123. I suggest you learn from my experience. read more
