Slow trade and unreasonable requests

Well folks, it's nearly xmas and I have to say I'm quite worried about the state of retail trade here in Bundaberg at present.  Things are *very* slow, which is not a good thing for a small business like this one :-(  Other business owners I speak to are telling me the same thing.....its terribly quiet.

I believe that for me, this is due primarily to the rapidly growing popularity of online shopping.  Particularly from overseas businesses, given how good our dollar is compared to the US dollar at the moment.  The number of people coming into the shop with items they've purchased on ebay (or similar) is increasing from week to week.  Unfortunately, the requests for free help with those items is also increasing.  Now, this puts me in an uncomfortable position.  When presented with such a situation, I'm gripped by an overwhelming desire to explain, in great detail, just how rude and unreasonable that is and to ask the person to leave the shop and seek their free help on ebay or wherever the item came from.  However, these items frequently require other gear which cannot be purchased on ebay (fuel for example).  If I refuse to offer help for free, I lose a potential sale (assuming the person had any intention of actually purchasing something from me in the first place).

If you buy a product from me, you're not just purchasing an item.  You're buying my knowledge, assistance and backup support for the product.  You're also buying something that has an Australian supported warranty from an Australian distributor.  If you buy from ebay, or even one of the proliferation of 'online only' retailers that are based in Australia (but import their goods directly from overseas instead of purchasing from an Australian distributor), you're pretty much on your own if something goes wrong with the product.  You're also on your own if you then expect free help at your local hobby shop.

So, if you like the idea of having a local retailer who can give you advice and assistance, demonstrate products that you can actually see and touch before you buy and provide warranty and backup service if something should go wrong, then please......shop locally.  Otherwise, that convenient 'free help' will be gone sooner than you think.

Will this bad weather ever end?

It seems like forever since we've been able to get out for a fly.  The weather has been *very* unkind to us over the last couple of months.  Apart from travelling interstate to attend a gliding competition, most of us haven't done any flying of note since before xmas!  Fingers crossed for some good weather soon eh?!