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?!

WBESS xmas get together

The WBESS club xmas get together will be this Sunday the 13th of December 2009 at the WBESS field.  We're planning on having a limbo competition, so bring something 'disposable' to fly for that one :-)  There will be a bbq lunch too, so byo snags (or whatever you want to cook).

Flying on Sunday

We're flying at the WBESS club field tomorrow morning (29/11/2009) from about 9am.

Awesome new micro helicopters

We just got the new Twister micro helis in today and they're awesome! Check out the link for the tech details, but after flying one today, they're *way* easier to control (now that they have a gyro) than the other 3 channel helis out there.  Put these on your list for xmas gifts......at $55, they're awesome value too!

Flying on Sunday!

The weather forecast is perfect for flying this weekend, so we'll be at the WBESS field on Sunday (15/11/09) to get some airtime!  Click HERE for a map of how to get to the field.

Slope combat session this weekend

We're going to have a combat session on Saturday afternoon this weekend. The forecast is for SE to E winds, so we're aiming for 15:00 at Elliott Heads. So, bring your combat foamie and your sense of humour and have a go!

EDIT: Looks like we're going to postpone the combat session due to lack of interest :-( We'll try again for next weekend if the weather cooperates.