Tammie's Hobbies — Attraction in Beaverton

Tammie's Hobbies is a fine establishment and sells quality merchandise. The following has nothing to do with their store or staff. It's a cautionary tale for anyone wishing to get into rc cars. My story may be unique only to me, and anyone else may not experience similar situations. This is just the experience I've had, and I hope it helps others with questions or possible problems to look out for with their purchase. Most likely, it's because I'm cursed and should stick to simpler hobbies such as stalking rocks or collecting dirt. About 3 months ago, I bought a Traxxas Slash 2wd with a brushed motor. I knew absolutely nothing about RC cars. I wasn't from Beaverton, and I really wish i had bought from a local store because I've had one problem after another with it. I should have gotten the brushless motor. I went to the coast right after the purchase and burned out 3 motors due to salt damage. I set the transmitter on the hood of my vehicle to use the bathroom, and it was gone when j got back. The ESC stopped working, so I got the brushless motor upgrade and a 3S battery with a charger. All the tires have split a and I had to get all new ones. The body is in ruins because of rollovers, and the frame cracked in half when it slid sideways into a post, so I got the lower center of gravity body upgrade. Currently the 2.4hrz transmitter antenna isn't sending a signal farther than 50 feet so I had to order one online because the local hobby store (30 minute drive away) didn't have one and I don't even know if I got the right one being there are dozens of ones to choose from, so I don't know, but I have to wait 2 weeks for delivery. So that's fun. And today, the power wouldn't turn off. Inspecting the on/off button revealed the wires inside the button had frayed and were touching so I have to once again drive the 30 miles 2 towns over to find out yet again that they can't help me and i have to figure this out on my own. It's one thing to buy a faulty product, which I didn't. Tammies Hobbies sold me a perfectly good and working RC car, but they didn't tell me that I would spend close to $500 and basically build a whole new rc car from scratch just driving it in normal conditions. I haven't even taken it over a jump out of fear it will explode or fly apart or worse. I am financially too deep into this to just walk away like I wish i could, but the worst part is that I'm still no more educated on how the darn thing works than I was upon it's purchase. Things keep breaking. I have to keep buying whole systems to get it to work, and it's only been usable for a total of 3 weeks out of the 3 months I've had it. It hurts. I just wish I could go back in time and stop myself from buying it but I doubt I could stop me, I'm quit stupid when it comes to purchasing...

I’m not only disappointed but shocked at the service I was provided. I buy a new RC truck it shows up long behold I have to build the dang thing from scratch..... I get it all together and decide I’m going to leave all the programming to the professionals and bring my truck down to Tammie‘s hobbies it’s there for two months partly my fault the motor I bought was too small the control unit would not handle the new motor parts were on back order.. great no big deal. I get my truck back get home excited to use it long behold there’s no reverse?? I make a call down to Tammie‘s hobbies explain to him there’s no reverse his answer is The speaking troll we sold you probably doesn’t have it.. what doesn’t have reverse don’t you think if you were going to sell me a speed control without reverse you might want to make a quick phone call to ask if that would be OK???? This kid is clearly frustrated with me so I stop him and acknowledge his frustration with me however I am the customer who waited over two months to get an RC car back we could’ve put a real motor in a vehicle in that amount of time.. instead of taking care of me or asking me to bring it down he chooses to hang up on me... I bet if I was there in person he would think twice before caring that attitude with me. So frustrated with me and hung up on I called back and asked to speak with a manager explained the situation and my frustration with being hung up on he made no attempts to apologize for his employees poor behavior and actions he disregarded them completely.. i’m a business owner myself and I’ve had plenty of frustrated customers over the last 15 years but I would never in 1 million years treat them poorly or hang up on them. I’ve already paid this company so I will bring my truck back down for them to fix it properly but I will never return and I will never recommend this company to anyone. Remember everything is going online these days so you might want to adjust your employees behavior If you want to continue to...

This is a mixed review. I go there often (all the time) for several projects. I'm going back today. So I want you to know that I really understand this place. I have been there a hundred times. I will go back in the future.

With that said, you have to understand that you are lowering yourself into a lions den of geeks, jerks, and a-holes. You MUST NOT act as if you know more than them or your experience will be horrible. You MUST BE HUMBLE.

You see, these guys don't have lives. They are grown men who play with toys all day. They fancy themselves experts in the field, and maybe they are. This bad attitude is not unique to this hobby shop. I have had similar experiences at hobby shops across the country. From indifference to overt rudeness. At Tammie's, you'll get both.

There are two train guys. One is obese and has a beard and the other is a ratty fellow. The obese one is just mean. No social skills. With the other, be prepared for his BS and be ready to stand around while he talks with his "friends". Neither will help you without you coming right out and asking--or begging. I have never heard so many tall tales, fish stories, and lies as I have in the train section of Tammie's.

Oh, and they have every excuse under the sun for why they can't just order some parts. I ordered a simple piece which I could have gotten online in a week and it was 5 weeks. I would go in on my way home from work and check...always another excuse. And none of them true.

On the other side of the store, you have some kids and the guy who appears to be in charge of the whole place. None will help, even if they could.

In closing, go in knowing what you want and do not expect some "cozy" hobby experience. If you want that, go to Michael's Art's and Crafts. This place is for professionals. It's a snake pit.

It's only redeeming quality is that they have things that some hobbyists simply need and cannot get anywhere else except online. And...