HobbyTown — Attraction in Plano

Have had much better experiences at their smaller locations. This one is large, and has lots of inventory, but seem to be lacking on associates or customer service. Purchased a TRX4M from another location of theirs a couple weeks ago. Came into the Plano location looking for upgrades and advice on what to do with my new rig! Went to the RC counter, stood there for 5-10 mins waiting on the guy trying to get a new RC set up to test. Asks me what I need, which I specifically say “I’m very new to the hobby, what upgrades for the TRX4M would you recommend? I heard better tires, rims, and gears could be good”. He proceeded to pull out stock rims and stock tires, the same ones that come with the RC out of the box, puts them in front of me, says “I really don’t know much about RC” and goes back to trying to get a new RC set up. He proceeded to tell me that the “RC guy” was busy getting his photos taken. I calmly waited 10-15 more mins on top of the now 15 mins back at the counter trying to get a resemblance of help. After all of that, a (I think but can be wrong) manager comes out from the back, and tells the employee he was sitting in the office. The guy trying to work the RC counter asked him if he could help me, so I told the guy exactly what I told the first one. He told the guy to grab the most expensive rims they sold, said “these are nice” and walks away. So much for help?

Funny enough the guy waiting on the employee to set up his new RC was the most helpful one in the store. He told me some good first upgrades, where to get them, and different brands as well. The customers shouldn’t be doing a better job than the employees, coming from someone who employs people myself. Maybe we came in on an off day, but spending over 30 mins in a hobby store, actively asking for help, and getting close to 0 is extremely frustrating. Not only that, it makes me as a customer less likely to trust or purchase from this store. Only reason it isn’t 1 star is because they do a very good job of having a clean well...

If managed my business similar to the business model utilized by the Hobbytown in Plano, Texas I'd be out of a business shortly.

I'd post a zero if it was an option. I bought my fourth $550.00 Blade Fusion heli yesterday at this location and it turned out that the unit has a defective speed controller I uncovered this morning. I tried to return the heli for an exchange, however I was denied the transaction since I didn't bring MY OWN DX6e transmitter or MY OWN battery which were not purchased from here. It's a Hobby store packed with radios and batteries! yet the staff wouldn't bother. I left several messages for the store manager Pete Zelner with no responce to date. It's not about the money, it's the principal of the matter. I'm just going to accept the loss but never shop at a Hobbytown again. Honestly you're better off buying directly from Tower...

The store has just about everything you would need as a hobbyist. If not they can order it delivered to the store or delivered to your home. There are usually interesting displays up sewing products for sale set up and operating.

I once went into the store and ordered something to have it delivered to the store free shipping and the store was going to call me and I would come pick it up. It was a $100 item. I never got a call on the day I was supposed to be in. So I waited a few days and call them asking whether they had received my shipment. After a lot of telephone tag and excuses, I found out that my item that I had already paid for got put on the Shelf for sale. I know it was my item because when I went in there my name and telephone number were still on the box. This was the last time I ordered anything in-store for delivery...