Time Machine Hobby — Local services in Manchester

I was thrilled to visit this store. My husband and I were going to purchase a gas powered helicopter. Those are not cheap in any sense of the word. First we went upstairs and oogled over the incredible train display that basically takes up the entire floor. After visiting the trains we headed down to the shop to buy his helicopter. I saw a young man on a green colored cellphone behind the counter. I walked over and waited for him to finish talking so I could ask him about the model. He looked at me and I looked at him dead in the eye and smiled which is a univsersal gesture of "I need your help and am waiting my turn"

The young man turned away and headed to an area that had a register. I followed as I assumed that's where he wanted me to be. I had heard enough of his conversation to know he wasn't on the phone with a customer. I still waited patiently. When he looked at me again I smiled then he walked to the other side of the wall and stared at some models on the well so he didn't have to look at me.

I was appalled. I love supporting local businesses and was surprised that they would treat their customers like that. All and all we stood there for approximately 10 minutes before realizing they didn't want our business. This place is very cool and has a decent selection of models to choose from but I don't recommend going there. We are now on the hunt for a good hobby shop. I'm sure there is another one in the area that will want...

Much like "The Portal" across the street, most of the staff at Time Machine doesn't seem to care about helping/retaining customers. I stopped in on a slow Wednesday to ask for a certain Tamiya product I didn't see on the shelves. The two older gentlemen back there, going through and discussing comic books on the raised platform near the models, took turns looking at me before finally realizing I wasn't leaving and asked what I wanted. I told them, they said they "used to" have some of what I was looking for, and then went right back to their conversation. No offer to order it for me, no suggestions for similar products; just right back to ignoring me. I bought some paint for an upcoming project, my last purchase here with how many chances I've given Time Machine to knock this kind of "service" off, and then left.

I don't know if they think they're too big of a local store to fail or what, but there isn't a thing they sell you can't find online and just wait for; likely from a friendlier, more helpful, and probably cheaper place. Definitely not going back again.

On a related note: The search function on their website is beyond useless. Just...

I was most interested in their Board Game store across the street from this building and was amazed at what I found. The manager, Jonathan, was VERY friendly, helpful and courteous. We discussed a number of games at length and he was very knowledgeable about it as he's also a gamer. The store was fantastic for gaming. There was a separate room dedicated strictly for miniatures with home built wooden tables that can be configured in different dimensions with pre-made terrain blocks that fit inside them. There must have been at least 20 tables as the area was as big as most game stores in itself. There was another area dedicated for cards (Magic, etc), board games and RPG's. I didn't count them but there had to be about 50 folding tables arranged in rows with plenty of room to walk around them. Most impressive was a library of hundreds of games you can just leave a deposit on (get it back if you return the game INTACT) and play right there at the store. If you come in from out of town (I'm from Ohio) you gotta visit this store if you are a game player. I didn't know what games my friends kids would like but when I did Jonathan got it for...