Rio Grande Hobbies closing up shop — a sad day

[SOUPAC]

I just read an newsletter from Wayne at Rio Grande Hobbies. It states as follows...

Rio Grande Hobbies Customers – With great sadness, I have decided to close Rio Grande Hobbies. Due to several business and personal obstacles, it will be impossible to continue. Starting February 26, all purchases will receive an additional 20% discount at checkout. Quantities on hand are also displayed and many limited. Orders will not be held or combined for any reason, but will ship immediately with valid credit card or store credit. If you are close to Canton, our store is open and several other items are available that are not on the website.
 
Regarding your Advanced (Pre-Orders), Wig-Wag will be able to take care of these. Please contact them to discuss your Pre-Order, as they have basic information regarding your advanced orders. There are also several orders that have just been filled and on their way to you. However, all other orders will be canceled in order to give you the opportunity to purchase items at a significantly lower price. If you have store credit, I will apply to your next order or reimburse you prior to closing.
 
Personally, I appreciate all the great people I’ve met. Your friendships are most important. Thanks… Wayne

[asarge]

Not good but not unexpected.

[Bob Bufkin]

Was wondering why they cancelled a couple orders 2 weeks ago.  They always provided good service to me and will be missed.

[Erik W]

Well, on the upside, at least this means more market share for the other online shops.  Tough economic times usually bring about situations like this, figuratively speaking, separating the wheat from the chaff.

Erik

[asarge]

he won't be the last either.

[Walkercolt]

Andy, do we want to start a "hit list"? No, I won't start rumours or speculate, but some well known shops are hurting badly. I felt I could reccomend Rio Grande to customers if they had an item I couldn't get. One less "good competator", not what I like.

[Chris333]

I didn't read all 50 of the threads on this, but did they even give a reason for closing?

Guess I will scratch my last order from them out of my checkbook...

[John]

It's too bad they closed, but that is business. Survival of the fittest.

[asarge]

Andy, do we want to start a "hit list"? No, I won't start rumours or speculate, but some well known shops are hurting badly. I felt I could reccomend Rio Grande to customers if they had an item I couldn't get. One less "good competator", not what I like.

Not trying to Ricky, but it's expected that 22,000 different retail business will die this year. The likelihood that more hobby-related establishments will bite the dust is extremely high unfortunately.

[Chris333]

With no action on my part I just received this e-mail:

Thank you for shopping with Rio Grande Hobbies!

Order xxxxx has been cancelled. Any items remaining on this order that have not already shipped to you will be marked as cancelled.

If you have any questions or need assistance with your order, please contact us at 678-880-7097 or email us at Sales@RioGrandeHobbies.com.

Thank you!
Rio Grande Hobbies

[Bob Bufkin]

That's the same message I received about 2 weeks ago.  Always had good service from RGH and I will miss them.  Guess Chuck and a few others will get more orders from me.

[TBONE]

Frankly it comes as no shock to me as the waiting times for orders were ridiculous.

[Pete Steinmetz]

I placed an order last week.  I asked status by E Mail twice.  No reply. Today I called and got no answer. 

Last fall I had to send a couple of E Mails to get them to ship an order.  After that I didn't order from them anymore.

i am sorry to see them go, but not surprised.

Pete