The Little World

And how can you tell the difference between them? Perhaps we should mention a third category first – the retail dealer.

a. The Retail Dealer has a shop – sometimes an on-line one, sometimes a physical store. Sometimes a combination of the two, if there are enough staff with enough expertise to run it all.

Having a committment to the business, the retailer has regular hours, regular prices, and does regular book keeping. They have an ABN number and a working relationship with the Australian Taxation Office. If this is an honest one, they will be able to stay in business for years and not get handcuff burns on their wrists.

They will also have a network of regular connections to wholesale suppliers and occasionally to a manufacturer.

They will have a basic knowledge of their stock and of the various hobby divisions they serve, though as the hobbies grow more complex they may have to delegate expertise to different staff members – if they have a good team this is wise.

They can support trade events but are unlikely to run their sales at rock-bottom prices – having premises to maintain. This may seem a disadvantage, but customers also know that they will be there when required and are prepared to pay for the assurance of this

b. The Dealer may not have a shop – or may devote some space in another business to a small line of hobby supplies. They are also going to be doung books that have to pass ATO scrutiny and are wise people if they keep the finances of their hobby business separate from any other business they operate.

If they operate from home they can factor this in with the ATO but there is likely to be less pressure on them by doing this – unless they try to incorporate shop facilities in private premises, and then run foul of councils, neighbours, and spouses. Wherever they operate from, they will be harder to get to and tougher to do business with than the retail shopkeeper.

Their prices may be a little lower on some items as they do not run a big overhead. Conversely they may be greater in some cases if they cannot take advantage of bulk buys from wholsalers. They may have sweetheart deals with small importers or overseas exporters but all love is a transient thing…

They are more likely to be enthusiasts in a hobby themselves, and have come to the trading in it through the desire to possess the very things they sell. This is no bad thing, as it makes them more knowledgable and passionate about the hobbies – and more sympathetic to those who share their interest. But they can fool themselves into bad investments and unsalable stock based upon their own desires.

There can be stronger personal contacts – both positive and negative – with this class of dealer and they will have both friends and enemies.

c. The Wheeler Dealer is very often nothing more than an enthusiast with an eye for the main chance. That main chance can be the opportunity to sell you secondhand goods or to buy your discarded hobby from you. They will frequent exhibitions and trade fairs and have a variable stock of goods. Much of what they have to sell has not sold through the other main channels, and may sell only fitfully through them but do not imagine that this will lower the prices.

Also do not imagine that entire honesty or scrupulous behaviour will be the rule. If you approach the Wheeler Dealer as you would approach Arfur Daley in a car yard you will be wise.

Never expect complete satisfaction with your bargain. Never expect all promises to be kept.

The point at which you can start to frown or smile in any hobby transaction can be markedly different depending upon whther you feel that you have been treated well or not. It is wise to set your sights on a certain level of goods and be satisfied if the purchase comes close to it – perfection is not something we can often find. But do not be blind to the dealer who is honest and helpful, and with whom you can build a good relationship. It is worth paying for that as much as it is worth paying for fancy kits or great accessories.