Has anybody found a replacement for Tower Hobbies?

[Steve Helmick]

Have been looking for a few items that Tower used to carry, but they no longer do...or much of anything. Looking for Tru-Turn or Dave Brown "Ultimate" 2" spinners for 2 and 3 blades, some APC and Xoar props, a set of Dave Brown wheels, and a Sullivan silicon starter cup for needle nose spinners. I don't want to order from 4 different sources. Most every place I look only sells electric Xoar props, or none. I already went through most the advertisers in Model Aviation. Steve

[Norm Furutani]

At the Nats, I spoke to a Horizon employee and he said they are going through the Tower offerings and deciding which to keep and which to drop. We should make our desires known and hope they become available again.

On another note, a few of us have been buying Zoar props through eBay.

Norm

[Dave Harmon]

Have been looking for a few items that Tower used to carry, but they no longer do...or much of anything. Looking for Tru-Turn or Dave Brown "Ultimate" 2" spinners for 2 and 3 blades, some APC and Xoar props, a set of Dave Brown wheels, and a Sullivan silicon starter cup for needle nose spinners. I don't want to order from 4 different sources. Most every place I look only sells electric Xoar props, or none. I already went through most the advertisers in Model Aviation. Steve

You can buy Tru-Turn direct from them.

[Kevin Muckleroy]

Still buy Spinners direct from Dave Brown Also
https://www.dbproducts.com/index2.htm

[John Watson]

We have a booming LHS in Thomasville NC but they don't carry any C/L stuff...……….

[John Rist]

We have a great LHS in Huntsville Alabama however not much control line stuff.  However they do stock all the basic building stuff as well as a lot of electric stuff.  And they will order anything that Tower has.  We are very lucky!!!!     

[Brett Buck]

For the most part, I have found almost anything that Tower had is still available, but directly from the manufacturer website.

    Brett

[Target]

I'm still getting sale emails from Tower. Weird.

[Brett Buck]

I'm still getting sale emails from Tower. Weird.

  They are still in business, just undergoing bankruptcy, probably under direction of a "neutral" party. There's every chance they will come out of it.

   Chevy went bankrupt, they didn't stop selling cars and were then bailed out. You would be pleasantly surprised at who paid for that (which largely went to unions).

   OK, it is not really a surprise, and certainly not pleasant.

    Brett

[Russell]

I like Tower Hobbies a lot and hope they can get back on their feet. Here are a few other online places to shop:



horizonhobby.com


amainhobbies.com


hobbyking.com


motionrc.com


traxxas.com


 

[Steve Helmick]

Have looked at most of the suggested vendors, with little or no joy. I did find the Sullivan starter cup I want at one, and a bunch of Xoar MULTI-ROTOR (LH & RH pairs) at another. I'm trying to avoid paying an $8 shipping charge for a $5-$20 item x 4 items, if that isn't perfectly clear!

The one that made me post looking for an alternative source was Central Hobbies in Billings, by the way. Tower wasn't perfect, but I'm missing them. However, trying to carry everything for everybody is a good way to go bankrupt, as they've found out. IMO, they don't have to carry everything YOU want, as long as they carry what I want!    Steve

[Ken Culbertson]

IMO, they don't have to carry everything YOU want, as long as they carry what I want!    Steve

And that is why you can't find anything.  They are carrying what I want!   And right now I don't want anything so that is what they carry! 

In talking with our local hobby shops, the real problem is minimum orders from their suppliers..  If they could get replacement quantities instead of having to place large orders they would be perfectly willing to keep our stuff in stock even though it would really be a wash on their bottom line.  Yet we can direct order one item from the same place. Maybe that is where we need to place our righteous indignation.  The sad truth is that we do not represent a large enough buying force to get anybody's attention anymore and that is not their fault. 

Ken

[Steve Helmick]

Ken, the weird thing is that NONE of the things I am attempting to order are CL Specific. Not one!

I know where I can get some of the items, but would literally have to send out 4 orders for 4 items or brand of items. That just doesn't make sense. I need to see if I can come to grips with SIG's website...it seems more slanted toward dealer sales these days...and electronic ARF's, of course. New corporate direction since the passing of the bosses? I think so. Nobody cares to sell hobby stuff to willing customers, except what they want to sell, apparently. Great way to kill our hobby.    Steve   

[cory colquhoun]

Just as a side note, does anyone else think Hobbking's web site is horrible to navigate?


Motorman

yes