Mid - Hudson Hobbies, Middletown

I'm on the fence on this one. I've had good visits and not as good visits. I like to support real stores but I find myself maintaining my hobby online. I'm sure they're busy but it takes a little too long for orders to come in and call backs rarely occur. I find that shopping online is faster, more reliable and theres always a tech available who is not too busy to help. I hope the shop can step up their game because I like 1on1 and enjoy browsing their selection but need a little more reliability on the service end. A good place to see the new products and make an initial purchase, beyond that i recommend seeking service online.

Unlike Other reviews , I am very happy with the customer service. I went in looking for Traxxas parts, the guy helped me out right away, looked up the parts for me. He even took the time to explain how to install them. This is the only shop in my area, which makes this places very convenient. The prices are competitive to other shops Ive visited over an hour away. Of course prices are going to be a tad bit higher at a retail shop than the internet, so people should stop complaining about paying too much. Go ahead and order online and wait a week to save a few dollars. I told the guy I was thinking about buying an RC boat in the future and even told him straight out i wasnt going to buy one today. He still spent over 10 minutes explaining to me about the boats and showed them to me.

I've never been the kind of person that expects a company to bend over backward, or wipe my butt with kindness, I just want accurate information, the stuff I'm looking for, and good prices. My brother bought me a gift certificate to this place and after reading some of the reviews I thought "some of these reviewers sound like they're expecting too much." So I called the place looking for a part for my RC heli, they claimed that they had it, the guy even "checked." They told me they were closing at 5 so I told them I was on my way and rushed down there (about a 20 minute drive for me) . I got there at 4:50 and there was no-one there, all the lights were off and the doors were locked. I can understand closing early if it's a slow day or something, but when someone calls you and says "I'm on my way" I think its incredibly rude to just leave before the time you just told the person you were closing. I don't believe that this is an unreasonable customer service request to just stay open until closing time, when you know someone is on their way. The next day they said they were open at 10am I called every five minutes until 10:30 and just kept getting the answering machine. I left thinking they were bound to be open sometime, and when I got there at 11ish they were open. I told the guy behind the counter that I called and was looking for this specific part, I showed the guy the part # and description in the manual but he didn't seem to understand what I was looking for. After an irritating 10 minute back and forth, he looked around and told me they don't have the part. He offered to order it for me and I still haven't heard back from them. It doesn't matter though,after all that I just went to a different hobby shop and got the part I needed no problem. I noticed that one of the owners wrote a reply here saying that they are passionate about their hobbies and that's why we should shop there. You can be passionate all you want for RC Hobbies, that doesn't mean you know how to run a business.

I walked in with my Traxxas SledgeHammer, needing replacement peices. Doug and Chris picked the peices off the wall behind the counter and helped me replace the parts RIGHT THERE on the counter! And it wasn't just a simple job. In fact, as I soon found out, we really NEEDED four hands for some of the manuvers. Both the brothers have been extreemly helpful to both myself and every other customer I have seen in there at the same time I was there. They have guarenteed my business with them for as long as I am still able to use my RC stuff. I only hope that they're around that long

Me and my brother traveled all the way up from Suffern NY for glow plugs and fuel we got there at 7 on the dot they were closed. The phone said they were open until on fridays. the lights were on we rang bell no one answered stood around ringing bell as sign suggested then all of the sudden lights go off in back and no one was there! Run your busy better don't just close up shop whe you feel like it you inconvienenced us Ill shop online for now on

I was very surprised to see, floating around on the net, that Mid-Hudson is still going strong and still on North Street. I purchased a quarter scale electric Graupner Typhoon Hydro and Systems catamaran about 30 years ago near the time they first opened. Chris, who likely don't remember me, helped me with guidance and training to build them and race them. He used to race quarter scale cars on the week-ends. I sold the Typhoon (BIG mistake) but still have the Systems with electronics and some old Hobby Lobby catalogs. Unfortunately, Hobby Lobby does not carry Graupner any more and I think Graupner is out of business. Thanks Chris for the great memories. I still plan to run again in my retirement here in Arizona, Dan

I am an avid hobbyist who is extremely passionate about the hobby. As there are to all stories, there are two sides. Although Danny and I strive to please everyone, there will always be some who do not understand issues regarding service and warranty. Also, there are many customers who spend not minutes, but hours getting help from us, which is just good customer service. This is a "hands on" hobby and unfortunately some get frustrated when they have to spend time maintaining their radio control car/truck/boat/plane. We do our best to guide everyone so that they can enjoy the hobby as we do. When you see the 8000 sft facility that only 2 people run you will be amazed at what we can get done. I personally invite you to come down and judge for yourself our commitment to this hobby and our customers, and the 30 years I have been working retail. I do not believe you will find another hobby store that will devote this much time to a customer, even if you purchased somewhere else. We do not give you the "bums rush", in fact we go out of our way to make sure you know what you are doing (especially the "newbies"). Visit our store and judge for yourself. Mention this review and get FREE track time on either our slot car track or indoor R/C track! Thank you for your business, Chris & Danny Fine, Owners, Mid Hudson Hobbies

I've purchased several RC vehicles over the years from this shop, I never had a problem except when one of the owners was not willing to go the extra distance in good customer support. I had problems with a nitro motor that was under warranty, I was told by the shop to only deal with the manufacturer. I dealt with the manufacturer & they said they would need to speak to the shop owners to confirm what the problem with the nitro motor was to see if it would be covered. Talks between the shop owners & the manufacturer seem to take forever (playing phone tag maybe?) in the mean time the hobby shop lost my broken nitro motor & were not very helpful in doing much of anything to either reduce the price of a new motor or help me out at with the manufacturer covering it. After a about 3 weeks the hobby shop made me feel like I was a bother when I came into the store, like....."here he comes again for his motor". I've have purchased some items there since this incident, but most times now I shop online, or travel greater distances to a different hobby shop.

As we all know hobby shops are for children and adults alike. But at this one peculiar place the joy of being hobbies had a drastic turn around. I was in this store to make a few purchases for my children . As a novelist hopper the guy in front of me looked really in to remote control boats. Spending numerous hours and what looked like to be quite a few dollars. In this store. This gentlemen in front of me was verbally abused buy the store owner . Calling him a cheap and refusing to help him with his questions. This gentlemen was totally embarrassed by the owners actions. To me the owner looked more of a fool then anyone. Not only losing the business of this man. But I as well. This is such wrong etiquette for a store owner of any type. I know that there are not many hobby shops around but after seeing and hearing what I did today I STRONGLY urge you not to participate in ANY of this stores Sales.