Hobby Emporium Inc

I sure can't imagine what got across a few of the reviewers here, with their negative reviews, but my first time at Hobby Emporium was a very pleasant and educational experience, with Ian in the model trains spending over an hour with me answering all my questions. Very helpful staff. I'll be going back there when I'm ready to buy. more

Worst customer service I have ever experienced. Rude staff. Worst prices around more

I have been going here and their previous locations for over 20 years. Staff is very helpful and have the best selection of aircraft models hands down. I highly recommend this store and my hats off to the employees/hobbyists that work there!! more

I am in no way, shape or form a hobby enthusiast however, my husband is. He has turned our grandchildren into enthusiast too; they are a 13 year old boy and 9 year old girl. He has been bringing them to Hobby Emporium since they were potty trained. They both race in the slot car league each summer and love it. Every week they are in and out of the store multiple times through the evening. Window shopping is never a problem for any of the kids. Sure, they're watched but many items carried in the shop are fragile and expensive. If the kids get a little out of line they are dealt with with respect. My grandson collects die cast replica trucks and construction equipment. He has quite the collection. Again, the staff is always ready with ideas on adding to his pieces and on letting him know what will be coming in, getting discontinued, etc. They do the same with the slot cars. Anyone looking for a unique hobby shop would be delighted with Hobby Emporium. They know their stuff, you can brows to your hearts content and you will be amazed by the display of items created by individual staffers. Truly talented. more

Everyone is of course entitled to their opinion, and it's possible that while one person may enjoy their experience, another may be quite disappointed. With that said, I'm still lost as to how some of these reviews were SO bad. I went in expecting a great selection but crappy service...I walked in, and instead, was immediately assisted by friendly, knowledgeable employees. They had set aside a couple '57 Chevy Bel Air models for me, since I had called earlier. They explained the differences between the brands, and the models themselves, and they had exactly what I was looking for when I could not find it anywhere else. I walked around like a kid in the candy store, excited to see all the choices! They had a wide selection or military models, trains, aircrafts, cars, puzzles, accessories, paints, glues, etc. It is a laid back environment with workers that are hobby enthusiasts and know their field well. When I was unsure of something or had a question about recommended products, they were able to quickly respond and point me in the right direction. I didn't feel as if they tried to sell me the most expensive option, which is commonly the case in some businesses. I understand that someone reading these reviews may read the bad ones and think the worst, but please take the opportunity to check out the store and form your own opinion. My mother and I drove 45 min to this place and it was totally worth it to us, maybe it will be for you too! I give Hobby Emporium five stars :-) more

I have been into this store on 3 occassion over the past year. Being relatively new to model railroading I was impressed with their wide array of HO products. That is where the positives end. First off they are significantly over priced. I don't mind paying retail as long as I get good service. Good service does not exist in their world. The staff is arrogant, verbose and uneducated. I have seen first hand in more than one instance how badly they treat kids. Not just my 4 year old son, but kids ages 10 to teens. For gods sake, did it ever occur to these people children are the future of these hobbies. I get a kick out of people who think children should be excluded from "Their Hobby". YOU ARE SELLING TOYS!!!!! Of course kids like this stuff and so do I. My son was yelled at by the guy who is alway's on his laptop behind the train counter and claims to be a Boston Fire Fighter. The fat guy with the scruffy mustache and beard usually at the cashier counter is arrogant and dumber than a bag of rocks. He tried to BS me on a DCC question instead of actually trying to help me. Fortunately for me I live in an area where I don't have to deal with these fools and have some good choices such as Charles Ro and Moose Minatures. For those who live in the Nashua or Lowell area drive the extra 10 minutes to Maine Trains (www.mainetrains.com) in Chelmsford. Jerry is one of the most knowledge and customer friendly people I have had the pleasure to deal with. Another great place albeit mostly online is Traintek, LLC (www.traintekllc.com) in Waltham. Gary knows DCC better that anyone I have met. You can will call items provided you give him a call in advance. more

I've been a customer since I moved into the area in the late 80's when the shop was up the road in Nashua. Reasonable prices and a knowledgeable staff who are themselves enthusiastic hobbyists... and it shows. This is one of the increasingly rare businesses where they understand that building customer loyalty is more than making a sale every time you walk in the door. As a result, I am willing to spend a little more here to help a business like this than just do an impersonal internet-order or another shop where you sense it's just a job to the sales-staff. It's a great throwback to how-it-used-to-be. To the woman who complained about being followed around the store... that's how it is in most all hobby shops until you are known to them. When you cosider: small packages of high $ value, no economical anti-theft deterrent and tight profit margins.. well no wonder they keep an eye on strangers. When I was a kid in the 60s-70s, the owner would have his staff follow us around and kept the glue behind the counter and gave me the 3rd degree about what I going to really do with the it. I've been around the world and always to stick my head in a hobby store wherever I go. I feel lucky to have such a great little shop close by. more

I just bought another Tamiya car model at the June 25 30% off sale. Its very difficult to choose and keep limits on myself every time I come here because of the great selection. The place was packed with young and old as this was a great chance to stock up on models, paints, and other supplies. I think they have another sale date late in the summer and this is a great time to buy. I've always spent a very long time looking and wandering and have never been bothered or watched by the staff. If you have questions, they have the answers; as simple or as detailed as you need. more

I go here often, knowledgeable, friendly staff, great selection of aircraft and military models. more

Great selection of all models that are military. I prefer advanced car models and this is the best brick and motar store I can find in the area. The guys let me browse forever and will be helpfull if I ask for help. Models cannot be found in dept stores anymore and this the place to go for beginners as well as advanced builder. also take a look in the display case for finished projects.....wow, great jobs. more

I brought my 14-year-old son into the Hobby Emporium to look for items he needed for a school project. First, we were followed around the store like we were going to steal something, then comments were made about what we were picking up to buy by the associate working there. We had already been asked if we needed help, and we politely told the gentleman that we did not. He continued to follow us around the store, and then he intruded upon our conversation about exactly what my son needed for his project. He ridiculed my son to the point where I walked out of the store. He made my son feel as though the science project would not work, even though my son had had the project approved by his science teacher. My son's exact words were "I hope he feels good about himself making me feel like a total failure in life". People like this should NOT be working with the public. I don't know who he was, but he worked there on a Saturday afternoon. I would NEVER go back there. more

This is a great small hobby store although they recently moved to a bigger store across the way from the old store. They have a good selection of models and books but seem to specialize in remote control cars. They guys that work the register are very friendly and seem to be hobby enthusiasts themselves. more