My LHS doesnt support racing..
I have attempted the original opening statement and gave a list of parts he should stock and I promised i would buy them all through him, along with all my mates. He flat out said NO.. toys (traxxas) is where the money is.. not the racers... you guys just buy your stuff on ebay anyway.
What he does stock is crazy overpriced.. and as someone mentioned.. sells to the unknowing with little input at all.. I have had to bite my tongue on a few occasions just so he wouldnt loose a sale..
I dont go in there at all anymore.. period
I do try my hardest to support locally, but the only shop i will use in Western Australia is Ryper Hobbies.. They are definately a race bred shop. And i spent $100+ every time i walk in there.. only problem is this shop is over 2hrs (220kms) away.
Both our onroad and our offroad race tracks closed this winter... so i now have bloody heaps of cars that i cant race anymore.
So damned if you do... already damned if you don't