After searching the internet for months, I finally found out about Larry's. I drove over a hundred miles to check them out. Their inventory is huge. The older gentleman there was extremely helpful and convinced me that rc planes was the hobby for me and my 2 sons. He always let me look around first then he would come and answer questions for me when it looked like I was lost. I really appreciated that. I'm glad that this store is not a fast paced walmart or circuit city. I can only assume that it harkens back to the time when folks would leisurely pace around a store without being hounded every second. I get the feeling that this is the way hobby shops are supposed to be. I couldn't believe I had so much fun looking around and talking about planes. I was very impressed.

First of all - I would like to make a disclaimer before writing this review, I am only commenting on my experience with one employee on Nov 13, 2008. After browsing for a few mins I asked an older gentleman at the front checkout if they took AMEX, i assumed no bc I did not see any signs and many small business don't take this credit card because of their high fees... After this person confirmed they did not take AMEX , I jokingly said it was bc they rake the small business guys over the coals and then he gave me a serious face and said it was because they are a family owned business and AMEX supports h* o * m * o's and they are a h * o * m *o run company....I was shocked....even as a heterosexual i was appalled...I will not EVER buy from this company.

I have never been a fan of this hobby shop, but since north Houston doesn't offer much in the way of real hobby shops I find myself shopping there now and then. Like some others I find the workers there a little slow to help customers or I see things like two or three employees helping one person while I wait. This time I was returning an item I purchased the day before, I fully expected to have a hard time getting my money back, and the first guy that I came to was only going to give me store credit, that would have been the last straw for me. All was not lost, a young man named Cory came to the rescue with the first sign of real customer service I had seen in this establishment. In the days in the internet the only thing that a retail store can do to stay alive is offer unmatched service. I believe Cory understands this and his older counterparts could stand to learn from him.

The shop's ship and aircraft remote control is the big ticket items for them.The train part of the store is making a comeback against alot of competiton from train only stores .They have a good selection and the Train side of the store is often neglected by the employees due to the fact they are all concentrated on the RC part of the store and no nothing of trains.They used to have a guy in the train part of the store that would load the shelfs with stuff but since he left the stock has remained the same with little or no change .Having been in the Hobby for 35 years it's easy to spot these item's.Being left alone to look at stuff is a blessing.How many times have you been hounded by sales people who are sent over to watch you and couldnt help you but could only check you out which is basically all that is need of them.Currently they have some guy's that are up to date on trains and can help so thats a plus for the store.

I decided to write a review because I rely heavily on them myself and found that, after my visit, the bad reviews about Larry's shop must be completely untrue or are from someone who would write a bad review anywhere because of their own emotional problems. I was reluctant to go because of these bad reviews but decided to visit their shop because it is so close to my home. First, I was very impressed with their selection and the huge layout set up in their shop. I walked around for about 15 minutes and listened as some of the old-timers talked about their hobby. I was obviously not rich and with my infant daughter in my arms, one would think I wouldn't be in there to buy much. However, after I was given the freedom to look around unharrased (which I greatly appreciated), the two men working there both asked if I needed any help. I told them I was looking to start into the hobby with my 4 year old son and the older man quickly dropped what he was doing to help me. He spent nearly an HOUR with me. He basically gave me a tour of the entire train side of the store and explained in detail about DC and DCC setups, the advantages of different types of track, and all kinds of other very detailed information that you normally have to read about in technical books. We even got into some very basic information about wiring designs (I am an engineer so I dig this kind of thing!). These guys know their hobby and it was very apparent that they take great pride in it. Jim told me that he has been in trains for 65 YEARS and that it totally defined his career as an adult. WOW! He also told me that he doesn't want to sell train parts, he wants to help people love the hobby. He did not push me to buy anything that day. I bought two books, spent $25 and left completely happy. No pressure at all. That is truly customer service and I will go back.