Hobby lobby does these types of purges pretty much annually. I know back in 2019 there was a huge sale and they discounted a ton of stuff including some of the RTF stuff and starter kits. I bought a bunch of Big Daddy's for $4.99. The Riptides, Chiller and Spirit were all $3.99. Baby Bertha's were $3.99 and the Mystic was $9.99.
I've spoken to the folks at the various hobby lobby's around here while searching for these deals and a couple have mentioned that the rockets sell quick so I doubt they are going anywhere.
I'm more interested in what hobby lobby exclusive rockets are coming in the next few months.
Agreed.
Although I have to say I've never seen model railroad stuff at any of the Hobby Lobby stores I've ever been in. I think the first H-L store I ever saw was in Santa Fe, NM when I was visiting family there - perhaps 10 years ago?
They've been in the greater Seattle area for some time now — the store nearest me was the second one I think. Now I know of six or so within a reasonable radius (not counting traffic). They've all carried Estes rocket stuff, and generally the inventory (except during these periodic resets) is pretty consistent across them.
WalMart had small amounts of rocket stuff when I first got back in the hobby ~13 years ago, and I remember making the rounds as they were clearancing them, stocking up on motors. With Target it's been on and off and on and now, apparently off again...though they were the only local source for the Rocket Science Starter Set (which was a Target exclusive five years or so ago) and the AstroCam launch set when it was first introduced.
Locally Fred Meyer, which has everything from jewelry to groceries and hardware (and is now owned by Kroger) has had some small Estes stock off and on over the years I've been back in the hobby. Most recently they just carried the more recent variation of the Rocket Science Starter set and no motors separately, but that's gone again now.
There are two HobbyTown USA stores within a half hour (non-rush-hour) from here. Both carry a pretty extensive stock of Estes stuff, all at full list except, oddly enough, for bulk boxes of motors. There is one other smaller hobby shop also within reach which carries a small amount (or did last time I was up there).
But right now the nearest Hobby Lobby is my favored local supplier for motors of the types they carry as it's not that far away and the prices are good compared to most other sources. I would be sad to see them stop carrying rockets. I don't see any signs of that, however.
As for new exclusives, there are no added hooks in the rocket area, which is smaller now than it was, say six months ago, which makes me think that at least for this reset there aren't any new ones coming. I'd like to be wrong. The only remaining exclusives are the Olympus egg lofter and the Epic II two-stage streamer model. The Olympus is unique. The Epic II is a Sterling Silver with different decals. All other parts are identical. It is a nice flying two-stage model, though kind of easy to lose if you get only motors sold at H-L, since they only carry C6-0 boosters.
