Best Prices

[bogaziddy]

I've bought some items from nearby hobby shops and paid close to full retail. It's good to patronize the local guy because I want to see him stay in business. If the shop owner is a nice fellow he can be quite helpful when you encounter problems with your equipment : offering work-arounds and suggestions that might save you from having to send your unit in for repairs. My 'local' shops (one's about a three hour drive from here) have operating layouts so each time I visit I might spend about a couple of hours there. Shop owners who know you'll buy from them are also more forthcoming with information about good value and are more inclined to let you have a little 'hands on' product evaluation on their display layouts. One shop I go to even has a library type of set-up where you can thumb through magazines and books you might be considering.

I know it's tempting to want to price shop over the internet and I've succumbed on quite a few occasions ; but just think what it would be like not being able to go into a hobby shop and see those coveted items 'in the flesh' so to speak and all the while experiencing the comraderie of your fellow hobbyists. So I think we all need to bite the full-retail 'bullet' every now and then to continue enjoying trips to the hobby shop. My favorite trainshops : Bruce's Trains in Sacramento and The Train Depot in Redding, CA.

[Anonymous]

I have found good prices and pretty good delivery online from, islandtrains.com, wholesaletrains.com and ehobbies.com. Just make sure they have it in stock, because Lionel backorders are slow.

[3railguy]

Jus Trains for Lionel and AM Hobbies for Atlas O are good mail order houses. Really, you should shop around. Each has specials of a few items and one may have what your looking for.

[tschmidt]

In Hamburg, NY (just outside of Buffalo) is Artcraft Toy Trains. They deal in all O gauge and they have very good pre-order prices. Their regular prices are good too. Rick who runs the place is knowledgable and helpful.. Also an excellent repair facility.
You can find them at www.artcrafttoytrains.com

Tom

[Buckeye Riveter]

When I bought my track for my layout, I really looked for a good price and Davis Trains in Cincinnati was the best price even when I had to pay Oho sales tax.

I know what you mean about the full price. I was driving home from a meeting and called three shops locally via cell phone and asked for a price quote on a specific item. I did not pay the full MRP. It pays to shop!

[Anonymous]

Jus Trains has good prices and they offer free shipping on orders over $180. I have not bought from them yet, but have heard good things about them.

[Anonymous]

I know that I'm supposed to support my local (1 hour away) train shop, but they charge full list price for everything. I've been looking at the train magazines, and trainworld really seems to have the best prices on just about everything. I've ordered from them a couple of times, and they are fast and a lot less money than retail.

Is there anyone else that is just as discounted or more?

Thanks,
Craig