Best source for track

[Anonymous]

Ridgeroadstation.com has everything you need and fast delivery if in stock

[ErieLackawanna1]

Although many hobby shops (internet dealers) are set up to allow orders over the web, I have always ordered over the phone and talked to a real-live person. I just like to speak with whoever I am buying from, know if something is in stock, if a special order is necessary, etc. So "secure orders" over the net is not necessary when using the phone. And you will still get "internet prices". They do not even have to have tolll-free numbers for me to use them.

I have purchased from San-Val, WholesaleTrains.com (Gary Lantz), St Aubin Station, St Aubin Junction, Trainworld, etc. I like them all. And I like to visit them in person if I am in their areas. To me they feel like my "local" hobby shops, just a little farther away.

As for supporting the "local guys", that is well and good if they occasionally have special sales, club discounts, or other things that are customer friendly. But as far as G guage goes, it is so freaking expensive that I just won't spend $15 to $60 more for a freight or passenger car just to be a nice guy! And I am saying this living only 4 miles from the largest hobby shop in the country...yes, the one you all know about and have probably visited at times (how funny that they just hung a new sign in the front door reading "NEW LOWER PRICES ON G GUAGE"...yeah, right!).

But another idea that no one has mentioned is buying USED TRACK. My layout is 50% or more used LGB flex track that I have reformed with a rail bender. In some cases, I discarded a few of the (broken or deformed) LGB tie strips and replaced with new. If you belong to a garden railway club, or are in the vicinity of one, you are often able to find people either downsizing their layouts, getting out of the hobby for health or other reasons, etc. This to me is even better than buying it new at discount. Remember, this is G guage track that is 1/3 if an inch thick and meant to be outdoors...we're not talking HO or N guage track! So used would always be my first choice.

I hope this helps...OK, I put in my 4 cents!

[Anonymous]

It's a drive for me, but it was well worth it...Davis Trains in Milford, Ohio. Very big store with one store dedicated to G. Fair prices I think. Can order online also.

[ttrigg]

I do as much as possible with my local vendors, then I go to "internettrains" for all of my most all of my web purchases. As far as customer service goes, they have an excellent program in place. Example: About a year ago I placed an order for 2 packages of "flex" track and some other items. Then 2 days later I placed another order for some other stuff and another package of "flex". Within an hour I had an e-mail from them asking if I had intended to order the "third" package of track they wanted to make sure I had not duplicated my order. I get very good service with them. They are less than 100 miles from me, so when I order on Monday night, UPS stops by on Thursday.

[Train 284]

I suggest St. Aubins (Station or Junction) or Ridge Rod Station.

[dwbeckett]

I buy from my local Hobby Shop in Concord Ca. they as stated before give the best service on all train items, I mail ordered from RO once it took close to two years to get a complete work train.The last peice came in a darker color. That was 4 years ago, yes the same set that was advertised for about 2-3 years before I ordered mine. I did get excelent service from Nickolas Smith Trains via the Phone. I have dealt with them since I was about 14 or so WAY before computers. and when I traveled to the Philadelphia Area.

[CandCRR]

Well, I guess I am lucky. My hobby shops tend to sell at or very near advertized cost in the ads in the magazines.

Are there others you can buy the track with? Often a large order gets a better price. I have also heard some clubs buy in bulk to help their members. All I can say is shop around.

Jaime

[markperr]

I'm all for helping out the local guy until the local guy wants to charges me $21.00 for a three foot section of Aristo track. No thanks! When it comes to me parting with large sums of my money, I'll take the guy who'll give it to me the cheapest and fastest.

As for the Costco/Nordstrums analogy? That's like comparing Apples to Cinder Blocks. I would no sooner go to Nordstrums to buy a 48 pack of toilet paper than I would go to Costco to buy my wife a $300 evening gown. And BTW, given the products that Costco sells, they have GREAT customer service. They also pay their employees higher than the national average for retail vendors. About six bucks an hour higher!

And no, I don't work there. I just shop there because their prices are good, their service is outstanding, and occasionally I'll get a good deal on something I didn't even know I needed until I saw it on Costco's shelves.

Mark

[CandCRR]

I try to use the local guy. I am lucky enough to have three hobby shops (within an hour drive) that carry Garden RR track. When what I want is not in stock they tend to get it faster than I would have ordering from mailorder, plus no shipping charge or worry about giving my credit card number to an unknown person or web site. I also like the local guys bacause I can try before I buy right there in the shop. And most important to me is I am not a number, I am a name and face... (my highschool biology teacher works at one of the stores).

I just bought 4 boxes of track and an engine from my local hobby shop [:D] and I'm looking forward to Spring.


Jaime

[Anonymous]

First let me suggest that I’m all for supporting the local guy. Unfortunately, my local guy almost never has what I want in stock. I’m new to this hobby and need just about everything. Go figure.

I just ordered AMS code 250 brass flex track for my railroad. I’m using Bill Logan’s flexible roadbed system and was encouraged by several members here that flex track is the way to go in this application rather than sectional. Another member recommended AMS and St Aubins and I got a very good deal there. AMS has the same ‘buy four get one free’ deal that Aristo has. I called the St Aubins store in Las Vegas to place my order. They just got more track in stock last week. I think it’s $138 for a box of 12 pieces of 5’ track. This stuff is oversize, so you’re not going to find any bargains on shipping. However, it isn't going to be any more expensice that Aristo in 5' lengths to ship.

Anyhoo, AMS track is awesome looking stuff. I placed it next to some LGB and the LGB looks like it came from Fisher Price. [:p] [:D] [:)] Best of luck in what ever you decide.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Greg,
Right on! another way of saying "You get what you pay for!" It may be the same product, but who answers questions or helps solve problems? Who knows what can be ordered in should you really need it? Who can you complain to in the event of misfortune in the delivery process?

Yes, I do have some dealings with the MOH's, but I also try to throw half my business to the LHS! You know, if you don't throw the local guy a bone now and then, he starves, then he isn't there for that little bottle of paint, or other small low profit item you really need yesterday, not 2 weeks from now!

[Greg Elmassian]

My dad said you never get something for nothing.

When you hit the discount places, they have to have lower overhead, as well as do a high volume.

Reducing the overhead usually means fewer employees, or spending less time with each customer, i.e. lowering the cost of sales.

I'm not surprised that this happens, it's irritating, but customer service is different in Costco than Nordstrom.

Regards, Greg

[Ray Dunakin]

QUOTE: Originally posted by willblake42

HIt's BETTER to get them from "TrainWorld or St Aubin Station" there cheeper an you get them with in a week!!!!!

Unfortunately, St Aubin Station's online ordering page is NOT secure. No one should ever send sensitive info such as credit card numbers from a non-secure webpage. I've sent them an email about this but it was ignored.

Speaking of which, online customer service seems to be lacking in this hobby. I've sent an email to USA Trains asking for info about some of their products, no answer. Ordered some track from WholesaleTrains.com, received an apparently automated notice that order had been shipped incomplete, no explanation given. Requested an explanation in two separate emails and never received an answer. When the shipment arrived, the invoice states that the missing items are backordered -- but I still don't know whether that means I'll eventually get them or what.

And why do so few dealers carry the "in-between" sizes of curves?? Everyone has the usual 5', 8', 10' diameter and so on, but I've only found two that claim to have the 6.5', 9', diameter curves, etc. (And yes, the 6.5' curves are the "backordered" items missing from my WholesaleTrains.com order.)

[piercedan]

And some dealers have track specials. One mentioned above has LGB buy 4 get one free on track and roadbed..

[Anonymous]

Hi, Jim

It's BETTER to get them from "TrainWorld or St Aubin Station" there cheeper an you get them with in a week!!!!![:D][angel][bow]

from
Willblake42
A.K.A. Seaboard Air line

[markperr]

Aristo's brass track goes on sale every January/February. Check any of the ads in GR for competitive pricing. I've had good luck with several vendors. And keep your receipt. You buy four boxes from the vendor and mail the receipt to Aristo for the fifth box. There's also a shipping charge of ten or fifteen dollars. Pretty cheap if your buying a $150-$200 box of track.

Mark

[vsmith]

Jim

It's best to check the Aristo website for info on when their sale takes place.
I got most of my Aristo track at San Val, but I ended up buying LGB switches at other sources as the Aristo's didnt work out well for my small equipment.


Some good sources

San Val (Aristo/USA)

St Aubins Station (All)

Ridge Route Station (All)

Trainworld (All)

Upland Trains (LGB/Aristo)

Best to call or surf and compare prices and availablity(make sure it's IN stock before ordering).

[:)]

[Anonymous]

Hi all!

Where do you guys buy your track? I am planning to use USA or Aristo-Craft brass. The hobby shops in town are almost twice as much as what I've seen in ads in Garden Railways.

Is there a good, reasonably priced online shop to buy from? I know Vic mentioned there are sales in January.

Thanks,

Ranger Jim