I do 98% of my shopping on line and 2% at the not so local hobby shop...I can't see making a 52 mile round trip,paying full price for old stock or need to special order a given item to include new releases..
So,if I need paint or decals I add 'em to my on line order since I would need to order 'em through my LHS..I suppose what really put the icing on the cake as far as the LHS he had to order 5 packs of KD 148 couplers because he doesn't stock 'em!!! Ask about CSX Gold paint and he didn't have any in stock but,he can order a bottle for me..I don't need that hassle of ordering from him,making that 52 mile round trip and still pay full MSRP..
Its much better to order from my on line supplier and have USPS bring my package in 3-4 days after its shipped.I usually order on Sunday and have my goods by Thursday or Friday of the same week-the same amount of time the LHS takes if I call my order in Monday.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
SilverSpike- 40% markup on a $60 item would be $24.(not $40) Watch out for your LHS is they're using THAT kind of math!
I have yet to find prices that beat www.modeltrainstuff.com
As to local vs. online, the advantage of local is that A) it's right there, you don't have to wait for your stuff, B) you can pay cash, not have to use a credit card, C) you can look at the stuff first hand before you buy.
Online; A) usually better prices (the main thing there)
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
shayfan84325 I rarely darken the door of any hobby store. The local one is 45 miles away and he stocks very little in terms of craftsman kits and scratch building supplies. If I'm in the area, I'll sometimes stop in for a bottle of Floquil paint or scenery material, but he doesn't stock the kind of stuff I generally use (and his prices are a little steep). I buy nearly everything I use in the hobby on eBay and at train shows. I'm rarely disappointed and the prices are great. If I need something sooner than I find it on eBay, I generally go online to Caboose Hobbies in Denver. I feel no sense of duty to support the local business; he could compete with the online dealers if he wanted. He could even compete with eBay by doing consignment sales. I shop where I get what I want at a price I want to pay.
I rarely darken the door of any hobby store. The local one is 45 miles away and he stocks very little in terms of craftsman kits and scratch building supplies. If I'm in the area, I'll sometimes stop in for a bottle of Floquil paint or scenery material, but he doesn't stock the kind of stuff I generally use (and his prices are a little steep).
I buy nearly everything I use in the hobby on eBay and at train shows. I'm rarely disappointed and the prices are great. If I need something sooner than I find it on eBay, I generally go online to Caboose Hobbies in Denver.
I feel no sense of duty to support the local business; he could compete with the online dealers if he wanted. He could even compete with eBay by doing consignment sales.
I shop where I get what I want at a price I want to pay.
Pretty much my thoughts also. My first financial consideration is ME. We have a couple of hobby shops. One just out and out sells at full retail. The other offers a discount for long term customers, but it's not enough to offset the MSRP that he claims is on the items. He'll show up at the local train shows with 20% off coupons, but the stuff is marked up so that the 20% discount still puts you at MSRP or in some cases higher. I'll go in the full retail shop for small items that I need in a hurry, paint, rail joiners, weathering supplies, but when I can save $30-40 on a loco, and 30% on flextrack, guess where I'm going..
rlandry6 The other offers a discount for long term customers...
Yes we also used to have some shops that had the "let us overcharge you for a few years and then we will give you a lower price" policy. Of course, they never got any long term customers and are no longer with us. Gotta love competition. Jamie
CLICK HERE FOR THE CSX DIXIE LINE BLOG
I frequent my LHS when I'm in need of something quickly, or when I'm in the area (It's 20 mi. away) They seem to have a good selection, but do not carry a lot of supplies I am looking for. Those I buy online.
I bought my first engine at an LHS 90 minutes from my door. It was about three times what I would have paid had I known to order it on line. With that kind of mark-up, I would have perhaps three engines by now. Instead, I have 13, and that number because of some opportunistic blow-outs found while surfing.
That's the most distant LHS...now closed. The closest is only 45 minutes away, and just changed hands last year. I ordered a two-pack of Atlas Trainman coal hoppers when they were announced last spring. I called the LHS twice, and even dropped in for a third confirmation that they had placed the order...which should have been delivered to me when production ceased in the fall. I still have no hoppers, and no explanatory phone call or apology...silence.
How warm and kindly disposed should I be to LHS's based on the two closest to me and my experiences with them? Every single item I have ordered online, including a very early order through the execrable internettrains.com, has come through. On line I am batting 1000.
I get 99% of my stuff at my LHS, MRPO, http://www.modelrailwaypo.com/ that also has on-line sales. I'm lucky in northern NJ in having several larger hobby shops that carry HO within a 1/2 hour drive, and several more within a 1 hour drive, but use MRPO for most purchases. I worked for about a year after my first retirement at a LHS, and used to get very PO'd at the idiots who came in the store to look at what they wanted to buy on-line, and the owner discounted everything 15%!!! One even tried to get us to exchange a loco he bought on-line!!! I have also bought on-line from Walthers, their prices being good on sale items, but my LHS will give me Walthers sale prices, and I don't have to pay shipping!! I just copy the Walthers listing into an e-mail to MRPO, and the next time I'm in the store pick up the order!! Seems like the best of both worlds to me!!
MobileMan44, Are you talking about Larry's Hobbies? I'm from Baytown and since Houston Roundhouse is now closed, I'm looking for the nearest Hobby shop.
Santa Fe All The Way
Shayfan84325, I have been using Caboose Hobbies on line since the hobby store I went to in Houston (Houston Roundhouse) closed down. They are good people to do business with. Exceptionally fast shipping. And the packaging is great. I agree with you on Caboose Hobbies, great store.
Lefty
It's a mix for us as to how we shop- almost 50-50%.
When traveling for business or vacations we always make time to visit other LHS that specialize in trains. Why? We always find something, from engines to cars to scenics, etc that either were discontinued a long time ago, are regional things, or are from some manufacturer we haven't seen before.
We are still very new to the hobby (how many years can I keep claiming that?) and one of us is 9, so going to a GOOD LHS where the folks
a) are knowledgable & helpfulb) like (or tolerate) kidsc) has cool stuffd) are into trains- it's not just a clerk job
are important to us.
I'm surprised how many LHS shops that specialize in trains really range from uncomfortable or plain don't like kids. I won't get on that soapbox.
Anyway, we live about 40 minutes from Caboose Hobbies, and my credit card visits them frequently with us in tow. We make plans to mess around in Denver and are there on average 1-2 times a month. They have the best people, love the hobby & kids, and will spend as much time as you need to learn how to do things. Their prices often match online, and we want to support these guys as much as possible.
We do have Mizell's here too, but we only go there if we have to. It's often MSRP-Plus for pricing. When I go in with my son, we usually are shadowed by staff. Creepy.
Online, we use Walthers. Every now and then we order something from Walthers, wait & wait, get a postcard telling us that the item is discontinued or unavallable, then have the item show up. But overall, they too are a good set of folks to work with and their support people are good to work with via email.
We do n-scale and have a couple of other online retailers. Both do other scales too:
newhall stationhttp://www.newhallstation.com
They specialize in Japanese trains. Very cool stuff that you can't find anywhere else. Good pricing, Good Service, Good selection. We had problem with a purchase once, they took it back, corrected or replaced the train and got it back to us. We also get very funky train-oriented Japanse influenced Christmas cards from them. They are based in California.
Eurolok shophttp://www.eurolokshop.com/
They specialize in european things. Have had less experience with them than others, but so far, no complaints.
In both cases, it's amazing to see how much stuff Kato for example makes for those regions that we just don't see state-side. Sure, it may not make sense if you are strictly prototypical, but we don't play with trains that way.
MicroMark is our tools stop, if Caboose doesn't have it.
Tower Hobbies is another online shop that seems to be good- but most of our online business goes to walthers.
Other good LHS we've found while traveling:
- Engine House: Wichita, Kansas
- Reeds Hobby Shop: La Mesa, CA
- Train Shop: Santa Clara, CA (staff is a mixed bag)
- Eastside Trains: Kirkland, WA
- Both shops in Colorado Springs
Both Caboose & Engine house will meet or beat Walthers pricing, or have some other incentives.
When I was in the Air Force, I was stationed near some good LHS from time to time. (BTW, for those who like Caboose Hobbies in Denver over the net, you should visit the store. It's like train paradise in there. But now I'm in an area with no hobby shops for about a hundred miles, so it's pretty much internet shopping for me. Of course that applies to just about anything else as well -- around here, if the BORG doesn't have it, it's wait for the UPS truck.
I would like to put a plug in for Caboose Hobbies in Denver. They seem to have found the right mix for both a LHS and on line service. My company had me in Denver for 6 months and each weekend I was down there buying something... This outfit combines service, selection and training which I found to be really great...
Their prices may not be the cheapest but a. They probably have it in stock and b. the personnel know what you are talking about... Something that is sometimes lacking in the on line venue.
When I am stuck for a part... They are the ones I contact...
Best regards,
Roger
To Wheelset2,
Yes, Larry's Hobbies is at the S/E corner of I-45 & FM1960. There are basically two stores, one with cars & planes, the other with trains. There is a bit of a discount, and the selection is good.
If you continue north on I-45 about 4 miles, you will come to Spring Crossing on the N/E corner of I-45 and the road going to Old Town Spring (forgot the name - Spring something). That store has a lot of older stuff, but needs help. It is worth a visit for sure, however.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
To MobileMan44,
Thanks for the info. I have heard about Larry's, but have not been there yet. Sounds like it is definately worth the trip. Will also visit the one in Spring.