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Perry's Hobbies

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  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 2,505 posts
Perry's Hobbies
Posted by caldreamer on Friday, March 23, 2018 8:01 AM

Has anyone delet with Perry's Hobbies in Minnisota?  He has some items I am interested in,but have never delt with him.  Reviews pleawes/

  

 

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Friday, March 23, 2018 10:24 AM

Answer: yes and I was a satisfied customer (bought brass locomotives at a fair price and they arrived promptly, well packed).  But .. that was years and years ago.  Before Al Gore invented the internet!

What I recall was that when I called the phone number it was answered as "so-and so's Hardware."  I said, sorry I must have a wrong number I wanted Perry's Hobbies.  They said "no you were right, Perry's here."  I could hear them yell "Hey Perry, phone call for you."  So I guess at that time the hobby aspect was an offshoot of a hardware store.  Whether it still is or not I do not know.

Talk about two endangered LHS species: the Local Hobby Shop and the Local Hardware Store.*

I changed eras after that and no longer needed steam so I have not dealt with Perry's again.  I would have if I had the need however.

Take this for what it's worth.

Dave Nelson

* I see from other posts that it was  not a hardware store but a grocery store that answered the phone. Perhaps I heard Super Valu and assumed they said True Value.

 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: SE Minnesota
  • 6,847 posts
Posted by jrbernier on Friday, March 23, 2018 1:27 PM

Perry Becker - As in Becker's Grocery.  The brass used to be in the back of the store.  Perry's now is Internet and they attend regional train shows.  Still good prices and service!

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

DrW
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Lubbock, TX
  • 371 posts
Posted by DrW on Friday, March 23, 2018 1:27 PM

I bought a Divion Point FT AB set from them in January 2015 that I could not find anywhere else. It took them a couple of days to respond to my initial email (away to a train show), but then everything went smoothly. Highly recommended.

JW

P.S. According to their web site, they are actually located inside "Becker's SUPERVALU Grocery Store".

  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 416 posts
Posted by blabride on Friday, March 23, 2018 2:33 PM

I have bought several things from them in the last two years. They are old school and fantastic to deal with. You actually talk to a friendly person each and every time you call, and the service is very personal. Although their website is not comprehensive, they will if you are on the mailing list send you a periodical email list of what they have in stock, what is on sale and consignment. They even mail you a hardcopy. 

Great guy's that I highly recommend.

SB

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • 189 posts
Posted by Deane Johnson on Friday, March 23, 2018 3:28 PM

I bought an engine from them a year or so ago.  Nice, straight forward local neighborhood type folks.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, March 23, 2018 4:01 PM

What I don't understand is his in stock inventory..

I seen couple of Atlas cars I want and one was added(say) 4/15 and the other(say) 7/16.

Do I need to send a e-mail or call to see if these cars are still in stock?

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 283 posts
Posted by Lee 1234 on Friday, March 23, 2018 4:02 PM

They do most of the train shows in the Minnesota area.   I have only purchased from them at train shows.   The entire family is at the show selling trains.

Lee

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Friday, March 23, 2018 5:00 PM

If you haven't bought from them, I'd suggest contacting them to get their 'flyer' with all the stuff they sell. It usually comes out now about twice a year, 6-8 double sided legal-size sheets filled with some brass, lots of plastic (Atlas, MTH, BLI, Stewart etc.), many books, and many DVDs...actually books and DVDs are the main things I've bought from them over the years. Usually have very good prices and occassionally 'close outs' that are even better.

IIRC it notes on the flyer that the phone will be answered "Super Valu" if you call, as they apparently run the grocery in tiny Morgan MN (about two miles west of the Twin Cities). There is no hobby shop per se.

I've been buying from them, primarily at shows, for 20 years or so. I'll probably see them tomorrow at "Railroad Days" in Randolph if the snow isn't too bad overnight. Overall very reliable, very easy to work with.

 

Stix
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • 30 posts
Posted by bobbygreg on Friday, March 23, 2018 9:09 PM

bought several books from him.  The  binding on one was bad, called him he said send it back. Sent me a replacement and covered the shipping on the one I returned. Just good old fashioned excellent customer service!!

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Duluth, MN
  • 343 posts
Posted by htgguy on Sunday, March 25, 2018 8:43 AM

In my previous job work would often take me to Morgan, MN, where Perry's is located. I used to stop at the grocery store and ask if Perry was around, if not, they would call him and he would come down and let me in the train stockroom. Bought a fair amount of stuff on site, as well as some at shows over the years. Great vendor and nothing but good experiences for me. 

Jim

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Sunday, March 25, 2018 10:38 PM

At least at the shows, Jim and Paul do most of the selling from what I've seen. Perry seems to be the "communications director" (i.e., chief schmoozer) Wink

p.s. they didn't make it Randolph, apparently had 10" of snow overnight in their area. None here in eastern Minnesota a few hours away.

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2017
  • 189 posts
Posted by Deane Johnson on Monday, March 26, 2018 4:27 AM

After following this thread a bit, I visited the web site and saw a set of 4 Athearn long out of production open top hoppers I wanted.  Emailed them to check current stock on Saturday and Jim emailed me from a funeral he was attending that he'd check Sunday.  He did, they had two different sets and by Sunday pm I had talked with him and had a UPS tracking #.  These are great folks to deal with.  The "old fashion" personal types.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: St. Paul
  • 823 posts
Posted by garya on Monday, March 26, 2018 3:06 PM

wjstix

I

IIRC it notes on the flyer that the phone will be answered "Super Valu" if you call, as they apparently run the grocery in tiny Morgan MN (about two miles west of the Twin Cities). There is no hobby shop per se.

Do you mean "two hours west of the Twin Cities"?  No Morgan around here...

Gary

  • Member since
    September 2016
  • 14 posts
Posted by edwardstd on Monday, March 26, 2018 9:21 PM

I agree with all of the previous posts. I live about 30 minutes from Morgan and stop by from time to time to pick stuff up. If you do happen to be in the neighborhood, it's best to call first to make sure that someone will be in the backroom of the Super Value store.

Big Smile

Good bunch of folks to do business with. And yes, Morgan is about two hours west-southwest of Minneapolis.

 

Tom Edwards

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 107 posts
Posted by jk10 on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 7:57 PM

wjstix

At least at the shows, Jim and Paul do most of the selling from what I've seen. Perry seems to be the "communications director" (i.e., chief schmoozer) Wink

p.s. they didn't make it Randolph, apparently had 10" of snow overnight in their area. None here in eastern Minnesota a few hours away.

 

I was pleasantly surprised by the Randolph show. It was nice to see some different sellers than at Woodbury or Century College.

On that note, I'll be placing an order with Perry's to pick up at the Century show in a few weeks. I've been buying from them at every show I've gone to in the last few years. When I got into the hobby about 15 years ago, they were a go to, too. I especially like purchasing books and DVDs from them. Some of the other items are a bit pricey for me, but I'll still support the "LHS" as often as possible. They are great about taking an order and delivering at the shows to help with shipping and also allow pre-payments for items. Overall, I really like Perry's, great customer service, great supply, and always willing to work with the purchaser. 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Thursday, March 29, 2018 8:41 AM

garya
 wjstix

IIRC it notes on the flyer that the phone will be answered "Super Valu" if you call, as they apparently run the grocery in tiny Morgan MN (about two miles west of the Twin Cities). There is no hobby shop per se.

 

 Do you mean "two hours west of the Twin Cities"?  No Morgan around here...

 

Oops...Yes, I meant "about two hours" west. EmbarrassedEmbarrassed

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Thursday, March 29, 2018 8:47 AM

jk10
 I was pleasantly surprised by the Randolph show. It was nice to see some different sellers than at Woodbury or Century College.

 

Yup, that's one reason I like to go to Randolph, it's just far enough from the Twin Cities that there some sellers there that you don't normally see around here. Plus there's usually a pretty good representation of operating model railroad displays (including this year a "G gauge" layout set on the floor taking up about 1/4 of the school gym.) Also, Progressive Rail brings an engine and ex-MNS bay window caboose you can look at and go inside of.

Stix
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 122 posts
Posted by b60bp on Thursday, March 29, 2018 6:32 PM

Perry’s is great to deal with. Good prices, good service, never fail to get limited editions you reserve. They even discount the prices in Walthers monthly sales flyer! Very courteous too and always greet you at train shows. A friend and I first dealt with them around 1970 when we drove out there to buy some brass.

I usually pick up my orders at local swap meets, or flea markets as they’re known around here and have never been disappointed. Good old Midwestern work ethic still going on.

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