http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite Two super ones in my area, no complaints from this end, so far. Bruce's Trains in Sacramento, Railroad Hobbies in nearby Roseville. Bruce is very honest with me, if he can't get what I want (which is rare), he'll give me an address or an e-mail where I can pick it up. Roseville carries some things that Bruce doesn't (Sinohara code 100 bridge-rail, for instance), I go there for stuff, too. Between the two of them, AND their friendly customer service (the guys at both places are really FUN!) I very seldom have to crack open the Walther's catalogue or get on the net. But from what I've found out on these forum threads, we may be pretty unique out here in the Sacramento Valley. Tom
Originally posted by BRAKIE No,Tery,Sorry! It is located in Ohio... Where at? I'm in NW Ohio, and we are hardpressed for a good local hobby shop in this area. The toledo market used to have a few, but one has gone out of business and another has "downsized." The third one doesn't seem to have much in the way of new stock, but is a geed place to find older models. I sort of cover "most" of the state as I have a daughter in college in the Akron area and my family lives in SE Ohio along the river. And, no, I'm not afraid to travel for a good shop, but when I get there, I'd like to find more than a few dozen pieces of flex track and some inexpensive RTR "trainset" cars! dlm Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 2:25 PM I have been to three hobby shops near me (20-60 miles away) and everyone sells for MSRP. I don't understand what's wrong with all of you. Do you pay sticker for your car or truck? Don't you offer a lower price when you buy a house? Does your boss give you a 20% raise every year when inflation is 3%? Maybe most of you are wealthy, or at least well to do, but I for one cannot throw my money away to help some business stay afloat. The hobby shops get most of their product at 60% of list, so they can drop prices 20-25% and still make out. If their volume is too low to make money, they are in the wrong business. They sell for list because you all pay list. Stop buying and they will drop prices, if they want to stay in business. I spend $100-150 a month, and ALL of it goes to internet dealers. When the LHS wants to start helping me out, I will help them out. Reply Edit CP5415 Member sinceJuly 2003 From: Whitby, ON 2,594 posts Posted by CP5415 on Thursday, November 4, 2004 3:18 PM Wow, do you ask for discounts when you go to Walmart as well? Gordon Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H! K1a - all the way Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 4, 2004 3:46 PM No, because Walmart IS A DISCOUNT STORE, plus I only buy when things are on sale. I don't pay list price for anything that can be found discounted. I just saved $400 by having my new furnace shipped from Kentucky (I am in Michigan) including the freight. With the internet, there is no need to pay list price. Granted, some things don't get discounts, like gasoline and electricity, but if everyone were to shop around and only patronize the places that give a good price, most places would eventually have to cave in and discount. We already have a welfare system for those baby making machines, we don't need one for business as well. If all of us ran our businesses the way some hobby shops do, we would all be in the bread line. My customers insist on discounts or they take their business elsewhere. Why should I be any different? Why should you? Is that P2K GP9 from the LHS for $49.95 any different than the one I got from M B klein for $29.99? Exact same road and number, too. I am not telling you what to do, but as long as people are willing to pay list, the LHS has no incentive to lower prices. Reply Edit danmerkel Member sinceNovember 2002 From: Findlay, Ohio 438 posts Posted by danmerkel on Friday, November 5, 2004 9:30 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by enduringexp I have been to three hobby shops near me (20-60 miles away) and everyone sells for MSRP. I don't understand what's wrong with all of you. I don't think there is anything wrong with us. We believe in offering a fair price for a fair product. Simply put, if I'm willing to pay $100 for something that a person is selling for $100, then that is what business is all about. Do you pay sticker for your car or truck? Don't you offer a lower price when you buy a house? Does your boss give you a 20% raise every year when inflation is 3%? Does YOUR boss demand that you work for 20% less because someone over in China or somewhere else is willing to do your job for that? Maybe most of you are wealthy, or at least well to do, but I for one cannot throw my money away to help some business stay afloat. The hobby shops get most of their product at 60% of list, so they can drop prices 20-25% and still make out. If their volume is too low to make money, they are in the wrong business. Wrong business??? They are in the business that we want them to be in! And you are suggesting that they don't deserve a decent living to offer us products that we want. They sell for list because you all pay list. Stop buying and they will drop prices, if they want to stay in business. I spend $100-150 a month, and ALL of it goes to internet dealers. When the LHS wants to start helping me out, I will help them out. As to the furnace story in a different message... I just hope that you know how to fix it and that you have all of the parts that you need to do so. If I were a furnace repairman and you called me in the middle of some January night, I would laugh myself back to sleep! Just remember it takes BOTH a willing buyer and a willing seller co complete a transaction. All of the money in the world isn't going to get you what you want if no one has it for sale. dlm Reply boomer5344 Member sinceOctober 2004 From: Mid South 47 posts Posted by boomer5344 on Saturday, November 6, 2004 1:57 PM We have three in my area, There is a national chain just a mile from me. I stop in every week or two to buy magazines. He mostly has RC airplains/sports card . RR dept is really sad a couple of dozen N & HO pieces some O27. Lots of cheaper starter sets for Xmas. Ignorant but nice folks. About 10 miles out we have a fairly well stocked shop. Lots of HO decent selection of N but owner seems to be in a bad mood and prices are close to MRSP. About 25 miles out we have a very well stocked shop with a super selection of N and HO, and excellent O selection. owner is reserved, but friendly. Prices 10% off MSRP but I like going in there. I try to support the locals here. I buy a lot on Ebay and from shops all over the country when travelling on business. I don't like train shows except a few of the great ones back east. Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 6, 2004 3:04 PM There's three LHS near me, all of which get my custom. However, I wouldn't try to order something they don't have in stock from them. I recall trying to mail-order some Fleischmann N scale lighting kits from one of them, never heard or recieved anything from them after the order! Still, they didn't charge my card, so I didn't lose anything except time. I generally visit all three whenever possible, and usually buy something they have in stock that I want. For items they don't hold, I go online - there's one online store based near me that can get any LGB G scale or Bachmann equipment within a week or two, so they get a fair bit of custom from me too! Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 6, 2004 3:14 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by enduringexp The hobby shops get most of their product at 60% of list, so they can drop prices 20-25% and still make out. Well, I tried it with every store in my area (Ontario, Canada). Many simply get offended when I am asking to give me a break. I never asked more than 15%, usually 10%. Regardless, it just doesn't work with stores in my area. And they do complain about slow business. So I stopped buyng in LHS alltogether. And the main reason is because they refused to give any discount even though I was at time their frequent customer. Give it some time folks. Internet retailers are just staring out. Not many modeller know about them, heck, not that many have internet. Wait 10-15 years, and see online retailers grab huge market share. And LHS's will mostly die out. And then they'll be replaced by other LHS's with decent pricing. Most of the LHS's today are owned by older people, conservative and refusing to accept reality. Reply Edit CP5415 Member sinceJuly 2003 From: Whitby, ON 2,594 posts Posted by CP5415 on Saturday, November 6, 2004 11:53 PM Walmart, a discount store? In what department? I've shopped at Walmart in Canada & the US & I haven't found their prices different than any other retailer. FYI, I get a discount on my automotive gasoline. Everytime I go to the pumps, I save 2 cents a litre. As for electricity, my local electrical company owes me money. For the record, not all LHS's charge MSRP on everything. I bought my Proto 2000 SD50 in Orlando a week ago, the suggested MSRP is $139.99 US & the LHS sold it to me for $115.00US & I've never shopped there before. Have you or anyone else here ever worked in a retail environment? I have. Most of my life. Things are very different when having to deal with a consumer upfront than hiding behind the walls of a manufacturer. If a company has to offer a discount to everyone who walks thorugh the door, how is that company able to stay in business? Raise his prices then discount them? They're certainly not going to make enough gross profit to sustain a viable living for both the company & his home. I've been going to my LHS for 5 years now. I know what he carries in stock & he knows what I'm looking for. I don't give him a hard time, I've never asked for a discount but he gives me a discount. Why? Because I'm a loyal customer. Support your LHS or not, LHS's arn't going to go away. The are enough WWW dealers with a bad reputation to warrant dealing with a LHS. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Remember that the next time you get something via the WWW where the parcel arrives damaged & you have to find a way to fix it. Gordon Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H! K1a - all the way Reply Roadtrp Member sinceNovember 2003 760 posts Posted by Roadtrp on Sunday, November 7, 2004 12:30 AM I support both the LHS and internet dealers. I've purchased about 60% of my locomotives and rolling stock via the internet and 40% from LHS. On the other hand, my local LHS gets 100% of my business on track, structures and scenicing items. My purchasing habits are driven more by selection than by price. Although the LHS carries a large variety of scenery items and structures, the selection of locos and rolling stock is very limited. My guess is that he knows he has a hard time competing with the internet on those items, so he doesn’t really bother. I will buy from any store that meets my needs on selection, availability, service and price... with my priorities being pretty much in that order. Sometimes that is the LHS; sometimes that is the internet. -Jerry Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 7, 2004 7:42 AM I haven't bought much (yet), but I have gotten it all at local shops. I am new to this hobby and really like to see what I'm getting before I buy. Plus, it is fun to browse and I feel I owe them some business for the hours of enjoyment I've had there. Keep in mind, I have only invested a couple hundred dollars so far! I admit I can't figure out the pricing there, though. Some items are straight MSRP. Some items have been marked down. And sometimes I see different prices for the same item. For example, they have an MRC Command 2000 set at MSRP. Another one is marked down to $145 and that's right next to the new Prodigy Advance marked at $160. Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 7, 2004 1:10 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp I support both the LHS and internet dealers. I've purchased about 60% of my locomotives and rolling stock via the internet and 40% from LHS. On the other hand, my local LHS gets 100% of my business on track, structures and scenicing items. My purchasing habits are driven more by selection than by price. Although the LHS carries a large variety of scenery items and structures, the selection of locos and rolling stock is very limited. My guess is that he knows he has a hard time competing with the internet on those items, so he doesn’t really bother. I will buy from any store that meets my needs on selection, availability, service and price... with my priorities being pretty much in that order. Sometimes that is the LHS; sometimes that is the internet. I also buy the minor stuff like track and buildings and stuff..but major purchases I reserve for Internet shopping....Why should I pay $359 for an Athearn Challenger when I can get it for $229? I went to buy my BLI #3751 from LHS and he wanted list price....$329 I asked him if he would price match with an online seller and he said no....he has to pay MRSP from BLI and would be selling at a loss due to the fact that he is not an authorized BLI reseller...I suspect that most of the LHS are in the same boat....they are not going to be able to purchase wholesale from BLI or Athearn/Horizon because they don't want to have to buy large quantities and try to sell large quantities that the manufacturers require to get the wholesale "price break".... I ended up trading my LHS my PFM brass 4-8-4 #3760 for the BLI AT&SF #3751 and a BLI Sidekick. Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 7, 2004 1:32 PM HobbyShop? Hell, I would have to go more then 65 miles to even find one around here! I love the Internet and UPS! Don, Victorville Ca. Reply Edit PennsyHoosier Member sinceOctober 2004 From: Northern Indiana 1,000 posts Posted by PennsyHoosier on Monday, November 8, 2004 10:42 PM I have two good LHSs in town. They are very responsive, because I come to them with prices that I can get on the Internet. They do okay, I do okay. Everyone is happy. (Even the state, cause I pay tax.) Lawrence, The Pennsy Hoosier Reply 12 Subscriber & Member Login Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more! Login Register Users Online There are no community member online Search the Community ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Model Railroader Newsletter See all Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox! Sign up
QUOTE: Originally posted by enduringexp I have been to three hobby shops near me (20-60 miles away) and everyone sells for MSRP. I don't understand what's wrong with all of you. I don't think there is anything wrong with us. We believe in offering a fair price for a fair product. Simply put, if I'm willing to pay $100 for something that a person is selling for $100, then that is what business is all about. Do you pay sticker for your car or truck? Don't you offer a lower price when you buy a house? Does your boss give you a 20% raise every year when inflation is 3%? Does YOUR boss demand that you work for 20% less because someone over in China or somewhere else is willing to do your job for that? Maybe most of you are wealthy, or at least well to do, but I for one cannot throw my money away to help some business stay afloat. The hobby shops get most of their product at 60% of list, so they can drop prices 20-25% and still make out. If their volume is too low to make money, they are in the wrong business. Wrong business??? They are in the business that we want them to be in! And you are suggesting that they don't deserve a decent living to offer us products that we want. They sell for list because you all pay list. Stop buying and they will drop prices, if they want to stay in business. I spend $100-150 a month, and ALL of it goes to internet dealers. When the LHS wants to start helping me out, I will help them out.
QUOTE: Originally posted by enduringexp The hobby shops get most of their product at 60% of list, so they can drop prices 20-25% and still make out.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp I support both the LHS and internet dealers. I've purchased about 60% of my locomotives and rolling stock via the internet and 40% from LHS. On the other hand, my local LHS gets 100% of my business on track, structures and scenicing items. My purchasing habits are driven more by selection than by price. Although the LHS carries a large variety of scenery items and structures, the selection of locos and rolling stock is very limited. My guess is that he knows he has a hard time competing with the internet on those items, so he doesn’t really bother. I will buy from any store that meets my needs on selection, availability, service and price... with my priorities being pretty much in that order. Sometimes that is the LHS; sometimes that is the internet.