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Best websites for buying online?

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 11:43 AM

I often find when I'm looking to buy something online that TrainWorld generally has the best price for what I want. I've been buying from them for almost 50 years, it's a family-owned business.

Yankee Dabbler and Tony's Trains have great selection and prices when I'm looking for DCC stuff, like decoders, speakers etc.

I'm a "Trainmaster" at Walthers, and I do buy from them at least a couple times a year too. I check out their monthly sales brochures for deals, but sometimes it just works out that they have something in stock no one else does.

Stix
  • Member since
    May 2017
  • 382 posts
Posted by xboxtravis7992 on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 11:29 AM

My picks:

TrainLife.com (its a local store to me as well)


ModelTrainStuff (MBKlein, hard to beat their stock)

Hattons (for when I am looking for British outline stuff)

  • Member since
    September 2020
  • 432 posts
Posted by JDawg on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 7:51 AM

How much time do you have?Wink

 

Modeltrainstuff.com

Lombard hobbies

Hiawatha hobbies

Spring Creek Model Trains

Victory Models and Trains

eBay, if you are willing to research sellers a bit

Model train Market

Trainz.com

Yankee Dabbler

Walthers, of course

And the list goes on, and on, and on, and... well, you get the idea!

JJF


Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing. Smile, Wink & Grin

Yesterday is History.

Tomorrow is a Mystery.

But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present. 

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 5:43 AM

1. eBay

2. M.B. Klein

3. Lombard Hobbies

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    August 2021
  • 11 posts
Posted by Mark Kuhn on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 3:47 PM

BATMAN

I buy stuff from anywhere on the planet if the price is right and the seller has a good rating. That being said, I have a big online retailer in my neck of the woods that I can pick up from so not having to pay shipping factors into the bottom line.

You should say where on the planet you live and someone may have a suggestion of a place close to home.

 

BATMAN

I buy stuff from anywhere on the planet if the price is right and the seller has a good rating. That being said, I have a big online retailer in my neck of the woods that I can pick up from so not having to pay shipping factors into the bottom line.

You should say where on the planet you live and someone may have a suggestion of a place close to home.

 

 

I'm in northwest New Jersey. I have two hobby shops nearby. One of them has a great selection but his prices are sky-high. I tried to politely haggle with the owner but he was having none of that.

The other hobby shop told me a few weeks ago that he is fazing out model trains due to lack of demand.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 3:25 PM

Generally I buy engines from Train World and e-bay, decoders from Yankee dabbler and rail cars from Kline and e-bay. Scenery could be from anywhere.

  • Member since
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  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
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Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 3:15 PM

I buy stuff from anywhere on the planet if the price is right and the seller has a good rating. That being said, I have a big online retailer in my neck of the woods that I can pick up from so not having to pay shipping factors into the bottom line.

You should say where on the planet you live and someone may have a suggestion of a place close to home.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by ricktrains4824 on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 2:45 PM

Lot's of available choices, from eBay, walthers, toytrainheaven, trainworld, yankeedabbler, modeltrainstuff, lombardhobbies, tonystrains, and many, many others. 

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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  • Member since
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  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 2:44 PM

If you are just talking locomotives...for me:

  • eBay
  • MB Kline (ModelTrainStuff)
  • Yankee Dabbler

I've purchased most of my locomotives from eBay - even as far away as Australia.  The key is to 1) only purchase from sellers with high ratings (for me that's 99.5% or >) and 2) know the going price for a particular item.  I've found some GREAT deals on new or NIB locomotives - both Buy It Now and bidding.

MB Klein is great because they have "live inventory" - i.e. you know if a particular item is in stock and what quantity they have of it.  I've only purchased a couple of locomotives from Yankee Dabbler.  Their prices were very good.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    August 2021
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Best websites for buying online?
Posted by Mark Kuhn on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 2:26 PM

Hi Folks, which websites would you consider to be in the top three for buying trains online? 

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