New Train shop, what would you want there ?

[Anonymous]

i think that it is reall hard to get prices low
so you just need good service

[Anonymous]

In N or HO locos, why not consider a 48 hour demo program?

[trolleyboy]

Hi Tim a good shop should be multi-scale and needs to stock new and used equipment.Detail parts,paint,decals some of us do still model.You need a helpful friendly staff who do know what they are talking about but not be over the top with it,and they need solid hours.If they also have late hours and mail or internet sales available that would also be a great benefit. Rob

[egmurphy]

Here are some links to past threads discussing this very question. You may find some interesting replies in reading through them:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=24729

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23184

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=21695&REPLY_ID=204259#204259



Regards

Ed

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

LHS.

1- Paints, Brushes and supply (syrene, wood, wire bolts etc etc)
2- Several different scales and perhaps some demonstration layouts in each scale
3- Access by special order to anything that is currently produced in the hobby.
4- Willing to work with the customer to meet a need. (layaways etc)
5- regular seminars to assist the newbies into the hobby or a way for regulars to get together.

6- Provides Blue Box type products all the way up the price chain to the most expensive ready built items in a selection that suits the needs and wants of the local customer base.

7- Decent hours, chairs to read some of the books and magazines, a way to make a board availible for people to sell train stuff etc. Ability to tolerate several people visiting for hours without buying much if anything.

8- Keeps up with train shows, dates and times

9- Prices that allow store to make a profit but not MSRP if possible.

10- When the owner searches for two years for a item you asked about and forgotten and shows you the 3x5 index card with your name, order and date with the product ready to go (Back order etc) then you know that you are being taken care of.

[#ditto]

That really covers it all! Wishful thinking....[:(]

[Anonymous]

Plenty of used equipment. The best LHS have large amounts of this, in very good condition, boxed, etc and at sensible prices. Great for keeping the interest of the newbies who might not have much to invest in the hobby.

I also like stores that have "bargain bin" type sections - basically spares/repairs models, assorted odd bits, restoration projects, etc. I'm a big fan of repairing old broken stuff as you often end up with a superb model for far less than list price. Poking around on the shelves of grubby old G scale at one LHS produced an LGB German boxcar for around 2/3rds of the new price, after dismantling and scrubbing with warm soapy water to remove the general gunge (I guess it must have been parked outside for a while, this was dirt rather than weathering!) I now have a near-mint car that's been unavailable for many years.

[miniwyo]

Helpful people who know what they are talking about trains, At the LHS here in Rock Springs Wy, they are more preoccupied aobut RC cars and planes rather than a real hobby like railroading[:)], I also know more aobut trains than they do, when when i ask them a technical term about a locomotive they look at me like a dog listens to a high pitch sound. The shop is located in a glass cutting shop that inherited all the model RR business when True Value closed down. True value carried trains and only trains, and then evil ACE Hardware took all the business and closed them down(its ok, ACE will get theirs too, they broke ground for home depot last week). I also liked being able to stand around an talk about trains for hours with them, the staff for the train section needs to have a real love for the rails.

So, staff needs to be friendly, helpful, knowlegable, and love the rails. Also your products need to be high quality, fairly priced, and I agree, you need to have a test track to allow the buyer to test the equipment before they buy it.

[tatans]

This will bring a few laughs ! ! Not a big money maker for the owner, but I rebuild a lot of cars for logging, "old crap'' is a treasure trove to some modelers, most of my cars are rebuilds for specific duties, and the price is right, plus there must be tons of older equipment no one wants, Many LHS can't be bothered with this item, by the way , I usually pick up something else I need when I'm there.

[Anonymous]

Easy - one of everything, all at discounted prices!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TurboOne
...What would it take for you to patronize a shop repeatedly?
...
Which is more important to you price discount, or extremly friendly service that is helpful, knowledgable and good?

1) I look for a positive "service attitude" - a willingness to provide friendly, patient answers to questions I may have. I have been to a few shops where the people were indeed model train experts, but also very condescending - as though I should be grateful they allowed me into their sacred confines![:(!] (I always swore to never patronize that shop again unless absolutely necessary.)

2) A good selection of tools, ahesives, paints (oil+acrylic), track (code 100 and code 83), and detail parts that a modeler may discover he/she needs at the spur of the moment. (If it's 5:30pm on a Saturday evening, and I know I will not have much free time during the following week, "We can order it for you" just doesn't cut it!)

3) A willingness to accept electronic payment (credit/debit cards) even for purchases as small as $4.00 - I almost never carry hard currency because it evaporates too fast![;)]

4) If he charges near or at MSRP, he better have a test/demo track and offer service to justify the higher price. If I need to have him special-order a piece of rolling stock, I should NOT have to wait more than a week or two before the item arrives [except for 'reserve' items that the mfgr hasn't released yet].

...and I'm sure I'll think of more as the day goes on...

[Anonymous]

Tim -

I would say a nice knowledgeable staff from all fields... Large selection of all scales.... Building supplies for layouts.... including maybe an area to buy your foam.... Low Internet Comparable prices ( I know this isn't as feasable as the internet becuase of paying staff as well as building operational costs)... Longer hours is a must.... most LHS's close around 6 or 7 and even earlier on sundays.... why not stay open till like 8 every day of the week.... that way you get the late workers in there as well...

as well as what everyone else has said.... if you go into this buisness I would work for you.... now only if I had some reliable transportation... LOL

[Ibeamlicker]

My opinion is,having alot of everything in stock,different scales,scenery supplies,rolling stock,all at a fair price.Doesnt have to be the cheapest.Knowledge is a good thing also.I would rather go to a hobby shop and hold an object in my hand,check it out first than order online and wait for it.If I do have problems its easier to deal with a LHS.

[Anonymous]

LHS.

1- Paints, Brushes and supply (syrene, wood, wire bolts etc etc)
2- Several different scales and perhaps some demonstration layouts in each scale
3- Access by special order to anything that is currently produced in the hobby.
4- Willing to work with the customer to meet a need. (layaways etc)
5- regular seminars to assist the newbies into the hobby or a way for regulars to get together.

6- Provides Blue Box type products all the way up the price chain to the most expensive ready built items in a selection that suits the needs and wants of the local customer base.

7- Decent hours, chairs to read some of the books and magazines, a way to make a board availible for people to sell train stuff etc. Ability to tolerate several people visiting for hours without buying much if anything.

8- Keeps up with train shows, dates and times

9- Prices that allow store to make a profit but not MSRP if possible.

10- When the owner searches for two years for a item you asked about and forgotten and shows you the 3x5 index card with your name, order and date with the product ready to go (Back order etc) then you know that you are being taken care of.

[TurboOne]

I have had a few people ask what would make a great LHS.

What would it take for you to patronize a shop repeatedly?

Which is more important to you price discount, or extremly friendly service that is helpful, knowledgable and good?

How important is local repair?

So many have switched to mail order or the internet, what do you like about where you shop there? Price is usually the main reason, but is attitude or service important at all ?

What would it take to get you to switch shops either LHS or internet shop?

Tim