Online Discount stores

[loathar]

I hate that E-Bay trick-Top name box car NIB, no reserve! (shipping $19.95)
loathar

[Hawks05]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dimastep

Have you concidered getting stuff at train shows and swap meets? I have entered the hobby a year ago and was, just like you, buying new stuff. Until I went to one of the local model train shows, since then, unless it is rare item, I only buy stuff there. Ususally I don't pay over $4 per rolling stock. And most of them already have good KD couplers, not the cheap plastic stuff.

Just make sure you don't grab the first thing you see. Take time to walk around and compare prices - you'd be sursprised.

Been to many, have bought a lot. Usually spend about $150 at each train show I go to. They don't have shows in my area during the summer though so that's why I'm looking online. My LHS doesn't have much of a selection for stuff I'm looking for. They are more of the 50's era. I'm a modern type of guy as that is all I've seen in my life and like it a lot.

I'm thinking about going online and getting a locomotive from Model Train Stuff then going through everything I have already and buying some kits from Internet Hobbies.

I'll first take a look at Ebay though before I do anything of course to see if I can find the locomotives.

[Anonymous]

Have you concidered getting stuff at train shows and swap meets? I have entered the hobby a year ago and was, just like you, buying new stuff. Until I went to one of the local model train shows, since then, unless it is rare item, I only buy stuff there. Ususally I don't pay over $4 per rolling stock. And most of them already have good KD couplers, not the cheap plastic stuff.

Just make sure you don't grab the first thing you see. Take time to walk around and compare prices - you'd be sursprised.

[Anonymous]

I, too, have had good luck with Trainworld for my On30 purchases. Hard to beat their prices, and I've had no problems with their service or products. I shop on-line or via an ad, and then order by phone because I feel more comfortable going that route.

[htgguy]

I have had good luck with Trainworld and Standard Hobby.

[roadrat]

This site has the best prices for Peco turnouts.

www.cchobbies.com

[Anonymous]

I have found the best deals and most in stock items here

http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/

They have a fixed shipping charge of $7.50 so I just put things in their electronic shopping cart until the savings add up to more than the shipping. They have never emptied my cart even after several months. They will even notify you by E-mail if you want something out of stock that they get later.

I only use the online shops though after paying a visit to my LHS and verifying that they don't have what I want since I prefer seeing an item before buying it.

Bob DeWoody

[BNSF4ever]

I've done a lot of busines with Discount Trains Online and they sometimes still have items that have been discontinued or hard to find. They are very quick on shipping as well and their prices are usually very competitive.

As for Ebay--one warning. The businesses that are on Ebay are usually all up to speed and I have got some great locomotives from them. But beware of individuals selling items. I have gotten some real lemons that were nothing like what was advertised (like an SD75I that fell apart as soon as I touched it). Check feedback of course but if a person has an unclear photo or is using the manufacturer's catalog photo, ask them to take a brand new digital photo.

[Hawks05]

So far the best place out of all the stores listed above is Internet Hobbies. They have a lot of pretty good deals for kits and what not. The best for locos is ModelTrainStuff. I just found the UP Dash 8-40B that I was looking for. Figured that would be my next purchase. At the Discount Trains site it was $93 which was the best place, then I just saw the MTS has it for $79.99. I'm pumped now. I just got paid yesterday so I may spring for that and then go on the Internet Hobbies and pick up some kits and RTR stuff.

My afternoon just got a little better now.

[FCnota]

A word to the wise, if you go E_Bay, MAKE SURE you know what your getting! Not everyone is totally forthcoming when they want to unload something (guess how I found out) Be careful!

[Anonymous]

Try www.internethobbies.com they may have the stuff you're looking for

[Anonymous]

http://www.firsthobby.com

[Budliner]

try train world PA's for twenty somthing
http://www.trainworld1.com/lifelike/lifelike_proto.htm

[Hawks05]

I've shopped off Ebay quite a bit, but nothing much is getting my attention right now. I guess I'll have to keep looking. That modeltrainstuff.com looks good, I may have to check them out a little bit more this weekend or when I get a chance.

Elliot, there we go, found it now, sorry again. Now I'm saving up a little for college, saving some for trains, and using some for going out. I figured just this month alone, June, I made more than I made at the pizza place in over a year and a half of work, or close to it. Crazy. $1194 this month alone. That's without taxes taken out. So that will be a nice check coming my way no less on Thursday, only get like $400 or so though.

I'll have to check out some of those sites. I really need some engines. More so I need to start doing something with my trains. I wish I didn't just have a stinking 4x8 layout, more would be nice. As long as I can run trains smoothly I guess I'll live and keep buying.

[Virginian]

I'm not knocking anyone else's choices, but I have dealt with Trainworld for 30 years and haven't had a bad dealing yet. They sent me the wrong thing once, eons ago, and they swapped it with no hassle, and they absorbed all the costs involved.

[Anonymous]

One of the oldest and most dependable sellers is ModelTrainStuff (M.B. Klein), who was in the business BEFORE the internet !!!

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/index.html

I buy all my locos from them or Tony's, now-a-days.

Did use to buy on e-Bay, but almost half of those were from MTS (who also sells on e-Bay), so I just buy direct now !!! Now use e-Bay for only custom locos.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Hi Jim, I was just thinking about you earlier today and wondering what you were up to. Saving for college?

As far as bargain equipment goes, maybe one of the best places to start looking is in the dealer ads in MR. All of the largest dealers nationwide advertise there. Generally, the larger the dealer the better discount they will offer.

When you find a model you like, find out what the list price is. That should be your starting point. Ebay is ok, but watch out for shipping. Some sellers use the shipping charges to help offset the listing fees for the auction. So if your winning bid, plus shipping gets higher than a certain level, you might as well have just ordered it from a dealer.

Shop til you drop!!! That's half the fun.

[Anonymous]

Hey, if I was you I would get involed with Ebay. I'm already involed. They got tons of Gondolas, Hoppers, Diesel's, ect. for cheap. Stay away from Bachman, Vintage Life Like , Tyco's Diesel though. Stick with Atheans and ect. Also take the advise of the previous information giving to you by the other fellow's . Good sources.

[Anonymous]

www.internettrains.com and www.tonystrains.com are both good ones.

[Anonymous]

try www.discounttrainsonline.com and www.trainworld.com

Discount trains has just about everything you could ever want and its all at least 20% off

Trainworld has a limited selection, but what they do have is mind-bogglingly discounted. Im about to order a couple of P2K switchers from them for 29.99!

[Hawks05]

Hey everyone. It's been a long time since I've posted on here. I haven't really done much with my trains since mid- December due to a lack of money. Now that I have graduated and got some money there and have a full time 40 hour per week summer job I have some money. I can't quite spend it all on trains, but I want to get as much as I can for the least amount of money. Still good stuff though of course.

The main thing I'm looking for are UP, BNSF, BN, and NS locomotives. I have 3 BNSF and 2 BN locos. 1 UP and 1 NS. I'm looking to mix up my variety as most of my stuff is all GP's except for 2 BNSF which are 44-8's.

Also I'm looking to find some freight cars. Mainly hoppers and boxcars. I have a bunch already but I need different road numbers. Also I'm looking for various other cars. Husky stacks, flats, gondolas, bulkheads, centerbeams, tankers and coil cars.

The hobby shop I go to has some of all of those, but the husky stacks only come in packs of 6 for $70 or so. The coil cars are Intermountain and are like $30.

For the cars I'm looking for ADM, BNSF, and TTX. I really want to get more Railbox boxcars. RTR would be nice, but I can handle some kits, Accurail and Roundhouse being my favorites.

Anyways, I guess the point of this is to say Hey everyone and ask for some help finding stuff. Ebay only helps to an extent. So if anyone can help that would be awesome.

Thanks and glad to be back, sort of. Not to much time now with a job, baseball, and a close friend that I spend a lot of time with.

Thanks everyone!!!