Where do you buy your MRR stuff?

[Hawks05]

so far i've bought everything from either a show or ebay. i've got most of my books at the LHS and the magazines. if the LHS had more freight cars and locomotives i'd probably buy more stuff there. i'll probably go next weekend and get some Goo for the kits i'll be getting, coupler packs of rail joiners, and probably 4-5 packs of Kadee #5 couplers for some of the cars i'll be getting. just in case. try and get them in bulk if they have it or order them.

[Hawks05]

well i just spent another $44 on a locomotive off of ebay. a Rock Island GP7. i've spent a total of $119.46 in just over a week on ebay. I'm done buying stuff for awhile i think. hopefully i am.

[Anonymous]

I started my collection while in Germany so to continue in that vein, I shop mostly at Walthers since they carry all the German and Austrian models. Nothing against American, just started one way so will continue that way.

[EL PARRo]

I stole EVERYTHING for my model railroad. You don't want to know how I stole a Challenger locomotive from my local hobby shop.
</kidding>
Okay, seriously, I buy most of my stuff from Roger's Railroad Juncton in Lodi, CA, but I do order expensive stuff through the mail from whoever sells it the cheapest to save money.

[michaelstevens]

I voted LHS since there was only the one choice. However, I probably buy an equal amount by telephone/mailorder (e.g. TrainWorld/TrainLand)

[Anonymous]

I'm beggining to buy more stuff at shows, but I've been buying a lot on Ebay. I don't get to the LHS often, and when I do I usually get more track.

[Hawks05]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

I'm beggining to buy more stuff at shows, but I've been buying a lot on Ebay. I don't get to the LHS often, and when I do I usually get more track.

what RR do you model. i know its in the steam era but what RR. hopefully not what i model. otherwise we'll be bidding against each other.

[Anonymous]

I buy most of my stuff used and a good majority of it comes from ebay. I'm also constantly checking antique stores, pawn shops, flea markets and garage sales for stuff. I could have checked off steal because with the prices some of these places charge and with the deals you can get on ebay it feels like you're stealing!

[Anonymous]

I buy from Doc's Caboose in KCMO, Terminal Hobbies and Caboose Hobbies.
Ch

[Anonymous]

Probably 75% of what I buy comes from my local hobby shops. I'm blessed because I have 4 within 1/2 hour of my home. [:D] 10% might come from ebay (usually oddball or rare stuff) and the remaining 15% of the stuff I get at the GSMTS shows in Timonium. I dont ususally buy from internet stores, as I have yet to be impressed by thier prices. My local shops will order whatever I want, and at a fair price, especially when you consider the shipping that I dont have to pay!

[Hawks05]

does Terminal Hobbies prices compare with what i could get off of ebay new. i'd feel safer ordering from a vender rather than off of ebay but i want to compare the prices. i should be getting a Terminal Hobby flyer in the coming weeks but i'm just wondering for now.

[Anonymous]

most of my stuff comes from online stores. The closest hobby shop is 300 miles away...

[BNSFNUT]

I buy most of my stuff at the two local hobby shops (we had 3 but one closed).
I have bought a some stuff at shows and a little stuff of E-bay.
I also carry a copy of MR's dealer listing when I travel and have found some nice stuff that way.

[Anonymous]

If ordering online, I recommend Trainworld, http://www.trainworld.com/, for their good sales and service.

Gary

[Hawks05]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GaryA

If ordering online, I recommend Trainworld, http://www.trainworld.com/, for their good sales and service.

Gary

are there any good shops up in the Twin Cities area. i'm half way between the Twin Cities and Eau Claire, WI. if there are any good shops in say Maplewood or Woodbury that you know of could you post them here.

Thanks.

[CP5415]

Half of my stuff I've bought at my local hobby shop. A third of it I bought off a friend of mine who was 'purging' his collection to finance the purchase other items for himself.
The rest was either given to me by my dad or bought at local shows

Gordon

[IRONROOSTER]

I buy most of it at shows as my LHS carrys very little S scale.

Enjoy
Pau;

[Anonymous]

How about most of the above??? I buy from my LHS (ok ok...ill pimp it out too A.B. Charles and Son) the Greenburg show when it comes here to Moronville, the Timonium Show in MD (mostly for my brass) EBAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and some internet discount el-cheapo houses.

[ddechamp71]

As I'm modelling Z scale and as this scale is almost non-existent in most stores, I purchase about 98 % of my stuff by Internet......
Cheers
Dominique

[Anonymous]

More than one of the options. I buy stuff from my LHS, from other Hobby Stores when I'm away on holiday, online (though I've not found a decent UK-based online retailer that stocks US-outline models, I buy a lot of my British stuff this way though). eBay is useful for those discontinued or otherwise unobtainable items - just won an Athearn BNSF Dash 9 Dummy, should look good with my powered CSX Dash 9 and AC4400!

[Jetrock]

Most of the above--In my case it's mostly local hobby shops, or non-local hobby shops--one habit of mine is that I visit hobby shops in whatever city I'm visiting when on vacation, as they will all have unique things in their discount bins!

I also use eBay, online stores, thrift stores, train shows, garage sales, wherever I can find trains for a good deal.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hawks05

QUOTE: Originally posted by GaryA

If ordering online, I recommend Trainworld, http://www.trainworld.com/, for their good sales and service.

Gary

are there any good shops up in the Twin Cities area. i'm half way between the Twin Cities and Eau Claire, WI. if there are any good shops in say Maplewood or Woodbury that you know of could you post them here.

Thanks.

Can't say that I know of any. I like Becker's in New Brighton, http://members.aol.com/wcbecker/ . Scale Model Supplies (aka the dungeon) is huge and may be worth a visit, at the corner of Lexington and University. I like Trainworld if I'm buying online.

Gary

[Hawks05]

thanks. i'll have to get up there some time. i'm not familiar with the Twin Cities. just the Woodbury area. never go to the cities. just for a twins game here or there and woodbury to shop. is New Brighten in the northwestern part of the TC?

[AggroJones]

I used to buy most everything from shows and LHS. But now I order the more expensive stuff mail order to save some money.

[bogeys]

My first choice is to shop at shows, because it's the most fun way to find stuff. But there is only one show a year around here(if that), and the nearest train shop is 60 miles away, so I usually buy mail order.

[eastcoast]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hawks05

does Terminal Hobbies prices compare with what i could get off of ebay new. i'd feel safer ordering from a vender rather than off of ebay but i want to compare the prices. i should be getting a Terminal Hobby flyer in the coming weeks but i'm just wondering for now.

[:p]
HAWKS05
I am a REGULAR customer of catalog mail order. My favorite IS the
TERMINAL HOBBY SHOP/ WALTHERS MONTHLY. It is better and
safer than online in my opinion. The prices are GREAT and I find
bargains like nowhere else. I also do not have to worry about the
identity theft crisis going on, I send MONEY ORDERS ONLY. I
would estimate that catalog mail order is about 85% of my purchase
option for my layout AND for books and momentos.Not only do I order
from Walthers, but also subscribe to HISTORIC RAIL. Ever heard of
them ??? Books a many are at a discounted price in this one. Get online
and get on these mailing lists, good option. Ebay is iffy.
ken_ecr [:p]

[nfmisso]

Trainworld http://www.trainworld1.com/index.html
Tony's Toy Exchange http://www.dcctrains.com/
Toy Train Heaven http://www.toytrainheaven.com/
Standard Hobby http://www.standardhobby.com/
ebay
shows

Not in any particular order.

LHS - occcasionally.

[CBQ_Guy]

I clicked other because almost all of my model railroad purchases came from shows AND my LHS. I have only ordered online a couple times. My 2-LHS owners discount everything 20 per cent off. The rest I picked up at shows over the past dozen years when I used to go to all of them. We usually went as a group, including my LHS owners!

[Anonymous]

I try to buy most of my stuff from "The Hobby Shop" in Ames Iowa. The owner is a genius and is the nicest guy you'll ever meet. I've never had a question he could not answer.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Go Packers!!

[vsmith]

I try to buy as much as i can from some of the LHS that carry large scale near me, but they can be limited in their stock and I wont buy large scale from Walthers, too $$$. So eBay is a good source or St Aubins Station or Trainworld.