ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – January 29, 2004

[UPJohn]

I buy my supplies from Allied Hobbies. But the engine i just purchased came from the Internet. It was an Athearn GP40-2

[Anonymous]

We do not have A LHS and mail order is to slow and what hobby shops that we do have have do not have web or e-mail YET!!!.(GET with IT! you guys hear in New Zealand). This is why I shop on line in U.S.A Thank you,Russrio.
Have A GOOD Day,Hope To See You Down Trackside One Day ?

[Anonymous]

I have 2 LHSs in town and drive by one of them everyday on the way to work and back...a terrible temptation..

One has decent prices but a not too helpful staff and the other has a discount and a very helpful staff, plus an O gauge setup the kids can run on Sats and a club for the older folks. I do a lot of shopping at that one.
And I have bought a few things on ebay.

[Anonymous]

I am Lucky and have a LHS (not the nearest however) that discounts most items 20% or more from list. I stay away from retail only Hobby Shops ( closest to my abode) unless it is something very simple I need quick -- paint, glue etc.

I like to support my local discount HS as much business as I can but still mail order some items, especially loco's which are considerably less via mail order. I want to support them but I have to watch my budget too.

Stuebsrr

[trainfan1221]

Local hobby stores, what there are left of them aroung here, that is. By the way skerber, if you see this, I know the place.

[Anonymous]

I get all of my stuff at a LHS. I never buy anything online and can walk to my LHS. It is "CABOOSE HOBBIES". They are great! The prices at their website are more expensive than at their shop. If you are ever passing through Denver, CO you have to stop in and check it out. It is just incredible. I do not work there and this is just my opinion.

Cheers,

420Express

[on30francisco]

I purchase some small items at the LHS but order high priced and bulk items online. I purchase stripwood, styrene, glues, paints etc. at Pearls and Michael's which are two well-stocked arts and crafts stores. They are more convenient to get to and much cheaper and friendlier than the LHS.

[Anonymous]

Isn't internet and mailorder kind of the same thing? Well, if not, then 100% internet. There isn't a decent LHS near me, and I can't see a hobby shop keeping everything I may want in stock so I can touch it. I think once you've seen a P2K loco or an Athearn BB kit, you know what to expect.
Tim

[Anonymous]

i buy all me things from the LHS i have 4 or 5 to go to but i have one i like the best.
its call CREDIT VALLEY RAILWAY company LTD.
the web is www.cvrco.com

[jfugate]

Hmmm ... someone resurrected this Poll, aye?

For me it's all the above, with a slight edge to my local hobby shop. I may not spend as much there all the time, but I makes lots of frequent small purchases (under $50). It's the only place I buy magazines and videos.

I also buy most of my locos through the LHS. I may not get as good a deal as I could find online, but I like to give a shot to their cash flow now and then just as insurance that they will stay open. When I buy locos through them, it's usually several at a time, and a significant amount of $$$.

[andrechapelon]

Where I live there is no hobby shop. The closest one that carries trains is in Capitola and I've never been there. However, my stepson and his wife live only about 3 miles from The Train Shop in Santa Clara and I buy most of my stuff there.

I think it's a crying shame that in Monterey, the home of the late John Allen, there's no hobby shop carrying model railroad supplies.

Andre

[Anonymous]

I go to the LHS. If they dont' have it they can 99% of the time get it. I love going there I get good deals. SHoped there all my life and i know all teh guys

[Anonymous]

I have 3 LHS. The closest is 20 miles. I use them for flex track, road bed, paint and other basic scratch build material. One is an auto repair shop, one specializes in RC and the third is a small LHS in a small market. Next are 4 that are 45+ miles away and advertise in MR. Next are two major cities, one north the other south and better than 2 hours away. I also use mail order, online and internet on a depending basis. The depend basis is usually hard to find as it's out of manufacture or hard to get. I always try to visit shops when I'm traveling.

[trolleyboy]

I do ninety percent of my buying at the LHS. I'm spoiled and have two decent ones on town one is trains only the other is a full run shop but the owners an "n"scaler so has a large train dept. I'm also an hour from toronto and an hour in the other direction to my home town which has an absolutly great full range Hobby shop. The other ten percent of my buying is from local train shows usually I'll pick up those unusual old hard to find things at the shows. TB

[Anonymous]

I purchase from all except shows as I will not pay to get in so that I may buy something from someone who has already paid for a table. I also object to MR giving these groups that sponser shows free advertising when many times an individual is making money off of these shows and not a not profit club or prototype group.

I use E-Bay for items that are no longer made and I am able to find these on E-Bay. I used the internet and mailorder for large purchases where the cost of freight is offset by the sales tax I am not paying. The majority of items is from my LHS as I want them around when I need a bottle of paint etc.

Rick

[jdolan]

I use my LHS because I have dealt with them since the 1960's and get good service and good prices. I order from mail order only if it is the only way to get a strange item or tool.
Jack

[grayfox1119]

I purchase as much as I can at the HS within driving distance of my home, and , in NH and Tony's in Vermont when I travel north, as well as the BIG E train show in Springfield, Ma in January/Feb.
I purchase some items online when I cannot get them at HS's, or do not want to wait for LHS to receive. There is also the matter of "sales tax".

[Anonymous]

I purchase almost everything from my LHS. However I have purchased a few things on e-bay. They are mostly things That have been discontinued and my LHS can't get.

[SilverSpike]

I have purchased most of my stuff from mail order like Walthers and Micro-Mark, but have also gotten a lot of stuff from the LHS. I have also purchased items directly from the manufacturer, such as the Bragdon Weather System.

- Ryan

[eastcoast]

The majority of my supplies come from Walthers Terminal Hobby
Mail catalogs followed by the LHS and railclub.

[Anonymous]

LHS for me, I don't hear good things from E-Bay and online/mail order get to be more expensive when you factor in the additional fees from UPS and USPS for items shipped to Canada.

Happy MRRing

Luc

[PennsyHoosier]

I use ebay. It saves me TONS of money, but it take A LOT of time.