ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – January 29, 2004

[Anonymous]

There's no hobby shops in my area-- I have to travel at least an hour and a half to get to the nearest one. So most of my shopping is done at train shows.

[Anonymous]

My LHS is like the "old general store" with the potbelly stove and the cracker barrel. I spend a lot of time there just "talking trains". If I need something, he can have it in 2-3 days, and his prices are reasonable.

[cterriers]

Actually all of the above. I use the LHS for small items, on-line retailers for more expensive items and for the expensive items, Caboose Hobbies, The Caboose, etc. The LHS just can't compete with the prices on-line. Even with the shipping, it is less expensive to buy on-line than to pay the markup and sales tax locally. Unfortunate as I would prefer to give my business to the LHS.

[scole100]

I would like to buy from a local retailer, but the closest one to my town is a 200 mile trip. I really appreciate the reviews in Model Railroader to help me pick out what to buy.

[cterriers]

Actually all of the above. I use the LHS for small items, on-line retailers for more expensive items and for the expensive items, Caboose Hobbies, The Caboose, etc. The LHS just can't compete with the prices on-line. Even with the shipping, it is less expensive to buy on-line than to pay the markup and sales tax locally. Unfortunate as I would prefer to give my business to the LHS.

[Anonymous]

I voted "local store" but it is really misleading. You left out one particular choice: "other". Where I live (Erie, PA) there are two hobby shops that deal with our hobby, one for Lionel exclusively and another that is mostly larger gauge and "dabbles" in HO. Therefore, I deal through my sister in Sacramento (California) through Bruce's Train Shop. When I was first there in 1998 I was extremely impressed (and jealous that my town didn't have a shop anywhere near the quality of Bruce's). My sister lives about two miles east of his store, so I call her with my order and she gets it for me. A little more expensive-definitely. California's sales tax is higher than PA's, and shipping is more expensive (U.S. Mail) But the people at Bruce's know who I am, where I live, and have not disappointed me yet. I even send them locomotives from time-to-time for repair, when needed. If you guys (at Bruce's-Bruce, Mike, Mike, Frank, et al)read this-keep up the good work. (Sue's brother)

[Jetrock]

I tend to make a couple of big expensive trips to train shows per year, and a smattering of eBay purchases during the year, with frequent nickel-and-dime trips to the hobby shop that ends up costing the most because it ends up being once every week or two.

[Anonymous]

If my local hobby shop(and there is only 1) would carry N scale and offer even the slightest discount I would consider shopping there but they won't consider carrying N scale. I guess not enough N modelers in the area to make it worth their while so I am almost compelled to use mailorder and have had no problems with it!
Al CN/CP modeler in SC

[orsonroy]

I voted "Ebay", since my hobbies of model railroading and RR history are sort of intertwined, and I do get a lot of stuff off the "bay.

That said, I really get my stuff from all over. Most of my freight car kits and track come from two LHS, my scenery stuff mostly comes from Hobby Lobby or mail order, all my benchwork, subroadbed, roadbed, paint, etc. comes from Home Depot, and virtually all my engines over the past two years have come from Hobbies USA, which is neither a LHS nor a "online retailer" (he sends out emails which I order from, but there's no "online shop"). I also phone in orders to Trainworld a couple times a year.

[Anonymous]

The first Monday after Christmas Hobby Lobby runs a 50% off all model train accessories. I go and load up on replacement switches and Woodland Scenic stuff for the whole year. Rest of the time I buy mostly from my locals and a little bit over the net.

RMax

[Anonymous]

I can't answer the survey because I have made most of my purchases at antiques dealers.

[Anonymous]

I do most of my shopping a my LHS and he offers a discount. ( Grampas
Train Shop, Rice Lake WI ) When I visit the Twin Cities I'll try to hit the Hub
Hobby Store in Richfield, that is if it fits into my wifes schedule, and when we
travel I try and look up the LHS, again if it fits into--------------------------------------,
( you know the rest of that line right? [:D][:D][:D]) I do buy some things by mail order if the price is right. Well there you have it, keep on shopping[8D].
Harv

[Anonymous]

I use Niagara hobby here in Buffalo. 9 times out of 10 he's cheeper than most other shops,or E-bay

[Anonymous]

I would use my local hobby shop but it's some 20 miles away. I found CRC Hobbies in St Joseph, mo thru ebay and get 25% discount. Can't really beat that!

[walthuston]

I make a majority of my purchases at Online Trains, my local hobby shop. I live in the Tacoma, Washington area and find it quite nice that there are three local shops that carry the N scale supplies I need. Online is the one with the best selection and prices for my needs. I only order from the web on rare occasion, less than once a year. The local shops deserve our support.

[Anonymous]

I live in the Denver metro area, therefore I am able to purchase anything I require from Caboose Hobbies or Mizell's. They are probably the best two model railroad hobby shops in the U.S. Their selection of all scales are very extensive and prices are competitive with any of the mail order houses.

[Anonymous]

As there is no hobby shop within a 75 mile radius I do most of my buying by mailorder and I depend heavily on magazine ads. Chuck

[Anonymous]

[fI purchase everything at Scale Reproductions in Louisville, Ky. Their prices are below retail and they stay on top of what's available.
Hihoods,
Chris Tandyont=Arial Black][/font=Arial Black]

[rcletz]

I model in G scale and the LHS (Caboose Hobbies) gets most of my business because of its inventory, Watts Train Shop gets any of my mail order business.

[geocan]

Everything from Wig-Wag-Trains.com

[tpc51]

LHS in the best way. I get to see first what I'm buying. That also explains why I like shows too. I really enjoy seeing and examining items before I purchase them.

[jahauck]

Living in Brentwood, CA, far East of the San Fransisco Bay area, I could only wish I had a local hobby shop to go to. My hobby shop visits require an hour plus drives. South toward one of the best, "Just Trains" in Santa Clara, CA or North to another great store in Sacramento, CA "Bruce's Train Shop". When I go, I spend both time and money, because I know it will be a while before I get the chance to come back. Other than those places I make it a point to read the advertisements from "M.B.Klein" and "Trainworld" in both MR and MRC magazines.
Just wishin for a shop.
Jim

[lcomotv]

The hobby shop near my home is excellent and it's fun to go and shop there. Locomotives are always tested before the purchase is complete and when they are out of stock of something I need they are very prompt in ordering the item. I purchase over the internet only when that's the only source for a particular item, and only from reputable vendors.

[Anonymous]

90% of my shopping is done at my LHS. I like the one on one service and I can see and feel what I am buying. There are about 5 shops within a 10 mile area so I can always shop around, and always come home with something, even if it isn't what I went out for in the first place[:D]

[krump]

we have a NEW lhs in the area, but I'm currently working with what I've got.
I buy supplies at the lhs or the dollar store. I occly buy used items, at train shows or from the paper. I've recently bought some UNIQUE rolling stock thru Ebay.ca. When I get around to DCC and a good engine I'll get it at the lhs, or possibly through a train show shop. I don't want to do the big ticket items on Ebay, internet, or out of the area because if there are occasional difficulties with the product, I find that shopping local is better and more direct.

[lgoodbrod]

Since there is no LHS within almost 100 miles i shop the online stores after checking the manufacturer's website.

[Anonymous]

I buy the majority of my stuff from an on-line retailer who I know very well. Having said that, it is a slim majority (maybe like 52%. The remainder of my purchases I spread around various hobby shops in the LA area. If the LHS's know that you are a regular and if you buy enough stuff from them on an ongoing basis, they can be pretty competitive on the prices.

[AggroJones]

I purchase the more expensive items from 1stplacehobbies, Trainworld, or FirstHobby. The lower cost things are bought at the LHS.

[Anonymous]

I would like to support my LHS much more than I do but they go out of their way to make it inconvienient. I am in the process of building a large layout and am getting no support from them. In November I tried to purchase cork from them but they ran out. It was a full 6 weeks before they got more in. When I was there to pick up my order of cork I needed uncoupling magnets and they only had on package so I ordered more. In the mean time I picked some up in a shop 60 miles away. Several days later I ran out of flex track so down to the LHS I went to get some. And what to my surprise.......no stock. I was told that they were going to be doing inventory in 3 weeks so they did not want to bring in any extra stock that they would have to count. But if I wanted to ordered some, they would order it in 3 weeks and it should be in a couple of weeks after that. The order would have been $500 plus but they could not be bothered. Oh by the way 8 weeks have gone by and my uncouplers have still not arrived. At the rate things are going with the LHS I will not get my layout done in my life time.

Now I am not talking a small hobby shop here, it advertises itself as the largest hobby shop in Canada. No wonder we n-scalers travel the 60 miles to Hutch's trains or cross the border to shop at LBC Hobbies.

I also spend a large number of dollars at train shows because when you see it we have to buy it or the wait starts with the LHS or we drive the miles to support someone else's LHS.

Thanks for letting my vent my frustrations

STAN

[Anonymous]

I try to purchase from the local hobby shops as much as possible. I am lucky that the area I live in has quite a number of hobby shops all within a hour of me which means railfanning time also