ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – January 29, 2004

[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.

[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

[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.

[geocan]

Everything from Wig-Wag-Trains.com

[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.

[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]

[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]

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.

[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 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!

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

[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

[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]

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

[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]

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)

[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]

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.

[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]

I would very much like to patronize my local hobby shop, but the closest thing we have to a full-line hobby shop in Nashville is pathetic.

In the first place, it's a dingy, dirty store. Both employees are chain smokers, so clouds of second-hand smoke hanging in the air create a cancer hazard.

Second, the store is stuck with a 1980s-era mentality of what to stock. There's lots of Athearn rolling stock and Atlas track. Looking for more recent products such as Spectrum and Proto 2000? Not there. It's like all of the product innovations of the last 20 years are missing.

Finally, they charge full suggested retail for everything. I don't expect a hobby shop to match discount mail order prices, but there's a huge margin at full retail prices. A hobby shop -- and I've visited them in other cities -- that will charge about 10 percent under full price can get me to pay the premium over full discount because I want to support local hobby shops.

Another factor beyond the owner's control is Tennessee's exorbitant sales tax, which we don't pay on mail order/Internet sales. Of course, the owner is probably opposed to tax reform. But that's getting into a political issue, so I won't go farther.

Bottom line: I want to support local hobby shops, but the triple whammy of grungy store, bad inventory and high prices is sending me to the Internet more frequently.

Someone want to open a good hobby shop in Nashville?

[lyctus]

I try the LHS first as I like, where ever possible, to support local retailers (I'm one of them- Retailers that is) but as I have a fairly narrow area of specialisation they often do not have what I want. I buy track,paints, consumables, etc from the local guys, but locos and rolling stock from mail order houses in the US (mainly Standard Hobby Supply) who I find very efficient. Unfortunately, even after air freight costs, it is still incredibly cheaper buying this stuff in the USA than LHS.

[Anonymous]

I would love to have shown the lcs, but unfortunately the only hobby shop in my area is not interestd in trains [stock is minimal] and is quite expensive when you order something from him. I have no choice but to support an online shop. The owner is interested in model railroads and has several contacts, so I am fortunate to have found a good supplier and and at good competitive prices. In closing I feel it is very important to support the local hobby shop, but it is not always possible.

[Anonymous]

I shop the internet. The closest LHS is 90 miles (Buffalo, NY). I live in the country and it's easier to shop the internet. Brooklyn Loco Works and Rio Grande Hobbies get most of my money. 3 or 4 time a year I travel to a fine N Scale shop (LBC) in Williamville, NY (Buffalo). Jim & Belinda are really fine folks and very helpful.

[Anonymous]

I use the LHS for the most part on high dollar engines. I like to fondle and stare at them in hand. Also if there's a problem. It can be corrected easier than mail order. However I will order rolling stock and other accessories from where ever if the price is right.

Geo. Zeeland,MI.

[Anonymous]

I actually buy the most stuff on eBay. The closest LHS is 90+ miles away. There have been three shows near them this past year, and about half of my purchases were at the shows or the LHS on those weekends. I do like the LHS visits better than buying online due to the ability to handle the item before making a purchase and the interaction with the other folks in the shops. So far I've only made one bad online purchase, so I guess I'm kinda lucky in that way.

[Nieuweboer]

I'm lucky that my LHS only 15 car-minutes away has a sizable stock of US locomotives, cars and scenery so that is where I buy most of my stuff.