Have you ever visited a LHS in a town you've visited?

[Anonymous]

My job requires extensive travel. For some years, I made a point of visiting LHS whenever I had the time. Although I stumbled on a couple of nice shops, I would have to say that at least 95% were a complete waste of time. As a result I eventually stopped bothering.

Although based on my own experience, plenty of the shops listed in MRR do not specialize in trains and aren't much good, on the other hand I've never been to a LHS in the U.S. that was any good for trains and DIDN'T have a MRR listing.

[Anonymous]

ALLWAYS, WHEN ON THE ROAD. I ENJOY TALKING TO THE LOCALS. MOST TIMES I WILL PICK UP SOMETHING, AND GET THE OWNER TO SIGN THE BOX.

[Anonymous]

If I have the time I'll certainly visit. But I only buy something if it has been long discontinued from the Walthers catalog, and unavailable at any of the LHS in my region (and there are at least 3 excellent ones).

[PistolPete]

Yes whenever I travel. I usualy check out the LHS listings in MR or find a hobby shop sections of this forum. I found some very nice LHS in WA, CO, OK, and NH. Usually I endup spending $, getting something local.

[simon1966]

I travel on business frequently. As a result of a recent project I am working on, I have found myself in as many as 3 different cities a week. If I ever have free time, I try and visit LHS. Often I will use the MRR adverts, but more often I will use the local yellow pages in the hotel.

[Anonymous]

We don't get out of town too often, but when we do we visit......
Hi Fi stores [ we are in that line of business, a manufacturer ]
Hobby shops....especially for consignment or pre-owned RR items
SCUBA shops...our other passion
USED book stores..and yet another passion
Used LP record and CD stores....after all, were in the audio/music business

I have always used the dealer listing in the back as the only source for these ocassional out of town trips. We'll be in Vegas this winter for a trade show, and perhaps SanFrancisco/Sacramento area next spring. If we're lucky, we might make the Great Colorado Narrow Guage tour in 2005. This would have to include some of those famous CO hobby shops.
Jennifer

[Big_Boy_4005]

When I travel, it is usually first on my to do list.

[Bikerdad]

Yes, in fact, I've visited LHS that had towns around them! :-)

During my recent rideaboot, I visited MR listed shops in NYC, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Colorado, Arkansas, and probably a couple other states. In about half, I made purchases. What I found most annoying was when a place would advertise that they specialize in this, that, the otherthing, and everything under the sun, and then they turn out to be smaller than your average 7-11, and don't specialize in ANYTHING. grrrrrr. I found some fantastic shops though. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of most, but must give a HUGE thumbs up to

Tommy Gilbert's - Gettysburg, PA
Train Cellar - Lincoln, NE
Silver Spike Hobbies - Denton, TX
Schuykill Flyer - Schuykill, PA
Tractive Effort Hobbies - Fayetville, AR

GREAT PEOPLE in all of those shops.

[dehusman]

My wife gets irritated when the first thing I do after checking into the motel is look at the Hobby--Retail section of the Yellow Pages.

Dave H.

[railman]

On trips, I try to look up in the phone book of the town any hobbyshops. Out east I bought several items in atlantic shops.

[Anonymous]

My other home, Lancaster County, I check out the local stores once in a while. If I find something I have to have for a fair price, I'll go for it.

It all depends on money and time. Usually time to check one out is in short supply.

Alvie.

[mcouvillion]

I always try to search out the local hobby shop if I will be in the town a few days. I haven't necessarily looked for / found it in MRR advertising. My intent is to have something familiar to do, and to buy something to remind me of my visit to that city. I always try to buy at least a small car kit representing a local industry or the local railroad.

Mark C.

[PennsyHoosier]

I travel all over the place. There is always time in my schedule for at least a brief visit to the LHS, so I avail myself. MR's index is very helpful, thought not exclusive, for my planning efforts.

[Anonymous]

While in St.Louis at Union Station,while in Chattanooga,the choo-choo.Favorite place Is St;louie due to the upstairs oyster bar and Hooters.

[Noah Hofrichter]

When ever I'm on a trip soemwhere I'll try to find LHS in that town. But for me my realy good local hobby shop is about 50 miles away, and I only get there every few weeks.

Noah

[Anonymous]

I go. I'm looking for detail stuff, odd-ball cars or some locomotive stock to fill holes in my fleet. Often seeing in fact vs. catalog makes it easier to make some orders with my LHS. Each owner trys to understand and serve their local. It's this that makes it possible to locate stuff that is back-ordered, production interrupted, and all those other problems of trying to get what you want when you want it.

[Anonymous]

I've done this - is usually one of the first things I do when visiting an area, pick up a copy of the Yellow Pages and look up model shops! I've found some good and some great ones using this technique, though I agree about the adverts sometimes being slightly wrong - one of my LHS is currently advertising the new Walthers Heavyweights (which to the best of my knowledge aren't due until next year!).

[Anonymous]

When I first got back into the hobby my wife and I were vacationing in New England, and I brought along a copy of MR to find area shops. Most of them were a dissapointment to me, and I found the same later on in different areas.

They often listed in their MR ad "complete scratchbuilding supplies" and other such descriptions which usually proved to be quite an exaggeration. Most of the time I had more supplies at home than they did. Whenever I'd ask if they had something in particular, the reponse was usually " No we don't have it, but we can order it for you.". Thanks but no thanks, I could order it for myself.

Being from Canada I expected really great prices in U.S. shops, but usually found full list price items only. Some items were even more expensive than what I could get back home, and our dollar was worth a lot less than the American dollar.

The only shop that I found that had a decent selection was Bay State Models in Groveland, MA. The shop was in a garage in the first level of his home in a small town, and he had lots of goodies for me.

I found the same lack of selection in shops in Montreal too. I guess the best way to find the good shops is to ask other people with experience.

Since those days, I don't beleive much what the shops say in their ads, as most of it is just fluff. [B)]

Bob Boudreau

[willy6]

I stopped at the Little Choo-Choo Shop in Spencer,NC. It was awesome.Then last year I planned my trip to Virginia to go through Wilson,NC and stop at the Antique Barn and Train Store. That was worth the the 75 mile detour. And I spent money in both places.But after thinking about this question, I would like to add a comment about MY buying habits.At my local LHS,I buy what I need, at out of town LHS's,I buy what I want but don't need.Hope that makes sense.

[Fergmiester]

I make a point of it especially when my ship pulls into port. If there is a LHS, you'll find me there!

[dragenrider]

I travel frequently and always plan my trip around what ever LHS are listed in the latest MR index. I stop at several along the way on every trip. If they don't advertise in MR, I don't know they exist! (Free plug for Model Railroader! [:D] )

I've alway enjoyed stopping in different cities to stretch my legs, see a new shop and meet new folks. Sometimes I stumble on great bargains this way, too. [tup]

[Anonymous]

The best hobby shop I've ever been to is Trains & Things Hobbies. Better selection and better prices than my LHS.

[tomwatkins]

I've done this many times. I used to travel extensively for business, so I had lots of opportunities to visit different shops. The Little Choo Choo Shop in Spenser, NC is one of the best I found. Good, knowledgeable people, great inventory, and it's right across the street from the Southern's old Spenser Shops, now the North Carolina Transportation Museum. I now live about 2 hrs. from any model railroad store, so I used the ads to help plan my search for a "Local Hobby Shop". Kennesaw Trains in Kennesaw Ga. wasn't the first one I checked out, but I'm glad I kept looking until I found them. Once again, good people, good selection, very knowledgeable and friendly. I found a few I didn't care for so I just kept looking.

Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[fec153]

Had to go to Daytona Beach re-time share.After meeting went to Ormand Beach to a Hobby Stores. Unimpressed. Their selection was limited and small. I have more trains than they do. From what they have I think they are looking for first time buyers. Many of the El Cheapo rolling stock. Way below BB standards.
Flip.

[cacole]

Local hobby shops for me are in Tucson, 70 miles away; Arizona City, 150 miles away; or Phoenix, over 250 miles away, so my trips to them are nearly always specifically for that purpose and no other. And yes, I have found out about them from MR advertisements more than any other way. On my first foray into Phoenix, I copied down the name, address, and phone number of every hobby shop advertised in MR, downloaded maps of their locations, and planned my itinerary ahead of time so I didn't waste a lot of the day fighting the traffic. Rush hour traffic in Phoenix is 24 hours per day and never lets up.

[CP5415]

Ok, keep it kind guys & girls!

This is about shops that advertise in MRR & this advertising is revenue for MRR & it's this revenue that keeps the price of the magazine at an affordable price.
We don't need to get anyone upset.
I think constructive critizism will be allowed unless someone complains.
No need to get mean about it.

I'm only curious as I recently did this in Orlando & went to "The Train Depot" in Winter Park.
Decent shop, almost every scale covered, prices reasonable.

Gordon

If the negative thoughts get out of hand Erik will probably close this poll unless I do so first.