Being gone for a while and getting back into the fold where are some good places to get train suppies. I use to use Model Train Stuff quite a bit. But yesterday I went to their website and just odered a box of Woodland scenic cork roadbed' one tank car and a roll of plaster cloth. It was like $58 which was fine but they wanted $19 to ship it to IN. I thought well that seems high. So I went to Amazon and ordered the same thing and got free shipping. Now the cork was $5 higher but I still came out ahead quite a bit. I hate not using MTS 'they have always been good to me' But man their shipping has really got high. It used to never be more than $11 . Any ideas. Thanks
Model Train Stuff is generally my go-to: great prices, pretty good selection, but the shipping is always the problem. I generally wait until I have several items to order so I can make the shipping count. Ebay is another great place for model railroad finds.
Have you personally shipped anything via UPS lately? It's expensive. Size matters, weight matters. I assume Amazon has negotiated some special deal on shipping.
How they manage to ship part way via UPS and then USPS to my mailbox, on a Sunday, is totally beyond me. Even with that, they are starting their own delivery service.
Model Train Stuff was a long time hobby store in a section of Baltimore, where you would think twice about, before parking your car or getting out of it. They moved to the 'burbs and established a mail order business. They won't be able to compete with Amazon for shipping. Neither will Trainworld, neither will the DCC shops Lichtfield Stations, Streamlined Backshops, Tony's Trains and others.
Eventually Amazon will be the Train Store, except they will be selling "train sets". They will have sellers, where you won't get free shipping, that will sell you the same products you could have gotten at Trainworld or MTS at higher prices. You can already see that on Ebay where there are sellers routinely advertising stuff at above MSRP.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
jmnienab Model Train Stuff is generally my go-to: great prices, pretty good selection, but the shipping is always the problem. I generally wait until I have several items to order so I can make the shipping count. Ebay is another great place for model railroad finds.
Rich
Alton Junction
Favorite Places to buy Train Stuff:
AA Hobbies in Warwick, RI.
Train Central in Indianapolis, Indiana is where I went when I was looking for emergency supplies for my modules before the NTS last year. I dont recall how his prices compared to the internet.
There are several train shops sprinkled across northern Indiana and around the Cincinnati, OH area.
I feel your pain, I am originally from Washington, IN. Closest hobby shop was Bloomington (now closed) or Evansville.
Shipping is exppensive. Yes a big shipper can negotiate their own rates, and as mentioned, Amazon is going into their own delivery business.
WE ship by USPS and it is $6.10 to ship a $4.95 bar of soap.
It is far worse when we ship wine. That has to go by freight, and so any order under 200 pounds is about $100.00. Many of our customers come to the Abbey to buy their wine, but at 55.2c per mile I'd have to charge $85 to deliver it to Bismarck, which we no longer do since I cannot lift those cases anymore.
We pay about $4000 to ship wine from California to North Dakota, but that is for a full truck at 40,000 pounds.
Hey, Youseguys run railroads, you ought to know what shipping costs.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
BigDaddy Eventually Amazon will be the Train Store, except they will be selling "train sets". They will have sellers, where you won't get free shipping, that will sell you the same products you could have gotten at Trainworld or MTS at higher prices. You can already see that on Ebay where there are sellers routinely advertising stuff at above MSRP.
You may want to revisit your statement about eBay sellers. They do not routinely advertise model railroading stuff for sale above MSRP.
As for Amazon, you should study its business model a little closer. Amazon won't be limited to selling trains sets anytime soon, and free shipping isn't going to disappear anytime soon either. Don't resist Amazon. Run to it.
Favorite place to buy train stuff:
My local model railroad shop.
Ed
In no particular order of favoritism:
Palmer Hobbies, Palmer, MA
AA Hobbies, Warwick, RI
Charles Ro, Malden, MA
Great Lakes Hobby, Sterling Heights, MI
Caboose, Denver, CO
Zeintek's, Chicago, IL
Des Plaines Hobbies, Des Plaines, IL
j-tprantle (Ebay seller with reasonable prices and a lot of inventory)
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
My favorite online store in modeltrainstuff. My last order in April had shipping of $11.40 for 3 O Scale building kits and 3 HO car kits. I'm in Virginia which is probably cheaper than Indiana. But I always choose the cheapest shipping, which is usually USPS. I also wait until I want over $100 worth of stuff just to keep the shipping down.
I also love going to train shows and do some buying there.
I also check with Trainworld on prices and have ordered from them several times - again I wait until I have enough to make the shipping worth while.
I also order stuff from Micro-Mark. Also waiting until I have a bunch to order and they are having a sale or free shipping going.
Occaisionally, I use other sources for things I can't otherwise get, usually in S scale which is harder to find.
I tend not to use a LHS. I don't have one in town and the closest 2 carry little train stuff and no discount. One even charges above msrp for some things.
Paul
I buy 99% of my train supplies from MBKlien. They are a brick and mortar store that is still in business. Although they are over an hour away, I consider them my LHS. I will continue to buy from them and support them even if the shipping is high. Usually I pay $6.95 for shipping. Maybe if more people supported the LHS that was only 20 minutes away, they would still be in business too.
My go to shop is Model Train Stuff and I request USPS and never request UPS or FedEx.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I buy all of my train stuff except for the few things I pick up at the trains shows in Timonium , Md from Mainline Hobby Supply in Blue Ridge Summit, PA. Bonnie and Brad are good people and they discount their products. If you need a special order just let them know and when it comes in they call and tell you its here.
SouthPenn Maybe if more people supported the LHS that was only 20 minutes away, they would still be in business too.
Maybe if more people supported the LHS that was only 20 minutes away, they would still be in business too.
1) Gulf Coat Model Railroading, Sarasota, FL
2) Riverdale Station, Atlanta, GA
3) Colonial Photo & Hobby, Orlando, FL
4) Ready To Roll, Miami, FL
5) Antique Barn Trains, Rocky Mount, NC
6) Metro Trains, Fort Myers, FL
7) Trainmaster, Buford, GA
8) Discount Trains, Fort Lauderdale, FL
.
Places I miss:
1) Hawkins, Lafayette, IN
2) Gandy Dancer, Atlanta, GA
3) Happy Hobo, Tampa, FL
4) Chattanooga Depot, Chattanooga, TN
5) Bobbie Hall's Hobbys, Dallas, TX
6) Wayside Engine House, Gainesville, FL (gone for decades)
I rarely order from internet sellers. I like to see what I am buying, and I love digging through hobby shop stock.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
BigDaddy Have you personally shipped anything via UPS lately? It's expensive. Size matters, weight matters. I assume Amazon has negotiated some special deal on shipping. How they manage to ship part way via UPS and then USPS to my mailbox, on a Sunday, is totally beyond me. Even with that, they are starting their own delivery service. Model Train Stuff was a long time hobby store in a section of Baltimore, where you would think twice about, before parking your car or getting out of it. They moved to the 'burbs and established a mail order business. They won't be able to compete with Amazon for shipping. Neither will Trainworld, neither will the DCC shops Lichtfield Stations, Streamlined Backshops, Tony's Trains and others. Eventually Amazon will be the Train Store, except they will be selling "train sets". They will have sellers, where you won't get free shipping, that will sell you the same products you could have gotten at Trainworld or MTS at higher prices. You can already see that on Ebay where there are sellers routinely advertising stuff at above MSRP.
Lately I've been buying stuff from MBKlein. They seem to have what I want in stock, decent prices, and prompt shipping. That is to say, prompt in getting my stuff from the shelf to the loading dock; actual shipping is the weak leg in this chain. UPS or USPS takes at least eight or ten days to arrive, and either costs a ton.
Still, a pretty good deal all around. I'm not complaining. The nearest LHS is 120 miles away. Billings. The next nearest is 450 miles away and has recently changed names. Caboose. Denver.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Hiawatha Hobbies, in Pewaukee, WI. About a 40 minute drive.
Walthers, West Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI. About an hour drive.
Sommerfeld Trains, Butler, WI. About a 45-50 minute drive.
Ebay, my computer, no drive time.
Mike.
My You Tube
I'm another fan of MBKlein. I really like to search their site and group my orders so shipping is not unreasonable on a large (couple of hundred dollar) order.
My go to hobby shop is Eugene Toy and Hobby, 45 miles away in Eugene Oregon. I buy enough there so the owner is willing to negotiate and will match or come close to MBKlein. I special order almost everything, let it accumulate in "will call" and every couple of months make a trip to the big city (fortunately it is a pretty drive with not a lot of traffic).
In either case, internet shipping or a long drive to the hobby shop, I need to plan ahead and have substantial supplies on hand.
Grinnell
First, I'm in Canada so I try to buy from Canadian sources precisely because of the shipping costs.
I have two 'go to' hobby shops (in addition to eBay). The first is Action Hobbies in Kingsville, Ontario, and the second is Hobby Wholesale in Edmonton, Alberta. Both of these shops have excellent shipping rates. They both charge less than $10.00 per shipment, and that is a flat rate. By Canadian standards those are great prices. Plus, they ship really fast! I get my stuff from Action Hobbies in two days to the door via courier, and Hobby Wholesale is usually less than a week via Canada Post. Both are brick and mortar stores by the way.
EBay shipping costs really tick me off. If a seller uses the the eBay shipping system the costs are outrageous, and if the value of the item is below $100 their duty charges are fraudulent.
Regards,
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
ROBERT PETRICKThat is to say, prompt in getting my stuff from the shelf to the loading dock; actual shipping is the weak leg in this chain. UPS or USPS takes at least eight or ten days to arrive, and either costs a ton.
I usually order on Sunday and by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest I have my goodies..Of course USPS only needs to cross into Pennsylvania to a sorting center then to Bucyrus(Oh).
I have had experiences where a USPS package got to me a day before a package coming by UPS. The oddity both was ship the same day from Florida.
SouthPennMaybe if more people supported the LHS that was only 20 minutes away, they would still be in business too.
If I had a well stock hobby shop that close I would spend a lot of dineros there but,the closest well stock shop is a hour and a half drive one way in Columbus.. Soooo,back to on line shopping or make a 120 mile round trip once a month or better would be on a as needed bases where it may be 2-3 months before making the trip since I'm no longer buying that much....
richhotrain I feel and act the same way. I really like MB Klein, but their shipping costs are outrageous and the time it takes for them to ship is excessive. Rich
I feel and act the same way. I really like MB Klein, but their shipping costs are outrageous and the time it takes for them to ship is excessive.
MBK Outrageous shipping? For me it's been THE cheapest place for both shipping and general pices. If I buy a few freight cars the shipping is around $6 and change USPS. No other shop ships that cheap to me.
It probably depends on location and weight so perhaps you are far away? Now I ordered a large container of stone ballast from MBK, which was quite heavy, and the shipping was a good deal higher than normal, but for a couple of engines or some freight cars, it's usually around 6 and change.
I agree, UPS is high, and last time I checked with Lombards, it's the only shipping method they had. They wanted $14 to ship me a single freight car; I passed. USPS is generally the most economical but as weight increases or distance, it does go up accordingly.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
richhotrainYou may want to revisit your statement about eBay sellers. They do not routinely advertise model railroading stuff for sale above MSRP.
Revisited. I exagerated but only slightly. Lots of Bachmann stuff (widely discounted at most places) is listed at MSRP on Ebay, I can buy a Walthers B&O Budd sleeper for $5 below list on Ebay or I can buy it on sale from Walthers at $28 below list.
rrebellThe reason why the two shippers is the post office has a contract with Amazon for end of journy shipping, in fact they deliver on Sundayalso.
I understand they must split the shipping some how, but I'm dubious that it makes business sense for the post office. But they lose money anyway so maybe they don't care.
For people that don't know MB Klein is Model Train Stuff. It's a two hour round trip for me unless there is an accident on the Beltway (then it's three) and $10+ in gas. If I want to browse I will drive. If I see something on sale, I'll have it shipped.
MBK is about 90 minutes drive from me, but I only visit the brick and mortar store when I'm at the Timonium show, which is about 3 times a year. A few months ago I ordered a freight car and chose the "pick up in store" option since I was planning on being at the show that weekend. I went to pick up the car I had paid for and they hit me up for tax, so I guess the car wasn't paid for. I saved on shipping true, but that was a surprise.
1. Hiawatha Hobbies, Pewaukee, Wi: excellent prices all around mostly 20% off, especially on track and locomotives, shipping is very competitive
2. Walthers: when they have their sales they are as competive as any nationwide Hobby Shop, also free standard shipping with code and orders of $100 or more and they are quick
3. Madison Hobby Stop: excellent discounts, nice guys and great amount of stock, will order anything, also my LHS and 25% off pre-orders
4. TrainLife.com: excellent sale prices especially of rolling stock
5. Scalehobbist.com: best prices on Vallejo paints and tools
UNDECIDED: ModelTrainStuff.com: they had the best prices on detail parts, scenery items this past weekend so I placed my 1st order with them Friday night and it was shipped yesterday per their email to me
I rarely will place an on-line order for less than $100. You have to decide if the price + taxes+ shipping is equal as we know the Altas locomotive will be the same shop to shop. Amazon and ebay IMO just want to gouge on price, especially Amazon Prime stuff.
TomO
MB Klein. The discount prices, no sales tax, and no travel expense trumps any shipping costs.
The closest hobby shop to me is 100 miles away; it is much easier to shop via the net.
Bobbye Halls in Dallas was my favorite hobby shop of all time, with Hawkins Rail being a close second.
riogrande5761I went to pick up the car I had paid for and they hit me up for tax, so I guess the car wasn't paid for. I saved on shipping true, but that was a surprise.
I don't know why that was a surprise. If you are in a state that charges sales tax, you get charged tax. It doesn't matter where you actually live.
Edit: But then again, if you had paid for the car ahead of time I guess I would question it also. What reason did they give when you asked them?
maxman riogrande5761 I went to pick up the car I had paid for and they hit me up for tax, so I guess the car wasn't paid for. I saved on shipping true, but that was a surprise. I don't know why that was a surprise. If you are in a state that charges sales tax, you get charged tax. It doesn't matter where you actually live.
riogrande5761 I went to pick up the car I had paid for and they hit me up for tax, so I guess the car wasn't paid for. I saved on shipping true, but that was a surprise.
Well, it's because I was in a different state when I purchased the car. I just went to pick it up later on.
I honestly can't remember. I just figured I'd save on shipping.
The cost in sales tax was roughtly half of what it would have cost to ship the model. Ok, sure, I saved a few bucks doint it that way so ultimately I came out ahead, and as my wife would say, better in my pocket than someone elses. But I'm not sure but I doubt I'll order something online and go pick it up again in person in the future - not much incentive, especially if I get the 10% show discount on highest priced item at MBK. (I usually only visit on Timonium show days).