Ok OK I gotta say somthin too. Anybody ever consider Jo-Anns, or Michaels?? They are "craft "shops out here in the west an man do they have a lot of hobby stuff! The tools that are comin out for scrapbooking is incredible. Look in the sewing section for cutting boards. The dry flower section for CHEAP lichen. casting resin, special papers, Balsa wood, plastic models, and I saw the other day plaster cloth. Just becausse it don't say trains on it guys, dont discount it as bein a handy thing on your layout.
However I realize they don't carry stuff specific to trains and realizing that MRRing is pretty big its nothin compared to say baseball.So therfore the " e-tailers" come in mighty handy and remember they aren't all mega-businesses but just guys like you and me who have a good idea and are tryin to make a buck off it.
I would like to BUT the closest LHS has, except for some holiday starter sets, dropped 'trains' and is stocking items relating to model racing cars, planes and boats.
The next closest LHS does have a lot of train stuff BUT operates in a Mall among "flea market type" stores and the prices on his items appear to be inflated. The owner's full time job is as a mechanic at the gas station.
The last LHS in the area does have a decent 'train' inventory BUT no discounts except on damaged items.
Thanks for asking and HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY.
In my experience, if you give the LHS a chance, they can compete on price... especially on large orders.
In building my last layout (which used up a 22' x 12' room), I sent out a materials bid sheet for tools, track, turnouts, roadbed, etc., to three LHSs. The winning bid was a few hundred $$ less than I could get by cherry-picking the best deals in the web.
It was a classic win-win deal, 1) I got the best price (and no shipping charges!), 2) the LHS got a big sale and a reasonable profit with minimal effort and without carrying any inventory, and (as a bonus) the LHS will be there the next time I need a bottle of paint on a Saturday afternoon.
Sure, I shop all sources; but I always give the LHS a shot if I'm planning a significant purchase; and if they're reasonably competitive... I'm happy to give them the order.
I really prefer to buy from my LHSs. But of course I have two good ones. Caboose Hobbies and Mizell Trains. What I like is the friendly, helpful tips, info and service that they provide. To me that's worth more money. And I've gotten some great help from these shops. I use Mizell more often as they are closer but sure like them both.
Don't like mail order very much. Can't look, touch and feel (and sometimes test) what I'm looking for. And returning mail order can be a hassle. I feel for you guys that don't have a good shop close by. When I lived in California I had to go quite a ways to Rogers RR Junction in Lodi, which is a nice shop but I just couldn't get there often enough.
Jerry
Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!
hardcoalcase wrote: In my experience, if you give the LHS a chance, they can compete on price... especially on large orders.In building my last layout (which used up a 22' x 12' room), I sent out a materials bid sheet for tools, track, turnouts, roadbed, etc., to three LHSs. The winning bid was a few hundred $$ less than I could get by cherry-picking the best deals in the web.It was a classic win-win deal, 1) I got the best price (and no shipping charges!), 2) the LHS got a big sale and a reasonable profit with minimal effort and without carrying any inventory, and (as a bonus) the LHS will be there the next time I need a bottle of paint on a Saturday afternoon. Sure, I shop all sources; but I always give the LHS a shot if I'm planning a significant purchase; and if they're reasonably competitive... I'm happy to give them the order.
Your idea seems like a good one but it requires an organized, methodical approach. I tend to go at things helter skelter. I'll start out working on one section of the layout and then get an idea for another part of the layout and off I go. I really have no idea what materials I'm going to need from one week to the next. I never completed a formal layout plan. I sketched out a general track plan and took a few critical measurements, but a lot of it I'm making up as I go. I'll look at a space and see what will fit in it. It's kind of a fill-in-the-blanks approach. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but it works for me.
reklein wrote:Ok OK I gotta say somthin too. Anybody ever consider Jo-Anns, or Michaels?? They are "craft "shops out here in the west an man do they have a lot of hobby stuff! The tools that are comin out for scrapbooking is incredible. Look in the sewing section for cutting boards. The dry flower section for CHEAP lichen. casting resin, special papers, Balsa wood, plastic models, and I saw the other day plaster cloth. Just becausse it don't say trains on it guys, dont discount it as bein a handy thing on your layout.
Michaels and Wal-Mart's craft section can be a gold mine of neat stuff.
Mizzell are my nearest LHS with a decent stock but I found their prices high and I prefer Caboose anyway, a bit further drive and I am unlikely to spend the time and gas if I am not otherwise going that way.
There was one in Boulder but it closed just after I moved into the area.
On pricing, well a discount is all dependent on the extent that the Manufacturer sets their MSRP. Bachmann you seem to need to first have their MSRP so anybody expecting to sell at their MSRP is taking the ****.
Generally P+P versus Tax tend to balance themselves, I will pay a bit more to get it from a shop, but not a lot more. I had a look in a couple of shops when I was in San Fran last week, did buy something from ACE in Berkeley, they had a 20% off for December, but still a bit high.
I personally prefer Hobby Lobby to Michaels, a lot of the Michaels stuff is very pricy, even with the 40% voucher that they often advertise.
I think I do a good job of supporting my LHS.
In the last month I've bought nothing off of the internet or at train shows and I've spent almost $1000 at the HS,......$550 of it last night when I bought a new Digitrax Super Chief Radio setup. I'd say I've done a fair job of supporting them!
I used to go to the local hobby shops regularly, but that has fallen off. Not because I don't have a need or want to spend money, but because they haven't gotten anything new in 2+ years. They seem to mostly want you to mail order, but the last time I mail ordered they acted like I was inconveniencing them, so now I order direct. I would almost always buy something that caught my eye, whether I really "needed" it or not. Then the selection fell way off, but they started carrying more consignment stuff, which I would buy because they had nothing new on the shelves. Lately that has dried up. I've bought lots of stuff there. High end, low end, middle. Yet aside from one employee, I still am treated like a stranger. If I wanted to shop out of the catelogue I wouldn't need to leave the house. I like to cruise the catelogue, but then it sits in the back of my head until I see it on a shelf and then I grab it. I like impulse buying. Lately, I have shifted to train shows for most of the buying because I can impulse buy and shop from a list. I told my wife after my last trip to the store that I wasn't wasting my time anymore. They don't seem to want my business.
Last summer I went to a bunch of hobby stores and was almost always treated like a valuable commodity (okay, one store the guy acted like I was robbing him because I was actually buying stuff). One guy even gave me some stuff for free and we must have talked about stuff for half an hour. I can't help but contrast this with how I am received locally.
Oh well.
Caboose can be pretty friendly but a few of the staff are part time or have a 'tude it is not 'their department' just like at Home Depot. I dont remember even seeing N scale at Mizells?
curtw_944 wrote:Well I am in lakewood and the LHS is a Hobbytown or colpar hobbies. But for my Trains I go to Cabbose or Mizell. Mizell is a little higher in price and dosent stock much for N scale. And I try to get to cabose as often as I can though I am rethinking on using them. My mom was buying me some x-mas present's and called and asked some one for something (she wont tell me what just yet) but she asked for someone in N-scale, like I told her and asked for what she was looking for. She was told very rudly that what she was looking for would never be ordered or carried by them because it was to to toy like!!! Needless to say I was very suprised by this comment, and she told me it was something by Micro Trains that she was looking at!!! Any way I love N-scale Supply, they used to have a store front but have become web based which is fine by me! Curt
CurtMc wrote: Caboose can be pretty friendly but a few of the staff are part time or have a 'tude it is not 'their department' just like at Home Depot. I dont remember even seeing N scale at Mizells? curtw_944 wrote:Well I am in lakewood and the LHS is a Hobbytown or colpar hobbies. But for my Trains I go to Cabbose or Mizell. Mizell is a little higher in price and dosent stock much for N scale. And I try to get to cabose as often as I can though I am rethinking on using them. My mom was buying me some x-mas present's and called and asked some one for something (she wont tell me what just yet) but she asked for someone in N-scale, like I told her and asked for what she was looking for. She was told very rudly that what she was looking for would never be ordered or carried by them because it was to to toy like!!! Needless to say I was very suprised by this comment, and she told me it was something by Micro Trains that she was looking at!!! Any way I love N-scale Supply, they used to have a store front but have become web based which is fine by me! Curt
I am surprised that Caboose would tell her that. Heck, one of the first things you see when you walk in is a Thomas table. I haven't had to deal much with customer service when I go there, but some of the folks in there seem to be a little "unfriendly". I haven't been there in about a month. I need to get back in there and see what's new.
pcarrell wrote: I think I do a good job of supporting my LHS. In the last month I've bought nothing off of the internet or at train shows and I've spent almost $1000 at the HS,......$550 of it last night when I bought a new Digitrax Super Chief Radio setup. I'd say I've done a fair job of supporting them!
Same for me, almost. I purchased a double slip #6 from a place in Florida, but I dropped about $500 between two shops within 90 minutes of me over the past four weeks. It was for flex, some scenic material, rail weathering paint, and the one furthest away offered me one of his Walthers 90' built-up TT's for Cdn$280. That is one aitch of a bargain. He had five and wanted to move one...I was the first who asked him, "What can you do for me and still make a few bucks?"
I have an excellent LHS, trains only, but it is almost an hour drive away. Fortunately, I usually go into town on other business several times a week so I rarely have to make a special trip. It doesn mean that if I want something today, even the LHS isn't always an option. On the other hand, phone or internet ordering is becoming more convenient. I placed an order with Trainworld this past Monday and it arrived Wednesday afternoon.
I'm glad I have the option of buying from either the LHS or by phone or internet. My LHS has been at their current location for almost 30 years and I expect they will be around for quite a while longer. However, I'm not going to let their survival dictate my buying habits. I still want the best value for my money. When I speak of value, that includes price, convenience, and service.
csmith9474 wrote: CurtMc wrote: Caboose can be pretty friendly but a few of the staff are part time or have a 'tude it is not 'their department' just like at Home Depot. I dont remember even seeing N scale at Mizells? curtw_944 wrote:Well I am in lakewood and the LHS is a Hobbytown or colpar hobbies. But for my Trains I go to Cabbose or Mizell. Mizell is a little higher in price and dosent stock much for N scale. And I try to get to cabose as often as I can though I am rethinking on using them. My mom was buying me some x-mas present's and called and asked some one for something (she wont tell me what just yet) but she asked for someone in N-scale, like I told her and asked for what she was looking for. She was told very rudly that what she was looking for would never be ordered or carried by them because it was to to toy like!!! Needless to say I was very suprised by this comment, and she told me it was something by Micro Trains that she was looking at!!! Any way I love N-scale Supply, they used to have a store front but have become web based which is fine by me! CurtI am surprised that Caboose would tell her that. Heck, one of the first things you see when you walk in is a Thomas table. I haven't had to deal much with customer service when I go there, but some of the folks in there seem to be a little "unfriendly". I haven't been there in about a month. I need to get back in there and see what's new.
curtw_944 wrote:My mom was buying me some x-mas present's and called and asked some one for something (she wont tell me what just yet) but she asked for someone in N-scale, like I told her and asked for what she was looking for. She was told very rudly that what she was looking for would never be ordered or carried by them because it was to to toy like!!! Needless to say I was very suprised by this comment, and she told me it was something by Micro Trains that she was looking at!!!
And don't forget all the temporary help they get in there at Christmas time who aren't as knowledgable as the regulars. Of course, they didn't hire me for temp Xmas help - I don't know if that means anything or not.
Now my closes stores are in Youngstown Oh and about 30 min away. Hugh amount of traffic. Not very fun to go to those stores. I have not been to the Youngstown stores in 3 years. I now use the ebay and internet stores.
I hope that I will have a LHS but I am not holding my breath on it.
Paul
Pathfinder wrote: reklein wrote: Ok OK I gotta say somthin too. Anybody ever consider Jo-Anns, or Michaels?? They are "craft "shops out here in the west an man do they have a lot of hobby stuff! The tools that are comin out for scrapbooking is incredible. Look in the sewing section for cutting boards. The dry flower section for CHEAP lichen. casting resin, special papers, Balsa wood, plastic models, and I saw the other day plaster cloth. Just becausse it don't say trains on it guys, dont discount it as bein a handy thing on your layout. Michaels and Wal-Mart's craft section can be a gold mine of neat stuff.
reklein wrote: Ok OK I gotta say somthin too. Anybody ever consider Jo-Anns, or Michaels?? They are "craft "shops out here in the west an man do they have a lot of hobby stuff! The tools that are comin out for scrapbooking is incredible. Look in the sewing section for cutting boards. The dry flower section for CHEAP lichen. casting resin, special papers, Balsa wood, plastic models, and I saw the other day plaster cloth. Just becausse it don't say trains on it guys, dont discount it as bein a handy thing on your layout.
I was just at Michael's this morning. Paint, glue, matte medium, lichen, dried plants for tree making, thin wire and elastic string (for telephone lines maybe?), cork sheets, roll cork, tools(!) and that rubber sheet stuff with the springiness of WS foam roadbed. And cheap compared to what you'd pay in a hobby shop. I was the only guy in the place, but I stopped at Menards afterwards to make amends.