I’m getting back into the hobby after a long absence, and I am looking for good fair priced online retailers (specifically HO). Any suggestions?
Thanks
You can't go wrong with Trainworld or Standard Hobby Supply for most things. I recommend Tony's Train Xchange for DCC.
Gene
I have used Trainland/Trainworld in the New York City area as they have a brick and mortar store, an 800 number and a web site.
I use Walthers / Terminal Hobby ONLY when on sale item (Budd passenger cars = $14.00 or lower) and for hard to get item (Detail West detailing parts).
When I need Athearn parts, I have to go direct to Athearn. ;)
I will echo the Trainworld recommendation and add that if you call them on their regular number, rather than the 800 number, they will take all the time you need to answer questions and take your order.
Another great store with great mail order service is M B Klein, on the web at www.modeltrainstuff.com. They have a deeper modeler oriented inventory than most low priced outlets, great prices, and a store if you are near Baltimore.
Sheldon
I like
http://micro-mark.com/
Always Good Service.
I do agree with Stewart,
we should support our Local Hobby Shop,
if possible.
I do buy magazines and small supplies at the L.H.S.,
But they must order Bachmann On30.
And charge Full Price.
discountrainsonline.com, and towerhobbies.com
excellemnt quick service and better than usual prices...PLUS....online sales and closeouts. check out modelpower.com too. clearance sales ongoing.
Discount Hobby Warehouse, Il & Trainworld, NY & The Favourite Spot, TX
http://www.discounthobbywarehouse.net/
Happy Shopping
I'm lucky enough to live near the brick and mortar Trainworld here in Brooklyn. Was just there over the weeked picking up a remote turn out. Always helpful--threw in the new 2007 Bachman catalog for my wintertime viewing amusement.Highly recommended
I would ask you all to support your local model shop.
The Internet and eBay have lead to a lot of shops closing, and the demise of the hobby. We are not doing the hobby any favors by short curcuiting our local shop.
It takes a shop window to excite a youngster's imagination and to get them into the hobby.
Regards
Stewart
Stewart,
I agree and disagree. I spend my hobby dollars at number of local (within 40 miles) brick and mortar hobby/train stores, as well as several big mailorder outlets (most of which also have retail stores).
I worked in the retail hobby business from the age 14 and know what you mean about the value of the local shop.
But, I will not go out of my way to pay more than the going rate for something and I will not support businesses that are not responsive to my needs.
As I noted in another recent thread on the topic of a train outlet closing, Many years ago a shop owner I worked for realized that the amount of product available and the oncoming discounting would require a new kind of hobby shop in the future. One that is big enough to buy direct and sell competitively wihile still providing good service.
There are lots of such shops today and many are able to do this because their mail order business gives them enough volume to buy direct at the right price. And often they serve those with no local shop within a reasonable driving distance.
One fine example is M B Klein in Balitmore. Great selection, great service, brick and mortar and mail order/web and discount prices since the 1950's.
Small local shops like those I worked in as a teenager, while romantic, cannot have repersentitive inventories of todays vast selection of product nor can they provide reasonable prices in todays market. If I am going to shop there, I expect a reasonable selection of what is available and reasonable prices. Not necessarily the lowest price, but a price in line with the discounts generally available.
And as much fun as the "local" shop was, even then it was MORE fun to go into Baltimore to Kleins where they had "EVERYTHING!". He was a premier large shop even back then in this area and he knew that price and selection drew people from great distances to spend money.
So yes, support hobby shops, but don't pay too much, and expect a good selection. Would you shop at a grocery that had to special order in milk and bread?
Sheldon
I'd like to support the LHS. We have 1 in Nashville & 1 in nearby Franklin. A high state sales tax of 9.25% drives a lot of major purchases online.
I don't consider big chains like Hobby Lobby or HobbyTown to be a LHS. They can be an alternative to WM for paint, glue & other essential supplies.
I may check out some of the advertisers in MR or RMC. At least they support the magazines I read. On vacations, I usually make it a point to visit a store listed in the back classified sections.
I like MicroMark.com for small tools.
MB Klein modeltrainstuff.com Baltimore Caboosehobbies.com Denver
toytrainheaven.com PA
www.discountrails.com
There is panic among UK enthusiasts that buying and selling on eBay.co.uk has to be registered with HM tax collectors. The classification of "Model Railways" on the site has had 10,000 items at once, and is currently running at about 3000.
I have good luck & deals with Caboose Hobbies, san val, & MICRO MARK, Good luck........
Stewart,
Tax collectors are a subject we should avoid on here before I start talking about how we are being robbed at gun point by the government and some liberal starts telling me about how they "need" the money to save me from myself and that I "owe" all those people who live off the taxes I pay.
There are plenty of "grey market" economies, E-bay is just the newest! It's a shame the orginal limitations on taxation where ever removed from the US Constitution.
As for the UK, I know nothing of their tax system other than to know I'm sure the taxes are too high.
Sheldon
Cherry Creek Hobbies has good prices and service. http://www.cchobbies.com/ (http://www.cchobbies.com/)
Please Support your local hobby shop :)
I echo the Trainland/World posts. Trainland has some great "on-the-counter" specials as well. I do my best to get over there at least twice a month(I'm about 2 and a half hours away) just to check out the counter items.
On the internet I've had great experiences with www.wholesaletrains.com. My only advice with them is to call and check stock on the item you want to buy as they don't update quantities as often as they should. Walther's is also good, but be prepared to pay full retail(unless your item of choice is on sale). Happy hunting!!
I've had very good and very bad luck with wholesaletrains.com. The shipping cost to Canada on my last order was astronomical! I was quoted around $20.00 when I ordered, but when the items arrived they had charged me $69.88 for DHL Ground :o. I could have paid full retail at Walthers with their shipping charge and still paid less!
Live and learn I guess.
NHShobbies.com have the best prices on Atlas track and switches. They are located in New York.
I will have to both agree and disagree with almost everyone.
I do buy at LhS when it makes sense, but alas price is an issue for us all. It's a hard decision not to buy locally, because it's that very business that will keep that local shop in business for youre needs. If your local shop gives a moderate discount of of MSRP, then it probably is a good idea to buy from them. If they never discount anything, like "The Original Whistle Stop", I probably will look elseware.
As for E-shops, I have had nothing but very poor service with Trainworld and MB Kline. (Model Train Stuff.com). Items ordered and never delivered, never told they were on back order etc. On the other hand, Standard Hobby, Tony's, Litchfield Station are very professional. Wholesaletrains.com ranks close in service, and almost always the best price.
I guess it's all how one sees it!
kenp,
It is interesting that in the nine months since this thread started, some things relating to comments made earlier have changed.
M B Klein (ModelTrainStuff) has moved both their retail and mailorder operation much to the detriment of the service they provide. Their new retail store does not have fast simple customer friendly access to their complete inventory, but rather walk in customers are expected to "order" online at a computer terminal............and wait.......and wait. Not the great store it once was.
As for Trainworld I still continue to get great service from them, placed an order Tuesday, it came today - two days later. Great prices, fast shipping - what more could one want? What kind of problems have you had?
I will say this, personally, I don't backorder or preorder ANYTHING from ANYONE so I cannot comment on how well they handle those services. With Trainworld I call the regular number and have them check stock as I order - only ordering things in stock.
And I have also had great service from Standard Hobby Supply but am less than impressed with their new web site. Another good experiance has been www.firsthobby.com.
Sheldon
Interesting comments about MB Klein. A few weeks ago I ordered my Bachmann E60 from them, got it in a few days...no problelms whatsoever.
Conrail,
I would imagine that by web/mail things are no different at M B Klein, but after nearly forty years of "supporting my local hobby shop", they apparently don't want my money anymore. Items not on display in the small retail space of the store can only be purchased as I discribed above and must be paid for with a credit card. Cash is no good any more? I think more of my hobby dollars will go elsewere from now on.
Sheldon
At least you have a lhs. All the shops around here last for about 3-4 months before going out of business, or they're almost never open. There's a R/C hoby shop that carries only the cheapest train garbage, where the employees know nothing about trains, but that's about it, unless I fell like driving 2 hours to Birmingham.
My favorite online stores are MB klein, standard hobby, and trainworld. I go to micro mark for B-man stuff. Sometimes I'll check Ebay, but not very often.
Hello to all! If you guys want to buy Bachmann E-Z track and accessories at 50% off on line go to : www.ridgeroadstation.com. They have great prices on many train items. As far as M B Klein in MD, they are highly recommended by me based on numerous purchases recently. Anybody who wants to pay 30% more at their local hobby shop be my guest! I have some other suggestions if your interested.