Anyone care to rate the discount internet mail order train stores?
I’ve tried six or seven, and was satisfied with all of them. Stay away from Internet Trains though. Time to bump that thread again.
The vast, vast majority of them are run by honourable and busy people. They want your business, and they’ll work hard to keep it once you decide to place an order from them. Also, they all have sale items every week, and some will ship for reduced cost or even free if you order over a certain volume or total purchase price.
As stated above, (Internettrains.com has a few loyal customers posting to the various model forums scattered here and there, but…) their reputation is very bad if you go by the heavy negative criticism they get from many posters. So bad and so pervasive that I wouldn’t give them a look on my web browser.
My LHS is web supplier, Http://www.caboosehobbies.com
If I were not going to heaven when I die, I’d almost as soon go to the Caboose. [:)]
Last place to look is http://www.ebay.com for train stuff these days.
Joe Daddy
I’ve had good experience with dallasmodelworks.com.
I have used wholesaletrains.com with good turnout. I purchase most of my BLI/PCM engines from them. I also use modeltrainstuff.com and they have a good inventory system so if you can order one then your will get it.
For any BLI/PCM product I go to Joe at Factory Direct(FDT). He got the best service available and good prices, he ships quickly and is superb if something is wrong with you order. The best simply.
Other good ones are Micro Mark and Walthers(buy stuff on sale).
Caboose hobbies have disappointed me twice in a row now so they are out from my list of good stores.
Magnus
http://www.modelrailwaypo.com/ is also my LHS, and I would highly recommend them! They discount, and will hhonor Walthers sale prices. I can also recommenf FTD and Walthers. They’re all good places to deal with. [:)] One note on Walthers, request that backorsders be cancelled - I once paid $7.50 for shipping on a $12 item that weighed less than 1/2 oz![:O]
www.trainworld.com and www.modeltrainstuff.com both have good discounts. Both have inventories of out-of-production items which they sell well below MSRP, often more than 50% off. Trainworld in particular is known for fast shipping. I’ve ordered from them on Wednesday at dinnertime, and had my trains the next day, paying only standard UPS shipping rates. They’re in New York, and I’m outside of Boston.
www.discounttrainsonline.com also has a good discount, and they’re reliable. They are a bit slow to ship. Like many e-tailers, when they say “in stock” or “available,” it means their supplier has it. So, the supplier has to ship it to them, and then they ship to you.
I’ll second the recommendation for www.modelrailwaypo.com above. It’s a real shop, so when you call them on the phone you’ll talk to someone who can check the inventory visually. Good prices on Peco.
But, if you’ve got a good LHS, get to know them. Mine gives me 10 or 15% off on everything, and they’ll order stuff for me. If the Walthers sale price is more than their discount, I get the sale price, and pay no shipping.
I like www.1stplacehobbies.com. They usually ship within one day of the order and have good prices. I’m pretty sure they are tied into Walthers somehow as you order by the Walthers catalog number but at lower prices and their stock status is exacly the same as Walthers but they sell a couple of brands (Athearn) that Walthers doesn’t carry. They will also notify you by e-mail when out of stock items come in. Factory Direct Trains is good too. I just ordered from Micro-Mark (www.micromark.com) this morning-their specialty is tools but they have started selling some model railroad items at usually pretty good prices. Standard Hobby Supply has good prices but limited stock.
Thank you to all who answered my post on discount mail order houses. Ive made notes on all the reccomendations. Id also like to build a working model of a submarine but I know that it would have to be a diesel/electric version and not a nuclear one.Off the subject but just a thought.
Depending on what you need, Tony’s Train Exchange can be very good. They have locos decoders DCC systems and track there is probably more.
The following are the ones I’ve had good service with:
http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/
http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/
http://www.empirenorthernmodels.com/
http://www.firsthobby.com/store1/default.asp
http://www.internethobbies.com/
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Default.htm
The only online store I had problems with was internettrains.com They gave me the run around on two orders I placed for over $400.00 each order. I’ll never order from them again.
I use discount trains the most. I usually get my order within 2 weeks.
Bill
I’m very happy with Trainworld http://www.trainworld.com/ . Great prices and fast shipping. I usually get my orders the next or 2nd day.
I also like Bessemer Hobby http://www.bessemerhobby.com/ . Good prices, broad range of products, but slower to ship. My orders usually arrive in a week.
Nick
I’ve actually started using CabooseHobbies website more and more. Orders to my door usually next day and shipping same or less than sales tax. Plus, at 25 miles with a 15 mpg vehicle I save about 10 bucks on gas, then there is the if I don’t see it, or touch it, I don’t want it savings which is way more savings than the shipping and gas prices. [:)]
I use Model Train Stuff a.k.a. MB Klein. Good prices, user friendly web site and great service. They also sell on ebay.
I have used Caboose Hobbies in the past. They have a great selection and good prices. I was disappointed by my latest order from Caboose Hobbies due to poor customer service.
For DCC, you can’t beat Tony’s Train Exchange of Litchfield Station. Both have great web sites, great prices and great customer service.