The GATS show was in Council Bluffs Iowa Feb 3&4. (across the river from Omaha Ne) I picked up a brand new Proto 2000 SW8 with dcc & sound for $122.00 WOW Other dealers had the same loco for $200.00. I am a little disappointed as i have encountered an entermittent running problem. So after checking everything ( trying not to put blame on the new engine) i ran out of options & called Walters. They informed me that they have encountered a problem with about 20% of them so i need to send it in to be repaired,(no charge). All in all still a great deal in think.
That is a great price on those switchers, I picked up two of them at about the same price and haven’t had any problems with them so far. I think Walthers had a sale on them last month.
I think it will work out for you seeing as you have contacted support and they have agreed to fix it free of charge. Usually things don’t go wrong that way unless its unfixable, which is highly unlikely.
A couple of years ago I picked up a P2000 0-8-0 in Canadian Pacific for an even $100 CDN, well under half the MSRP. And it was at a LHS table as a show special.
There can be some good deals for sure at train shows.