Are you the bottomless pocket type that purchases everything as a new release/advance order at list price, or are you like me, more frugal, trying to get value from your hobby dollars and shop when things are on sale and discounted?
How often? Too often! [:)]
I’ll tend to look around some, trying to find a good package deal.
I’ll buy some stuff through the LHS at list price, esp. if it’s something I need soon (like the ties I need right now before I can consider ballasting recently-custom-cut/fitted track…). Might just stop by on the way home tonight. [:-,]
Others, I’ll search a combination of Froogle, eBay, various known Internet retailers, the LHS, and so forth. I’ll carefully compare the local sales tax (Washington/King County is moderately high, at 8.75% combined) vs. the shipping, factor in bulk discounts or Internet sales, how important/how soon I’ll need it, etc.
And sometimes run out of patience and get it from the LHS anyway. [8)] I had carefully researched how much the Digitrax Super Empire Builder set was available for on-line, “knew” how much I was willing to pay, etc… And ended up buying it last week at the LHS for a net about $30 more than I would have on-line. My “Rationalization” was the 20 hours of overtime I had just finished putting in in the previous three days. [angel] Besides, they’re a good source of info, and always want to keep supporting them.
Brian Pickering
I buy what I need, when it’s available, pretty much regardless of price (except brass!).
I’m modeling a pretty specific time frame and road, so that automatically limits what’s “needed”. It is EXTREMELY rare that I buy anything I don’t need…and that’s a good thing!
I usually buy when opportunity and money happen together. In S scale there aren’t many discounts and then it’s usually the unpopular items. Several items are limited run and you have to buy when they first come out or risk not getting it at all. So while I have take advantage of a discounts or sales, I don’t wait for them.
Enjoy
Paul
As far as basic supplies like glue paint etc i have found that craft stores like ac moore have the very same thing at alot less money.Example 8oz bottle of white spray glue lhs,at A C Moore i buy small bottles of twice as tacky white glue one bottle 79 cents,makes about 48 oz or more of white spray glue.there paint between 25 and 59 cents a bottle,compared to lhs 2.47 -3.99 . as far as major buys even with new realeses there are enough hobby shops selling on line and e-bay that i usually can find a good price and if not and it’s something I want i buy it anyhow.I wish i could say the same thing as CBQ_GUY for i have bought many things that I didn’t need,they usually find there way to e-bay.[banghead]
I buy from LHS’s and Train Shows/Mail Order. Price does drive my decisions, and I get a nice discount from my LHS. The problem is that the owner passed away last year and his wife will be shutting down the store shortly). The shop does a good business, but she has a good ‘day job’ and really has no need to work evenings/week-ends at the shop. With no LHS, I will have to drive at least 75 miles to get to a really decent shop and there is no discount there.
I have been doing more buying through the years from dealers at Train Shows, and I also buy stuff from M B Klein and Tony’s Train Exchange - good ‘internet’ dealers with a very good discount and fast service. I am going to miss being able to ‘look, feel, & play’ at the LHS(and wind up buying it there usually).
In the past year I have bought the following engines:
2 - BLI USRA Heavy 2-8-2(LHS) - $190 each
1 - Atlas/ER Models FP7(eBay) - $40
1 - P1K Erie built(eBay) - $36
1 - Walthers SW1(local train show) - $40
1 - Spectrum 4-6-0(Peachcreek Shops) - $97.50
1 - Spectrum 2-10-0 with DCC/sound installed)Trainfest - $125
1 - ABA set of P1K F3’s(local train show) - $22.50 each
This was all ‘new’ or still in the box from a private party. There are ‘deals’ out there if you look. And as can be seen, I do ‘spread the wealth’ to various dealers.
I suspect I am an ‘average’ train buyer/modeler. I plan to buy 4 more P2K GP9’s that have just been released, and maybe the Intermountain FP7 if it ever arrives…
BTW, Hobby Lobby is having their annual ‘train accessory’ sale right now - 40% off. Last year I picked up about $70(after discount) of Woodland Scenics stuff(trees/large shakers/etc…) and I spent another $70 this morning at the local Hobby Lobby again.
Jim Bernier
I take model railroad “supplies” as the items that allow me to carry out my hobby - paint, stripwood, styrene, scenery materials, tools, detail parts, etc. I get them wherever I can find them, at area hobby shops, train shows, etc. I have to keep checking around because not all shops carry everything. Our LHS does not carry much Floquil paint, so I have to look for it in out of town shops.
As to other items for the hobby such as rolling stock and engines, I usually get them online because of the much better prices. I do like to support the LHS, but my support does not go as far as spending twice as much or more for an engine. I’ve been collecting On30 equipment in the past few years, and not one piece of it has been purchased in local shops. They seem to take the MSRP and double it for their pricing here in Canada. Thanks but no thanks!
I would never have dreamed of buying a Bachmann On30 Shay at an area store’s price of CDN $387.50 (plus our 15% tax). Way out of my league and interest! I picked mine up on a trip to the U.S. for US $150.00, or about $200.00 in my money - about half the cost of the local shop price.
Bob Boudreau
Hobby shop, eBay, train shows, garage sales, craft supply stores, wherever. I don’t buy things as soon as they come out–I’m more likely to buy products that were produced before I was born (old brass, castings, kits, etc.) as long as the price is right.
I do have my limits–I do buy paint, glue, etc. as I need it, although I did buy a couple industrial-sized sheets of .020" styrene at a plastic-supply company (for about the price of two packs of Plastruct .020" at the LHS) and keep an eye open for deals.
I buy online, as needed. If time is not critical, I’ll buy on eBAy.
The bad news is that there is no hobby shop to be found up here in the mountains where I can go for “staples.”
The good news is I don’t pay hobby shop prices out of loyalty.
It’s a mixed blessing.
Wayne
I usually like to support my LHS’s but I find OOP items on Ebay.
In exchange occasionally they give me better prices on product that otherwise would cost too much.
I consider supplies … paints, material, brushes, metal wheels and various other items that allows me to build, finish or otherwise run my workbench a part of the hobby. My spouse has been supportive to date when I buy on sale.
I would pay full list retail only if that item is needed. I usually try to find a similar item at a lower price that will do the same job. I have told my LHS’s that I sometimes find prices in mail order or internet very very tempting. But would rather support them in exchange for “Quality control” and assistance if a item should develop problems or arrive DOA.
I seem to be doing all my purchases at my LHS ( MB Klien) They are a 5 minute walk from where I work at as well as right on the way home. I have also been picking up basic supplies at a local electronic supply shop. I will go to my first Train show in Feb. so I am going to just work on track plans till then… Joseph
The local train shop never has sells, so when I buy there it is a full price, regardless of how long the product has been out.
The local Hobbytown USA franchise occasionally reduces the prices on some trains, right now they have 25% off of most rolling stock and vehicles, with some 50% off. So I try to buy the discounted stuff. Right now they have two Atlas (or are they Bachmann) CSXT 8-40Cs for about $92. While they are on sell, and I have been wanting to get a CSXT 8-40C for a while, I just can’t get myself to pay $92 for a locomotive.
I find that I have been planing my buying around the Walthers monthly sells fliers.
I usually buy when needed. Sometimes if I know the project is going to take a while–especially scenery–I’ll wait until I have extra ca***hen stock up so that I don’t have to be making continual trips to my LHS. I don’t usually wait for ‘deals’ on new releases, because if it’s something I want, I get impatient. of course, that makes me miss out on some really GOOD deals, like the recent almost half-price sales on some BLI locos, but oh well–the BLI’s I bought at retail run just as nice.
Tom
The same sort of thing happens here in the UK, except that the dollar sign ($) gets replaced by a pound sign (£), which adds on double the price. Internet shopping is worth it so long as I don’t go over the import tax threshold! (If I do the tax man wants his share of more of my money).
Ian
Like most of us I would guess, I buy stuff at many different places, am frugal and attempt to save money every time I buy something. Just ain’t in my nature to spend more than I need to. However, if I did like to spend more, I wouldn’t likely say so, here as I might be chastised for doing so! Like; “That IDIOT DeSchane, he spends more than he needs to”!
Living in the U.K. we can get most of what is available in the U.S. , however it does come at a premium because the British Customs slap on a quite heavy import duty on everything and even quite inexpensive things in the States becomes a little more than one would hope . i.e. an Athearn blue box SD40-2 would set you back £43-50p which was about $120 a couple of years ago., but don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining. Hornby, whilst it is much better now , has taken 40 years to reach its current standard and will cost you close to £100 for a 4-6-2 Loco.
However I am fortunate that I am able to visit the West Springfield Show at the end of January and get most of what I want there. I have an A4 size list of bits to detail loco’s etc., plus 3 big wants , a BLI SD40-2 , an OMI chassis for a SD90MAC , and a Kaslo Kit for the SD40-2F. If I can get half of what I want I shall be satisfied. PLS
I’m ‘frugal’ when it comes to buying anything for my layout, only because I have to get prior approval from the CFO (wife). I try to support my favorite LHS, but I also look around (at craft stores, internet, or wal-mart) for some supplies that I’m sure are cheaper than the LHS.
JP
I buy most of my years supplies in one shot the day after Christmas. Hobby Lobby runs a 40 - 50 % off sale every year. I buy all the plaster cloth, ground cover and little items I need. This year I bought 134 trees, spray bottles, people, realistic water, ballast, and some other things.
RMax
The only thing I think I have ever purchased at the original advance order price was the original Proto 0-8-0 in NP paint. I figured they would never hit the shelves.
Most of the time I am even more frugal. I wait until I can get really good deals. I also often look for bulk purchases that will save money. For example at a GATS I approached a seller who had a good price on some PROTO equipment. I wanted two of the 10 or so units he had left. I asked what price he would give me if I took all the remaining locos. I got all of them for about $10 each. I then sold off the ones I didn’t want and ended up with the two I originally wanted plus about $20 in my pocket. I’ve gotten a lot of my entire fleet for free that way.
I also make a list of things I need and wait for the sales. Every spring one of the local hobby stores has a 15% off everything sale. That is when I purchase tools and things I can get no where else.