Hello all - I need to order some structure kits (Walthers kits) and was wondering if anyone has an opinion or has ordered from either of the online companies mentioned in the subject line. After perusing both websites it appears that M.B. Klein has slightly more affordable prices than does Dallas Model Works, however, M.B. seems to be “out of stock” on almost every kit I wish to order. Dallas does not say whether the kits they have are “in stock” or not. My LHS has most of the kits I need but WOW, the price difference is substantial. I’ll be starting my new layout in late September and thought I would get a “leg up” so I will have what I need to start the winter modeling season. (I live in Minnesota so there isn’t much else to do except shovel snow and wait for Spring)
They are both crackerjack businesses who have deserved reputations for excellence. You can’t go wrong with either one. Make a phone call or email Craig at DWM and see how you do.
Be sure to sign up as a member for DMW. As far as price, it’s 6 of one, half a dozen the other. For me, a dollar don’t matter when you get top notch service from both these guys. Trust me… er us, you will not be disappointed with MB or DMW
I’ve never purchased anything from MB. But I have bought a lot of stuff from Craig at DMW. I’ll tell you this, his service is the best. The only other company that is as good is FDT.
But this was about DMW so I can recomend then completely. Fast shipping, VERY fast answers to e-mails and when Craig says he is going to check something for you he does. He is also very flexible when it comes to shipping the stuff which is excellent for me since I like to ad a few things to my order now and then before they ship out to Sweden.
So once more, DMW is my personal traindealer that supplies my bad habits in a very good way. Give them a try.
I’ve used MB Kleine (modeltrainstuff.com) several times, and have had great success with them. Their prices are usually really good, but like some have mentioned, their stock is not always on hand in some instances. Another place to check out for Walthers structures is scaledstructures.com. Their prices are great, as well as their shipping prices…sometimes free shipping is offered.
MB Klein will usually be able to order anything from Walthers and have it for you within 2 or so weeks if they dont have it in stock. Ive had them special order a few out-of-stock items and still got a nice discount on them.
For the record, the only items that appear on dallasmodelworks.com are items that are in stock and available.
(PreOrders and Advance Orders as well, of course.)
Items that are out of stock and unavailable simply do not appear on the site!
Personally, I don’t care for any kind of site. model railroad or otherwise that shows me a bunch of stuff they don’t have. It’s like going into a retail store and finding all the boxes on the shelves empty!
Hope this clarifies things.
And if you have any questions, you can always ask.
Thanks for informing us of this policy. It’s really an important distinction, particularly when you order something and expect to have it in a reasonable time. The e-tailers that don’t maintain inventory are generally hiding that information. I’m glad to hear that DMW is doing it right.
I’ll put in a vote for Dallas Model Works. Absolutely become a member to see the members prices and take advantage of other great features! The favorite roads feature on the DMW site is the greatest!
Another two thumbs up for Craig/Dallas Model Works. Service and friendliness (and humor!) are like the glorious days of the past. ******* You can refine your search using quotation marks around your item’s name. Craig is still tutoring me on computer naviagation ******* He participates in this forum which is great and has developed some cool hobby inventorying tools available on his site. *******Between member price discounts and occasional great sale prices you can’t go wrong. *******I do order from MB Klein occasionally and their service is also top notch but not nearly as personal. Another personal one man operation that provides similar service is Cherry Creek Hobbies in Wyoming. Craig and Will (at c.c.) are my main suppliers for kits, and rolling stock and track. I like REAL people who supply the same great prices and service as larger stores and corps and always go to these guys lst.
I’ve never done business with M.B. Klein but I’ve done a lot of business with DMW and could not be happier. Craig is a pleasure to do business with. Check out their Model Railroad Utilities. DMW is NOT your average on-line company.
I recently placed in the past couple of days 2 orders with DMW. Great service like everyone says and Craig does a great job of locating the items I’m looking for. Shipping is reasonable, packages are packed well with nothing broken or damaged. I have not done any business with MB Klein so I can’t comment on their service.
I for one just completed an order from Dallas Model works. The order updater stated the item was being pulled from the warehouse and i received my item very quickly. I got the rapido eletrical poles, walthers ATSF platinum caboose and the F3 A & B ATSF set all on the double discount weekend. I am happy with Dallas Model Works and do believe its a true LTS on my firefox favorites listing. Sorry some seem to think online sales have instant delivery. There is my [2c] as if it was requested…
Thanks, Craig - I just placed an order with your company for 2 structure kits. Price isn’t THE object, but, it is one facet of doing business on-line. M.B. Klein was recommended to me by many folks on-line but they seem to be out of stock as regards most of the kits I wish to order. By the way, I LOVE the " My Railroad " feature of your website; I’m workin’ on it and love the consist generator etc., as I don’t have a lot of free time to do this stuff on my own at the moment. Hopefully, if all goes well with the order I’ve placed with your company, I’ll be ordering more from you in the near future. As stated in my post, model railroading season is rapidly approaching here in MN so I need to get “back into it” soon.
I’ve bought often from MB Klein going back to the 1950’s when he was my LHS. They have never disappointed me and their service is efficient and always friendly. Never bought from DMW and never will- only because I now live in Texas and don’t want to pay both shipping and a steep sales tax. Oddly it costs no more for the shipping from Baltimore (MB Klein) or Dallas to my home in Corpus Christi (450 miles versus 1900 miles).
Yeah. I’m in Massachusetts. Our sales tax just went from 5 to 6.25 percent. We were discussing this at the LHS. Gerry, the owner and proprietor, was not happy about it. We all agreed it just made it easier to hop across the border to sales-tax-free New Hampshire. This isn’t his real worry, of course. There are no LHS’s just over the border. But, it does push more people towards Internet dealers and away from the LHS.
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve ordered anything other than not-available-from-Walthers specialty items online. I try to shop exclusively at my LHS, and order what’s not in stock through him, too. But, I realize that I’m fortunate to be able to pay a bit more for this “luxury.”
I’m afraid we’re heading in that direction ourselves. Right now, we are living in kind of a make-believe world when it comes to taxing Internet sales. The Federal government passed a law some years back prohibiting taxes on Internet sales, with the goal of encouraging growth of on-line enterprises to help the economy. Those laws have been hacked back a bit, with the states working to tax transactions where both the buyer and the e-tailer live in-state.
Next, though, I’d imagine that both state and federal governments will turn their eyes towards taxing the huge amount of Internet commerce that’s going on now. They will argue that the online sales industry is now solid, and no longer needs to be “protected.”
Oddly, this will benefit the LHS owners, but overall I don’t think it would be good for the hobby at all.
******* He participates in this forum which is great and has developed some cool hobby inventorying tools available on his site. *******Between member price discounts and occasional great sale prices you can’t go wrong. *******I do order from MB Klein occasionally and their service is also top notch but not nearly as personal. Another personal one man operation that provides similar service is Cherry Creek Hobbies in Wyoming. Craig and Will (at c.c.) are my main suppliers for kits, and rolling stock and track. I like REAL people who supply the same great prices and service as larger stores and corps and always go to these guys lst.