Mail Order Train Sets

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I found a train set I’d like to purchase online for $40 less than MLHS offers it for. After shipping, it might only be $20 - $30 cheaper, but still, cheaper. I like doing business with the local guy and his family, but what real benefit do I get for my extra money? My big concern is that if I buy online and have it shipped, it might arrive damaged. Then I have to go through that whole thing trying to get it resolved. If I have a problem with one purchased at the store near me, I just bring it back. None of this back and forth through the mails stuff.

Anyone care to chime in on the pros and cons of mail ordering vs local purchasing? How about you guys that don’t have a local train store and have no choice but to purchase through mail order? What do you have to say?

Jim

2

jaabat… Since you asked… I do not have a local train store or hobby
shop. I wish I did. It’s nice to browse around in. I order from very few
places. Williams and Nick’s Trains have always served me well.
For 20 bucks, I’d rather spend it locally and have the personal
contact, in the event something was wrong.
Good luck in your decision.

Chuck

3

I don’t have a local train store, so, by default, everything I buy these days comes via mail order. That includes Z scale, Marklin HO, O gauge, On30, Standard Gauge, and Large Scale stuff. I’ve had great success in buying from select dealers I know and trust based on prior experience in dealing with these folks.

With one exception, I have never received a train by mail order that was damaged in shipping. That one exception was a Marklin MAXI locomotive, and Marklin (not the dealer) sent me a brand new one and just asked that I use the same shipping box (in which the new one was received) to return the damaged item. Other than that, I’ve been lucky enough to find good dealers in various parts of the country who take my order properly; sell at good prices; pack the items carefully; ship promptly, and who appear to be generally held in high regard by most in the hobby community (or, at least, those whose opinions I respect and value).

If I had a decent local dealer, I surely would support him, even it an item cost a bit more. In other areas where I previously lived–Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Norfolk, for example–I always gave my business to local dealers first, assuming they had what I was looking for. I like keeping my money in the local economy, and I like supporting local small business. Besides that, it’s nice to have a friend who sells trains, and to have a shop to hang-out at and meet other hobbyists.

The mail order dealers I deal with regularly are Charles Ro (Lionel), Trainworld (Bachmann On30), Ready-to-Roll (MTH Standard Gauge), Modelbahn Ott (Marklin HO and Z), Davis Trains (K-Line, Lionel, MTH), Star Hobby (Large Scale), Watts Train Shop (LGB), St. Aubin Hobbies (Large Scale and On30), Ma & Pa (Williams), Nassau Hobbies (Lionel), Sommerfeld Trains (Lionel, MTH), JusTrains (Williams, MTH), Trans-Global Hobbies (Marklin Z), and Micro Macro Mundo (Marklin Z and MAXI).

There are plenty of other good dealers around, as well, but these are the ones I

4

If it’s only $20–$30.00 difference I buy locally, no question about it. When it get’s to be $75 or more in difference I tend to buy on line out of state. I also know that if I see something I need and the dealer does not have it, he will check into ordering it from the factory and always gives me the pre order discount. I always try and buy locally first if I can afford it, it’s nice to be called by your first name when you go into the store, that also means I’ve probably spent too much money there[:)]

Jon

5

I buy from my local dealer, Trading Post Trains in Cleveland, for most of my stuff. Know the owner real well and he stands by what he sells and has one of the best repair guys in the business. However, because most local dealers like him simply can’t order and stock everything that comes out these days – and I don’t know how the big boys do it either – much of what I get from him has to be pre-ordered before he puts in his order with Lionel for each new catalog. So, occasionally I decide I really want something I didn’t order originally, and order on-line. I’ve had excellent results with Grzyboski Trains, Charlie Ro and Train Express, all of whom have websites, etc. Since I’ve had a 20-year relationship with the Grzyboskis, they get the bulk of my mail orders.

It would have to be a pretty big price difference before I would not get stuff from my local dealer and order it from out-of-town. If the price differential bothers you, you might mention the mail order price you can get something for to your local dealer; he might try to match or get closer to it!

6

So I take it that you live in the Cleveland Area [?] another Buckeye on the Forum [?][:D]

7

ANOTHER BUCKEYE…YES!!!

We need all the help we can get.

Seriously, I used to deal with The Trading Post too.
Wish I still could.

Chuck

8

Oh boy. Another buckeye. whoo-hoo. [:(][sigh][xx(]

It’s a Yankee conspiracy! [:D]

9

AND YIPPEEEEEEE !!! Boy , back to havin fun ! Warburton: are you going to the Burea train show ? I too make purchases at Trading Post & I got them to send me some switches once & I got them in 2 days. Hey, guess what else ! Chief even got a coaling tower from them ! [:D] Thanks, John

10

I like purchasing from my local train store. (“Davis” “Ted’s Trains”…plug-plug) The service is worth the difference (if any!) I will buy mail order if the item is unavailable locally or is at a major discount.

WELCOME FELLOW BUCKEYE!!!

11

With the way people have been leaving the state, we may soon be the only Buckeyes left! In that case, the last one out has to turn off the transformer.

I might make it to the Berea show as it has always been a good one, but I generally don’t go to many shows anymore having way too much train stuff for my limited space now.

We ARE lucky to live in a “train friendly” area with lots of shows and some good dealers left, too.

12

Did you hear that Chief, another Buckeye is on board![#welcome][tup][tup][tup][tup]

Chief, Somedays you get the bear and somedays the bear gets you. [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

13

Many of you replied with the same sentiment I have - buy locally whenever possible, even if it does cost a little more. Thanks to all who took the time to advise me on this. Sincerely appreciated!

Jim

P.S. Charles Ro is local for me. Huge store. Maybe I’ll drop by.

14

Heck, if Charlie Ro is a local for you, and if a Lionel set is what you’re looking for or thinking about, I sure don’t see how you could go wrong buying it from him. You’ll likely have to pay Mass. sales tax if you live in that state (which helps your local economy), but Charlie stocks just about everything made by Lionel, and his prices are consistently very good. Consider yourself lucky if you have a dealer like Ro in the neighborhood because few, if any, dealers stock in the depth that he does.

15

Agreed, Allan. I’m actually very, very lucky in that I have well over a dozen stores withing 25 miles of my home that sell Lionel and other O gauge items. I live right on the Mass/New Hampshire border, and there just happens to be a store in NH, practically within walking distance that I usually buy from. His prices are higher than Charlies, but not by much, and no sales tax (actually cheaper once taxes are figured in) . But as long as I have your ear, what do you know of Ro’s customer service, i.e. repairs/exchanges? High marks?

In hindsight, my original question regarding mail order sounds like a no-brainer. Sometimes I need to bounce things off of others to see the obvious.

Jim

16

Jim:

I really can’t address the subject of returns or repairs because I’ve never had to have anything I bought from Charlie returned, exchanged, or repaired. I started buying from him years ago back when I lived in Hawaii, and have continued buying from him over the ensuing years. I also buy from other dealers, of course, but if it’s a Lionel item that I want, I generally go to Charlie (ditto for my USA Trains Large Scale purchases). I just recently ordered a Lionel item (“North Pole Express” Dockside and caboose) from another Charlie, though: Charlie at Nassau Hobbies–another dealer with an excellent reputation.

Charlie Ro also sends me the latest Lionel catalogs on a regular basis. I may not get them first (which doesn’t really matter to me at this point in my life), but they always show up here and I’m grateful that he keeps me on the mailing list…

17

I’m sure you already know this Allan, but Charlie Ro is the owner of USA Trains. Nice stuff, too!

Jim

18

I have ordered from many of the same dealers as Allan - I pick the advertisers in CTT - with no problems save unexpected back-orders. Our local hobby store scene now consists of Hobby Lobby and HobbyTowne USA - precious little O gauge trains in either and List price - though I watch for sales…

19

I’ve ordered from Chales Ro several times. Never a problem. You’re fortunate to live close by.
BTW buying from Williams Trains isn’t far off from buying from the local store (My personal opinion) Lighting fast deliverly and quick service.

20

I DID have a problem with a Lionel transformer I bought from Charlie Ro several years back. He couldn’t have been better about it – had UPS pick it up at my house and return it to him free of charge. He gave me my money back w/o a problem, too.