Anyone have experience ordering online (well…via phone, really) with Perry’s Hobbies or Hobby in Minnesota? Is phone ordering reliable and who would you recommend talking with that’s experienced/knows the differences in rolling stock, etc.
How about Western Depot in N. California? Dependable? Good experiences?
Been trying to track down a few things and both of these stores have them.
Thanks, Jim
Some of us have known Perry Becker in Morgan MN for a long time. I think he’s a good guy. He is a regular at the shows and has an interesting collection at the old grocery store in Morgan. I don’t know the others.
Perry, his brother Jim, and Paul are regulars on the Northern Iowa/Southern Minnesota train show circuit. The business was started by Perry out of his grocery store back in the 60’s selling ‘brass’. Jim does most of the work now, and that is who one gets if you call by phone. Good folks to deal with… Jim
Great. Thanks Art and Jim. I like to support a family owned company and will try them. Anyone ordered from The Western Depot, Yuba City CA? I sent in a “test” order and hope it goes well. I get used to sticking with my usual online vendors and once in a while only a smaller shop has what we need when we need it so we go to unfamilar territory. Their brick and mortar store pics look like a nice shop.
PS: Sorry about the weird thread title. For some reason this site doesn’t like apostrophes in titles and comes out like cartoon swear words :-0
Jim
Jim
I’m a regular at Western Depot. It’s my local shop. Great people, overall knowledgeable but they do charge full MSRP which is frustrating. 3-rail was/is their specialty but they’re more and more getting HO and N. If you don’t mind full price (and I don’t for one or two things) you will be ok.
softail86mark, thanks very much. That’s reassuring and I appreciate your response. Too bad I didn’t know about The Western Depot when I was driving down to the 2011 NMRA National. I would’ve liked to have stopped in for a look (or more), as I drove through downtown Yuba City to take a look.
Cheers, Jim
Great store. It’s my local hobby shop too. Been a regular customer since I moved to the area 30 years ago.
They are known to O gauge 3-rail and 2-rail customers as the “go to” place, but have always been well stocked with HO and N scale too.
Most of their stock is discounted, just not a deeply as the “big” internet stores. They have great customer service.