I was wondering if you all (y’all) could tell me the reputable businesses on line for buying trains and the ones to avoid. Thanks!
Reputable:
http://www.1stplacehobbies.com
http://www.firsthobby.com
http://www.cchobbies.com
I’ve never had a bad experience with any vendors except items being out of stock, but I don’t buy that much over the Internet, either.
I can share with you my experiences. I have purchased items from Walthers, Internet Hobbies, and Discount Trains. All of my purchases arrived with out issue. Walthers, I believe, was the quickest averaging about four business days. Discount Trains takes a long time, nearly two weeks. And Internet Hobbies charges the most for shipping. But, I think that is how they make their profit.
I wish I could help you more but these are all I know. I would like to try Trainworld sometime, but I believe one has to call them directly instead of simply clicking the mouse and entering your credit card number.
Hopefully this helps a little.
By the way, not really your question just my two cents, I being totally new to model railroad in all aspects find Walthers very useful.
Respectfully, Jacob
Try out Discount Hobby Warehouse for HO mainly.
www.discounthobbywarehouse.net
I’ve gone through this guy for several years now. Very reliable and good prices.
Trainworld has an order form that you can download, fill out and e-mail or fax back to them. I’ve used it with great success. Can’t beat their prices!
Bob Boudreau
If you want a reliable, well priced one man show type of web dealer try www.tomstrains.com His web site is hideous, but the shipping rate is very fair and they are a good honest family business. I have purchased many things from them in the past. My preffered supplier on-line for DCC related items is www.litchfieldstation.com Bruce has an excellent business.
For N scalers, I would recommend 4nscale.com I’ve also done
business with Walthers.com .Both are wonderful !
Internettrains.com is nice, as well.
Thanks!
MB Klein, http://ww.modeltrainstuff is very good - I’ve purchased from them via the internet, eBay, and at train shows.
Nobody mentioned Tony’s Train Exchange!!
I think their service is great from way over here!! no complaints
Ken.
For N scale, add www.blwnscale.com (Brooklyn Locomotive Works). 4nscale is great, too.
I’ve purchased from Flying Scotsman and Discount trains Online…no problems. Peter at Flying Scotsman even emailed me back that one item I ordered was no longer available and he offered three other suggestions ( military flats w/loads) and I went with one of his suggestions. Shipping is reasonable and turn around time usually depends on if the item is in stock. Always use a credit card and MAKE SURE the page you put your Ccard info on is a “secure page” by checking for the ‘padlock’ symbol down in the lower right corner of your browser.
I’ve had good response from Discount Trains Online, Rocousa (Preiser Figures) and Images Replicas (NY Subway Stuff.) I also ordered some sheet styrene from US Plastics. They’re not particularly MR oriented, but if you use a lot of styrene sheets, they are the way to go. I’ve had absolutely FABULOUS response from Trainworld (I ordered Wednesday night, and had my trains on Friday afternoon.) I got a terrific cut stone wall mold for hydrocal casting from Dave Frary at mrscenery.com, too.
Of course, I still go to my LHS, Maine Trains in Chelmsford, Mass., whenever I can, and I buy what I can through them.
I use Caboose Hobbies, great people to deal with and great service.
Stan.
I have to agree with Adelie. Brooklynn Locomotive Works is good. They are the only vendor I have dealt with and I have dealt with them for years. I used to call them up. I’ve never tried them online. I got my '96 Kato Mikado from BLW. That has been almost ten years ago.
I’ve had very good luck with:
Trainworld
Loy’s Toys
Tony’s Train Exchange
MB Kliens
Soundtraxx
Fergie
I agree with all the above and also Pat Henneberry at Valley Model Trains has been very helpful with buildings. J.R.
I had a real quick shipping experience with www.discounttrainsonline.com . Wholesaletrains.com was terrible. Took a month to get a couple of little grain–o-wheat bulbs. www.gadgettom.com is great, too.
My LHS, Davis Trains, has online ordering. I have never bought from them online, but the service and prices in their retail store is excellent, and I would expect nothing less from an online order.
I ordered from them online and everything went fine.
A couple of other reputable N scale online dealers, in addition to those already named, would be:
http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/
http://www.featherrivertrains.com/
Regards
Ed
Mister Beasley,
What did you think of USPlastics?