When you shop for rolling stock, do you buy an item that you want regardless of the price, or do you shop around to try and find the best deal you can on it ?.
I personally go to great lengths to find the best deal I can, but am also guilty of paying more than an item was worth just because I had the extra money to blow and really wanted it… In other words, there are times when I’m impatient and want an item NOW!, but then regret it later because I’ll discover I could have gotten it for half that if I’d just taken the time to look around.
Good question. I have a number of things I’d like to get and have a general idea of what a fair price for them is. So when I have some money to spend (which is not very often these days) and I run across a low price, I’ll get it. I’m not one that can afford to get anything regardless of price.
Checking prices on major on-line dealers and eBay helps, but you also have to some common sense. For example: purchasing one boxcar on eBay is hardly ever cost effective because the total cost after shipping usually exceeds the price of getting it at a LHS. The LHS may be a little over priced on that same boxcar, but it will still be cheaper in the long run. Now locos are usually the opposite story.
I think the key is to know your prices and be patient about getting what you want. Of course being flexible with road names helps too.
I usually end up buying all my rolling stock at my LHS for two reasons:
I can check the BLT/repaint date to make sure that it fits in my era.
It’s how I can help to keep them in business.
Most LHSs in my area are MSRP to 10% off.
I still manage to poke around in the store to look for deals there. Recently I found a Proto 2000 “Time Saver” tank car at one LHS for under $10 a couple of months ago. I also receive incomparable help and information at another LHS. So, the “extra” expense for shopping there is worth it to me.
I probably do 80-90% of my purchasing through my LHS. It may cost more, but I have the advantage of both viewing and holding what I’m about to purchase.
The best prices I got were at Timmonum. NIB MDC old-time cars @ $3 from a number of vendors. But other shows have been good. One local show I went to had nicely weathered cars with metal wheels and Kadee’s for $5 per. Ebay cars,for me at least, are running a little high and I have given up on that as a resource.
I try to shop around and look for good deals, forget Ebay I’m done with them, you end up paying more for the item than what its worth most times and after I bought stuff off there I ended up finding it cheaper brand new from an internet store. That includes engines and scenic materials. I dont really have a good LHS around me that I’ve found yet so its mostly off the internet.
I model the Ontario Northland so when something new is produced its usually in a limited quantity so I buy it on the spot, regardless of the price. Everything else I shop around for the best price.
I admit that I ‘shop around’. Especially now that I have no LHS stocked with train stuff anymore. I tend to look at several large Internet/Mail Order dealers web sites and get a ‘feel’ for the prices on item I want. I then order or even call to verify they have the items in stock before I order it.
I have made some ‘at the moment’ purchasing at local train shows if the price is close to what I can get via the Internet.
eBay - I use it to ‘sell’ stuff and ‘buy’ out of production items that are no longer available via the normal distribution channels. eBay ‘shipping’ fees can kill the discount real fast.
There is a new LHS starting up in our town(expansion of the R/C raceway) and he is going to stock HO stuff, and offer a good discount if I order from him. I suspect I will be giving him a lot of my business. The old LHS offered a 20% discount and I gave them a lot of my business before the owner passed away and the store was closed. I do like the ability to ‘see’ the product…