ebay and more offten Hobby store
You forgot to include “shows” and “mail order” as options.
In the last few years, I’ve been ordering stuff off the internet. Mostly because it is way cheaper. But I do buy the occasional item from the LHS. Sometimes a train show. Never anything from Ebay though.
i buy from the LHS and train shows, i don’t buy from internet stores because i can’t find one in canada and the ones in the US charge too much in shipping to canada, and then there is customs…
I don’t buy from ebay because good deals usally go high near the end, and shipping.
imo train shows count as hobby stores because they are who is selling the trains.
Most of my trains come from shows and swap meets.
At the last show I found an Athearn GP50 and SD9 for $5 each. After minor some repairs and cleaning they both run great.
I get my trains from the staging yards or the cassettes on the fiddles. The methods you guys use takes too long. Sorry I couldn’t resist.
I buy my locos and rolling stock anywhere I can. I rely on impulse purchasing to ensure a varied fleet that is guaranteed to wither purists.
Most freight cars from LHS along with track and vehicles, scenery supplies. tools, misc.
Some locos from mail order house, (Train World) along with a number of freight cars.
Other locos picked up on eBay, along with still more freight cars.
Both my MRC 2400 power packs from eBay. They’re cheaper if they come with other stuff like cheapo track or freight cars, and not noted as 2400s, --“track and power pack” than if they were featured alone as MRC 2400. But ya gotta look. Dan
While I have used all sources, most of my trains come from shows. Most hobby shops here don’t carry S scale and the few that do carry very very little.
Enjoy
Paul
From da internet. I don’t do Ebay and I don’t drive so the internet is my shopping center.
Over the years I have done all 3, but recently, just eBay. There aren’t a lot of places near me that sell 3 rail O.
I prefer to support my LHS. The people there are always good for bouncing ideas off of and getting advice from.
When I purchase in bulk, they give me a good deal. What little extra I spend there offsets the cost of shipping.
Lack of “railroad funds” kind of limits my spending at the moment, but I use a not so local LHS and some times mail order places (Walthers). Also purchase used things from friends. Ebay and other auction sites may be fine for some but not my cup of tea and no offense to you who sell through these places or use them for purchases.
Support hobby shops
I’ve bought most of my new stuff from my LHS.
I have bought stuff over the internet but only from one guy & I met him before we exchanged anything. If I can’t see it in my hands before I buy it, I won’t bother.
I’ve bought a few pieces from shows, but only about a half dozen items.
Gordon
I thought someone asked this not too long ago…Oh well.
Years ago when I got back into the hobby, I bought a few things via mail order. Then when I discovered train shows/swaps, I bought almost everything there.
The past few years I buy about 98 percent of stuff at my LHS and haven’t been to a swap in years. On rare occassion I’ll buy something online or from an individual. My motto is “Support your local hobby dealer. He supports you!”
Custom Railway Supply in Colorado Springs!!
Mostly my LHS and shows.
[#ditto]
I do , on occasion get a piece or two from ebay. Anywhere I purchase, I have to find a balance between price, and how badly I want it!
All of the options on the list. Mostly LHS, eBay and online stores, with some mail-order as well. I agree it’s important to support your LHS (and all specialist stores in your area) as they’re always at risk from other sellers. Hardware stores have this problem in particular due to the new DIY superstores undercutting them, but in my experience the superstores are staffed by people who never have a clue what they’re selling. I guess the same could be said about some online hobby stores, though in my experience questions are answered in a helpful and knowledgable manner - have only been told “sorry, we don’t know” by one online store. The advantage of the LHS is that, assuming it’s a good one, you’re guaranteed useful advice. I’m a regular at one of my LHS - have been shopping there for years, I exhibit at a few shows run by the owner, so I sometimes get discounts which is very nice! (another benefit of LHS loyalty).
Sad to say, there’s a strong economic argument in favour of the online stores. To drive to my LHS and back costs me about £10 in fuel. P&P from an online store is usually about £3-£4, and doesn’t need me to drive for an hour in each direction. For this reason, I tend to go to my LHS about once a month and buy some items there (consumables such as paints, glues etc but also electrical parts, used equipment, spares for hard to find models, etc), but also do a fair bit of online shopping. I do try to make bigger purchases locally though - I bought all but one car of my small LGB collection in my LHS for example.
50% e-Bay (no problems yet, and some great deals - like my $53 Kato SD40 IMRL I just got)
30% internet dealers (Tony’s, Train Track and recently Modeltrainstuff off e-Bay)
10% Train Show (Galesburg)
10% LHS
Having said that, I now have all the locos that I want that are “out” (having got my second IMRL), so I will probably reserve any future locos (like I have the two blue Atlas RI GP7s) through internet dealers (which have a better discount than my LHS).
The only thing I will look at on e-Bay from now on are “custom” Rock Island items.
Ebay is the shop which is also a very big hobby show… I like to buy there!