I am considering buying a Lionel O guage Polar Express set for some newphews.
Where does one get the best price?
Here is the current contender…
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200403641
Is there a better place?
Thanks
TMT
Call Memory Station in Watkinsville, GA, 706-769-8986. I know they’re less, I just don’t remember the cost. Tell Lewis Roger told you to call.
I think in that latest Jan 08 issue of CTT there were lots of adds with good sale prices on this set…
TMT,
I wouldn’t recommend you order the PE set from Wholesale Trains, based on negative customer service reports from some forum members over at OGR. I’d see if you could buy a set from a LHS if you really have to have it before XMas- but it may be a bit more than $200. If you want to get a better deal, wait until after the holidays- check the big box stores, ebay, even the the LHS. There’s more than likely to be some specials out there.
Geno
Try Grzyboski’s.
Be sure to open and test any sets your order before Christmas morning! Problems are rare but do happen!
I second the idea to pick up a CTT (Classic Toy Trains) magazine at any hobby store or large book store (some Boarders have it, some do not). Check out the adds and the prices and order right away. Just call and make sure they have it in stock and will ship in the next few days.
Grzyboski’s is good. So are
http://www.charlesro.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=SFNT&Store%20Code=CRSC
Jim H
I just bought a set for my Grandson for $224. at my local train store, even though I’ve seen them recently at train shows for as low as $195… You have to ask yourself, “What do I do if it does’nt work?”. On-line, the only place I buy from is www.trainz.com . They have decent prices, ship for free, and have a good repair dept. I had bad wiring in a Harry Potter passenger car I got from them… they fixed it, and got it back to me in one week. Joe
That’s great service, Joe. Something to think about next time I want to order something.
Jim
Jim A lives right around some great train stores. He has one in his neighboring town [don’t remember the name], Charles Ro “up the road” as well as Northeast Trains [which is a neat place with geat prices].
Try checking your local Hobby store.
I have seen a few around for about $185 (Auponaug Color Shop, Warwick, RI) to around $220 at some not so close hobby shops where I live.
I haven’t heard from him in some time, but I have a friend that runs a train store in North Charleston, SC on Rivers ave called Just Trains that usually made a very large order of the Pol Ex for the holidays. He sold me my Pol Ex. for about $160, from the first run they made some years ago. (Being a very regular customer can have it’s advantages: typically get a discount on bigger items, and fast orders on items that you just mention that you would like to have.)
In fact, he held onto a set for me in the back room and called me up when the first order came in the morning. Needless to say, by the end of the afternoon, when I came to pick the set up, the rest of the shipment had been sold.
I have done some shopping online, I have gotten some items that were damaged in transit (one of my Lionel 242’s came to me with a busted cowcatcher.) But I have also gotten some good deals (K-Line Chessie MP-15 for $40).
Overall, I prefer and would recommend shopping at train shows and hobby stores whenever possible. You just can’t beat actually being able to see your train firsthand and meeting with fellow train buffs.
Good luck on finding and getting your Pol Ex, the engine is more than able to give a good show. (In fact, the 2-8-4 Pol Ex engine is making me want to pick up Lionel’s 2-8-4 Southern loco before too long.)
DOH! That was a great deal, Jim. In fact, it was a steal! [oX)]
Again, why it is good to be friends of the guy that runs the local Train store. I was considering the set, as I really liked the book as a kid.
The morning the shipment came in, he called me up and said they were in and was holding one for me. I never asked him to hold it for me. But, I had a hard time saying no to him for that price. (Shoot, this is the guy that got me hooked on the Southern. I would be in deep debt if he was a car salesman.)
Then again, we also did things for him. My wife and I made ads for his store and would distribute them at train shows, or other railfan areas near where we used to live at. I still have one of them : a picture of our (former, he was stolen) Bengal tom cat named Chessie, with a Lionel Chessie System boxcar with a voice bubble “For the best deals on model trains, just go to JUST TRAINS” followed by the address and phone number.
He never asked for the ads to be made, but after people started to mention the “Darling Cat ads”, he would typically come up to greet me at the door when I made my weekly visit to the store. There was even a “Meet Chessie” day on a saturday. Cat and train buffs all came in to visit, and most bought stuff, quite a few bought a lot.
Chessie wore a bandana and a engineer’s hat, while sitting in the middle of the display layout. He was a very well behaved cat, though some wanted him because of the breed and color markings. About a year after we moved to Groton, CT, someone cut open one of our screen windows and took him.
We now have a “Railroad Cat” replacement - Natasha the Railroad Cat. She is a calico cat that seems to love train shows, she has been to 3 so far, the latest being the NETCA meet in Marlborough, MA on the 9th of this month.
Considering the time and effort put into getting more people to visit my friend’s train shop, I think I worked off the difference between list price and what he sold it to me for.
Needless to say, he was almost on the verge ot
How was that Marlborough, MA TCA train meet on the 9th? I was too sick to go.
So it looks like $200 is the going price for the Polar Express?
TMT
It seems a little late for on-line ordering if you want it for THIS Christmas. If you can find a “cash and carry” one for about $225., buy it. Joe
I picked mine up from a local EBAY seller for $220 including tax.
Works for me!
Don’t know where you live but a hobby shop in Jupiter FL(about 80 miles north of Miami FL) has the Polar Express and the add-on cars, don’t know about price.
If you want it bad enuff I might be able to help you. Will send it priority mail.
email me: fritzlp@bellsouth.net
Lee F.
The NETCA meet was rather good. I picked up a Lionel Southern Hudson with 4 passenger cars for $100. My son Terry enjoyed meeting Santa again. Natasha (my cat) really seemed to enjoy herself.
Lots of really good deals, and a lot of friendly faces.
The only problem I came across was the lack of junker project locos. The majority of my O-27 restoration / repair fleet is done or almost done, so I need some more projects.
Definitely a good reason to join the TCA!