Another LHS closing it's doors....

Yes, Skip's passing many months ago was sad for many of us.  He and his cozy shop will be truly missed. 

Your last comment is all too familiar, I'm afraid.  Another hobby shop closed in Lansing several years ago.  That was not due to the death of the owner, but of the business situation. 

During the final days of 'blow-out' sales, a customer made nearly the same comment to the owner manning the register, in effect...'Too bad. One less place to go and actually see before buying.'

To which he added..."...on the internet." 

True story. 

Exactly why I make the effort to buy whatever I'm looking for from Jerry at my local store if he has it or can get it.  Even if it costs a few extra bucks.  I figure I make that back by being able to stroll through the store from time to time to soak up my train fix.

While I live in the State of Michigan, the Michigan Model Train Center is on the East side of the state and the drive up to it is not a straight path.

?Do they have Much Atlas O and MTH Premier in stock?

Example: MTH Premier Thrall All Door box cars

Andrew

You have to call. There is lots of Atlas and MTH with some Lionel and Weaver. They have not received any inventory in about 18 months.  I would like to get over there one more time but their hours don't work for me.  Maybe after I retire (soon).

Dan

I was there this last weekend and Mike said they are open for only 3 more weekends.  They do have a good selection of Atlas and Premiere stock still vile with good discounts

Mike has PDF files on their website by manufacturer.  He is not accepting credit cards and only open a couple days a week yet.  I was able to call and Paid him by cashiers check.  He said he has a ton of Atlas O Blue box items. The lists seem to confirm this.

Are the prices shown in the lists the final price, or the price before the discount??

How is a person to know if the "O" scale is 2 rail, or 3 rail? In a few cases it does state "2 rail". Otherwise, it is just a guess as to what it is.

Could be some deals here.

Jeff

Hi To All,

Please don't misunderstand what I'm about to say.

It's terrible when a local hobby shop goes out of business.  I hate to see that.

After catching this post I went to Michigan Model Train Center thinking I would buy some nice bargains.

After checking 13 items I found all 13 were priced at retail or above.  Some way above retail.

Well I guess I won't be buying much from them, though I feel sorry about their closing.

A little discount probably would have enticed me to buy something.

No  criticismtowards them, please.

Corvettte (Paul)

Everything is discounted off MSRP.  http://www.michiganmodeltrainc...urrentDiscounts.html

They are a great shop as someone pointed out and nice people.  Will be missed.  

They have a lot of hard to find items.  I bought several items last year.

FWIW...

The PDF files on the website were created in March, I created them, so I doubt if they're very accurate any longer.  The shop has been selling down to close since May of 2011 when the owner passed away.

Considering the out of the way location, for whom is this a local hobby shop?

Andrew

For many of us the closest hobby shop, with any O, is going to be well over an hour drive to the other side of Detroit.  There is now nothing anywhere near Ann Arbor, MI.  There is a new shop in Chelsea, and will order what ever you want.  He has a long way to go to develop his business. Skip is missed by many of us.

Dan

Considering the out of the way location, for whom is this a local hobby shop?

I'm from the Bay City/Saginaw area and frequently traveled 1hr or better to Skip's and Wild Bills. To us this is local because we have nothing decent in our area. Skip, Cheryl, and Mike will be missed......Good people and good store.

 Scott

That is a long drive. It is surprising that Saginaw does not have a pair of Train Stores or hobby shops.

Andrew

That is a long drive. It is surprising that Saginaw does not have a pair of Train Stores or hobby shops.

The only thing Saginaw has is a chance to take Flint out of the #1 spot as America's most violent city.....Oh there are a couple of stores in Saginaw, but none you'd spend your hard earned $$$ at, or risk your life to visit. Anybody from this area that's even remotely serious about the hobby goes to the Detroit metro area or on-line to do their business. That's why it's a shame when a place like MMTC closes.

Another LHS closes its doors and the vultures circle.

Pete

They closed their doors the weekend before New Years and still had a ton of inventory.   The son who runs the place was telling me they were going to possibly be selling it at regional train shows plus they may have a "garage sale" in the spring time.   Overall they were a very good store with good merchandise and helpful.   Only place close to Ann Arbor now is in Chelsea (new store opened last year).

I was told that a dealer who closed recently in Pittsburgh had a ton of stuff (including a boatload of Steelers sets) left over.

Neither MTH or Lionel was interested in taking them back, so they are stuck with them. Guess that is yet another problem for these guys to worry about. I really don't blame the manufacturers for wanting the stuff back either

Not in this economy... that's for sure.  Even in good times, the importers  would be more concerned with moving new stuff coming in from overseas in the new year.  Even if they could grab it for pennies on the dollar, it tells you just how saturated the market is that they aren't interested in "the old stuff".  

Case in point... just look at the Mallets that are still "on sale".  In a good economy, they might not even need to be "on sale", and in a mildly decent economy they'd all be gone by now at the newly discounted prices.  But I've recently noticed that even with additional 10%-discount sales here and there by various dealers, these things STILL aren't flying off the shelves.  THAT alone tells you something right there.

David

Here is an Idea for someone with a great amount of money or a huge credit line:

Buy the remaining stock at The Train Barn in Portage, MI and the remaining inventory in the Michigan Model Train Center then combine it in a new location somewhere in Michigan.

Andrew