Shop local if you can......

I always go to my LHS, Toby Tyler's. They have a bunch of cool stuff there, and always have great deals!!!

 

Well said.........

After viewing these pics, I noticed that there are mostly yellow rail-king boxes on your shelves.  After that, I noticed a lot of orange Lionel boxes.  I can even see some RMT boxes.

 

Is it then the case that you don't sell MTH Premier, only MTH railking?

I believe in this 100%. And, I practice my belief.

They also have New tinplate on shelves ... please post a picture of that. 

I've stopped at Toby Tyler's (Pleasant Hills, PA), Imperial Train Co. (Imperial, PA) and American Speed and Hobby (Aliquippa, PA) but still find myself buying everything online from a retailer or eBay.

 

The local hobby shops can't compete with the prices you can get online, nor can they match the selection.

While that may be true, if you buy on the Internet, you don't know exactly what you're getting. At a hobby shop, you can carefully examine the item and test run it.

 

And actually, I have had better prices at train shows and hobby shops then I have ever found online (except here, of course).

Keys6700 (Keith),

I am happy to hear you support your local train shop. I had some of the greatest times in my life at my local train shop. I met a lot of fine people at that local train shop. I always loved listening to the customers that came in. Some of those folks always had a good story or two. The nice thing was everyone was very friendly and they all loved their trains. 

My "local hobby shop" used to be 600 miles away in a small Pennsylvania town.  The owner was a jolly, friendly man who was honest, trustworthy and offered great service and prices.' He was liked by all and always made suggestions to buy more.

But, times move on and that nice man retired.  I miss that old guy but I thank the Lord that he was my LHS proprietor for a while.  I wish he was closer.

Thank you Martin.  Yes, the MTH Premier stuff didn't make it in the photograph.  We have Premier locomotives too.  What you won't find on our store shelves is old and dusty inventory over 2 years old.  I keep stuff moving to make room for new coming in.

I was planning to hit MB Kleins this Saturday but I got antsy and went there today. Saw a beautiful MTH Milwaukee Bi-Polar for $500 but alas my budget this year got hammered by a brake job on my truck and a new lawn tractor, so I stuck with a few small items this time.

 

Jerry

I'll likely take a ride up to Catoctin Mountain Trains tomorrow and do my best to add to Paul & Marcia's retirement $$$. I'm going to miss them.

Bob Kazian,

Thank you. Hope you have a wonderful and safe weekend.

jim sutter,

   Yep everyone who ever came in your store and did business with you knew you were as honest as they come, I always looked forward to the trip up to Indiana each Christmas season to visit your shop.  The numerous big Silver Pa Passenger Car from your store still run behind the GG-1 today, thanks for the memories and tell the better half hello for me!

 

PCRR/Dave

 

One of the best train shops ever

The only problem with my local shop is it's mostly HO Scale stuff not much O. Still I prefer train shows over buying online

Gauge One for Christmas this year!

I missed him so much, I started selling trains myself. And got a dog named "Molly". She needs a biscuit, btw. Lol. "Bye now"..... What he really meant was "Buy now".   

I don't have a local shop.  Closest is over 100 miles away. I travel for work quite a bit and have gotten to visit quite a few. Some of my favorites are Side Track Hobbies in Maryland when I have to go to Pax River, Frank the Train Man in San Diego and Hobby World on 103rd st in Jacksonville.  I also recently purchased a Christmas present for my son over the phone with JR Junction!!! They were lots of help.

   My LHS is only 5 minutes away.  I've also shopped on the OGR Forum and have patronized several of the OGR Forum sponsors. 

Keith,

Toby Tyler's sounds like a neat name for a hobby shop!!

where are they located, do they have a web site??

Popi

I bought  Lionel Corp Tin Plate Standard Gauge set from Phil a few years ago.

run it on the floor around the train board. The kids love it, Still running strong today AND its a great smoker!!!

The Locomotive, new gondola and new caboose are from the set, the other cars are original Lionel Standard gauge from the 30s.

 

I have two notable LHS that I visit: Chugga Chugga Choo Choo in Kings Mountain, NC and Lionel Headquarters in Concord, NC (yeah, they have a storefront now!)

 

Always try to frequent the local stores before buying online.

My favorite LHS has a nice young lady working there. I shop local.

I do as much as I can at The Imperial Train Company just outside of Pittsburgh.  Regis and his crew are top notch!  Everything I purchase is checked out before I leave.  Always a great experience.

 

In recent weeks leading up to Christmas the store has been very busy which is great to see.

 

 

 

MB Klein has been my hobby shop since I was 16 yrs old back in 1960.  Used to take the #8 streetcar from Catonsville, got off at Fayette St. and walked to their store on Gay St.  They were a cut above Frenches.

I do most of my shopping at The Train Shop in Hampton Falls, NH

It's an hour drive but nothing is closer and it's a nice shop with a decent layout to test new equipment on.

And Richard is a friendly and fair dealer.

 

Sure, online can be less money, but if you need a hand, those guys are hard to find.

my locals are an hour (T&K) or an hour and a half(Underground RR), but I get there when I can.Imperial is a tad closer, but didn't seem to have much Pre/Postwar when I was there.

 

Now THAT'S a good business strategy! When the barbershop I go to first hired a woman to cut hair the idea took a little while to get used to, and she stood there with nothing to do while all the old guys sat and said they were waiting for the owner instead. Within a month or so business picked up, the regulars were waiting less time until their next cut and it was the owner who had often had nothing to do! 

Few LHS I have visited, across the country, have much in the structure or rolling stock construction materials I want, so I wind up buying from MicroMark or internet sites.  As for rolling stock, not much new, of interest, seems to surface in the catalogs, which is

a good thing, as there is no handy LHS.

       
       

Since they don't have a website, if you go on Google and search "Toby Tyler's Hobby Center", you should find it. I don't remember the exact address, except that they are located in Pleasent Hills, PA. Sorry, by the way. I didn't see your reply until now!!!

I always try to shop at my not-so-local train shop & try to purchase made in America products only. I know it limits my purchases, but I try to minimize my purchases of anything made in China.

 

Dave

 

 

It is very important to support your local hobby shop. Franciscan Hobbies is gone, after almost 60years in San Francisco. Killed by the internet. I grew up in SF and only miss it every time I travel there on business. You can't touch, and see it run on ebay. Unfortunately, for some of us, there no longer is a local hobby shop to go to.

patrick's trains is my "local" shop,only 1hr away,,,safer that way!!! just did a phone order with jr junction,,super nice and fast service,,,both forum sponcers,terry

Well stated and good advice. Inspecting what one purchases is exactly why buying on the net may NOT be a good idea. Of course in here where we can talk/discuss and get to know each other, then it becomes possible to earn ones trust.

 

Yes, EBay does have great deals, but seriously, you never ever know what on earth might you get once the item arrives.

 

I posted on this in another thread. That the store I shop at allows me to inspect the item and if it is not to my satisfaction, I can always choose another/something else. Or they may order another item.

 

Pete

Roughly 99% of all products related to this hobby are manufactured in China with little exception. Some items......yes, they are manufactured in the US or perhaps another country like Germany, but overall, it is a daunting task trying to stay afloat in this hobby unless you are willing to overlook the fact that the US simply does not manufacture like it once did. China and the US are inextricably linked together as far as our economies. I doubt very seriously that the US will ever regain its once very prominent position as the worlds largest manufacture of goods.

 

Just my two cents, Pete

A real mistake would be not paying attention what is still being made here. Some things are more important than others.

 

Clever post! I'm grinnin'!  

I did my 1st pre order this year with my LHS ... there are only two near me up here.

 

When ever I go to the US and always try and get some new stuff and look around for old tinplate.

 

Notably these are the US stores I have visited and purchased from;

 

JR Junction - finally found a DCS system there during the summer

Train World in Brooklyn

Charles Ro - love that operating layout on the 2nd level