Buying Trains Online?

I like to buy at my local hobby shop when I can.

Most of the really good deals I find on the internet stores like www.trainworld.com or the Western Depot.

Lee Fritz

No, my experience is quite the opposite.  I can get bigger discounts on-line that ever at any store.  I used to shop at my local store anyway, but since the owners retired and it closed I buy on-line from a couple of the forum sponsors. When looking for something you can also hit a dozen "stores" in a matter of minutes and not only find it, if it can be found, but at the best price.  

I know what Panther97 is talking about. Regular on line retailers are listing stuff at MSRP + shipping. He might not know about all the model railroad magazine ad type places like you see in Classic Toy Trains, O-Gauge Railroad, or whatever. Those are the deep discount guys. Places like Caboose hobbies & Hog's run all kinds of crazy specials but you have to be ready to buy because they only email out certain special offers & sometimes they only last a day (or less)....

IMO, usually the online places seem to have the lowest prices, even factoring in the shipping.  There are three LHS in my area though, and one of them has good sales occasionally.  In that case, I think it better to go that route and not take the chance of loss or damage in shipping. 

I usually purchase from my LHS, he has great deals and gives a discount on new items.

However, on older items I like purchasing from the OGR forum right here. 

I really good bunch of guys that are just trying to sell some of the non played with items to possibly purchase new items.

For many years, I lived in an area that had an excellent LHS. His prices were a little higher than the big guys, but the service and hospitality within the dealership more than made up for any price difference. I was very happy to support him with my purchases.

When I moved away, so did the LHS within any short distance. It now turns out that my LHS is a 2 1/2 drive and one of the big guys. They however treat me like someone who lives next door with excellent service and great pricing. Do I miss the opportunity to be able to stop by and just talk trains, for sure, but they make up for this in so many other ways.

Bottom line, if your LHS treats you well, why look. Be happy with what you got.

My biggest local place used to have a 10% off coupon they would offer in the phone book. It would usually get the price down to a competitive point with the on line guys. Sales tax in NY is 8.75% so it would help me defer some cost & shop local. Last year they stopped issuing it & I haven't bought a big ticket item there since. They still use a 10% discount on certain items with a valid student ID but it's only for items for school like architectural supplies & whatnot. My son can use it for a few low dollar value items, but it's nothing like say, 10% off a $500 loco or whatever like you used to get. They're forcing me on line whether I like it or not. 

It depends on what I'm after. I have and continue to pick up "impulse items", paint and supplies at the LHS. Most of the shops around here don't stock MTH products, let alone the scale-wheeled locomotives. Since it's special order anyway, I get most of my motive power from Mercer Junction, plus the occasional grab from eBay. Some stuff is better to get locally, like track (if you can) and cork roadbed. My LHS in San Bernardino carries H.O., but when I got roadbed for club projects they just piggybacked it on their regular order.

I'm concerned about my planned move to Houston, TX as there are only two train shops -- neither of which has a large supply of O gauge equipment.

I've got a LHS about 20 minutes. Not a bad store but for a variety of reasons, I prefer Catoctin Mountain Trains in Thurmont MD. It is about 1 hour from my home. I'll drive up when I need to. It is a very easy drive through the mountains. CMT is the best store in the DC Metro area. Paul & Marcia Johnson have a beautiful store, treat people right and have gained an impeccable reputation over the years. They will retire after nearly 25 years on March 31, 2015 and close their store. They also offer a healthy discount but regardless, I'd pay extra for the service they provide. 

You can get a LOT cheaper sometimes on the internet, even with shipping added than you may be able to get local BUT you CAN'T get the service. I was royally screwed by one major forum sponsor, mentioned earlier in this thread. I won't support them ever again. Their loss. Regardless, while prices can sometimes be beat, service can't. Plus, I like to see, touch, etc what I'm buying. I like to test run prior to purchase. Can't do that with online ordering and if you've got an issue, you are on the hook for shipping it back. I'd gladly pay extra for quality local service and pay extra gas money, etc for that local service. I've also asked Paul at CMT to send an item to me if I need it and can't get to the store. No issues, I pay the shipping to me, get my item next day and know Paul will stand behind everything that walks out of his store. 

Thanks for the response!   A good example is that I recently purchased a MTH Premier Monongahela Heritage Diesel.  I got it for $425, with the matching MTH caboose, at a nice shop in Western PA.   I could barely find the actual diesel at that price on most online stores.  I'll have to check out some of the forum sponsors.  I haven't been to them all. 

Has anyone asked the LHS they buy from regularly to match a price?  I'm not asking about small differences in price.  But if you want a $1200 locomotive and you can buy it from a discounter for, say, $1000, have you asked the LHS to match the price or at least come close to it? 

Interesting question, but just from knowing them all these years, some of the guys around here would probably react badly by such a request. 

I buy trains every day on line, no MSRP prices for me.

Better deals on line. Better service at the LHS. I'll pay a little more (not a lot) to keep my gang in business. They know what kind of stuff I like. They will hold it for me without a deposit. They special order for me. I sometimes get in and out repairs. and, the questions my LHS's techie have answered for me have been voluminous...

Yes.  I've had excellent results doing this: not at LHS since we no longer have one. Forum sponsors have matched prices for me in the past.  Never hurts to ask and if you do it in a polite manner, it's usually easy to accomplish.  The phone is still a good way to do business 

Online has been the best place for me to find items that have long been out of production. Ebay is good but there are some lesser-known train stores that have websites where orders can be faxed, emailed or phoned in.

For example, I bought a new MTH Western Maryland GP40 from Amherst Depot in Florida. I paid full retail ($400) so I didn't get a great deal on it but I wasn't about to hold out for an engine that was made 7 years ago.

I guess it depends on what you are looking to purchase.

I support my LHS whenever possible, but many of the items I want are simply not available there.  I'm looking for long OOP items so, online, (including the OGR forum) is getting most of my limited train dollars.  I have had several great transactions with other forumites here and have not had a single deal go south.  Cant say that about many shopping venues anymore.  Train shows this time of year are another great way to shop and buy person to person. We have one coming in January and I'm saving my purchasing power for that show.

Whichever venue you use, a little research on pricing, a little courtesy, and a good attitude will serve you well.

Jon