Customers

I generally buy everything from my local hobby dealers.  They need our support and business in order for them to remain in operation.  Only rarely have I purchases anything on the internet.  And, E-Bay:  Never!  After two bad experiences on E-Bay I have determined that I want to look at and talk directly to the person with whom I'm doing business.

Paul Fischer

aznjbill posted:

What would it take for you to buy only at your local Hobby store and forget the Internet ?

Having a local hobby store would really help.

Pete

I haven't bought anything in a long time when I did though I purchased mainly online.  Once or twice at the local hobby store but they charge almost $200 more for an engine that is oine for only $289.  Makes more sense to just buy online 

It would have to be local and have low priced equipment/service capabilities. So probably something similar to the Underground in PA.

Two words - Customer Service.

I want to be treated like I matter. A hobby shop should be a place where you feel comfortable. It should be a place to come and talk trains while looking to see what is new. The help should be friendly and knowledgeable. I like to have some special preference as a continuing customer. I don't expect the prices to be lower than the internet but less than MSRP. they should be consistent. Don't tell me you will deal with me one way and the next time I come all bets are off.

I work there and I don't like to buy from my LHS. My store manager is a greedy pig and it is insulting to have to deal with him. I get better service and better pricing from Joey at Nicholas Smith

Internet prices...

1) having a store within a hundred miles

2) a knowledgeable staff

3) price point nothing above MSRP

4)enough stock so that everything I ask about is not "we don't have it but we can order it"

Douglas

It takes about 45 minutes for me to drive to my local hobby shop, but it is worth every minute and every mile. I like--no, make that "love"--everything about it, and am very thankful that it exists and is doing well. I do buy from other sources (never do eBay though), but if they have what I want or need, the local shop is my source of choice.

Those of you who have a good shop you can go to within a reasonable drive should give a lot of of thanks.

I've tried to support my local (35 miles) shop but their customer service is just not good and prices are high. They are mostly HO & N scale, stock a few O items and will order O but they sell over MSRP. They do have a terrific selection of O track and modeling/scenery items. After this place it's a 4 hour drive to LA to The Train Shack.

For me, I would want a store that really is a LHS and not one that is over an hour away through bad traffic. Also the one LHS that is the closest to me charges MSRP or higher for most items. As a result it is far easier and cheaper for me to buy on line, I am sorry to say.

I have a shop ten minutes from my house that I would not give the time of day to. Opens and closes at his whim, does not talk to you, will not special order anything, place is dirty and unorganized. He does complain that business is slow, duh. 

My favorite is Nickalos Smith which is about 45 minutes and stocks everything you could think of. I second Joey being great to deal with. 

I think that there are many in this hobby who do not realize how few and far between "local hobby stores" are - and I don't mean Hobbyland, Hobby Lobby and the rest (we have those). Where I live, in an urban area of hundreds of thousands of people, there are none.  This is true of most of us. Outside the NE/hard-core Midwest and some big places in California...in any meaningful distribution, they do not exist any longer.

They used to, but, to be honest, my "hobby-shop experience" has been more bad than good, and I really don't have much use for them, as a species.

There are exceptions, of course - I've had some good times in shops locally and elsewhere through the years - but as my nearest "LHS" is in the Atlanta area (about 5 hours NE of here), they (LHS in general) are not really on my radar, and they never will be. 

 The following I had written for the Nassau thread, but in the end, I didn't post it as I'm not a dealer. The subject was a track giveaway idea, as a customer draw for stores. I'll highlight the common interest the posts share...

Sounds like a good idea.

Similar merchandising giveaways are "old standards", but they are traditionally aimed at connecting the customers further with the brand, after they leave the store. This is a way to get them in the store, even though they didn't necessarily start out there.

Why should anyone care about the hobby shop?--- Whether people want to face it or not, the hobby shop has, and will continue to do a large amount of the "legwork" in hands on exposure to our hobby. Amazon may sell a lot, but that's a shame, as they do nothing for the promotional side of anything they sell( and the old Wishbooks were more descriptive of the products IMO). I can look at media all day and "take it or leave it". Put the real thing in front of me, and I may start to want it....now.

I can't help but wonder if the reduction of layouts and displays in bigger stores "to reduce costs" isn't the reason so many successful toy departments "tanked" in the 70's. Even if its MPC's cheapest, with a #90 triggering a timed relay on the throttle, something should be running at the train store, even if only just for kids.

   Free is always a draw. This idea is pretty cost efficient, yet still "valuable" to the customer; as in near always desirable. Starter sets always seem to be just two tracks too small anyhow... [rolleyes] or was that four? [disapp] Six and ? ..something [nod] Better call Nassua [] .

So yes, I will pay the extra if I feel I can. And I try hard not to be cheap with it.

Those that are able to easily but don't?  Shame on you for abandoning what I feel was once a basic American value.. Feed your "neighbor" first, then if you can, the "guy next door". (for best results, repeat application if needed )

I do have a local shop (99% HO & N) that sells below MSRP but I have to special order any item that I am interested in. When I mention I want it 3 rail, they get a look of horror on their face!! Needless to say I only get supplies from them. Unfortunately that is the only local shop in the San Francisco Bay Area that will actually order MTH or Atlas O. So now I will be using Mercer Junction as I have before Just for the pleasant customer service and great prices as well as fast shipping!!         Paul

I frequent my local shop and always give it the old--try local first.  Being Alaska, they tend to order up lots of anything Alaska.  Given the cost of shipping O gauge items, I find even at full list, it works out to purchase from my local shop.  That being said, there is only so much space and so much inventory they can carry, so I am happy to have the online shops to fill the gap.  They carry a lot of O gauge Alaska--good for me--when I was modeling N, my local shop was a good place to find stuff that had been out of production for 6 years (they just did not move a lot of N scale).  When I get the "We can order that for you"--I appreciate it, but I can order it too, and have it show up at my door--again, I get it, they can not stock everything.

Short story--both work--our local shop has its niche--for what it can not do, the online world can.

A "local" hobby shop (about 70 miles from here!) closed.  They had a lot of trains, and they once assembled and sold O scale structure kits.  If they were still doing that, there would be a reason to visit them regularly.  Most shops, that are not all HO and N, with poor stocks of any parts or construction materials you can even use in O,  only have the redundant redos that the manufacturers have reverted to, IF they are not on backorder.   "Build-to-order" has killed two I know of.  When MTH was in its boom period, it was bringing out all kinds of new and different stuff.  As was K-Line.   Now......  Some say they buy nothing on eBay....that is the place I find the old and rare kits, that are the only "new" things now available.   For me, the interesting stuff is mostly in the rear view mirror.  Nothing is being done, so I look for what has been done, once upon a time.  I just direct ordered a bunch of mining details through the mail.  I would bet the farm not one shop in the 50 states stock any of those items.

El Classico posted:

It would have to be local and have low priced equipment/service capabilities. So probably something similar to the Underground in PA.

The Underground is great, but it's 90 minutes away, so I don't get there too often, which is probably good. the closest ones are  Patricks and T&K, at 45 minutes. Good selection, and good service. I like to be greeted/ acknowledged,but not "crowed". I don't mind paying higher than net prices, but fair. There was a shop 10 minuets from me, but the owner acted like it was a bother when a customer came in.and I fully understand most train shops are a side, but regular hours, especially Saturdays. that was another problem with that local shop, open for three hours on a Saturday....

In a word nothing. New Lionel and MTH sold at MSRP are too expensive for what you get (at least for rolling stock).

I do buy locomotives, scenery and electronics locally.  New rolling stock is generally purchased at auction or train shows.

Matt Makens posted:

I work there and I don't like to buy from my LHS. My store manager is a greedy pig and it is insulting to have to deal with him. I get better service and better pricing from Joey at Nicholas Smith

Hopefully he won't read this.

A ,local hobby shop would help a lot. 

I buy from shows and buy right off this forum. Have not had a bad experience at all here.

The local store which is 10 minutes from me is a waste of time to visit. It is a hobby shop so they do not stock everything and what they have is at mrsp which is ridiculously priced.

My nearest hobby shop requires a minimum hour round trip through LA traffic. What little "O" there is is MTH/Lionel stuff that is of no interest. The shop has a good stock of scenery supplies, and I stock up whenever I'm there. Otherwise it's the Internet and ebay (where else can you buy Walthers passenger car kits, American Std, etc?). Furthermore, unlike our lucky brethren in the East, the train shows are few and far between.

If it weren't for the ability to buy electronically I'd still be in HO.

The vast majority of all my O-gauge purchases are from my local (2-miles) and semi-local (30-miles) toy train shops.  "Support your local toy train shops."  The rest are eBay and mail based on a locator when local shops do not have and/or cannot get!

Ron

My LHS, In addition to a nice social interaction with the owner, allowed me to do layaway.  That is the only reason at the time I was able to get many of the catalogued items I wanted.  Often, I was paying closer to MSRP than I would be with the big Internet retailers, but it did not matter if I could get a $800 item 55 bucks less from Ro then my LHS, layaway is the only reason it made it possible for me to get the item at all.  

Ben 

Texas Pete posted:

aznjbill posted:

What would it take for you to buy only at your local Hobby store and forget the Internet ?

Having a local hobby store would really help.

Pete

Yup.  That would probably have some impact for me, too.  We used to have one a few miles away and when it was there I was in there frequently for building supplies and detail parts. 

I live a very short distance from a "Lionel Top 10 Dealer." But, I've never felt that "warm fuzzy feeling" there, And, I've paid a lot of MSRP for stuff .... at this place that claims to do a huge volume business.

To heck with them.

I do get the warm, fuzzy feeling from the folks at Nicholas Smith trains. So, I save all my business for them. I sometimes make the long drive there, or order over the phone.

I think business owners, of all types, should note this. But, some have a big head. They lose customers.

I visit our "local hobby shop" (Berwyn's Toys and Trains in Berwyn, IL) every Saturday morning. The owners, Tom and Larry, order ANYTHING I want, with no advanced payment, even though I offer. They also have excellent repair services, from pre-war Lionel to current MTH (Certified MTH trained repair tech.). I rarely purchase off the internet, because these guys give me a fair price, in my opinion, and even though I must pay Illinois sales tax, it is worth it to me to help keep them in business.

My go to hobby shop is approximately 150 miles away from my residence. I willingly travel that distance because this particular hobby shop owner is a fantastic friend and human being. I value his friendship much more than cheaper internet pricing, consider me old school.

enjoy your trains...

Way back in the 1970s through the early 2000s here in south Jersey we had a bevy of fine local hobby shops with whom model train enthusiasts could deal and interact with.  It was actually a lot of fun riding the circuit every couple of weeks and visiting these stores.  Ninety nine percent of what I purchased came from those stores but sadly today virtually none of those stores are left.  Consequently, practically all of my purchases now come from the net or train shows.  I miss the old days. 

Fortunately there is a train store about 25-30 minutes from me, they really have a pretty good selection of O gauge for a small shop and I buy almost everything there. They also have a pretty good selection of hobby supplies and some G, S, HO, N & Z gauge too. I try to support them because I like to go there and look at trains and have a place to get hobby supplies. The prices are a little higher than the internet dealers, but they do discount most everything and give me a little better discount for pre-orders.

I have bought a couple of items on ebay and here on the for sale forum, but I have not had very good luck with used items so have been sticking to mostly new items lately. I have also purchased a few things from online dealers that my LHS didn't have or couldn't get, but I always try my LHS first. I missed pre-ordering a BTO item once and had to get that from an online dealer that must have ordered extras. The online dealer I got it from was an OGR forum sponsor that also posts regularly here on the forum. Also, their service was great.

We have 1 other train store that carries some O gauge, but they have very little in stock, it's another 15 minutes or so farther and they sell some items for above MSRP. I have only been there one time. There are a couple other train stores but they are strictly HO and N only. One even told me HO & N, NO O when I asked what all they had. I must look like an O gauge person or something?

We have a Lionel hobby shop about 45 minutes away. I have bought a few things there but it is cluttered, the prices are high, and nobody is very friendly.

They have been around a long time and must do some business or have a rich uncle. It is a shame as it as the potential to do well. Need a course in effective marketing. Our business would be worth having as we are building a train room and that means $$$.

Thank goodness for the Internet.

Prices at least close to mail order.

My shop charges over the already overpriced msrp..

I would love to buy at the hobby shop. 

Cant afford to waste  $ though.

The LHS I used to go to years ago (I've now moved ~300 miles away, 10+ yrs ago) used to have a "register" or "roster" page for me, where we'd jot down what I have, what I'd love to have, etc...  Then, when I showed up and talked with the owner we'd go over the "roster" and see if he had anything I wanted or similar.  My wife used the roster every year around Christmas as she'd walk in, tell the guy my name, and he'd pull things off the shelf that he knew I wanted or were close to what I liked.

I'd love to get that kind of service from my LHS now, they are nice guys but it's just a different experience.  I do admit I'm just plain happy to  have a LHS not far from home though.  My wife now has me print out a list of things I want, and she heads to the LHS and prays to the Orange-Box-Gods that they have something on my list.

I don't know if any of the big online dealers today have it, but it'd be great to have an online version of that old "roster", where I could be sent enticing deals for things on my wish list, custom deals just for me!  Heck, the roster could be just between me and my LHS and they could reach out when they get something in-house that's close to what I like.

All that said, to me nice folks are key, price and selection are important, but I used to love that "feeling of being special" I got years ago.

Allan Miller posted:

... never do eBay ...

LHS's sell on eBay, too.  

What, me worry?

I buy from two local shops near my home all the time.  I would rather buy from them.   I visit a lot of stores as I travel for work.  Unfortunately, they all seem to have the same stuff.  I walked around both of my favoirte stores last week for a very long time and couldn't find any accessories to buy.  I had money to spend.

Murnane posted:

 

I don't know if any of the big online dealers today have it, but it'd be great to have an online version of that old "roster", where I could be sent enticing deals for things on my wish list, custom deals just for me!  

There is a service like that.  It's called eBay, if you know how to use it.  Just set up a search, and they will email you when what you want becomes available.  You then decide if the price is right.

What, me worry?

We have one hobby shop left in the Sacramento area and they have no customer skills and sell Lionel at MSRP even items past their prime,so I patronize some of the vendors on the Forum like Public Delivery Track and Sidetrack Hobbies.

Mikey

First it would take a local hobby shop.  All of the hobby shops close to me closed for various reasons.  I then was forced purchased from a shop about 90 minutes round trip from my house after my favorite one closed.  The one partner is nice but stays in the background the other is rude, confrontational and doesn't care if you buy from them or not.  After spending thousands with them, I tired of their attitude.  The customers often get blamed first for a local hobby shop closing down.  Maybe it is time that some of the hobby shop owners  take a good look in the mirror and see why their business is failing.  I am very happy with my new favorite hobby shop in Indianapolis, (Mr. Muffins) they have good prices, great service , advice and know how to treat a customer.  I always tried a local shop first.