I use Chicagoland Hobbies in the Chicago area. It is 35 miles from me but all highway. Other great hobby shops are Berwins and Americas Best Toy Train in Chicagoland. I buy a lot online and travel to dealers. I like used stuff. I can't wait to get back to Train Town in St Louis.
We have a great Hobby/ toy train store here in my town, but I can't afford to buy anything due to the high prices! I would love to be a regular customer but I just don't see that happening inn the near future. They have a great layout with running trains so it is cool to stop by every now and then to loook!
I know your talking about American stores but I'm an O scaler so....
Because of where I live (West Australia) I would never give up the internet that would mean a return to the old days of writing letters and I forget how to write now.
Seriously I went to our local hobby shop (we have them!) yesterday no O scale cars or locos or kits because that type of thing is non existing in West Australia, but this is what I bought (note the American products).
4 lengths of Plastruct O scale railings
3 packets of Woodland scenic Iron Ore ballast
3 packets of Woodland fine cinders ballast
2 Tamiya spray primer
3 Tamiya spray AS 22 dark Earth
2 Testor spray grimy black
11 various lengths of square balsa wood
6 packets of various sizes of evergreen styrene
191 dollars.
Is that a good purchase for the store?
Roo.
I consider many of the sponsors of our forum my LHS. Price is one thing, but availability is probably more of a driver for me.
Bottom line in my case.. No internet, no forum, my childhood hobby is still in boxes. The knowledge shared here, has got me past the many frustrating issues which arise for a novice like me.
Local hobby shops contributed to my renewed interest in the hobby 27 years ago. Two in particular, JR's Hobby Depot and Trains and Planes, both in Houston where I lived at the time (and both gone for a while now), were favorite places to hang out for an hour or two on a Saturday afternoon and talk trains. Both had on site repairs, good inventories of then current or used trains and owners who seemed to genuinely enjoy doing what they did and interacting with their customers.
I've lived in the Atlanta area now for 13 years. Two of my "local" train stores are Trainz and Legacy Station. Both are a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour each way in Atlanta traffic; consequently my purchases from both are via the internet with delivery to my office. While the $16.50 shipping and handling I recently paid on an MTH locomotive purchase from Legacy sounds a bit steep given their proximity, I figure it would have cost me about that much in gas, wear and tear on my car not to mention my time sitting in traffic.
"Tele-commuting" to my local hobby stores definitely is not the same kind of experience I enjoyed when I used to regularly frequent my favorite stores in Houston but, my personal engagement in the hobby has changed over the years. Since moving to Atlanta, I have belonged to a local O gauge club and that is my source of train camaraderie these days. Hanging out with my train club buddies at a monthly meeting, TCA meet or train show or simply getting together for lunch substitutes for hanging out at a train store for an hour or two on a Saturday afternoon.
So I guess the key takeaway from my response to the OP's question is my local hobby shop had best have an internet presence that is easy to navigate and with an inventory that is kept up to date.
Curt
Panther97 posted: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.
Just a side note. There are actually 5 train stores within 20 minutes of my house. I buy from one of them. The other store that I use is a little further outside of town. In regards to the other stores in town, I haven't been back to one particular store because the owner treated me poorly more than once. I don't even visit the other three stores as they are way over-priced. I'm actually stunned that people buy from one of the three I mentioned. The shop I use across town has the same sets as this store for $100 less.
I use my LHS for MTH engines and the ability to reserve a future release. Charles Ro is about 50 minutes away and I use him for Lionel. But I prefer MTH over Lionel. It's the old Ford vs Chevy argument from when I was a kid. They are both good, just preference. I run both DCS & TMCC.
I like buying rolling stock here and also from different LHS's at train shows.
I recently bought from somebody else's LHS, Mr Muffin Trains about 900 miles away. Excellent personal experience. Probably wouldn't have found him if it isn't for OGR & the Internet.
I always prefer the store over the Internet. My reasons are all about service. I've been a customer at Arnie's trains before the Internet. Greg and Mat are not store owners to me they are my friends. They're always went the extra mile for me when I had problems with an engine and when ordering. A few years ago my eyes started to fail me and I needed surgery. They helped me sell some of my engines so I could pau my doctor bills. I had some engines on preorder at the time and they cancelled them for me. They sometimes do some discounts for me and when I was buying my nephew his first train they practically gave it me. They've never abandon me so why should I abandon them.
Bob
The personalized wish list is one I used well in collectables. Nothing like two hour product turnover. Win Win
There is a little hardware store that has a few trains and some goodies 20x20 ish about 10 miles away. The next closest would be a Menards(seasonal) 15miles, a real hobby shop 25miles through downtown and the busiest areas. About 40 min. on the hwy. if I left mid day. The next 38miles, same downtown route, an hour or more as its packed road much of the way. About $8 in gas, + the time.
......and they never once spammed me. I found out today (just now) who I likely won't be buying from...ever. Wish I could clue you more here 
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
Does he read this forum, Matt?
My LHS, Walker's Hardware Store, in Totowa, NJ, is flawless. The only other resource I have ever purchased from is 3rdRail itself, directly. Otherwise, I buy strictly from Ken Webster, the owner-manager of Walker's. That has been my custom (and my wife's, for me) since 1995.
Moonson posted: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
Does he read this forum, Matt?
Hopefully not. 
Home delivery, cars & engines that were made 6-33 years ago, internet prices, & sell parts.
All that said, there's still plenty of stuff that I get only at the LHS.
My "LHS" is 1721 miles from my house. It's only open twice a year. And when it is open, they stay open with irregular hours for about 5 1/2 days. And then they close up shop for another 6 months. It's a long drive for me, but I have 29 hours on the way up there to think about what I want to look for, and 29 hours on the way home to think about what I bought and how much fun it will be. The selection of merchandise is outstanding and varies from trip to trip. I never know what will be in stock until I get there. The prices vary wildly from one area to the next, so I have to know my prices to get the best deal. Even if a pay a little extra, it's worth it if it keeps this place back in business 6 months later.
The internet is way of the world , retail shopping in brick and motor is not in the future of shopping. We are very fortunate to have the best dealers there are right here on the forum , and this is how you are going to reach customers. They all have something unique, that is why i try to buy from all of them, and let them know it is from this forum that i have reached them . I am quite shore that the big dealers will tell you that most of there sales , are internet orders . i would try to capture more capital on line , if i owned a store . FAST SHIPPING AND GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE , STAND BEHIND WHAT YOU SELL ,WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . This is what will capture more revenue , in a mater of hours i can visit every dealer on this forum , and see an item ,that nobody else has and buy. just my opinion TECHMAN
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
Matt,
That disclosure may not have been wise to post on a public form. Said store manager might feel inclined to discontinue your employment if he catches wind of that statement, unless you don't care one way or another.
The only hobby shop that was remotely close to me was local in my town when I was a kid. At the time I was just getting into O gauge transitioning from G. The hobby shop catered to the HO crowd....... Which the owner was pretty much the HO crowd in my area. Heck I'm the only O guy in the state I feel! There's really not a market for a good hobby shop in my area so I have always pretty much bought either by mail order (back in the day) or internet (this day and age). What would help any HS though is have a knowledgable staff, keep a decent inventory, and cater to both the beginner AND the older hobbiest.
Too many times have I walked into a HS that doesn't have anything close to my interests, or if they do their pricing was insane. But that's due to being a brick and mortar store. Of the shops I've been to that did have what I like, they are way too far away from me to frequent. I live in Kentucky some of the better ones I've ever been to are Pennsylvania........... I'll just stay on the 'net these days unfortunately.
I buy very little train stuff on line, I really enjoy wandering around a store or show so I can look at everything, and kind of make a day of it. Currently, I do most of my business with two different stores. Alloway Trains n' Things is a rather small store about 40 miles, or 60 minutes, from my home. It is in the middle of farm country, so it is actually a pleasant ride - rare in New Jersey, and it is owned by a great couple who are really nice to deal with. The only issue is that due to the small size, a lot of their inventory is out of sight, either hidden under their display layout, or locked in a separate building. Fine if you know what you want, but sometimes I have no idea what I'm looking for until I see it. I like surprises. Then, there is Nicholas Smith Trains in Broomall, Pa. To me, the place is huge. I spent 90 minutes there yesterday, just wandering up and down the aisles. I love it. The problem is, it is about 75 miles from home, all on busy highways, so an enjoyable ride it is not. I prefer to make the trip on my motorcycle, but then I don't have much room for cargo. I guess that can save me money, but some days I don't feel like saving. I have left there with the saddlebags full, and a box tied to my passenger backrest.
In both stores, I find the people are great to deal with, and they seem to know what they are talking about. They've also worked with me on pricing, and their pricing seems pretty good even before that. There are a couple of stores closer to me, but one has little inventory and very irregular hours, the other is near my office, but the expertise of the counterperson really depends on what day of the week you visit. I don't always need that kind of help, but it is nice to know it is there.
My local store, The Model Railroad Shop in Dunellen, NJ has been a pleasure to deal with ever since I started shopping there as a teenager. The place has it all: helpful staff, an extensive and varied selection of items and most merchandise is discounted to some degree. Perhaps my favorite aspect of patronizing the store is the impressive range of books for sale. As someone who enjoys his books as much as his models, that's s big selling point as not many train stores carry more than just a few titles if any.
Bob
I have a hardware store in Warren, Ohio that sells o scale items. He is my first go to on everything. I had to make a quick purchase, and used Steve @ Mr. Muffins, but that was on an obscure "need it right now" sort of thing.
I just gave my local guy a list of three items, (two MTH engines & a DCS system), and he gave me a fantastic price. He always is friendly, he always treats me well, and he is always honest with our dealings and with purchases made for our Historical Society. I have a local "hardware" store, and I appreciate him. He always backs his sales up.
He also has some used stuff once in awhile that he puts on the shelf for very attractive prices. Buying online to save 3%-5% isn't worth it, and more folks need to realize it.
Your local hobby shop should also have a website on which to shop and buy.....so there is nothing wrong with shopping online because you are still supporting your local shop....
Alan
I seems "local" means something different to all of us. I wish that I truely had a local train shop )note not hobby). My nearest shop is over 100 miles away and more than a 2 hour drive one way. It stocks low end Lionel. The local Hobbylobby provides scenicing and scratch building supplies.
In the past few years a new shop relocated just withing the 100 mile radius. I had a chance to visit just before the holidays. Stacks of Atlas, Lionel, MTH and even some K-Line. Atlas track inventory with switches in the back (but showing the lack of resupply). I had an enjoyable talk with him. When I asked who were his customers he replied "85% from the internet." And he is thriving.
Still my local hobby shop is the internet and not just the big box sellers. I have been searching for previously released items. So my wheels are Google and sometimes Bing. Hits will be from smaller dealers with on-line market presence or inventories. Failing that, it's the dealer list from the manufacturers' websites and then email and finally phone them. I am usually successful.
It is amazing the number of train shops whose web presence is nothing more that a page with a picture, shop name, and email/phone number. One simple addition to the website, a text file, spreadsheet, pdf, etc. containing the inventory, would move them from last on the list to first.
For our local train shops to survive they must sell their inventory, and sell it over and over. Today to get these sales they must provide value to the customer which is have the product, good customer service, appropriately priced. It starts with letting me know what they have.
Jan
I live within 200 miles of the #4, #7, #9, and #16 largest cities in the USA. I live in the 11th largest city. To my knowledge none have any LHS that carry any significant Lionel, MTH, especially the higher end stuff. The market demand is no longer there to support it. So York attendance is not the only thing that is decreasing with time. The internet is the only market place for large areas of the country. People love it's convenience but maybe not all of the consequences. Newspapers, book stores, retailers have all lost business to the Internet.
If you have a LHS then I would suggest you support them if possible. Put billboards on your layout advertising their shop. A bumper sticker on your car. Can you physically help out at their shop or do repairs? Just decide how much you want that shop to stay and act accordingly.
Obviously the shop owner has to deliver on their end as well.
CNJ 3676 posted:My local store, The Model Railroad Shop in Dunellen, NJ has been a pleasure to deal with ever since I started shopping there as a teenager. The place has it all: helpful staff, an extensive and varied selection of items and most merchandise is discounted to some degree. Perhaps my favorite aspect of patronizing the store is the impressive range of books for sale. As someone who enjoys his books as much as his models, that's s big selling point as not many train stores carry more than just a few titles if any.
Bob
Bob
after reading your post I went down memory lane and remember going to this shop back in the mid/late 1950's
I still have the trains my father bought for me and they run great.
I always prefer making purchases in brick and mortar stores. Like so many others, actually seeing and holding something is so much more informative to me. Since I travel a lot for my job, visits to places like Nicholas Smith, Trainland, Chicagoland Hobbies and Eastside Trains in Seattle are well within my reach, and I look forward to visiting them as often as I can.
I still feel sad when I think of the shops that have closed here in the Phoenix area. I was close friends of the proprietors of Roys Train World and miss them dearly. I visit the store in Mesa regularly (Az Train Depot) and buy as often as they have things I want. Unfortunately real high end stuff like 3RD rail brass locomotives are beyond the reach of most stores so in that case I buy directly from those entities directly by internet purchase. I also buy trains at swap meets and even the Bay, since I have kind of unusual tastes in equipment and it seems to be the only place to find some things.
The main things I look for in a store are an informed sales staff who is reasonably friendly but not overbearing, a wide range of products helps (including maintenance items like oil) and a wide range of product lines (Lionel, MTH, Atlas, etc). Proximity is not really an issue for me since I travel a lot for work and don't mind driving a considerable distance just to explore a new store. Mountain Lakes in New Jersey is one of the places I drive to occasionally when in the east and it is not very close to my route.
Rolland
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