Does 3rd Rail/Sunset have dealers?

Try the Public Delivery Track, JD's Trains, Norms O Scale and Western Depot. 

I've bought GGD items from all of them. Since items are made to the quantities ordered, there are seldom leftovers to be had.

Buy direct from 3rd Rail. Any benefit you THINK you may have from a dealer, is NOT worth the hassle. Been down that road too many times.

All my Golden Gate Depot and 3rd Rail orders go direct, and Scott Mann bends over backwards to take care of his customers. No he did not pay me to say that

Folks: Let me set the record straight. Sunset Models Inc. and Golden Gate Depot, will sell models through any Hobby Retail Store or previously grand fathered in dealer in good standing.

Rarely, do any of these dealers stock our models, so that's why you don't see them on shelves. In addition, we don't offer dealers huge mark ups, so they are not putting very much effort into promoting them. So we promote them. If a customer has a favorite dealer they prefer to work with, we will "bend over backwards" for that dealer as well.

Also, if reservations are tight, and there are customers and other dealers on standby, we do not transfer reservations back and forth from dealers to customers and back before we cater to those on stand by. In other words, if you get out of line, you lose your place in line.

Also, we cannot know whose reservations from dealers are for who. It is the dealers responsibility to fulfill their customers orders. In other words, if your dealer doesn't pay for your order, it won't ship.

That's what I know.

Scott Mann

Same here Doug. Scott is fantastic to work with. Well worth any extra $ you might save. I've ordered both direct and through a preferred dealer, but I prefer going direct for the level of service that Scott provides.

I also agree. Buy from Scott directly, Its well worth it. Made my first 3rd Rail purchase a couple of months ago and it was a great experience. He really takes care of you plus the engines are well worth the money.

Another advantage of purchasing direct is,,,,,no sales tax!  In my state/county, the sales tax can sometimes exceed the shipping cost.

I might add that in the past I ordered all of my 3rd Rail from Bill Oberst in Georgetown,SC.  When Bill closed up I switched over to a rather well known and popular dealer.  I had no problems for awhile.  Then I missed out on a couple of items that I had pre ordered. Later on I found out that there were some financial issues with that dealer.  From then on I just place my orders direct with no problems whatsoever.

Norm 

Not for me it ain't  and that's why I tried using a dealer... but that bit me in the *ss.. twice. CA rips me off everyday, in various ways. That's why most of my purchases are made online, out of this state.

Doesn't Illinois require out of state retailers to collect sales tax at the time of purchase now? Instead of relying on folks to voluntarily report/pay the tax to the state?

I was visiting a friend in southern Illinois last year, and he was talking about it. It was being settled in state court, maybe? Or, maybe I had downed too many Bud's when he was talking about it. Lol.

And sometimes they can't take an order correctly from a dealer, and not only produce less than what was ordered but then ship what was produced to someone else!  

Add yet another hobbiest who prefers to order directly from 3rd Rail.

These offerings are usually BTO and ordering directly from the source guarantees delivery.  Worth every penny of the extra $50 savings on a $1200 - $1500 purchase!

Besides every extra dollar gives Scott the money to travel to Asia to make sure that the items are being made correctly!

Jim

Excellent point.

+1

Count me in as a 100% direct customer of Scott/Sunset 3rd Rail. Tried a dealer one time.   Will NEVER do that again.  With Scott it's been 100% for nearly two decades now. 

I've purchased a fair amount of 3rd Rail (and Sunset HO product) over the last 11 years from the following sources:

• Direct from Scott Mann
• Chicagoland Hobbies
• JD Trains
• ModelTrainStuff
• Rider's Hobby
• Oak Creek Hobby

They ALL provided great service, and whether or not you purchase from direct from Scott, or thru a dealer, the service is still exceptional. 

There is no one and "only" way to go.

Regards,

GNNPNUT

GRJohn,

I respectfully disagree.  I have had several delays and other funky issues with the dealers.  I have NEVER -- starting in 1998 had one single issue with purchasing directly from Scott Mann/Sunset 3rd Rail.  Unlike other manufacturers, Scott's service prior to and during the sale and support after the sale is truly outstanding.

So, I find no "value added" in  inserting a dealer between me and Sunset -- other than saving a few bucks.  If it were a true bricks and mortar true full service local hobby shop dealer I would feel different.  But, in my part of the world those days are LONG GONE. 

The nearest bricks and mortar dealer who has a full line of Sunset 3rd Rail engines is several weeks away from Austin Texas by stagecoach.  Oops.  Or perhaps a rocket ship ride to the dark side of the moon. 

The internet dealers do provide a valuable service to us with the other brands and I do order from them on a regular basis. 

Bill

All of my brass 3rd Rail engines and passenger cars, and all of my GGD passenger cars, have been bought by direct purchase from Scott.  I bought one heavyweight baggage car from a hobby shop.  

And I have three F7 units and an E8 on order from Scott.  No regrets.

On the sales tax - California has a statute that says you are obliged to pay tax when you purchase out-of-state.  Most of us have no idea, but you are supposed to self-report at the end of each year, and pay tax on that pair of socks you mail-ordered from Cabelas.

Big ticket items get them all excited - do not think you can buy a King Air out if state and operate it in California without either paying the use tax or hiring a fancy lawyer.  Autos are the same way.  But a $500 train might escape notice.  The tax folks just don't have the time to look you up.

I suspect other states are the same.

As far as being ripped off - how do we think government services are financed?  Money has to come from somewhere.  I suppose we could de-fund the firefighters and bridge builders - leave Interstate 10 closed permanently?

If that was the way the government spent the money I doubt anyone would feel ripped off, but it's not and everyone knows it. 

Another +++ for Scott and 3rd Rail. Ordering direct is the only way to go. Really professional people in his organization who care...you don't see that very much in today's world.

Butch

Well, its right on the state income tax form we file each year, so I would say that most people *choose* to "have no idea" about it. Lol.

In Illinois, I believe the change in tax law concerned how an out of state business registered in the state. Before this year, if a business had a physical presence in the state, it would be required to collect sales tax. Now, merely a legal presence in the state triggers the sales tax collection requirement.

To Hot Water:

I may have misunderstood about paying when the order was placed however this was  three years ago and it was his first order with Scott and since it was such a large order Scott may have required some sought of payment when placing the order. I how ever did not pay anything until my dealer received the FL9s. I have since found another dealer who I can order their product from.

I just placed my very first order with GGD a few weeks back for the second run of the El Cap. I ordered directly from GGD and not only did Scott take my order but answered a number of questions and helped with at least two changes to my order. All the time he was communicating from China! He took the time to deal with a first time customer like I was the most important customer he had.

Dealing with Scott is a total breeze and while this was my first order it won't be my last.

BTW: my order for the El Cap totaled around 3K and I received an order confirmation from GGD without sending a penny upfront.

PS.. now I have my fingers crossed that Scott will come through and get that second run produced... I have faith baby!! 

I have always placed my orders online with GGD. There have been occasions where we changed ISP and I missed the email when the item came in. I almost didn't get my N&W K2a because of that. I reordered and it was all good. 

I have been dealing with all the mentioned dealers at the top of this thread and have never had a problem with anyone of them ever. Beth, Norm the folks at Western Depot (took the time top drive up and meet them one night when I was in sacramento) and last but not least, I'm sure I've driven Jeff nuts over my road number specific orders.

That said, Ive found with 3rd Rail/Sunset/GGD by dealing with Scott over the years, speaking with him at York and getting to know one another for the difference you "save" and profit etc, etc. I've been placing orders directly with Scott. That also may have to do with my last minute "get off the fence and order Sam" dilemma I always seem to have with big ticket stuff. But I will always continue to spread things around however.

I have seen Scott and Joe Hayter (Weaver) work together to get my N&W Mollie fixed as it did not run right out of the box.

Just for the simple fact that we (Forumites) have tortured him over the years for prototypes we all thought we'd never see, is reason enough for me to justify a little extra profit go right back to Scott.

I'm sure Mort is proud of what Scott continues to do with the company and the hobby, he carries on with his dad's love for the hobby and dedication to fine products.

IMHO, a great guy to deal with and you know your going to get what you want.

Sam Caliciotti