grzyboskitrains.com

Also be sure to check the shipping rate. 

Thanks Pete, actually, it's not as competitive as MTS, with MTS, adding in 2 similar LC+ locos (by weight and boxes,) it's ~$14 via UPS Ground, it's double at grzyboskitrains.com

I have bought from Grzyboski's since the eighties. For Lionel they have always been my go to people. I have never gotten a badly pack package from them. Their prices are great. Very good customer service. But as with any dealer you may not get what you want because it has sold out..............Paul

I  always have been pleased with Grzyboski's (including packing) but never purchased merchandise that had to be returned.  ModelTrainStuff did get my last order due to pricing that included a Black Friday discount, but Grzyboski's historically has been the place to shop for new merchandise I didn't know I wanted until years after released.

Thanks Hobby and Paul, I think I may try them out. My go to will always be MTS, but these LC+ locos are from Lionel's 2015 Catalog and probably wont be stocked by MTS, so I'll give Grzyboski a try. I can't do Train World even at the same price because of Tax, even though I live a few miles away from them, at their Brooklyn, McDonald Ave location

I have never had a problem  with them. 

I've been leaving money at Grzyboski's for about 20 years now. While I can't speak to phone/internet ordering (Grzyboski's is my local train shop and I pick up everything in person), their prices have always been among the best. I have only had one problem in all my purchases there - over the last 18 months or so, I have purchased over 20 Fastrack switches, one of which was DOA out of the box. When I walked in with the box under my arm, Joe just looked at me and said "bad switch"?, I said yes and he took it and replaced it, so I'd give them an A for service as well.

Does anyone have any experience buying anything from grzyboskitrains.com

I have purchased from them through the internet / mail, in person at their store, and at various train shows, including York. I find that they are nice folks and good to deal with.

Good people.  Been dealing with them via the internet since my first trip to Steamtown many many years ago.   

Great Service. Quick turn around. Someday I will make a day trip out to their store about 150 miles from here..

good people from my experience

if you are concerned about a particular hard to find item, why not ask them to inspect prior to shipment

they might agree

Gigabyte:

I don't know where you in NY are (your profile only says "New York"), but if you're going to the Big E show in Springfield, MA in a few weeks, you might ask Grzyboski if they can bring your item for you to pick up at the show to save on shipping.  Grzyboski has a very large presence at the Big E.  The other advantage is that you could physically inspect your item before completing the purchase.

I'm not sure if they still do it, but I did this with them successfully 3-4 years ago.

I have done business with them since the late 1970s.  No problems here.

Steven J. Serenska

I'm a local guy and often go to Grzyboski's on my lunch. I've never had any issues. I recently bought a legacy diesel and after a few weeks the smoke unit stopped working. I took it back to Joe and he got it fix for me; no issues.  My only complaint ,and it is a minor one, is that I have a hard time navigating their website sometimes trying to find something in particular. I think their search engine could be better. 

I've purchased from them online and at a few train shows.  Never had any issues.

Tony

My dealings with them have always been top notch. They are one of my go to dealers for certain.

I have been buying from them  for perhaps 18 years, since I got back into the hobby. I haven't had the pleasure recently, as my buying has been almost non existent for a few years. They have been great. The first time ever in their old store Joe even gave my wife a Lionel gift. I think everyone now requires buyer to pay return postage ( it is a facet of business I think in the USA ). Time was shipping was cheap.

I once priced them against everyone else and they are within pennies of Ro, Trainworld, etc, etc. I went throughall the Classic Toy Trains and OG Magazine ads for months to come up with my opinion.

I heartily recommend purchasing from them.

Joe Junior is actually the elder, Joe III is his son and an adult in every fashion. ( It confused me at first ).  At the shows other family members help out.

Ernie

Yes, they are a Top 10 Lionel Dealer, well Respected in Our Hobby, and I personally give them a Thumbs Up on their Great Business Ethics's.  Their new store is on my Soon To Visit List, after The York Meet in April. Their prices advertised are very Competitive, Their Shipping Prompt, Their Packaging Excellent, Their Warehouse is Clean and Orderly....If you are looking for older Quality Lionel or other brands of trains, they are an honest source.  I have bought many many trains from them, never any issues....Great Question, Great Post....Happy New Year...Let's run trains.

Grzyboski trains has been around a long time. I first started buying from Joe in the early 80's and have always found him to be a reputable and honest dealer. Most of my purchases have been at the train shows but I have placed a few occasional mail orders with him.  His prices have been very competitive, he has a wide selection of new stuff and an inventory that goes back 20 years or more.  An A+ supplier.

Unfortunately I had a so not pleasant experience about a year ago that really ****ed me off . They had a 2-10-10-2 and I asked them what they where asking for it and I got the famous what are you willing to pay for it.   That really ****ed  me off I don't care if you wanted 4K for it just say it . 

I have had no problems with them at shows, willing to dicker a price.  If you live in PA., and order on line, you'll get hit with 6% sales tax.

They offer new items released ages ago that Lionel's warranty would not cover like the 1989 PRR B6 0-6-0 and the Reading T1 4-8-4 also of 1989. My question is would they repair or replace the item if defected. If they opened and test run the model then would it still be considered new? Maybe going to the store and buying it in person would be the answer but its too far away for me.

Purchased a lot from them. Never had a issue. I prefer to call them and check if my want item is in stock. I actually do it that way with all the dealers when I find items on their web sites.

They have been a very good source for me in locating hard to find items.

Larry

They offer new items released ages ago that Lionel's warranty would not cover like the 1989 PRR B6 0-6-0 and the Reading T1 4-8-4 also of 1989. My question is would they repair or replace the item if defected. If they opened and test run the model then would it still be considered new? Maybe going to the store and buying it in person would be the answer but its too far away for me.

IMHO, if they open and test run an item, it would not be considered new to a collector. Any operator might not care.
If you want to know their policy on a new, old stock item that is defective out of the box, I think you need to ask them.

I had nothing but trouble with Grzyboski's trains/ J.TRIPP3. I bought a FEF3 from them that did not work and was out of warranty. In the end I had to buy the parts and fix it myself. I will never buy from them again with the way they treat there Web customers.

My wife and I just made several purchases from them over the last month. I have purchased from them in the past and never an issue. Very nice and easy to talk with, heck Joe  even carried stuff to my truck for my wife while I was busy browsing which led to a surprise gift for me at christmas time.  At about an hour northeast of me this is now my "local" go to shop.

Gentlemen,

   The Big G has always been a 1st class business, been around many many years with a great reputation!

PCRR/Dave

C W Burfle posted:

They offer new items released ages ago that Lionel's warranty would not cover like the 1989 PRR B6 0-6-0 and the Reading T1 4-8-4 also of 1989. My question is would they repair or replace the item if defected. If they opened and test run the model then would it still be considered new? Maybe going to the store and buying it in person would be the answer but its too far away for me.

IMHO, if they open and test run an item, it would not be considered new to a collector. Any operator might not care.
If you want to know their policy on a new, old stock item that is defective out of the box, I think you need to ask them.

I would consider it new, collector or runner. I have always thought it was downright dumb to never open a sealed box to test run a loco. I probable would feel safer with that behavior if it were an Apple or Sony device but with Lionel that's too risky. Out of say 15 new engines, I guess maybe 5 of them had no issues at all.

After all, we do hope they test run it before they put it in the box at the factory...or is that the problem?

I usually buy stuff from them at York. 

In thinking about it, I think the issues with QC at Lionel or toy trains in general, make it really difficult for any dealer to have a 100% positive review. I have purchased at Ro, Grzy, MTS, Just Trains, Trainz, Nassau, Nicholas Smith, Legacy something or other, and probably a few more and find them all caring and trying to price, ship, and do the best they can while trying to make a living and stay in business. I think it's a tough business and the customers may not always be the most capable and talented in using the product.

Always a good experience with Grzyboski’s and as others have mentioned their Lionel inventory is deep. I’ve mostly bought from them at York (great specials) but have ordered a few times online.

Having said that also will plug Model Train Stuff (M.B. Klein to many of us) and owing to their location they are one of my main go-to dealers. I order online and usually do in-store pick up to save shipping. Inventory not as deep as G’s but they have great prices. And the best web site in the business. Real-time, updated inventory.

Great reputable dealer.  I've purchased many items.  No issues.

There are different ways to look at everything.  Buying new old stock always comes with the risk of something not working as designed.  Most stores will gladly exchange a defective product when it's "current production", and they have extras in inventory.  New old stock is a different animal, and a given store may be the only place who has that item... and they often might have just one at that.

When in doubt, just ask about the store's policy before completing the transaction.    The whole warranty discussion is more a problem at the importer level than any given dealer anyway.  In what other industry does the warranty clock start ticking when the manufacturer or importer ships something to their dealers?  The warranty clock usually starts when a consumer buys something.  And the manufacturer or importer should ultimately stand behind their product. 

BTW, Grzyboski Trains gets high praise from me since 1980.  I sometimes arrange for them to bring something to the Allentown ATMA meets.  And they accommodate to save shipping costs and PA sales tax (if you're paying in cash or check at the show).

David

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with this dealer, I really appreciate it. My concern is their return shipping policy. Let's say the LC+ loco I want cost $12.50 to ship via UPS ground, and if the item is defective for whatever reason (wont start, defective MB, etc...) then I have to pay the return which will probably be higher than $12.50 at a retail UPS center, then pay to have another shipped. I think it may work out well for in-store, but I'm on the fence for mail order. I think I may order the two LC+ locomotives from them and take a chance. My budget is limited to about $800 a year, so I want to maximize every dollar, and these two locos will cost $626 with shipping, the remaining balance to be spent on a few more ME signs, some switches, Lionel Pigtail connectors and some structures.

And specifically to Steven, MA is too far out. At that travel cost point, it would be cheaper to pay close to the MSRP that others are selling the locos at.

Thanks again to everyone, I really appreciate it.

No issues with them

Good people only bought 1 item but I'm probably gonna make several more purchases this year

Top notch dealer!

MDuppy posted:

I had nothing but trouble with Grzyboski's trains/ J.TRIPP3. I bought a FEF3 from them that did not work and was out of warranty. In the end I had to buy the parts and fix it myself. I will never buy from them again with the way they treat there Web customers.

Out of warranty are the operative words here.  Why anyone would buy anything with a motor out of warranty by mail is beyond me, but to each his own.  I have been buying in person and by interwebz from Grzyboski since the mid 90s.  Never had a problem until I bought the LC+ Lackawanna Camelback.  HOWEVER, I am fortunate enough to have 3 Lionel/MTH authorized service stations within 15 miles of my home.  That camelback was in and out of the shop for 5 months in 2015.  That's not on Grzyboski, that's on Lionel.   Your mileage back and forth for warranty work may vary.

Gigabyte posted:

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with this dealer, I really appreciate it. My concern is their return shipping policy. Let's say the LC+ loco I want cost $12.50 to ship via UPS ground, and if the item is defective for whatever reason (wont start, defective MB, etc...) then I have to pay the return which will probably be higher than $12.50 at a retail UPS center, then pay to have another shipped. I think it may work out well for in-store, but I'm on the fence for mail order. I think I may order the two LC+ locomotives from them and take a chance. My budget is limited to about $800 a year, so I want to maximize every dollar, and these two locos will cost $626 with shipping, the remaining balance to be spent on a few more ME signs, some switches, Lionel Pigtail connectors and some structures.

And specifically to Steven, MA is too far out. At that travel cost point, it would be cheaper to pay close to the MSRP that others are selling the locos at.

Thanks again to everyone, I really appreciate it.

One issue with the "discount" is that the margin is so low that providing return shipping might not be possible. I was told that it cost about 15% of gross just to pay the bills. Salary, building costs, insurance, taxes, inventory loss, and on it goes. So if the price is really a bargain, then the risk is that you might have to pay return shipping should some issue occur.

Almost makes a dealer say that they charge a few dollars more, but it insures that the hopefully few returns are post paid.

ns1001 posted:

They offer new items released ages ago that Lionel's warranty would not cover like the 1989 PRR B6 0-6-0 and the Reading T1 4-8-4 also of 1989. My question is would they repair or replace the item if defected. If they opened and test run the model then would it still be considered new? Maybe going to the store and buying it in person would be the answer but its too far away for me.

On this, I think the Lionel warranty expiration is a bit to harsh. Seems like they could extend the warranty to cover out of the box issues to 10 years or some such. Of course this doesn't account for lack of repair parts that far out.

BTW, different industry and product, but BMW motorcycles have many, and almost most, parts for models up to 50 years out or more. I have ordered suspension springs for a 1960 model and received one spring, and a back order for the second spring marked "ordered for manufacture by outside vender". Try topping that with Lionel...except for Mike R's efforts on the gears for the Niagara. Good show on that by a true train guy I am learning.