How Many of You Have Purchased From Forum Sponsors

I have purchased all of my rolling stock (Atlas O, Lionel, MTH, Williams by Bachmann), FasTrak, my Lionel Legacy Southern Pacific GP9, and my Williams by Bachmann Union Pacific E7 AA unit from forum sponsor The Western Depot in Yuba City. Altogether, I have gotten thirty items from TWD. Been there on five occasions over the past three years, and I will be going back in several weeks to look into a new locomotive (Lionel or Williams by Bachmann) along with one or two of their K-Line Exclusive items (cabooses, Western Pacific PFE refers, Die-Cast hopper cars, and other stuff). 

I would think it would be very rare for a forum member NOT to have bought anything from some forum sponser. I don't buy much, but I've bought from at least 6.

The real question is, "What sponsers did you buy from that you had not considered before they became a forum sponser?".

With this hobby we ALL need each other and the sponsors know it. I do check them out as almost all that I purchase is from them now that our LHS is no more!!

Well...I can see that those who have been "requesting" a forum sponsor index are all excited by Rich's announcement!  Rich and I have been talking about this for quite a while and the concern was that an index would negatively affect any reason to click on the banner.  Now....we have the ability to link the index and banners in our system software so that using either one will be tracked and recorded as if the banner had been used exclusively.  This is a good thing and will represent added value to our advertisers....plus....for those of you that are wanting a quicker way to find a sponsor, then this should do it.

Thanks,

Alan

Alan , you are just making the best, better (if that is possible).

At least 6.

Joe, et al.,

Had I not been a member of this forum, I would not have seen, let along bought, an American Flyer (by Lionel) C&O Geep from Nassau Hobbies.  Good guys to deal with, and the loco came in a few days.  There was a minor issue with the product, but not enough to send it back.  All fixed now, and I'll probably order from them again.

Jerry

Alan, 

Great news.  It will be nice to have a easy to navigate list without having to wait for the ad to come back into view every few minutes. 

Good news about the forum sponsor list. Looking forward to using it soon. Thanks for explaining it Alan.

My first place to go for major purchases now is Pats Trains.  I learned of him through the forum.  Never knew about him until . . . bought a lot of locos from him, probably will buy alot more next year.

I learned about Nicholas Smith Trains from this forum .... when I stated I was looking for any train stores while I was in Philly.

Boy, am I glad I did. I buy all my O stuff from those guys, and expect to do so for life, both in person and online.

Alan, props to you and Rich for finding a solution for easy access to forum sponsors while not diluting the value to them of their scrolling, banner ads.

I'm thankful for the sponsors of OGR, and have purchased from no less that 6 of them over the last year.  I really like sponsors that contribute to the discussions on OGR as well.  I don't have a LHS in my area, so for me, it's like getting to know them a little better which is something I miss about not having a LHS.  Sometimes these discussions point you to a product you had never considered integrating into your layout, or a simple repair technique that improves operation.  

Alan, I think the list is a great idea as well. Many times, I want to click on a sponsor's banner to find something, but I have to refresh, refresh, and refresh to find it. It's still hard to find sometimes as you never know where it will pop up.

Go to the alphabetical list, click link, done!  

Always; without them this forum wouldn't exist.

I just went through a major hunt for the Scale PE Cars using the sponsors.

Purchased 4 cars from 3 different sponsors.  Would like to have purchased all 4 from one sponsor, which was possible, but their price (with shipping) was about 9% more than if I purchased individually from 3 different places (with shipping), and they were not willing to price-match the individual total.  Stinks that USPS/UPS/etc. gets shipping money 3x, but either way, I found 4 cars, all from sponsors.

In addition, it also helps to call, especially small LHS's, vs. just check on-line stock.  I found one place, a non-sponsor, that had the Abandoned Toy Car on their shelf, but it wasn't listed on-line, and it was 25% off MSRP!  I was shocked, considering on-line auctions are going for 150% MSRP.  Needless to say, I now have one of the cars I thought I'd never get.

Yep, I have bought and continue to buy from some of the forum sponsors.  Most of them I've bought from even before they became sponsors.

Nassau Hobby

Charles Ro

Legacy Station

Nicholas Smith

Patrick's Trains

Public Delivery Track

Just Trains of Delaware

Aaron's City Trains

All within the last year and every dealing was a pleasure. A great group of people from all over serving this Hobby. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU.

Trainz and Tin-Man so far and I am just getting started (wife groaning).  I appreciate the sponsors. 

Sidebar...... Las Vegas Lights • This puts me in a buying mood.

  Click artwork to enlarge

Mercerjunction,Scenic express,GarGraves trackage corporation.

I try forum sponsors first - really great service and companies.

I have purchased from a number of sponsors past and present ... plus those who only advertise in O Gauge Magazine.

Those sponsors and advertizers include:

Just Trains of Delaware

Harrison Trains

Miller Engineering

Scenic Express

Marios Trains

Train World

Side Track Hobbies

I also support my local hobby/train shops.

I do try to deal with my local hobby shop, but have on many occasions bought from quite a few of the sponsors here! They have all been wonderful to deal with!

Uncle Al

If this ends up being a type of casual survey ( I'm sure many manufacturers and retailers would be interested, not just OGR sponsors)  sign me up.  I have made purchases from both OGR magazine and OGR forum advertisers as well as non-advertisers for many years.  

However, I have definitely spent a much higher percentage with forum sponsors in the last couple of years because of the increased exposure  (Banners) ,  and especially because of forum sponsors being able to inform me by posting relevant info on new product, unusual items, and up-coming special pricing events.

Seems like a good thing for OGR, forum members, and the toy/model train business.

Steam Rules

"a country boy can survive!"     (Bocephus,  1981)

I live in Southern CA and don't have an LHS near by. I refer to the sponsors frequently as my first choice for layout purchases. For trains I go straight to Mario's Trains. Have done lots of business with him so he affords me good prices that include shipping as a courtesy. Rolling stock I snap up on the forum and eBay when the price is right.

I have but this was before I came on this forum.

I have bought from several sponsors, more then  even realized. 

Don

  I've purchased quite a few items from forum sponsors in the past.   I've also purchased some RMT and Ameritowne items from my local hobby shop, which is just a few minutes away.  I'm retired now, so I have to stretch my dollars.  Fortunately, my LHS has great prices. 

Not me. None of the forum sponsors I've ever looked at have much of what I need. Very few have much in On30 and I'm not into 3-rail at all.

I have looked, however as I agree that supporting them would be a good thing.

I do buy from some of the sponsors an one which is my LHS Mercer Junction Dave is a good person an very helpful.If it wasn't for him an the local train guys I would not be as far into my layout as I am.Its nice to have a train store close by for help an knowledge.

You have an exceptional LHS and are very lucky to have Mercer Junction as your LHS. This is also a good message for others to support their LHS's as well. If we don't support them they will be gone. We will have no place to go for advice, to talk about trains and to look at and purchase them. I enjoy visiting mine and I go just about every week to see what is new in the store or new with the hobby. I sometimes visit even if I don't really need to purchase anything. Price isn't everything, dealer support and service are worth something and I doubt is any LHS owner is getting rich by selling us a few trains, I know mine isn't.