LHS question?

Vinny, there is one lesson to be learned here, I wouldn't be spending more hundreds of dollars with them again.

Hard to say from what you told us if this was an employee and not the owner who did a wonderful impression of how to lose a good customer.

That's why I posted this experience.  I feel really bad because I like the store.   One time when I was visiting New York I drove one hour in a rainstorm and spent $200.00 that day.

I can identify with your experience.  About five years ago I

called a hobby shop in Maryland.  I to live in Florida, I was

ready to place a $500.00 order with this hobby shop.  Like

you I had done business with this shop, and had good dealings

with them, or so I thought.

When I called and placed my order the person at the other

end of the phone call was rude and told me to call back some

other time due to a busy work load, and hung up.  Not a good

way to conduct business.

Needless to say I have never done business with this shop

since.  This was the only time in 27 years of buying trains

from Hobby Shops throughout the country I had this type

of experience. 

Many thanks,

Billy C    

Not to pile on but ditto. Spent about a $1000 with the nearest LHS in Burbank CA and was pretty much in love with the place and really nice people. Then called one day about getting service for an MTH engine I bought on the internet. Wow. Have not been back since. My investment in my layout since then is several times my original purchase with them. Have considered writing a letter to the owners but never got around to it. Sad.

I've said this before, but you can buy your widgets anywhere.  The only thing that sets a store apart is service.  And, William Cunningham, I would almost bet that the store in Maryland was in Kensington.

Like others you kind of like certain stores.  You want to help support them.  But when things like this happen it you real have to scratch your head.   It's not like people are breaking down the doors to buy trains.  Be nice to those customers you have.