Ross Custom Switch Source

They may have gotten that initial order wrong, I heard it was $2500.00 not thousands.

It's amazing in this day and age that any product still sells at retail list price. Wonder how Ross can keep it up, been that way for years. The dealers that I knew that discounted it have long gone out of business. Heck most of the Hobby Shops in this area (Northern Ohio) have gone out of business. Most of us look for Ross used because of this.

Check with forum member Dave Minarik "King Mouse". He owns Mercer Junction In Mercer, Pa. I know he handles Ross products.

His store is www.mercerjunction.com

Check Hobby Haven in Urbandale (Des Moines) IA.  I bought a few switches there last month.  Not sure how much they have on hand though. 

http://www.hobbyhaven.com/

You'll have to call them, as their site doesnt list their Ross stock.

Give Jack or Matt at Sommerfelds Trains in Butler, WI a call at 262-783-7797.  If they don't have it in stock they'll order it for you - and they will discount.

John

C.T. McCormick

http://www.cttrains.com/index.htm

They have a great selection of Ross products.

George

Robert,

You may buy directly from Ross.  For large orders you should contact them directly and not use their web.

http://www.rossswitches.com/

Jan

You really can't fault ANY manufacturer for selling direct to the public for MSRP -- ESPECIALLY when they have a dealer network, 'cause often manufacturers tend to NOT want to compete with their own distribution infrastructure -- lest they wake up one day to find there ain't no dealer network anymore. 

I wouldn't doubt for a second that the folks at Ross might work with individual purchasers for very large quantity orders.  But to openly post discount prices on their website would fly in the face of establishing good relations with their dealer network.

On a similar vein of thought... once a company has a well-established dealer network, you'll seldom if ever see them blow out their inventory direct to the general public.  Rather they'll clear out the inventory through their dealer network -- or one big dealer, for example -- and then those dealers  (or the one big dealer) will have what we've come to know as a "blowout sale".

But back on topic here... bottom line, there seem to be enough dealers of Ross switches to purchase what you need at a price with which you'd be reasonably happy.  Better than paying pure MSRP for the size order you're talking about.

David

He has ross switches  in stock ..  Even 3 ways and 4 ways to i think

Thanks guys, we have feelers out now with Chicagoland Hobbies, Mercer Junction, and CT McCormick. 

Glad to hear it.

I happen to have a pair for sale in that section of these forums.

Catoctin Mountain Trains & Hobbies in Thurmont Md has great prices on Ross switches.

...keep the rails polished...

We can get you anything you need also.

George, I just checked CTTrains.  They do indeed carry a large selection, but the prices are same as ordering directly from Ross.  I think what was originally wanted in the first post was a dealer that discounted the switches.

Having said the above, it might just be that CTTrains are very customer responsive and can ship faster than Ross, IMHO of course.

Bill

David's comments are spot on. 

I just wanted to add that even at MSRP, I think the Ross switches are worth every penny.  For $80 or $90 (depending on the switch motor used) one get's a very attractive, well made, U.S. made product. 

My experience is that discounts on Ross switches are usually in the $10 range.  For purchase quantities of switches this can add up.  However, when I've only needed one or two switches additional switches, I've just ordered them directly from Ross as I can get them in a couple of days.

I've ordered the switches from Bob (Am Hobbies) in the past, but the new prices on the website seem to be at MSRP?

Jim

I've made a lot of turnouts over the years and I can say that there is no better switch in O scale 3 rail than Ross. That's the mechanical side of this story but the business side is different .

I personally would not pay MSRP for the switches if I was ordering 35. Oh I could see wanting MSRP on one or two but not to work with someone knowing your going to sell 35? Even a 10 dollar discount is going to be 350 bucks but course we're talking about 2500 dollars worth of switches.
There are other options out there that can be just as reliable and although Ross makes a great product , I hope the original poster will find someone who want's his business enough to give him a discount. To me not to discount 35 switches is being ridiculous.

David 

Totally agree!!.  Paul is great to work with.

I suggest giving Charlie a call......

I hope Bob is okay.  This seems sudden - my prayers go to him at this time.

trains n toys in north canton sells ross

phone 330 499 1666

we just placed a huge order via them and all is good.

tell trains n toys jerry sent ya

anyway i have 7 used ross switches with ballast on them 6 in working order 1 needs repaired - missing rails.

want to sell

Thanks again everyone for all the input.

Mercer Junction (Dave Minarik) took our order. You all know who is he, his store layout is pictured on the latest issue of OGR Magazine

As usual, I'm late to this thread (dead thread?), but I got my Ross 6-way switch

directly from them. Nice piece; cost the world; works well.