(Poll) Best/Worst Hobbyshops

[Chessie_SD50_8563]

What are the best (and/or worst) hobbyshops you have dealed with. (no mail/web shops please)


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Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System
LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!!
LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!

[friscobob]

Best shops:
Two States Hobby, Texarkana, TX
Depot Trains, Grand Junction, CO
Caboose Hobbies, Denver, CO
Bobbye Hall's Hobby House, Dallas, TX
Bellaire Roundhouse, Bellaire, TX

All these have great service, friendly &
knowledgeable employees, and good stock

Worst shops:
Whistle Stop Trains and Woodward's, both in
Oklahoma City, OK

Surly clerks, haughty attitude, and unfortunately this voercomes the large stuck
on hand. I wouldn't recommend either one of these places to my own worst enemy!


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Ship IT on the Frisco!
Bob T.
http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html

[Chris McDaniel]

The best shops I've come across are M.B. Klein's in Baltimore, Train Showcase in Colorado Springs, and Plum Loco in Colorado Springs. Klein's has a large stock and everyone is very helpful whether in person or over the phone. Ron has great customer support at Train Showcase -- he deals primarily in N. The folks at Plum Loco have great support as well. It been several years since I've been in the Springs area though.

I didn't mention price because I'll tend to go with good customer support over rock bottom prices. I won't pay ridiculously high prices either. Fortunately, the shops I mentioned are great on all points.

Don't have a worst shop. I just return to the ones I like. If I'm out of their local area, I contact them and order by phone or web.

Look Ahead, Look South

[AKrrnut]

My favorite hobby store (besides my own, of course http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif ) is Whistle Stop Trains in Portland, OR. Charlie LeCain is very knowledgeable about trains, has a nice variety of trains in stock, and is very friendly and helpful, as is his staff.

I also like the Train Shop in Santa Clara, CA, although I seldom visit them because of the distance from SE Alaska.

Pat

[AFN]

I recommend Als in Elmhurst, Il. or Timeless Hobbies in Wheaton,Il. They are both well stocked and have friendly help. Chicago area has some really good shops. Valley Roundhouse in Spring Valley, Il. is also high on my list because of the large ammount of Rock Island models he stocks and because the owner is friendly and helpful.
To me any hobby shop is good hobby shop as far as stock goes. I always seem to find something usefull. I have only had one bad experience in a shop in Dolton,IL. The clerk that day (not the owner) cost his place around 70 dollars worth of business from me by having a lousy attitude. I swore I would never return to this place though I have many times. This particular guy no longer works there.

[ChrisDante]

For best shop it's a tie between Branford Hobbies, in Branford CT, Mark and Al really know trains, also HQ for anything New Haven, and Tony's Train Exchange, Essex Jct. VT. Tony is an expert in DCC, both systems and decoders and installation.
BTW both places offer nice discounts off list.

The biggest brass selection is at Caboose Hobbies in Wilton, CT. Bring your first born child as down payment on some of his brass, though.

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.

[E-8]

The best: The Engine House in Wichita, Kansas. http://www.rrtrains.com/ What a neat place. I used to go there every week. They not only have everything you need but the store is neat. There is a theater to watch train videos in while you munch free (and good) popcorn and it looks like a passenger car inside. I spent slightly over a dollar there - several thousand times http://www.trainboard.com/tongue.gif

The biggest: Caboose Hobbies in Denver. A must see. I was also in a neat one in Manchester, New Hampshire but the name escapes me.

The worst: Several and it would be for the same reason that others have mentioned - snooty employees that act like you are some sort of moron. That sometimes is the rule rather than the exception. I have been to a couple of stores where I walked out thinking; "Neat store but that guy was a moron."

When you walk in and are called by name and the people there know what you like and are eager to show (and sell) you the newest things that they know you will be interested in, then you have found your "best" store. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Charlie

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Ship It On The FRISCO! (http://www.frisco.org)

[This message has been edited by E-8 (edited 09 July 2000).]

[friscobob]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chris McDaniel:
The best shops I've come across are M.B. Klein's in Baltimore, Train Showcase in Colorado Springs, and Plum Loco in Colorado Springs. Klein's has a large stock and everyone is very helpful whether in person or over the phone. Ron has great customer support at Train Showcase -- he deals primarily in N. The folks at Plum Loco have great support as well. It been several years since I've been in the Springs area though.

I didn't mention price because I'll tend to go with good customer support over rock bottom prices. I won't pay ridiculously high prices either. Fortunately, the shops I mentioned are great on all points.

Don't have a worst shop. I just return to the ones I like. If I'm out of their local area, I contact them and order by phone or web.

Look Ahead, Look South<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What, you need an invitation to come to Colorado? http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif
Seriously, y'all are welcome to come out here anytime! And while you're out this
way, head north on I-25 and check out Caboose Hobbies in Denver- great shop!
See? Got yer vacation plans for 2001! http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif
See you next year.....



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Ship IT on the Frisco!
Bob T.
http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html

[Chessie_SD50_8563]

I should have said my recomendations when I posted this but I forgot. http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif

Best
Trains Ect. Cuyahoga Falls Ohio

Worst
Wistle Stop (might be shop I dont remeber) Also in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio


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Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System
LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!!
LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!

[Peirce]

Best: Railworks, Danbury, CT

Worst: Great American Train Stores (Now out of business.) They could not decide if they were a train store or a toy store. Also, they were overpriced, partly because they were located in upscale malls.

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Peirce Behrendt
Southbury, CT
peirce@ibm.net

[Chessie_SD50_8563]

OH YEAH GATS! never has more roadnames than Conrail CN or CP at any one time!

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Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System
LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!!
LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!

[pray59]

Well, for best, I think I like Hobbies Unlimited, in San Lorenzo. They have reasonable prices, good stock, very friendly and helpful staff, and I have never left there without hearing "thank you for your purchase, please come again".
As an added bonus, inside the shop is another shop; Digital Bay Control Systems (http://www.dccbay.com/), which carries most major DCC systems, and all are setup for you to try before you choose.

Before I started going here, I used to go to the place everybody loves, lowest prices in the bay area, largest selection I have seen, and for some reason, I just don't fit in there. (the shop is listed in this thread)
I have spent Thousands of Dollars there over the last 20 years, and they still don't recognise me... The owner and his wife are very helpfull and friendly, but their son is a jac*-***, and has always provided the rudest of service.
Typical stunts he pulls: I had spent $500 yesterday, but needed some detail parts and decals to finish a project, and a new clerk was helping me. Then the son walks by and stops to yell at the new clerk that he has to stand their and pull the detail parts individualy, when he had just pulled the bin out and handed it to me to sort through myself. As it turns out, by sorting through myself, I find all the things that I forgot the day before, and they get even more buisness. I'm not alone, several guys I met at the PCR advance section 2000 were saying they will stop shopping their when the owner dies and the son takes over. They say he should be kept in the back room doing ordering instead of interacting with customers. I agree!

Sorry for this rant, I just wanted to get it off my chest. PS: if you are going to the 2000 convention in San Jose, you will end up knowing what I'm talking about. http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif

[Maxwell Plant]

I'm glad I stopped by to see what you guys were up to. A poll like this should be where everyone can see it, it's just not a HO issue, it's an all scale issue. Sticky, do you think you might move this to the Inspection Pit?
Well, Incase it's not, here's my list.

Best ever! The Cajun Railroad, Baton Rouge, LA. Now under new owner ship due to the death of the owner, Ron Montey. It's still on Croyden Ave. but has a new name. I don't know it because I don't live there anymore. But there's a link to it at the Baton Rouge Model Railroaders web site. http://www.dovetailstudio.com/trains

Next best places to me are Adventureland Hobbies, Normal, IL., Hammers Hobbies, Springfield, IL. and Palitine Hobbies, Palitine, IL.

Worst places, The WhistlePost(out of business, thank God!), Springfield, IL., HobbyLand, Bloomington, IL. and All the Great American Train Stores.(of course, all going out of Business.) Why? POOR SERVICE! HIGH PRICES! SLANTED STOCKS! A model train shop should cover as many bases as they can, these did not.

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RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Style!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234

[This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 09 July 2000).]

[friscobob]

pray59,
Your experience sounds like one I had at Whistle Stop Trains in OKC (one of my choices for worst). My wife and I were discussing the photos in the book "Frisco in
Color", and had come up on shots of Frisco
power in Hugo, OK (her birthplace, and the town I married her in). The clerk butted in with some rude comment about "Well of course Hugo's in there- it was on the frisco!" I turned around, angered that this old cow (it was the owner's wife, no less) butted in, and in no uncertain terms told her to keep her nose out of private conversations, that I darn well knew Hugo was a Frisco town, etc.
The dirty look she gave me afterwards woulda
laid me low if looks could kill, but since she had been surly, mouthy and rude to other customers, I had little remorse for my comments. I also bought this book elsewhere, and have never been back since. No telling how much business this woman has chased off
with her attitude...
I'm not proud of chewing out clerks, but
she went over the limit with me and other customers. And yes, I've talked to several
people who have/had gone there and found out she's that way to everybody. Personally, I'd bite the bullet & hire someone to work the cash register myself.......


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Ship IT on the Frisco!
Bob T.
http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html

[StickyMonk]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maxwell Plant:
Sticky, do you think you might move this to the Inspection Pit?


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

done



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Matthew
wheres all the C636's????
stickymonk.com (http://www.stickymonk.com)
Matts Photo gallery (http://monkhome.homestead.com)

[Kermit]

The best is Caboose Hobbies in Denver. Tons of everything. Been there twice while on vacation and you can spend a whole day there just looking at everything. Also, have done quite a bit of mailorder with them and they've always been helpful and most importantly I get my merchandise by UPS FAST, FAST, FAST!

I also recommend J&L Trains in Parkville, MO. The owner is very helpful and friendly. He has a good stock and if it's not on hand he will get it for you. Another very good shop is Mainline Trains in Blue Springs, MO. Very nice store. Very clean and well organized. The owner, Lou Bowman, is very nice and sincerely wants to help. He enjoys trains and wants you to have fun.

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

No best and worst, I'll tell you the ones that I have had good dealings with and omit the names of the really bad ones. However, I will tell you some of the experiences.

Destination Train Control near Kansas City, KS. E-mail ordered several items including Tortoise slo-mo Switch Machines when I couldn't get them locally. Good results with quick delivery and good prices.

Palatine Hobby in Palatine, IL. E-mail ordered several items I couldn't get locally. Good results with quick delivery and good prices. Both of these e-mail order places have store fronts. That's the only way I'll do mail order.

The Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena, CA. Had everything that I asked for. Well stocked and enjoyed browsing during my visit. Clerk was a bit of a PITA but the store still ranks high on my list.

Thinking about it, there was also the Valley Roundhouse in Spring Valley, IL that I visited during an NMRA Midwest Region convention. A nice small shop with an owner who knew his inventory, had a lot of it, and was friendly and helpful.

In the Indianapolis area there is Train Central on the eastside. A small shop where the owner will work with you to try to get what you want. Big Four Hobbies on the west side in Plainfield. A fairly well stocked shop with friendly clerks and Tom Metzler Hobby Center in the south who also is well stocked with hobby supplies. The couple of clerks that I met there were friendly and went out of their way to help if they could.

There are others in the area, but I have either not been there or would prefer not to return. You know, trains are a side line, the owner is a… well, there were a couple of those, but one has now gone out of business and a couple of more too far to drive when there are good ones nearby. Anyway you go, it's about an hour drive to get to a local shop.

I recall one shop near Detroit that I visited a number of years ago. It was a well stocked shop with prices above retail on most items. I didn't stay long. One of the neatest shops was Downtown Hobby in Chicago. It was below ground near the Loop and also near the Subway (I believe). I went there with a friend who way picking up some traction materials. It has long since moved out to the suburbs and has a new name.

I don't understand why so many of the hobby dealers seem to have an attitude problem. I have seen some who would knock what you were doing unless you first attended their clinics and purchased only from them. I have seen others who were very surly until you bought a major item and then were very friendly. Then there are the ones who if they didn't have it, you didn't need it. Having been a dealer myself a number of years ago, I can tell you that it doesn't have to be that way. You can special order and you can be honest.

There are good shops out there and the ones that aren't, don't go back. Darn! I wrote a book. Sorry.

Roger

Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com

== http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html ==
== East Central Indiana Railroad ==

[thomas]

Here in the Dallas area it's Discount Model Trains. With over 50,000 items in stock all at 20% off. Bobby Halls tried to keep up with them by giving a likewise discount on most locomotives but couldn't do it for long.
I also like the fact that it's all trains and nothing else. Whenever I'm back home in the Joliet Ill.area I especially like Downers Grove Hobbies.

[Rappannahock Terminal]

When I come to Chicago I always visit Lombard Hobbies in Lombard. Great stock, great prices, friendly people.

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Paul Van Herwegen
Rappannahock Terminal Railway

[Ben]

Although the originator of this thread specified no mail order shops to be mentioned, the situation for those of us in the UK wanting to buy American is that there are only about 4 or 5 retailers handling this material so unless you happen to live near an outlet or travel a lot, mail order is the only option (especially when some of the suppliers sell by mail order only).

For that reason, I want to put on record the name of one of the most friendly, helpful, quick and reliable suppliers of American n scale to the UK community, North American Models of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

Ben

[Rappannahock Terminal]

Ben,

If you are interested in modern American N scale then I can pass you the address of a guy in the UK who has a lot of new second hand for sale. I sold my whole collection to him (100 locomotives and over 400 cars).



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Paul Van Herwegen
Rappannahock Terminal Railway

[Ben]

Paul, thank you - it would be useful to have the details of the gentleman you mention.

Can you e-mail those details to me?

Many thanks

Ben

[tunnel88]

Well, considering Caboose Hobbies is where i get lots of my stuff i must recommend them; for quantity that is.

Customer service now that can be a different story...

[espee2]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by E-8:
...When you walk in and are called by name and the people there know what you like and are eager to show (and sell) you the newest things that they know you will be interested in, then you have found your "best" store. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Charlie

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's funny, because my two local Hobby stores, are the complete opposite... the one where they remember my name, what I like and shows me new stuff..etc, the owner / clerk is a complete jerk... no body likes him... but he has good stuff... and the other place is friendly, nice, etc.. but they never remember you, and never seem to know what they're talking about... (they are RC experts, not model RR) I preffer not to mention names, but they are in Medford Oregon...

a good one is Tammys in Beaverton OR, and the Village Depot in Cottage Grove, OR., and the older one in downtown Eugene, OR...

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espee2

Home: www.tunnel13.com (http://www.tunnel13.com)¤
layout: SP's Newberg Branch in N scale (http://tunnel13.com/newberg.html)

[satokuma]

If in the Portland, Oregon area, a must visit to Lol at the Hobbysmith (http://www.hobbysmith.com/)...he remembers your name, Great N and HO; and Whistle Stop Trains (http://wsor.com/), all scales...just trains....

I agree with espee2 about the Medford shops...

BearCat
Home of the BearCat http://hometown.aol.com/satokuma/index.html

[Crabby]

If you are in NC go to the Little Choo Choo Shop in Spencer accross the street from the NC Transportation Museum and in Charlotte you need to try Trains LTD on Albemarle road.

[Justin May]

Crabby,
I'll second that Lil Choo Choo is perhaps the best in the Metro Area and gets my vote for best in the Piedmont. I have visited most of the shops in the Triad, and very few have decent stuff other than Spencer. I used to drive to Lynchburg,VA to go to Trainsunlimited, just for some variety and selection, he also gets a thumbs up for a great shop. Here in the Bay Area, Gold Coast out of Sarasota, and Happy Hobo in Tampa, get my vote- always great service and friendly help and lots of stuff for the craftsmen. Worst ever shop I went to was H&R out of St. Pete, they still sell items for list although they are 5-6 years out of production, even Athearn. And help as you yanks say here- Fa getta bout it. Y'all have a good one, and if anyone needs shop details here in Central FL, let me know as I have been to most all of 'em.

[Eagle2]

Gotta nominate 2 for best:

Train Showcase in Colorado Springs - great selection, and Ron is about the most helpful old geezer you'll meet (just ask him). It's especially nice that it's a dedicated N scale store, and he'll bend over backwards to help with special orders.

Lowery's Trains in Radcliff, KY - despite being rather attached to HO, Joe's also an extremely helpful guy, and is also willing to go the extra mile for a special order.

I suppose I'd have to express a preference for the smaller, owner/operator stores due to the fantastic customer service - as a matter of fact, both of the places I mentioned are SECONDARY businesses to the owners. The personal stake and, I believe, increased pride you find in these kinds of stores really makes a difference to me, rather than being customer #546 at some larger place.


Jenks - the REAL Big Blue

[This message has been edited by Eagle2 (edited 14 July 2000).]

[Alan]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben:

For that reason, I want to put on record the name of one of the most friendly, helpful, quick and reliable suppliers of American n scale to the UK community, North American Models of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

Ben<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I totally agree Ben. I have nothing but praise for the speedy, very friendly service from NAM



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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
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