Where Do You Buy From Internet Or Local Shop ???.

[NoelG]

Where Do You Buy From Internet Or Local Shop ???

 

There are no local model shops left anywhere near where I live. Marks Models is about an hour away and they have a good range on the floor of the shop, so most is bought from the internet, eBay and various online retailers like Hattons, DCC concepts and Rails, Peters Spares, Eileens Emporium, etc. Interestingly I have started to buy from German web sites over the past two years (eg Kieskemper and modelbahnshoplippe, etc) who have very keen pricing on electronics, DCC, decoders, etc.

[RAF96]

I support Great Eastern Model Railways shop whenever I can, but certain things I have to source from the internet.

[BobM]

Hi

Personally 'a bit of both'....always try to shop locally, since Modellers Mecca sadly closed it retail outlet in Wall Heath.....my nearest shop is Footplate in Kidderminster, so always like to patronage that wherever possible, always a pleasure to browse and purchase there.....shop easily accessible via mainline or SVR from Bridgnorth....shop online if I cannot pop over to Footplate (mainly due to SVR duties) on other occasions, but local a priority.....

 

Regards always.....

Bob

[Darwinian]

I buy very little RTR / RTP items so local model shops (Great Eastern Models and Langley Toys in Norwich) sadly only get my custom for scenic materials, plasticard, paints and the like. One RTR loco came form The Train Shop in Scarborough whilst on holiday, the remaining few were bargain clearance items online (Hattons and Hereford Models). For the more "finescale" stuff I use a mixture of shows, internet and occasionally mail order where suppliers don't have web ordering. 

 

[ELTEL]

Well for me it’s mainly Topp Trains in Stafford all thought I have used Hattons and Kernow.

 

The kettle is always on so a browse and a natter at least once a week.

 

Eltel

[Culmhead]

I buy from the internet, local shops and traders with at exhibitions.

 

We are very lucky in Burnham-on-Sea, we have Victoria Court Models (excellent for Ratio, Peco, Wills, Dapol, Busch, Plasticard, etc), GW Hurley (has great range of Humbrol (not Rail Colours) and Revell paints etc) and GS Models  ( Precision Paints, 'T' gauge,  imperial nuts, bolts, drill bits and profile) - these are all within a half a mile of each other and within a couple of miles of me.

 

There are items that neither of these stock, in which case I use the internet or buy from traders at exhibitions, especially for spares and the now hard to find items, such as detailing parts.  As regards e-bay, in several hundred purchases I have only been disappointed in a handful of cases - perhaps I've been lucky.

 

I also buy from Kernow, Hattons, Rails, Model Rail Direct (20 miles away) and various others especially when, when I spot a  bargain!

 

All in all, I buy from all.

 

Edited April 3, 2019 by Culmhead
brackets

[brianusa]

As other expats have mentioned, the internet is the only way for us especially if into other than OO.  Doubly difficult if one is into old toy trains.  I used to frequent the couple of hobby shops nearby for bits and pieces, track, etc, but they all disappeared.

 

Brian.

[The Stationmaster]

Generally my 'local' model shops - the nearest is an hour's drive away so relatively handy.  The other is several counties away so visited less frequently and so some stuff comes by post or - as recently - was collected at an exhibition.  Plus occasionally at exhibitions but almost entirely for things I can't buy from my 'locals'.

[Andy Hayter]

Another one living more than 1000km from my nearest shop stocking 4mm products.  Even for H0 the nearest "model" shop is over 1 hours drive away and only stocks paints and PS sheets - it is mainly for the RC modeller not the railway modeller.  So on both counts the internet is a vital link which I can back up from time to time with a visit to an exhibition or swap meet.

[Widnes Model Centre]

 

To be honest, l have never been keen on buying through the internet. I am the type that has to have the item in my hand and deal with shops face to face.

 

Only. ever buy from my local model shop. 

 

Well, I would do wouldn’t l ?

[JaymzHatstand]

I'm fortunate to still have a local shop, Monk Bar Models in York, and most of my RTR purchases have come from there. As others have said the cost is comparable to online when postage is factored in, and they'll test the loco for you which is a big plus.

 

It is worthbits weight in gold too when it comes to the sundry items like glue and paint too, which really aren't economical to order by post so I'd much rather pay the odd quid extra here and there and help to keep  such a useful emporium going.

 

Specialist bits and bobs are either an internet or show , or sometimes still a letter and a cheque purchas, but as this is a Hornby thread then most of that is locally sourced!

 

Cheers

 

J

[truffy]

13 hours ago, brenn said:

For any one in London....This is a simple one to answer...there are no local shops....Internet and Ally pally or a trip to Kent is about the options available.

 

Does Tooting count as London or (not really) Kent then?

http://www.janestrains.co.uk/

[john new]

1st choice - local where possible for the convenience, 2nd choice, buy at a show, then if both those fail, on-line. However, even the better model shops often don't have what you want as they can't stock everything. The smaller the shop the more holes there are in their range. Example, my local one does not sell any 00 diesels.

 

The internet is great, we have an Amazon order coming later today, but for things we couldn't get locally although my wife and I had both tried.

 

Even for routine stuff we prefer to go to the shop rather than have it delivered. 

[Joseph_Pestell]

1 hour ago, truffy said:

 

Does Tooting count as London or (not really) Kent then?

http://www.janestrains.co.uk/

 

Before Tooting was in London, it was in Surrey not Kent.

[Big James]

Local model shop first if they don’t have it then I’ll go to the internet.  Like I had to do with my H class & A1X. 

 

Big James 

[No Decorum]

My once mighty local shop has deteriorated to a few items of ancient shop soiled stock and train sets. It now depends on non-railway items. So Internet it has to be. I will buy from the big players but mostly I buy from smaller shops. Despite their being quite far away, they usually manage next day delivery.

[DaveF]

 

I model the Midland Railway around 1912 in 0 gauge and Swiss Railways in n gauge so my local model shops are used for just about everything except rolling stock  i.e. scenic bits, track, paint etc..  There are several within just over half an hour's drive.  I only use the web/phone for things I can't get locally, though I also buy at local exhibitions.

 

I build a lot of my O gauge stock from kits which I buy at exhibitions or using the Internet/phone.

 

Most of my n gauge stock comes from a local trader who sells at exhibitions or by mail order, I've known him for many years.  From time to time I'll buy using the web/phone from other dealers if they have something I particularly want.

 

David

 

 

Edited April 4, 2019 by DaveF

[Phatbob]

Local model shop gets my £o££€¥.
Use it, or lose it!
I have an excellent model shop on my doorstep.  Plus a couple more within half hour's drive for anything they don't do.
Interweb box-shifters don't get anything out of me unless they're offering something unique, or it's a VERY special offer and out of stock locally.

[Wickham Green]

3 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

 

Before Tooting was in London, it was in Surrey.

How did they move it ?

[tomparryharry]

Internet? Hmmmm. I've used 'Bay quite a lot in the past, but I realised not to get too worked up if you don't win with 'your' bid. Obviously some are prepared to pay more than you thinks it's worth. Being a circus, you'll get to see similar items time & again. "haven't won that? Don't worry, here's another....".

 

If I want very specific items, I'd go specific shops whom  I'd know would have them in stock. Going on a whim is useless, and, harmful on your wallet. Otherwise, I'd end up with all sorts of stuff, which 'sort of' works, but not quite. I've largely stopped using either method of procurement until I build something I can actually run.

 

Happy modelling,

 

Ian. 

[wombatofludham]

My nearest full-fat model shop is in Bettws y Coed, a good hour's drive away, which I do actually use.  Other local sources such as Porthmadoc Models, are more skewed towards wargaming, or like the Tal-y-Llyn, more skewed towards a few rolling stock items (and mainly kettles at that!). so unfortunately I have no real alternative to the Bay of Thief or the big box shifters.  However, if I'm visiting an area with  more in the way of model shops I will use them, it's a very nostalgic, almost child-like pleasure to spend time and money in a model shop just looking what is there and seeing a variety of stuff in front of you.

[truffy]

3 hours ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

 

Before Tooting was in London, it was in Surrey not Kent.

 

Yes, I know, which is why I noted "(not really)". But Brenn...oh, never mind

[MikeParkin65]

My two favourite emporiums are both within 45 minutes by motorcycle (Cheltenham and Hereford). When we visit York (which we do regularly) we normally stay in self catering accommodation just around the corner from Monk Bar. These 3 get the majority of my RTR purchase money and modelling supplies. I use shows for most of my specialist purchases  detail parts, crews, DCC etc)  - York and Bristol shows both looming. The remainder of my purchases are the odd Ebay bargain and sometimes a souvenier to support a heritage line or loco group etc.

 

After a disappointing experience with the Hornby Sir William I have pretty much given up on buying RTR loco's from the internet. 

[Joseph_Pestell]

11 minutes ago, truffy said:

 

Yes, I know, which is why I noted "(not really)". But Brenn...oh, never mind

 

So why bring Tooting into it anyway? The other guy presumably meant Sidcup (formerly Kent, now LB Bexley)

[Bluemonkey presents....]

Sadly lost the local (ish) model shop a year ago so have to rely on shows and the internet. Seems this is a growing common theme.