Best, Safest, Most Reliable N-Scale Online Shops?

[randgust]

V&A glad to see you back!  Still have all that custom-lettered equipment?

[sirenwerks]

All of the above, plus wig wag in New Mexico.  I will agree on the Model Train Stuff inventory list that lets you know if its in stock, for sure.

Model Train Stuff, which is actually the e-side of M.B. Klein (a fantastic and long-standing LHS in Baltimore) is tops and, yes, its inventory is real time.  I've only had one instance where I was buying something at the exact same time someone else was, that the system failed me, and that was understandable. 

Wig Wag's website, on the other hand, is on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of availability.  If its on Wig Wag's site, it's a Russian roulette as to whether it is in stock.  And the owner's have always been slow to respond to inquiries (weeks... months...), and dodgy at that, and just as slow to apply refunds for out-of-stock products they were quick to charge my credit card for.

I used to like Caboose Hobbies for its second-hand sales, but that seems to have gone south and there are only a couple of layouts listed on that part of the site now.

Chuck at Feather River gets serious kudos from me too.  I miss living near his store (if 5 hours away is "near") because everything was out to touch and he'd stop and chat it up.  his mail order is top notch and his website's great.

If you're looking for prototype railroad books, I highly recommend Chuck Macklin at railroadbooks.biz.  Almost always, he has the best prices anywhere and he knows his stock and what's on the horizon in terms of coming publications.  His website leaves a lot to be desired, but he answers his phone promptly because he never takes it off.

[jdcolombo]

Wow . . . I had no idea M.B. Klein was in Baltimore.  I'm going there next week; definitely will add this to my itinerary!  I've ordered a ton of stuff from them always with great service.  Love the real-time tracking inventory on their web site.

And the others are the same as everyone else:
BLW
N Scale Supply
Fifer

For DCC stuff, including decoders, wiring supplies and so forth, my favorite is Litchfield Station.

John C.

[Scottl]

Wig Wag's website, on the other hand, is on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of availability.  If its on Wig Wag's site, it's a Russian roulette as to whether it is in stock.  And the owner's have always been slow to respond to inquiries (weeks... months...), and dodgy at that, and just as slow to apply refunds for out-of-stock products they were quick to charge my credit card for.

I've had a similar experience.  No word on an order and not even a confirmation they received it, and then months later, an email looking for payment.  For me, it was impossible to know if the order was even coming, so I have moved on. 

For those living outside of the US, what is often more important is how they ship.  I have found shipping with UPS almost always ends up with a customs charge and other fees, while USPS seems safer on that front.  If they use UPS, I shop elsewhere.

[C855B]

For those living outside of the US, what is often more important is how they ship.  I have found shipping with UPS almost always ends up with a customs charge and other fees, while USPS seems safer on that front.  If they use UPS, I shop elsewhere.

Most will accommodate requested shipping. F'rinstance, N Scale Supply normally uses FedEx ground (the green FedEx) for shipments requiring signatures. FedEx green is awful in our rural town. I asked the guys to ship USPS only, and there you have it, USPS from then on out.

[packers#1]

I buy from MB Klein - http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/. Never had a problem.

Thomas

This is a big +1 from me. I've placed many many orders there and have only had them slip up once; they mixed my shipping label and another customer's label up and so we received each other's orders; the MBK people were easy to contact, sent us return labels, and shipped our original orders back to us in no time. As I'm also on the East Coast, the cheap shipping option usually arrives in three days.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wow . . . I had no idea M.B. Klein was in Baltimore.  I'm going there next week; definitely will add this to my itinerary!  I've ordered a ton of stuff from them always with great service.  Love the real-time tracking inventory on their web site.

Actually, it's Cockeysville / Hunt Valley (about 10 mins north of the city on 83).
https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=M.B.+Klein+Inc.%2C+Cockeysville+Road%2C+Cockeysville%2C+MD&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x89c8126d837bdadf%3A0xb0e137b0d8b38715!3m8!1m3!1d46570!2d-76.6151415!3d39.396361!3m2!1i1187!2i725!4f13.1!4m2!3d39.47862!4d-76.653378

[CBQ Fan]

MB Klein
BLW
NScale Supply
Wig-Wag

Are my main suppliers.  Any of the ones mentioned in multiple posts are all good.

[spookshow]

I've been doing business with Pete at BLW for many years and have nary a negative experience to report. Great website, too.

Cheers,
-Mark

[OldEastRR]

All mentioned here are great; BLW is my main source -- Pete will also special order you anything N scale in the Walthers catalog. MB Klein has an advantage in one area: Bachmann equipment always seems to be the cheapest there. That didn't matter much in the old J-Class Bachmann days but with all the excellent stuff Bachmann makes now it's worth knowing.

[jdcolombo]

Actually, it's Cockeysville / Hunt Valley (about 10 mins north of the city on 83).
https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=M.B.+Klein+Inc.%2C+Cockeysville+Road%2C+Cockeysville%2C+MD&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x89c8126d837bdadf%3A0xb0e137b0d8b38715!3m8!1m3!1d46570!2d-76.6151415!3d39.396361!3m2!1i1187!2i725!4f13.1!4m2!3d39.47862!4d-76.653378

I'm going to be at the Mt. Washington Conference center, which is just off I-83 inside the beltway.  I think Klein's is probably about 15 minutes from there in normal traffic.  Already making a list of stuff . . . 

John C.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

I deal with shops in the US from Australia and there is a lot of trust placed in them that they are going to do the right thing. The ones I mainly deal with are.
Fifer Hobbies, MB Klein, BLW, N Scale Supply and Trainworld. I have tried to deal with Des Plaines Hobbies but as soon as you put in an OS address their computer has a hissy fit.
Regards
Al

[carlso]

 Fifer Hobby Supply

Mike and Robin are top notch. Best in New Mexico

Carl

[davefoxx]

One thing probably unique to me with dealing with MBK is that, even though it is my LHS approximately one hour away, it is actually cheaper for me to have the items shipped, because (1) gas and tolls far exceed the shipping (thanks, Maryland, for raising the toll to $8.00 at the I-95 Susquehanna River bridge ), and (2) I get charged no sales tax, if it ships to my home in Delaware.  MBK's shipping is usually very quick, so this is generally a no-brainer.

DFF

[brokemoto]

M.B. Klein
Trainworld
Feather River

I have dealt with these the most, and have been happy.


I ordered once from Wig-Wag.  The order arrived in a reasonable amount of time, for the quoted price and in good order and condition.

I ordered once from BLW.  It took a long time.  There was no  explanation until the order actually arrived.  The owner inserted a note stating that he had run out of a particular item, had to get it elsewhere, still honoured the original price, even though he was losing money on the deal.  Allright, he filled the order, for the agreed price and eventually did explain himself.  Still, a two line e-Mail of explanation would have been helpful.

I dealt with a  hobby shop in upstate New York whose name I now forget.  They took a long time, but they did keep me up to date with e-Mails and did fill the order.

The Favourite Spot is a FeePay dealer who specialises in Bachpersonn.  His prices are good and he ships quickly.

Since you were a modern  modeller last time around, RS LaserKits probably will not be much good to you, but I like them.  They specialise in structures and rolling stock from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.