Hogtrainz

[cbroughton67]

Lombard Hobby (www.lombardhobby.com) has become my preferred online vendor. Their prices usually beat MBK's, and they seem to ship faster as well. I gave up on Wig-Wag years ago, and HogTrains' website is practically unusable.

[peteski]

Well -- there is http://wig-wag-trains.com/

I never shopped there.
Hogtrains (Paul) does provide excellent customer service when something goes amiss, but the website sucks when shopping on it trying to find things.

[Maletrain]

I tried Wig-Wag many years ago, had no luck, and quit trying.  At the time, I was wondering what I had done wrong.  Now I realize where things stand.

Regarding HogTrainz, the site does make it hard to figure out what he actually has in-stock and what is still not delivered but has preorders closed.  But, I do get helpful e-mail responses, and just placed a big order and have tracking info on the shipment at this point.  So, while the site is not so easy to use as, say N Scale Supply, HogTrainz does work for me.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Lombard Hobby (www.lombardhobby.com) has become my preferred online vendor. Their prices usually beat MBK's, and they seem to ship faster as well. I gave up on Wig-Wag years ago, and HogTrains' website is practically unusable.

I like Lombard. I'm trying to decide between visiting them and Des Plaines next time I'm in Chicago.

I only have two complaints with Lombard:
1. I feel like new stuff doesn't show up on their site as quick as it does at MBK.
2. The annoying email signup popup every time I visit their site.

[conrail1973]

Lombard and Midwest Model Railroad are my two places to go to because they are prompt with picking and shipping orders.  MB Klein continues to be hit or miss with picking and shipping their orders at times as it can take an extended period before it’s finished for shipment.

With regard to Hogtrainz, there’s nothing special with them getting things before the other shops, so I haven’t ordered from them in a while. 

[CBQ Fan]

Lombard and Midwest Model Railroad are my two places to go to because they are prompt with picking and shipping orders.  MB Klein continues to be hit or miss with picking and shipping their orders at times as it can take an extended period before it’s finished for shipment.

If you read MBK’s website they tell you exactly what day’s orders they are shipping. Since I order at least once a month I can tell you all of my orders have shipped on the advertised date or earlier.

[John]

MBK no longer has the best prices on many things -- plus the Maryland taxes, and the higher shipping costs makes it less likely that I will purchase from them -- when I compare shipping and no sales taxes, vs the prices -- Lombard, Midwest, Yankeedabbler come in very competitive .. a free society capitalism at work

[flight2000]

I like Lombard. I'm trying to decide between visiting them and Des Plaines next time I'm in Chicago.

I only have two complaints with Lombard:
1. I feel like new stuff doesn't show up on their site as quick as it does at MBK.
2. The annoying email signup popup every time I visit their site.

Lombard has been my #1 for a long time now.  I think the delay has to do with them making sure they fill all of the reservations first before releasing what's left to the website.  That's really the big difference between Klein's and Lombard and it seems Kleins usually orders more in quantity for each item.  I still use Kleins as they have better discounts on some manufacturers and I like their membership with free shipping, but they do collect states sales tax for certain locations (VA and OH in my case).

I always try and make a point to visit both stores when I'm in Chicago.  You might spend the same $$$ at both stores, but you'll walk out with less at Des Plaines because they are full MSRP.  They have a lot of older stock that's hard to find though.

Cheers,
Brian

[Mark5]

MBK no longer has the best prices on many things -- plus the Maryland taxes, and the higher shipping costs makes it less likely that I will purchase from them -- when I compare shipping and no sales taxes, vs the prices -- Lombard, Midwest, Yankeedabbler come in very competitive .. a free society capitalism at work

Yup. It has been this way for me for several years (since around the time Ted passed away). MBK is still in my "top ten", but I have maybe half a dozen other "go to" places that consistently offer better pricing (net of shipping or simply outright).

MBK used to have a local advantage for me - in that they used to have an actual retail store where I could throw the locos on the test track before I walked out the door. They ditched that a few years back when they went all online. 

[Scottl]

I tried Wig-Wag many years ago, had no luck, and quit trying.  At the time, I was wondering what I had done wrong.  Now I realize where things stand.

I visited Wig-Wag while in Santa Fe last month.  The store was a disaster with everything haphazardly piled and a state of filth I don't think I have ever experienced in a retail store.  I had to get let in after answering questions at the locked door.  I was shocked compared to my visit about ten years earlier when it was an excellent store.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

MBK used to have a local advantage for me - in that they used to have an actual retail store where I could throw the locos on the test track before I walked out the door. They ditched that a few years back when they went all online. 

It definitely still has the local advantage for me, but that's largely because I drive by it on my way to the grocery store, making it very easy to take advantage of the curbside pickup.

My biggest complaint is that they've kinda let the "staples" aspect of their product lineup dry up. For example, their Plastruct, Evergreen, K&S, etc... stocks are very hit or miss.

Perversely, my "LHS" is great for new releases or big ticket purchases (maybe not the absolute best price, but tough to beat for convenience in my case), but it's the "small stuff" that they're less good for.

[squirrelhunter]

I visited Wig-Wag while in Santa Fe last month.  The store was a disaster with everything haphazardly piled and a state of filth I don't think I have ever experienced in a retail store.  I had to get let in after answering questions at the locked door.  I was shocked compared to my visit about ten years earlier when it was an excellent store.

Ive had good luck with just calling Wig-Wag over the phone. They've been friendly and helpful when I've called.

They seem to have a lot of old stick stuff. Makes sense since ordering online is very hard and it sounds like the retail storefont is a mess.

But honestly, I'd argue that having that dusty old stock stuff is something I value in a retailer, most everyone has the same price and shipping cost on new stuff.

[CBQ Fan]

Ive had good luck with just calling Wig-Wag over the phone. They've been friendly and helpful when I've called.

They seem to have a lot of old stick stuff. Makes sense since ordering online is very hard and it sounds like the retail storefont is a mess.

But honestly, I'd argue that having that dusty old stock stuff is something I value in a retailer, most everyone has the same price and shipping cost on new stuff.

I wonder if the disarray has to do with the owners cancer status and COVID concerns.

[MetroRedLine]

I wonder if the disarray has to do with the owners cancer status and COVID concerns.

Several years ago, Wig-Wag used to take their show on the road, so to speak, and be a vendor ay every large model train show west of the Mississippi. They would have one of the largest vendor spaces at the train shows, and "hire" local modelers to help set up/break down inventory (and get paid in store credit - I bought some Kato locomotives/Superliner Sets/a Digitrax DCC system by helping them out whenever they'd do the Great Train Show in the Southern California area). Because they sold on the road a lot, they'd leave with a large inventory, come back with a smaller inventory and re-stock before hitting the next show.

Because of the owner's health issues, they stopped doing train shows around 2014 or so. So they don't cycle through inventory like they used to. I could imagine them having items that are sold out at the more popular online hobby shops, but it's hard to really know.

[Scottl]

Several years ago, Wig-Wag used to take their show on the road, so to speak, and be a vendor ay every large model train show west of the Mississippi. They would have one of the largest vendor spaces at the train shows, and "hire" local modelers to help set up/break down inventory (and get paid in store credit - I bought some Kato locomotives/Superliner Sets/a Digitrax DCC system by helping them out whenever they'd do the Great Train Show in the Southern California area). Because they sold on the road a lot, they'd leave with a large inventory, come back with a smaller inventory and re-stock before hitting the next show.

Because of the owner's health issues, they stopped doing train shows around 2014 or so. So they don't cycle through inventory like they used to. I could imagine them having items that are sold out at the more popular online hobby shops, but it's hard to really know.

I am sure there are many gems buried in the store (and I use buried in the literal sense).  Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to find anything.  I left thinking the business was not viable but perhaps they still fill a niche.  It was rather discouraging to say the least.