02-16-2012, 12:06 PM
MY local hobby shop is about 2 miles away. When I want something, I send him an email asking him to order it for me. If he has the item in stock, he answers that he has it and sets it aside for me. If he doesn't have it, he orders it and lets me know when it gets in. He discounts everything 10% and members of a model railroad club get an additional 5% off. I find that his prices are very competitive with online dealers and there is no shipping charge.