Best places to buy online? (both price and service)

Great links
Try this one, I found this on Alclad' s homepage:
http://www.internationalhobby.com/ihs/

Great stuff guys! I never new most of these palces even existed! Let me add two for aftermarket decals amd general modeling that some of the newbies (like ME!) may not be aware of:

http://flightdecs.ca/

http://www.hannants.co.uk/

Funny - my new model will have a kit from Florida, decals from England, Photo Etch from the Czech Republic, lighting elements from New Hampshire, and I've even had to order electronics components for this kit all the way from Australia!! It's an extremely well travelled kit and it will never likely go far from my own home!


Bri~

P.S. Keep the store suggestions coming!

Definitely squadron.
It's one of the few I've tried, and they've been very very nice about everything, since my first order had a problem. They called and e-mailed till they got a hold of me, and straightened everything out, then shipped my kit immediately.

My best luck has always been with evil bay. Not exactly an online hobby shop but Ive gotten hard to find kits, airbrush compressors, modeling supplies... You just have to know what your buyings worth.

I know this is an old topic but i have not seen anyone recommend the one i use. I use modelexpo-online.com and have had great results and turnaround. I am not fortunate to have a good hobbyshop nearby so i have to use mailorder for everthing

As it turns out, Great Models is just down the street from me! I've found two fairly big model shops I didn't even know existed in the last week and both are within about a ten minute drive of my house! Great stuff.

I like www.rollmodels.com and www.greatmodels.com. Greatmodels has a better selection, rollmodels has better prices. They are just a little quicker too. Squadron, I was unimpressed with their prices.

I've had pretty good luckl with modelexpo.com
Bruce

My experience is...
Squadron you can count on relatively quick and correct, but they might be slightly more expensive than some.
Tower Hobbies has good stock and great pricing but their packaging leaves something to be desired, I had a Attack Radio, Battery and Multi-charger all whipping around in a big box with one deflated air-pack. Another shipment had a few dented or crushed boxes from the same problem. So far no damage to the actual mechandise.
Hometown Hobbies will get you anything out there and have the probably the best prices overall, but you usually have to wait. They don't ship for 6-8 bus days from order normally but might be longer if they have trouble finding things.
Hobbyworks has some incredible specials, but it's hit or miss if you are looking from specifics. They don't list a lot on their site, but are very cooperative.

By the way, has anyone noticed Tamiya paint lids are always loose?

Squadron is the only one I have used and I very rarely order from them as it is not cost effective because I am usually only buying an item or two so shipping costs are not worth it. I find it cheaper to go to the LHS and actually pay a little less because there is no 5-6$ shipping charges, plus I have it right then with no wait for delivery.
I did order some resin AIM-120 missiles from Squadron here recently though as the LHS did not carry them. That made them expensive having to pay shipping on a product that is the size of a 1/144 scale WWII aircraft model box. [:0]

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by jblittle254 What little patience I have is reserved for building the models. -Jonathan

I'm with ya all the way Jonathan!!! I have very little patience when I order from a company. When I want something, I want it now!!!

www.internethobbies.com has some good prices. I also believe that if you buy from them and you find the same item cheaper they will give you the difference.
mark956

Hobby Link Japan ( www.hlj.com ) and Grand Prix Models ( ww.grandprixmodels.com )for 43rd scale are my 2 favourites both of whom I've used for years without any problems.

I've done a lot of ordering from Squadron, lately. Very quick turn-around (most orders ship the next day), decent prices. Overall, I'd give them 4.5 out of 5. Unfortunately, there is no way to track your shipment . . . which bothers someone like me. What little patience I have is reserved for building the models. It makes me feel better to be able to track a package's journey across the country. But that's my only real complaint.

-Jonathan

I have ordered from these sites: squadron.com, modelmecca.com & missionmodels.com. I have also bought from Michigan Discount Models and Victory Models at model shows here in the midwest. Both businesses also have internet sites.

I have had great service from "Michigan Discount Models"(10 day turnaround), "Squadron.com" (3 week turnaround), but the fastest ever was "The Barrel Store" in Canada (6 day turnaround). I have had good experience with all these and don't forget I am ordering from overseas (Oz).

Cheers...Snowy

although i dont have much experience with online model purchases. squadron was quick and the order was intact. i am going to try international hobby suppliers and phoenix (heard much good of them) but havent as of yet. btw the prices are all pretty close it seems.

joe

I've never found anything that I wanted at their website. When I decide to get a kit, AM parts, or references, I do searches on about 5 different places, including internet hobbies, and they have never had anything in stock I wanted, and/or the price was a few dollars higher than any others. That's the best reason for shopping on line.....comparing prices with 5 different store in a few minutes, really cuts down on the gas costs!!!

Is Internet Hobbies really all that? I see them ALL over the place - and I have to wonder if they're really THAT good, or if they just have a huge advertizing budget and then pass the cost on to the unsuspecting modeler...

Curiously,

Brian~

My top three are www.squadron.com
www.greatmodels.com
www.megahobby.com
all are usually within a couple of bucks of each other, but to tell ya the truth, megahobby has always been the fastest for me, I mean within a week!!! Pretty good turn around.

I like squadron.com They're in Texas. They always get shipments out fast. They reply quickly and with great service. 5 out of 5 stars. www.squadron.com