Where do you buy your kits?

Marcus McBean

The vendors that really give the biggest discounts are the ones that have brought their wife along!

So true 

I generally use Hobbylinc.com . I would love to buy locally because I'm all for supporting small, local business, but the closest hobby shop is about an hour - an hour and a half away (depending on traffic). If I want an actual model focused store, I have to go a lot further than that. Anyway, I can get all my supplies from hobbylinc for half of what hobby lobby wants. Most of the models run cheaper too. 

Shows are a great source,but there are only so many around,and you cantv add lays find the newer kits at the right prices,so I also use the sources I mentioned in my previous post.

Marcus McBean

I have purchase kits using all of the methods in the previous replys.  But the best bargains I found were from the vendors at the shows.  They will really discount the kit so they wouldn't have to take it back home.  The vendors that really give the biggest discounts are the ones that have brought their wife along!

Second that!  A couple of years ago, at our Region 2 show, I got a pair of Monogram C-47s, in the original boxings (so, with the paratroopers) and a pair of B-29s, each kit for ten buck, because the vendor was packing up and didn't want to have to take them home again.  If I could have gotten them for $5 apiece, I'd have been even happier, but I still considered it a bargain.  For smaller kits, I find them for $5 or less.  Always keep your eyes open!

WannabeFarmboy

I generally use Hobbylinc.com . I would love to buy locally because I'm all for supporting small, local business, but the closest hobby shop is about an hour - an hour and a half away (depending on traffic). If I want an actual model focused store, I have to go a lot further than that. Anyway, I can get all my supplies from hobbylinc for half of what hobby lobby wants. Most of the models run cheaper too. 

 

Scalehobbyist is cheaper than hobbylinc. Just sayin'...

Wow guys, should never have an issue ever again. Thanks for all the great information!

-Raindog

I use pretty much all of the online retailers that everyone has listed. If I am looking for a specific item, I will typically see which retailers have that item and then see who has the best price including the shipping. Typically I purchase from scalehobbyist.com or hobbylinc.com, I know that Squadron says that they will match other advertised lower prices; however, I still find that after shipping they are still a bit higher priced, plus, I've not had the best of luck with shipping items from Squadron, I still have an item I ordered last year around this time from them that is floating around the US Postal service somewhere.

Another place I've found is a local dealer, jachobbies.com. He is here in Idaho but will ship as well. For me its nice because he will do local delivery or I can meet up with him to pick up something. His prices are pretty comparible and he does sales offers from time to time. Plus, he's a super friendly guy.

It appears as though the great folks here have pretty much covered many of the options available. most of which I also use. Yet, there is another option which I have been utilizing for over a year now. That is auction, sell and trade groups on Facebook. I have scored a number of outstanding kits, AM parts, decals, books, etc... on these. Most of which were obtained at bargain prices. Not to mention some very hard to find kits. The 2 that I use the most are "Military Model Sell and Trade" and "Military Model Graveyard". Folks sell and trade during the week and on the weekend the groups conduct auctions. One is a 24 hr auction and the other a 48 hr auction. The action can be rather fun and lively. There is also another group associated with these known as "Good Traders/ Bad Traders' that lists people that are unsavory to deal with and folks that are reliable and trustworthy. Helps out to check this prior to dealing with someone you are unfamiliar with. Just another option at our disposal for enhancing our stashes. Lord knows it has balloned mine exponentially. I hope this helps out. If you have any questions, please ask.

I've ordered from all the famous retailers, but I now almost exclusively buy from Scale Hobbiest: https://www.scalehobbyist.com/index.php.

SH has the lowest prices, a huge inventory, ships fast, and provides super high quality customer support. 

If I'm not buying locally in Arizona (Hobby Bench,) I'm usually ordering from the following:

http://www.monstersinmotion.com/

http://www.culttvmanshop.com/

I usually like to keep up with the latest releases using buc wheat's website as well. The models usually have a link of where you can purchase.

http://www.bucwheat.com/

 I even find great deals on Ebay and Amazon!

I just got back into doing some stuff again a few months back and happened to run across what I was looking for at Hobby Link. Maybe I got sucked into that bonus point thing too. I have no idea how they are on pricing but the couple orders I made were shipped quick and all that good stuff.

Bought a couple models on Ebay that seemed to have been discontinued.