Sometimes relationships with good people are more important than that $200, especially to those who can afford a $1200 engine. . . .
Absolutely! I will bend over backwards to do business with my LHS, because a good deal of the satsifaction I get from this hobby is due to it LHS. First, I just like to visit once or twice a week and talk to the store employees (I consider several good friends now) or other customers (same) and look over new stock. And often, I find I need something "desperately" right now for a project: some styrene, bassword, or brass sheets or rods for scratch building, a type of glue, some tiny screws of a certain part, or scenery and landscape material, etc., etc. They keep a wide selection.
So I order all of the really high-end stuff I buy through them, even though I can get Lionel, MTH, etc., both several days earlier and for about 10% less through the Internet.
that said, I did share with them my disappointment about the Berk I ordered not having the whistle steam (and yes, it is not that big a deal, as I said). They were concerned and were going to contact Lionel to pass on the comment and see about an adjustment - won't do any good, but they were sincere and I appreciate their effort.
