Does the Forum Influence Your Equipment Purchases?

No not really, but it does influence me who not to buy from.

Absolutely!!
Without a doubt what I see and read on the forum influences my purchases.

No longer, but it used to influence me.  

YUP!
I was very pleased with the way Menards® handled Lee Willis.

(Picture Originally Posted by Lee Willis)...Posted Here-
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...ds-new-feed-and-seed




Here is a description of my newest… Forum Inspired Purchase:

         

(taken from their site)
         
This O Gauge Menards® Seed & Feed building is our biggest and best building yet! This building is hand painted with all sorts of added details such as the authentic vintage advertising on all four sides. The Menards® Seed & Feed building has (2) LED outside wall lights and (1) blinking red LED elevator room light (requires 4.5-volt AC adaptor - sold separately). Additional details include the O gauge feed truck with working headlights parked out front, (4) moveable figurines and Jack the German Shepard all complete the look of the Menards® Seed & Feed building. This building is limited edition so, supplies are limited.





K.C.

The forum has given me a lot of purchase idea... It used to be ebay, but now it's the forum.  From individual's posts to forum sponsors.  At reading today I am looking for a rail inspection car!!!!!

Most recently, Dave/LBR became a forum sponsor and "out for delivery" via USPS are my NP North Coast Limited passenger car decals I purchased from him.

 

Awaiting the Menards hobby shop building product announcement from "Mark the Menards train guy."

 

Having only recently returned to the hobby after a 10+ years hiatus, I'm just now catching up on what's been made in my absence and the forum is a great place for that and product info.

I would say yes.   It offers us a chance to hear about the pros & cons of a particular item..... so it could also influence us to NOT buy something due to a product design or quality issue.   Secondarily, though: to which of the 20 different forums does the original poster refer?  Should not this post actually be placed in a special forum about comments on the forum?  

myself being a newbie to O gauge, it gives me ideas and some places to shop for items and details I have never heard or thought of before.

You bet. We appreciate the ideas and suggestions that appear here daily and they influence what we buy AND do not buy. We don't have a LHS so forum advertisers almost always get first opportunity.

 

An example... someone posted a video of the gold Polar Express that I had paid no attention to when it came out. Paula saw... "Wow, I want this."

 

Then we saw one in Hampton at a train show and two days later ordered it from a forum advertiser who was at the show. We posted a picture of our grandson opening it, total excitement that is what this hobby is to us.

 

Brian and Elizabeth started their new layout. Fabulous to say the least. We have a ton of Dept 56 North Pole everything. Paula's brother (a contractor) will be here next weekend with plans in hand.

 

Influence. Thank goodness yes.

 

Thanks Brian and Elizabeth and everyone else. When we visit Paula's brother in Augusta, we would like to stop by and see your creation.

Of course

Ben

For me, and I suspect many of those in different parts of the country without train dealers with any current stock, the Forum is a great resource. Reviews, especially with pictures, are a substitute showroom for those of us who have nowhere to go to look at items we might consider for purchase. Reviews and pictures in the Forum have served to both persuade and dissuade me from making purchases over the years. It's been very helpful.

I see you have a must have.Yeb aleve because every now and then.Thishobby can give one aheadace.

LOL…..You got that right!

I do prefer Advil-

 

K.C.

"When we visit Paula's brother in Augusta, we would like to stop by and see your creation."

 

We would love to welcome you and your wife.

If anyone here truly thinks this forum doesn't influence buying decisions, then just check out this thread. 

 

David

The forum does give me new ideas.  I collected the post war (I am missing one 6464 car), now after the Big Boy I have been exploring the new!!!  Train of the future, Acela etc......   My credit cards are thanking the forum!!!

 

I think if you are passionate about your hobby and an avid reader of this site, Most modellers WILL be influenced one way or another, consciously or subconsciously.

 

There David...did I answer the question????

I can definitely say that this Forum has influenced some of my purchases.  There are some purchases I have made after hearing about how great a product is from others on the forum.  In addition this Forum had a large influence on my purchasing habits for die-cast vehicles for my layout.  I'd probably have stuck to buying cheaper models for vehicles, if not for the sound advice I received from other forum members.  I had always viewed the vehicles as secondary, but was convinced that isn't necessarily the case.  I have also purchased a locomotive or two after seeing the beautiful pictures and videos posted by members.

 

I love the (mostly) healthy debates that forum members have about different products and look forward to joining in more and continuing to listen to the advice of the experienced and friendly modelers on this Forum.  Who knows, maybe one day I will contribute to influencing others in this hobby as well.

"WHEW", It has lately & costly.

Well,  posted earlier in this thread that it did not.  But, after reading about the Future liner bus, I bought four buses to add to my vehicle roster.  If anyone is interested, I ;posted pictures on another thread, 1:43 vehicles cost.  So, yes it does.  And Like Spence before me, it aids to empty my pocketbook.  

Absolutely yes. I have purchased items from the for sale board, and found a few new shops that I would not have known about otherwise.  Also, I have had work done by forum members that I would not have known about otherwise.  Even such things as building supplies, natural scenery materials, and tools are discussed here all the time here and those discussions naturally have some impact. 

Definitely. Lately I bought a nice steam engine then the Lionel M1000 from forum members plus just bought a bottle of Mega Steam and use Red N tacky. Don't buy new engines and cars but, if I did< I would certainly consider member's remarks. Certainly more than magazine reviews. Really, it would be stupid not to, don't you think ??

Forgot to add TTender for parts. I called Tuesday early afternoon, left a message, Jeff called back in about 7 minutes, I told him what I wanted, it was all priced and we were finished in another 10minuts max, I wrote a check and took it to the PO, E mailed him-"the check is in the mail" and he mailed it out Wed. morning. I expect it tomorrow in the mail. I was sort of in shock over the whole thing.  Really not used to such response. I will deal with him again. I have read many comments about Jeff Kan and T Tender. Thanks.

Many threads and replies are slanted towards brand favorites. I try to sort out the truth and go from there. So yes I do believe the forums have an influence on purchases.

Still NO.

 

I would have to say YES.  Last year Flash posted a thread about his MOW train.  Seeing his pics and video prompted me to put together my own MOW train.  I then purchased 1:50 scale backhoe and tracked excavator, 3 or 4 side dump cars, some balsa wood strips to make ties and a heavy weight Madison baggage car needed to make my MOW train similar to Flash's.  I also have a couple of MTH rapid discharge cars on order to add to the train.  

 

Larry 

Not really, but it does provide a lot of entertainment.