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The Train Shop
Rating Details »
Categories: Toy Stores, Hobby Shops [Edit]
1829 Pruneridge AvenueSanta Clara, CA 95050
(408) 296-1050
- Hours:
Mon. 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tue-Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
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"After many years of passing by this place to hit up Streetlight records, I finally dropped by. I was MESMERIZED by everything they had.…" read more »
11 reviews for The Train Shop
Let me preface this by saying I know next to nothing about trains. Found this place on Yelp as I wanted to find a small model train for my boyfriend's Dad for Christmas. He works for the Long Island Railroad in NY and is big into trains.
I thought this would be a tiny shop with a few expensive train cars, but the place is pretty big and they have everything from Thomas the Tank Engine sets to fully functional model train sets. They also have tons of books on trains and other novelty stuff.
I was able to find a model train of a Long Island car for ~$90 which is basically what I was looking for. If you're a train nerd, I think this would be a great place for you. If you aren't into trains but need a gift for someone who does, you can probably find what you're looking for here.
The owner (pretty sure he is the owner) has been helpful as well as some younger guy and lady who works there, so those folks get an A+ from me. Both are extremely helpful.
I have found the prices right there with prices I have found online (Ebay), if not cheaper, as well as a good selection of stock. They can compete with just about anyone in my opinion.
The service needs improvement and I think the owner needs to have a team huddle with his sales reps and get on the same page. Some of these guys working there are not only not helpful they are rude like the fellow I was dealing with a couple weeks ago.
Perhaps the fellow I was dealing with was just ignorant of proper customer interaction. In my case I was having a problem with my indoor layout and needed to buy a transformer that had a bit more power, but not something like I'd use for my larger outdoor use. I hadn't purchased a new transformer in years and simply didn't have a good grasp of the newer models available. This guy didn't have problems chatting it up with anyone over the age of 60, but when I explained what I was looking for he pointed me to the transformer isle. When a fellow next to me, who came in after me, asked him about a transformer he quickly came out from behind the counter to help him. (can I help your sir while I ignore the guy who is standing right next to you and who came in before you as well as has been standing 5 feet from me for the last 10 minutes, whom I will then let struggle for another 15 minutes?) He brushed his finger across the stock of transformers and before I could turn my head to ask him a question he was already back at his roost fiddling with something behind the counter. Had no interest in discussing additional questions I had regarding my setup, just didn't want to listen. So, I'm sitting there looking over the transformers that he brushed his finger over and we have everything from a tranformer that will run a kiddie train all way to a transformer that will run a layout the size of half of all of the backyards in my neighborhood combined. At that point I just grabbed a transformer that luckily worked out for me. (great price I might add, $15 cheaper than anything in the same model online after I got home)
I left with a sense that someone just gave me some serious attitude........ because someone just gave me some serious attitude.
When you are in the front of the store with customers you should be prepared to answer the same questions every day. You should also be prepared to answer questions that are very basic, what you personally deem "stupid" and treat people with respect (chuckle after the customer leaves, not before). If all of this annoys you, then either put up with it with a smile on your mug or do something else.
I have been collecting and running trains for over 30 years and the model train community is overall one made up of fairly warm people willing to help just about anyone, new or old to the community. The guy I was dealing with is what I believe to be a rare bird in our community. What I have seen with this particular representative at this store is not indicative of the model train community as a whole, so don't let a bad experience there turn you off.
It's important for any of us in the hobby to keep ALL of our Bay Area train stores running not only for us but for future generations. Considering the excellent service I've had from the owner and the other two folks there I will definitely be back to purchase more stock, parts and other needs as I have in the past 60 days.
Zero to hostile customer service!!
I recently ordered two Athearn HO locomotives from these guys for my son for Christmas. Most other hobby shops were sold out and they happened to have the items. I'm in the military and routinely have to shop online or on the go as I am fairly busy.
I asked them to send to my station address and waive the sales tax as it was an out of state purchase. When I recieved the items, I called and requested to return one of the locomotives that my son already had, although I didnt realize it when I bought it for him.
Upon hearing this the sales clerk transferred me to the owner who proceeded to complain to me about all the paperwork and hassle I had caused him when he sent me the items..and now I wanted to return an item? He complained long and loud about how much work I had caused him. I have been in the hobby for 17 years and have never had this type of issue. I was extremely surprised as I have never had this type of encounter with a hobby shop.
The owner continued to be an absolute ass on the phone, complaining about all the paperwork that he had to do to waive the sales tax and complete my order. Ended by telling me that if he didnt receive the item back in "perfect" condition that he wouldnt honor a refund. Needless to say, I have sent the item back fully insured, signature confirmation, priority mail, and well packaged. Im waiting to see if he comes up with an excuse as to why he cant refund my money, then I will go to the local attorney general.
I notice that they dont have a functioning order website like most hobby shops these days..and with customer service like that, and an apparent ineptitude with paperwork I can understand why.
Needless to say I will deal with the bigger stores that have the capability and understanding of what military servicemembers go through while stationed away from our homestate. We all make ordering mistakes sometimes and most stores I deal with have no problem with a refund.
My recommendation: Go elsewhere..prices arent that much cheaper and if you need a refund, you wont have to listen to a diatribe about their personal business shortcomings.
This place totally rocks! I've been going here for 20 years now .. sheesh.. that's older than most of you that are probably reading this!!
As an avowed model railroader, and unabashed train nut, there is no better train-oriented hobby shop west of Denver than this place! 1) Discounts: Everything is discounted about 10-15% off list, if not more, 2) the book selection is UNparalleled, even when compared against the Calif. State RR Museum Bookstore up in Sacramento.
3) Heavy and deep stocks of HO, N, O, S and G scale MODEL trains, and an excellent selection of Thomas the Tank Engine toy trains for the little kiddies too. No toys, except for Thomas.. Just model trains that adults are into filling their basement empires with!
For HO scalers, the selection of Athearn, Atlas, Walthers freight cars and locos is unparalleled. N scale and G scale excellent stocks as well. I can't think of another shop in NorCal that has as much N or LGB as this place.
Service is great, but then, the owners finally took me in and smile at me now.. probably because I might as well direct-deposit my paycheck there.
Caveat: Just don't go looking for Lionel toy trains here, that tinplate stuff is for other places like Tinplate Junction (Oakland,CA) or Loco-Boose in Redwood City.
Summary: This place is like Costco for model train nuts.. NOT to be missed.
Really great inventory. I'm only giving them 4 stars, because when you need help finding something, they generally just give you Walthers Catalog and tell you to give them a part number. Of course, if you find something you want, there's a pretty good chance they'll have it.
One thing they really excel at it tools. The tool aisle is probably worth a visit if you like to build things even besides model trains.
A whole wall of railroad books. Most are expensive, like train books usual are, but if you poke around sometimes you can find a bargain on some obscure railroad you never heard of, if you just need a fix and don't want to spend too much.
If you are a big train nerd it is cool. If you aren't they kind of act like they can't understand why you chose to live life as if you aren't a big train nerd and they really don't have time to educate you. Cuz they're busy talking shop with other train nerds at the counter. Kind of like when Ford guys get together. On the other hand I'm not saying that gaining acceptance here is like getting jumped into the Crips or anything. But I don't know personally.
It's a cool store, though. And I probably reeked of holiday-shopper-who-will-buy-once -and-never-return stinky cologne.
Bobby Bacala from the Sopranos would go apeshit in this place! Every conceivable model railroad component can be acquired here, from handmade, $4,000 locomotives in big scale through tiny, imported German exotics. This is a serious hobbyist's store, with little space devoted to frills or displays. The entire place is given over to stocking everything the wistful tabletop tycoon's heart could possibly desire. They even have an entire wall of bags of different kinds of materials, like different types of miniature rock, sand, and gravel, to line the railbeds with the accurate material for different parts of the country and different railroads. Now, that's devotion.
It's a store entirely devoted to model trains! If that's what you're looking for, you'll love it.
The best model train store in the Bay Area. Maybe all of California!
Yeah, this is the train shop I was hoping for. I went in while waiting for my girlfriend to be ready to go out, and immediately had to text her that it was a good place (she knew I was going).
The "prototype" book selection, documenting the 1:1 scale railroads, is AMAZING. I'll be going back after payday to get at least one, maybe two or three books from the big back wall of books. I didn't quite understand the organization of the books, but when my wallet is fully loaded I'll ask for help.
I saw a lot of locos and rolling stock that were of interest, as well as all the usual supplies and tools and accessories. They do have two aisles that are dedicated to locomotive displays, with test tracks available on top of them. Probably not the best for short viewers, but there was probably a stepstool somewhere. They carry a wide range of magazines for various scales and interests, and the issue of N Scale Magazine that I picked up had an article on a desk layout that I'd just been thinking about last week. Perfect timing.
Now that I know how to get here, I'll be back. And probably broke. But that's okay.
This This is the best train shopin the state if not the country. They are extremely helpful at the Train Shop. They have a huge selection of railroad books. They are hands down one of the best places to buy a brass train. They also have a good selection of Accucraft trains, This was one of the last places to stock the live steam K-27. I am now the proud owner of 453. I love this shop they were so helpful.
