Side Track Hobbies South — Local services in Bristol

This place has issues.

First, the staff. The guy is ok but the lady that works there is always between rude to downright hostile. In one instance, I brought my selections to the counter. She looked them over, made a face, said something like "I don't know anything about this stuff" and yelled for the guy. In another, I was rummaging through some used stuff and she pointed at me and yelled to the guy "IS HE ALLOWED TO TOUCH THIS? I DONT THINK HE IS!". The kicker was when I was outside conversing with a fellow model railroader. She came out, cursed us, and ran us off, saying that we were "costing her sales".....never mind that I had just bought several items from the store. No, lady...YOU are costing sales....do you actually think either of us would recommend your store to any of our fellow hobbyists?

Organization. It is like walking into a Salvation Army. There is clutter everywhere and the store looks junky. The selection of products has been heavily picked-through - all the commonly needed items like standard couplers, wheels, track, turnouts, etc are gone and there has been no restock. The owner of the store is branching out into RC now, so that is probably where all the restock money goes. With a store name like "Sidetrack Hobbies", one would think that model trains would be the shop's priority. The paint selection dates from the 1990s. Used product is mixed in with new, so the buyer never knows what he or she is buying. I went to buy a loco, thinking it was new. Fortunately, he let it slip that it was previously owned and I had him test it - it clacked like a Yugo and I passed on the deal.

The customer can't rely on the posted store hours. In my last four attempts to visit, the store has only been open once. This is a bit disappointing.

Brick and mortar hobby shops are an endangered species these days...and owners need to put forth the extra effort necessary to make their stores thrive. The owner is young and personable and knows trains, and he can still turn things around. Until then though, I...

I drove 150 miles to have him repair my MTH steam loco. The smoke unit was not working. He said that he would check it out and either call or e-mail me with what it would cost to repair. I called back in 2 weeks, and he said he was waiting on parts, that he would contact me. Waited again hand he said it was ready (when I called). I drove back up there to pick up the Loco. He told me that he found a broken wire, so he repaired it and charged me $20.00. My first reaction was what a honest guy! He ran it on his track for a bit, and a little smoke came out; I figured it was low on fluid. I got it home and ran it on my layout, and it didn't smoke any better than it did at his place. I can't prove it, but I doubt he did anything, so I wasted $20.00 on repair, another $50.00 in fuel. What a disappointment, I was hoping I had a reliable MYH repairman,...

Well I would love to give a good review but I have actually never been able to go inside. From the window the inside of the shop looks very chaotic. I've been several times when they are supposed to be open and they were closed. 2 times I have went during business hours and they were on the property but never addressed me or came to the door. One time they were sitting in their car and left with me sitting there. The other time I pulled up an hour before they closed turned my car off and someone came out locked the door got in their car and left while I was sitting there in front of the door in my car. I feel like they must charge too much because they obviously don't need...