"How do you buy your models" Topic

what is the best way to purchase models. internet, shows or model shop.

I buy almost exclusively from the internet and from shows on occasion (usually impulse buys).

all of the above for me, though with the lack of shops nearby its more internet these days.

I have two modelshops in the area. But if they don't have what I want, I use the Internet.

Yes – internet, shows, model shops.

And also by orders by post.

In order of purchases in recent years : Shows, post, internet , shops.

10 years ago that would have been : Post, shops, Shows, internet.

Mostly internet… no decent stores in the area carrying historicals

Of late, its really been 2 methods – ebay to build up the GW W40K & WFB armies my son likes us to play and mail order by email to Eureka Miniatures in Australia for the AB figures steadily filling holes in my Napoleonics collections. Once a year we pick up bargains at the flea market at the largest local Convention – MOAB in Sydney.

I have finally moved somewhere that has a game shop within a ten minute drive that isn't Games Workshop only. So they will likely get some of my business, though I haven't had the time or spending cash to make a visit yet. Still unpacking from the move.
But up until this point driving to a game store that carried anything other then Warhammer Fantasy or 40K would take usually hour or more.
So I would say that-
-75% of my collection comes from internet
-25% of my collection comes from shops (this being mainly Games Workshop in origin)

A mix of Internet, shops, and shows. For the last year, in terms of $ spent, it is Historicon, Internet, local shops.

In the early 2000s, it would have been the reverse.

Rob

Mail order or at shows

Internet, followed by shows. Occasionally shops, but that's rare. Prior to the internet, it was local shop, post and then shows in that order.

Mostly the internet, I try to use local shops where possible (I want them to survive) but find them closed at times suitable for me. I have stopped buying much at shows but look to see quality to use the internet later.

x42

We'll for 15mm thee internet of course. 40k has been mostly used stuff on eBay and bits on eBay, with an extremely small amount of stuff I bought over a decade ago at a shop on sale. And the rest a pretty even split between a local shop and online retailers. I moved a year ago from an area with 3-4 decent stores in a 45 minute drive to a city with one store that stocks almost nothing and no other store in 1.5 hours (which is the store from my old 'home town'). So its becoming more and more online/

Internet, don't touch ebay.
I used to buy resin at shows, figures by mail.

All Internet purchases. Occasionally I will visit a train shop in my town for terrain, flock, trees etc. No hobby shops here and not able to get to any conventions often.

I buy pretty much everything via eBay. I have bought hundreds of items over the past few years and have never had a problem.

Conventions and then internet.
Shops in my area do not exist.

Internet mostly. Will buy fromshop but it is one hour away and shows don't always have what I want.

Used to do exclusively mail order or shows. Since moving back to Belfast, discovered it has 2(!) Model Shops, which both stock Warlord, Perry's, WF etc, both blisters and boxes. So a moth flies out of my wallet after payday, and I have too many shiny things.

It was actually easier in the Mail Order days, when you could plan purchases, and not impulse buy….

I buy from every source. The internet is the best and worst thing for this hobby.

Rabbit

Depends on what I want to buy, the local shop carries certain lines and not everything so I buy on the internet.
Such as Calpe and Front Rank.

Mostly internet.

everything I but is through the internet

I try to buy as much stuff as possible in local shops. Everything else I buy at shows. I do buy things online when needed.

I prefer to buy at the local shop, and when they have what I need, I do. But the reality is that I buy mostly over the internet.

I much prefer shows as I can see them and will know if they are exactly what I want. Usually though, I buy off the internet, but only if I have seen them before, they come highly recommended or they have high quality photos on their website.

I check out as many figure ranges as I can at shows so I know the quality of the work then I purchase online the exact quantities I need.

I am mainly Internet, followed by model shops and conventions.

All off the above. I am mostly a bargain shopper, but there are the occasional impulse buys. Yesterday I spent $50 USD in shops and 525 on line. Usually it is the other way around.

Paints, glue and other hobby stuff, I buy local. Most of the stores around here don't carry miniatures I want, so I get that almost 100% online, except the odd Battlefront pack of stuff.

I do buy RPG books local when I can, since they tend to be better about stocking those.

Most of my purchases are at shows/conventions. I would say internet and local stores run at about the same level.

Trade in person with sexual favors. :-)

Grimm

Hobbytown in Everett, Galaxy Hobby in Lynnwood, and the internet. I would love to buy wargame goods from vendors at a wargame convention, but they never happen in the north Puget Sound area. Wargame Vendors could clean up if they would have a convention in this part of the country.

No shops locally so vast majority is either shows (pre-orders usually done by phone or 'net) or directly from manufacturers via the 'net or, for unusual requests, by phone. Very small amounts from model shops found when we travel elsewhere but not much.

I don't ever expect to have a shop that does more than stock a few items I'd buy – I do 2-10mm mostly with one period only (VBCW) in 20mm. I can't see any shop stocking those as it just wouldn't make economic sense.

Even paints, materials and tools are mostly got at shows but the local art & craft shop does stock a few useful items.

Mix of internet, shops and shows.