First off I like buying from TrainZ, they are one of the few Ebay sellers that can be trusted for selling and accurately describing what they are listing as far as Marklin Z goes. The majority of the time purchasing from TrainZ on Ebay is easy although if you have a question about something you will never hear from anyone. One bone of contention for me is the very few times their shipping seems through the roof and they are unwilling to discount. A recent example is $22 shipping charge for 6 Brawa lights and 1 Marklin z gauge light, the head of customer service was adamant that the shipping charge of $22 was accurate that it really should have been $28. Fedex Ground or Smartpost should not have such elevated shipping charges, I run a business and we ship with Fedex. $22.00 shipping for less than $100 of small lightweight items seems too expensive for me. It does not deter me from buying from Trainz in the future, it just deters me from buying small items from them on Ebay. Keep an eye out for one of two items they feature on briefly timed sales on Ebay, you can save a lot on these sales but for a limited time period. Trainz stands behind what they sell, they even pay for return shipping if there is a problem. Except for the very few times I have paid high shipping charges I recommend this company highly.

http://trainz.com/

Discount Trains of Fort Lauderdale, FL is a new shop for me, they feature very accurate inventory and very good website with lots of Marklin. If you have ever wanted the Marklin 89200 Anhalter Station kit they have 3 new ones available, 89200 has always been a rare find after 10 years of being sold out at the factory. Check in with Discount Trains often, they might just be the only source for that rare item you have been looking for. Also stellar shipping and careful packing. And the store looks like fun to visit.

http://discount-train.com/

One of the biggies on the web is AJC Kids of Wichita, TX, their on-line presence includes a top notch website with very very good pricing and informative list of past/present/future listings of Marklin items in all gauges. If something is in stock it is usually featured with a ‘+’ sign in green below the item description, checkout is delayed for 24-48 hours, they get back to you when your order is prepared. Here you have the opportunity to fill out a collection with items that are not available elsewhere for good prices to boot! Guy the owner is an affable person who attends the Toy Fair in Germany, here you can order those limited and exclusive models only available at the fair. My Wife and I have been to the store in person and I can attest to the large inventory, rest assured you will get the item you order from the website if you see a green ‘+’ sign on the listing. Also check back often because sometimes things go on unannounced sales posted on the website, prices during these sales go from good to super good. Highly recommended. Guy posts lots of photos from the Toy Fair so check them out on his website, next best thing to being there in person.

http://ajckids.com

Reynauld’s of Elburn, IL has a big on-line presence with a top notch and informative website that does not list inventory levels so no guarantee your item will be in stock, if they don’t have it in stock it may take a week before it is shipped; no fear they are one of the biggest dealers in the USA, I have been a regular customer for many years without a single problem. If you are looking for something that is recently sold out and you want to buy here I recommend checking with them first by phone otherwise try to get the item from a source that has it in stock. Marklin z sells out quick, if you have not pre-ordered and you want a limited run item you might want to purchase those items from a store showing the item in stock on their website. One unique buying experience at Reynauld’s is the “Reynauld’s Reward” program: 3% of each purchase goes into your account which can be redeemed for future purchases. Reynauld’s great prices along with the reward program are two big reasons to shop here. Going to Reynauld’s is a trip worth taking, it is located in an old bank on the Main Street of Elburn adjacent to an old butcher shop with the best jerky I have ever had. The store is a clean organized shop with several very nice layouts, a book room with European books and magazines, lots of accessories for all gauges, several cases of beautiful trains on display. And unique at Reynauld’s is a line of card stock building kits by MBZ for Z and HO. Lastly you can be assured that when you order from Reynauld’s you are getting some of the very best prices anywhere of new items packed and shipped with care.

http://www.reynaulds.com

Bill Ott is the owner of Modellbahn Ott Hobbies in Gilbertsville, PA. Bill along with his son operate a hobby store that is mostly trains but other hobbies as well including RC cars and planes. As for trains they only sell Marklin in all gauges. Modellbahn Ott has the proud distinction of being a “Marklin Dealer of the Year”. Inventory is updated daily on the website which is rare in my experience with Marklin dealers, you have the added option to buy on-line with the reassurance that you will get it that item because it is posted accurately as being in stock. Check out the Marklin sale page for some good deals. If you collect Marklin HO they have it on display in numerous display cases. If you are browsing in the store and wonder about the price of a train those prices are displayed in the HO cases with the trains, z gauge price list is always near the z case. There is a nice vintage Marklin HO layout with lots of trains and buildings in the store that is worth checking out. You might also find the store to be an excellent place to find in stock inventory of Faller, Vollmer, and Kibri building kits. Plus lots of Preiser! Many trains in my collection have been purchased at Modellbahn Ott in the past 20 years since moving to PA. Highly recommended.

http://www.modellbahnott.com/

Ron Ruddell is a history buff with a well rounded and comprehensive knowledge of history and trains. Here is also a certified street car operative at the world’s oldest trolley car museum in Maine: https://www.trolleymuseum.org/

Ron’s store London Bridge Toys in Emmaus, PA is a gem combining a train room for z gauge with more than half the space dedicated to toy soldiers, not any toy soldiers but the historically accurate ones produced by W. Britains. Ron is an expert and a design/researcher for W. Britains of England. His knowledge and enthusiasm for history and trains is contageous. The store features a wide selection of Micro-Trains, z gauge accessories: cast vehicles, freight loads, lighting, and building kits, and some consignments. You might start collecting Micro-Trains before you leave his shop so watch out, those by the way are always discounted.

Hot tip: Buy Ron’s newly released book “Riding the Bell Lehigh Valley Transit’s Liberty Bell Route”. Visit Ron’s Books before it goes out of print: ronsbooks.com

http://www.londonbridgetoys.com/

One of my local train shops here in Pennsylvania is Trains and Lanes, I stop in at least once a week when I am in town. This is not just any old train store, Trains and Lanes is a shop on steroids with staff dedicated to the hobby of railroading, they all collect themselves and have knowledge about trains. Let’s call them train people, we all know what I mean. The store is an important store to dig around in with an inventory of all gauges with a sheer volume that would impress anyone. Trains and accessories galore! And if you have someone in the family whose interests are those of RC planes, cars or rockets bring them along. Z gauge is in one case, but they can order in everything except for MHI (Marklin Dealer Initiative) items. Looking for Marklin HO they have this too! Ask for always affable and helpful Dave and Woody in the train department.

http://www.trainsandlaneshobbyshop.com/

On the square in Medina, OH is a very cool train store filled to the brim with Marklin Z, Marklin HO, and Trix. John Ormandy’s inventory of Marklin Z is one of the largest around including sold out items and the new releases. You will need to visit the store in person since there is no available on-line inventory, but it is a fun place to spend a couple of hours. And if you collect Marklin HO it takes up 1/2 the store. But you may find the train museum on the second floor equaling a visit to the store. Vintage Marklin HO and other vintage trains line shelves aplenty in this small but important museum. My Wife and I travel throughout the United States, we visit Ormandy’s at least 4 times a year either heading out to the Midwest or returning to PA. Here I have found special imprints, classic z items no one else has, and many other items that just slipped through the cracks affording me an opportunity to collect those trains that have been missing from my railroad museum. Highly recommended!

http://www.ormandys.com/

I decided to compile a list of Marklin Z gauge dealers in the USA that I buy from. To get on this list a dealer has had to pass with flying colors several areas related to the sale of Marklin Z:

1. Brick and mortar store or online store
2. Inventory on hand
3. Knowledge of all things Z not just Marklin
4. Passion for Z gauge
5. Trustworthy

Price can be important when a collector is working on assembling a large collection, saving money here and there affords an opportunity to expand a collection in numerous era’s or railroads. But paying a fair price should be embraced, supporting retail train stores helps with the overall hobby of collecting and supporting fine companies such as Marklin, FR, MicroTrains, Archistories, and many others. We all know with a few exceptions the risky business of buying secondhand trains on auction sites. Supporting a dealer whose business is selling trains should be the go to source for railroading. My list is not small, but it is also not big. And if you have a dealer that you like who is not on my list please let me know, helping each other with resources helps us all.