European trains and structures and accessories are not cheap in the States. There is usually at least a 20-30% markup and sometimes, that is over the MSRP. Retailers add in customs duty, shipping, and profit. There is duty to be paid for retailers for resale.
If you want to delve into European railroading in any scale, Modellbahn Shop-Lippe in Germany is where you want to spend your money. I would also recommend Union Modellbahn also in Germany, but their neighbor recently had a fire and their shop was damaged by water and are currently closed. They will be re-opening in a new location, but that time is indefinite as of now. They are very good to deal with too.
The benefit to you by shopping from Germany, is no customs duty on what is considered 'toy trains', no US sales tax to be paid, and a flat-rate shipping charge via Fed-Ex International Connections that is only €30 to anywhere in the States. In addition, your order will typically arrive in three to four business days and you will have a huge selection of the entire manufacturers line of products, and cheerful returns if that should need to happen.
You also earn money for each purchase you make that can be used for future purchases. It can be saved up and it never expires. There is a real-time stock status for each item, a wish list, and a reservation list for new products yet to be released. You will be guaranteed to receive one when they are available and there is no pre-payment to tie up your money waiting.
US retailers are typically out of stock on many items and have to order from Germany just as you can do yourself and save all of the markup. They also will not ever carry the entire line a manufacturer offers.
Most German and Austrian retailers accept all major credit cards, bank transfers, and Paypal. All very secure using the latest encryption and security protocols.
If you have any specific questions, please do ask.
Modellbahn Shop-Lippe
