Sourcing items from another country

[Spoz]

Of the box shifters, I've been using Trainworld, https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/, for years.  I know others have had ups and downs but (touch wood) I've had good experiences with them shipping to Australia. I've also used Charles Ro, https://charlesro-com.3dcartstores.com/mnf_nscale.html, although not as often

[Newportnobby]

You do get 8 wheels 

Stupid boy, Pike. I get 8 wheels on any UK bogie wagon too

Thanks to the Simons and Spoz. Lots more searching to be done there!

[Spoz]

It might be worth your while keeping an eye on Trainboard, https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?forums/n-scale.112/.  It's far from being my favourite forum, but they do cover quite a lot of ground around US N scale.  There should be somebody on there who would have knowledge of confectionery box cars, too.

[Newportnobby]

Thanks again, Spoz

[Simon D.]

I was looking for a boxcar, then remembered this.  (Box is somewhere in the loft unfortunately).

Having trouble uploading images, but this is it:

https://www.trovestar.com/generic/zoom.php?id=23187

Any use?

[Richard Taylor]

Another vote for M B Klein https://www.modeltrainstuff.com who were my pusher of choice back in the days when the £-$ exchange rate was such that you'd be mad not to buy US N scale.  Not so much now.

When on visits to friends in the US (again, not so much now) I made a few excursions to Trainworld and Trainland in New York.  Lost of bargains in the shops and at the latter you also get to see where Bobby Baccalieri was gunned down in the penultimate episode of The Sopranos when he went shopping for his O scale "Blue Comet" set

[Newportnobby]

Thanks to all so far. I am now sorted with Hershey unless anyone has a Hershey Kisses box car or Reese Peanut Butter Cup (Reese were bought out by Hershey but the Reese name was retained)

Here's an example of my earlier ramblings.............
Cost of wagon $16.49
Shipping cost $28.86
Total $45.35
Todays exchange rate $1.23 to the £ = £36.87 + £8 handling fee = £44.87
Suddenly Farish coaches look cheap
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Athearn-14178-N-Nestle-50-PS-1-Plug-Door-Boxcar-8232-LN-Box-/392848447783

[1936ace]

Have you tried Woodpecker Hobbies in Sydney Australia.
They have boxes and boxes in addition to display case full of US outline wagons
Great family business to deal with
And you should be able to deduct our gst
cheers
Bart

[Webbo]

Probably 75% of my stuff comes from Pacific Western Rail Systems (PWRS) mentioned earlier. They have the big advantage of having a goodie box arrangement by which you can accumulate ordered items before having a whole load shipped together thereby greatly reducing shipping costs. The amount they have in stock is limited, but PWRS puts in orders from a vast array of suppliers from time to time so one's stuff will come eventually. They have a great search engine, and ongoing email notices of new models which is really handy too. The biggest downside is that their prices are generally close to MSRP. Members discount on purchases is only 10% or so (and often nothing) unlike the majority of the web sellers who usually offer in excess of 20% off.

Fifer Hobbies also mentioned would supply most of the rest of my stuff. I mostly buy structures and detail parts from them as these have decent discounts and are usually in stock. Customer service from both Fifer and PWRS is excellent.

Webbo

[LASteve]

Model trains are not subject to Import Duties, and that seems to cover DCC stuff as well. (BTW I think that's true everywhere in the world)

Like I said, don't feel sorry for us 

John P

Not much help to the OP who is looking to go in the opposite direction, but JP's right. The "No VAT discount" and the very fair shipping prices from the likes of Hatton's and (my favorites) Model Railways Direct and Osborne's make purchasing from the UK very attractive. There is no import duty assessed on anything that I've purchased from the UK - it all falls under your "personal customs allowance". Some shipments don't exactly sneak under the radar either - my last purchase from MRD came in box more than a yard long (it had flextrack in it, hard to squeeze that into a smaller space) and a lot of other stuff, so it wasn't exactly inconspicuous. The customs form, as is their habit, did say "Toy Trains" on it, which gives SWMBO no end of amusement when I insist that I'm modelling, not playing. A futile exercise on my part

Another example is DCC Concepts who supplied my Cobalt point motors - with the lack of VAT, fair shipping costs and no US customs duty or sales tax, I'm pretty sure they arrived chez moi cheaper than I could have bought them personally in the UK and brought them back myself. CR Signals, Train Tech and other specialist suppliers are all spot-on with communication, prices and delivery, Brimart for electronic components can't be beaten for both price and customer service.

Underlining the other comments for US suppliers, I've used Fifer, M.B Klein, Tony's Train Exchange and Streamline Backshop here in the USA for various bits and pieces that weren't UK-specific with no complaints, but obviously I can't comment on UK delivery. Fifer's "how to" videos on YouTube are excellent as a bonus.

So yep, as @jpendle said at the top of the thread, don't feel sorry for us!