Large Scale Central

How was the vender area at York this year ?

General Discussion
#21

I THINK it was Mike Setzer Hobbies that I have to comment. I certainly hope I have that right. I’m going based on where the booth was, and trying to figure it out on the map.

They had an LGB Mike and was willing to consider a trade deal for some passenger coaches I was looking to get rid of. He gave me in credit towards the purchase of the Mike what I was looking to sell the coaches for. I was so happy to get the engine with the trade credit, I didn’t even realize till I had it on the rails of Big Green that I hadn’t even TRIED to negotiate a lower price. Can’t say I’m really torn up over it though… I own an LGB Mikado!

I certainly left A LOT lighter in the wallet, even though I bought only the Mike & an Amtube and a small bag of parts.

All said, I think I have to admit… I’d pay a double admission fee for the time I got to spend with friends & meeting new ones.

#22

Vincent, a few years back it was a Friday, Saturday and Sunday show. Usually around lunch time on Sunday, Trainworld was packed up and moving out. Other venders would follow. So around 2pm the show was over, even though it wasn’t officially over till 4. Also, not doing Sundays allows the layout guys a chance to get home for Monday.

2 or 3 years ago, Saturday morning, I heard a bunch of guys in the hotel lobby complaining the all the deals will be gone before they could get there and it wasn’t fair. This isn’t true. Some vendors will drop their prices an hour or two before the show closes on the last day, so they can make a bit more cash and not have to schlepp the stuff back home. That’s how, over the years, I have ended up with my second E8, a custom decaled Bachmann boxcar and I don’t remember what else. The prices dropped low enough, before the show closed on Saturday, that I just couldn’t resist.

#23

Over the years I got great deals when the show was closing. Got a boatload of broken Aristo/REA engines for $15 about 6 years ago that way. There were some vendors trying to sell old used items for more than new items of the same thing being sold at the show. One vendor noticed that it was his big ticket items that were selling not the lower cost items like rolling stock. Star Hobby had a bunch of the bumblebee eggliners and they sold out quick on Friday. People were looking for buy them later in the day. Harry and his crew did a bang up job (As usual.).
Regards,
LAO

#24

Larry Otis said:

“… There were some vendors trying to sell old used items for more than new items of the same thing being sold at the show…”
Regards,
LAO

Why is that?

For the life of me I have never been able to figure out why some folks think their dilapidated junk is worth its weight in Platinum.

#25

Vic same thing on e-bay

richard

#26

I didn’t see that much junk that was over priced but I was annoyed by a number of vendors who would not deal when it was obvious that they were being under priced elsewhere. I was happy to get a deal at Star Hobby this time which I did not get when they were up in Springfield, MA. At this point my opinion is that if your are a seller of Aristo products you need to drop your prices as while cars aren’t being made anymore it also means my warranty and ability to get a replacement is also not there any more so I am buying it more on risk, not to mention the fact that need to invest to put on new wheels and couplers. While I may want a car I am not willing to over pay for it and will walk away with my money if you are not willing to deal, I don’t feel I am being unreasonable with what I am offering either and not trying to rip them off.

#27

Joe was it the same person you dealt with at springfield? and was it the same tank car?

Richard

#28

There are still dealers in the UK with Aristo stocks. No price reductions, in fact it is the guys whose prices were above everyone elses that still have most stocks.

#29

Richard Beverly said:

Vic same thing on e-bay

richard

Don’t even get me started on those delusional jokers on fleabay

Saw some guys trying to sell a broken Lionel 0-6-0, the brass wheel one, for $100, the last one of those I bought was for $15, my favorite someone selling a “NIB Mint Rare and Collectible” MDC Big Hustler kit for $300, these normally sell for about $50, I sent a kindly note telling the guy that the normal value for them was about $50 maybe $70 if a bidding war broke out…he said thank you and go away, so I watched it, not surprisingly it didn’t sell, over the weeks it got relisted, for $250, that didn’t sell, $200, nope, $175 nyet, $150 nien, $100 nadda, it then disappeared completely, I suspect someone offered him a “best offer” off ebay, probably $75ish and he dumped it. I did try to warn him it wasn’t made of Myrrh and Frankincense…

:wink:

#30

Vic Smith said:

Richard Beverly said:

Vic same thing on e-bay

richard

Don’t even get me started on those delusional jokers on fleabay

Saw some guys trying to sell a broken Lionel 0-6-0, the brass wheel one, for $100, the last one of those I bought was for $15, my favorite someone selling a “NIB Mint Rare and Collectible” MDC Big Hustler kit for $300, these normally sell for about $50, I sent a kindly note telling the guy that the normal value for them was about $50 maybe $70 if a bidding war broke out…he said thank you and go away, so I watched it, not surprisingly it didn’t sell, over the weeks it got relisted, for $250, that didn’t sell, $200, nope, $175 nyet, $150 nien, $100 nadda, it then disappeared completely, I suspect someone offered him a “best offer” off ebay, probably $75ish and he dumped it. I did try to warn him it wasn’t made of Myrrh and Frankincense…

:wink:

Haha you should have emailed him back and said told ya so…

#31

Alan Lott said:

There are still dealers in the UK with Aristo stocks. No price reductions, in fact it is the guys whose prices were above everyone elses that still have most stocks.

Its not just Aristo, there was a shop here that still had 1st generation, NIB Bachmann Shays, the ones with the crumbly trucks, for FULL MSRP! They had then right up till the day the owner died. Eventually all the NOS stuff was fire saled off, don’t know who got them or for what price, they were offering some serious deep discounts right before they shut the doors. BTW I got a G Lionel loco and 2 G Lionel passenger cars for $40!

#32

Vic, I have known a few folks like that. When they are buying, they complain about the high prices and try to “negotiate” down the price. When they are selling, they sell high and will not negotiate. I do not understand the mindset neither. Sure, I want to get the most for what I sell, but I try and be reasonable with it too.

I laugh when I see the same overpriced item, show after show on the same table.

The other thing I do not understand is, having stuff on the table, but not having a price on it. I have walked away from many vendors, not knowing if the item I wanted, the item they had, was reasonably priced or not. Someone else ended up with my money for the same item, or I bought something else.

#33

Richard Beverly said:

Joe was it the same person you dealt with at springfield? and was it the same tank car?

Richard

Richard no it wasn’t the same person. How did you know it was a tank car? Are you the one I dealt with at York?

#34

Vic what gets me is people that use TCA grading and it is always 8 or 9 with missing parts or broke parts. also never any ?s

Joe you and i met at Don’s table and you told me at Springfield show.

Richard

#35

We never go in the dealer hall until after the crazy crowd of Friday morning has calmed down. Usually get in late Friday afternoon and then a couple of walk throughs on Saturday. Every one seemed to think it was a good show and better than last year. Spoke to one of the plant guys and his statement was that it is so crazy on Friday morning, that people really can’t shop and seem to be in a pretty grouchy mood. He stated his Friday sales met last year and the Saturday sales were very good and the show was not over.

Yes, there is always one or two dealers that hate the fact other dealers are there and disgusted that they have to take anything back. Love those guys. Its what makes the show fun.

#36

Being a dealer is not for the faint of heart. You have to purchase merchandise, in order to sell it. You have to purchase at a price that you can be sure of making a profit. If you have to keep the stuff in inventory, it is costing you something. What your bottom line is, depends on all those things, plus the cost to get and sell at the show. If you can’t sell at a competitive price, or lower, and make a profit, then it is best to bite the bullet; sell at whatever you can get, and leave the marketplace. You might be able to hang on to stuff, and hope for a sucker to come along, like what happens on Evilbay. But that doesn’t often work, and you end up loosing your shirt. When watching Evilbay; it’s like a comedy…so many suckers (I don’t know what drives them to buy the junk), and occasionly I see someone that does get a rare bargain.