This is something that bugs me at times. I'm 15 (although I bet you never would've guessed that) and I certainly look it, so it doesn't really help me at shows and the like.
The other day I was at a show, and I noticed a nice Lionel 1952 675 K4 on a dealer's table. I don't have one and I've been trying to get one so I'll have every version of the postwar K4 (I'm pretty close). I didn't know him, so I asked if it was alright for me to pick it up and look at it closer. His reply? "Be careful, that's very old". I tried not to laugh at him, instead I tested him and asked how old. He says it was made 1948-49 (which would be correct except for a few details), so I figured I'd have a little fun and mess with him. I said "actually, this one was made in 1952 since it has sintered iron spoken drives instead of die-cast Baldwin Discs, and it has a 4-wheel sheet metal trailing truck instead of the 2-wheel one." His jaw came pretty close to the floor. He had a 2020W paired with it and elsewhere on the table was the 1947 2020 for it, but it was with a streamlined 2046W, which went with the 675. I told him he had it backwards, since the 1952 675 came with the streamlined tender, and it certainly didn't go with the 2020 because it had bar-end trucks and the 2020 never came with a streamlined tender anyways, and the coil coupler tender goes with it. He didn't believe me and wouldn't switched them so I walked away.
My question is, is this a common problem? It seems to happen to me quite often, but luckily I'm friends with most of the dealers in the area and they know that I certainly know my trains.
Trevor
hmmmmmm.....to be honest with you, when I was at train shows before college, I can't recall something like that happening, although it may very well have. Also, back then, if I was at a train show, chances are one of parents or my aunt was with me. At one time the Greenburg show also had dollhouses and my aunt made doll house furniture, so for a few of them I worked the show with her (that was awesome btw,), so I think people saw me then.
I've certainly had odd train show experiences like one dealer who gave me a lecture on why he couldn't go lower for 2 N scale trains I wanted (a simple No, sorry would have sufficed) and treated rudely by hobby store dealers (including a very well known, large one in Massachusetts), can't say though anything has been specifically because of my age. But again I can't remember. Good eye with the 675, I want to get one of those too.
Besides collecting trains that are much older than me, I'm a musician who likes "old music" like classical music (I'm a church organist with a preferance for traditional church musci), jazz and "the crooners." I hear where you're coming from.
Its likely that the dealer in question would have treated an older customer the same way. I am much older than you, and am often amused by the nonsense spouted by dealers that don't know me.
I would not trust a dealer (or Ebay listing) to provide accurate information about their wares.
Rather than challange the dealer, you might have simply replied something like "Thanks for letting me know", or "I am familar with the engine".Your dealer may not have known the variations on the engine, or which was the matching tender. There are plenty of dealers who don't know and don't care about such things. You can measure the knowledge and/or ethics of a dealer by asking questions to which you already know the answer.
For many years it was common for operators to swap tenders to make combinations they found pleasing. Certainly people would do things like swapping boiler fronts, pilot and trailing trucks, etc to get what they wanted.
That is good you know history of the trains - it is great that you are into trains. Heck even for the youth today to have a hobby. Most are into electronic games and gagets.
As for the dealer. I would agree with cwburfle . He probably didn't notice age. You can get ignorance at any age. Some older people I know would have picked the train up and treated it like a cheap toy.
I've been in similar situations. I shock people all the time with what I know.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
tjl0824 I love running into them myself I have been told thru emails I didn't know what I was talking about I have been selling trains for 20 years which what I usually reply I have been collecting and running trains for last 50 years and selling and buying for at least 30 but I'm still learning every day as theres always someone that knows more than you.
Just remember that you can always learn so the idiot that think he knows more is his lost as in realaity he probably just lost a sale to you so he is not thinking business wise either.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
I see nothing wrong with his response to you. I am 42 and am told the same thing at nearly every show I have ever attended by sellers younger than me.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
I have to agree with you. There is nothing wrong with asking someone to be careful with something that is not yours.
I personally am not into the collecting area of anything, trains or anything else for that matter..
I run any train I have no matter what it's worth and if I did not I would not have it. I only buy what I like and generally cost is not the main concern. There are some trains that some buy that I would not take if they were given to me since in my opinion they are hideous.
I agree. If I don't own something, I won't pick it up. I will ask the dealer / seller to show it to me.
As far as your age goes, I think it is great that you have a detailed knowledge of Lionel trains. That being said, the business reality is that the average 15 year old doesn't have money, and so from the seller's perspective it's all potential downside (you handle the object and break it accidentally) and you likely don't have the money to purchase the item. That may be a bad assumption or two, but bear in mind the expression that you should walk a mile in another person's shoes before judging too harshly.
Finally, not all sellers / dealers are inconsiderate or otherwise semi-rude to the young. This past weekend, I had my kids (two and four) at Hennings in Lansdale PA. I keep them on a short leash, but the owner made a point of starting up the outdoor trains and letting them run the indoor trains. Nice people and good business because they know I will bear that in mind next time I have to make a purchase for myself or for my two boys.
None of this is intended to criticize you, btw, it's just to illustrate an alternative view and thus to allow you not to be as offended. Take care.
Trevor,
You handled yourself well. I always ask before I touch any merchandise on a venders table. Somtimes sellers match tenders up with different engines because they think that they can get more for them. I noticed a lot of times they match a cheap tender up with an engine that will bring a decent price and sell the correct tender seperately. I pointed it out to a dealer that had an engine that I might have been interested in. He told me that I was mistaken and that was the correct tender. I just smiled and walked away.
When I encounter a dealer like that, I just walk away. They seem to be the type that rip folks off in my experience.
Jim
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