Often times you don't find a deal, but you do find rare, one-of-a-kind, or scratchbuilt locomotives, rolling stock, and buildings. Then its worth the extra money.
I usually find some bargains. There are a lot of items that we dont see in LHS here in the great white north. There are free hand outs from manufactures, KD give couplers away etc. Look for some of the smaller sellers, figures and scratch building materials. This year I am looking for On30 arch bar trucks. Got some at the last narrow guage convention I attended and need more, hope the dealer is there. One of the advantages of attending the convention is half a day with out the public. Everyone in the show knows that they are talking to a model railroader at that time not just a person from the public looking around.
If you are going have fun.
Dave
Wdlgln005 The NTS is mostly a manufacturer trade show, announcing new product that may not be available till Christmas or later. The NMRA may have a Company Store to sell convention items. You may be too late for any swap meet. Looking for scenery? the Woodland Scenic booth may have some free product, build a tree & take it home, stuff like that.
The NTS is mostly a manufacturer trade show, announcing new product that may not be available till Christmas or later. The NMRA may have a Company Store to sell convention items. You may be too late for any swap meet.
Looking for scenery? the Woodland Scenic booth may have some free product, build a tree & take it home, stuff like that.
Actually, looking at the list of participants (here), it looks like the non-club offerings are about a 50-50 mix of vendors and manufacturers.
Woodland Scenics is conspicuously absent from the list of participants, although they say on their website that they will be there. I guess you're supposed to go and find out in person.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
On the contrary, there will be many, many dealers and manufacturers selling at the show. Many of the vendors offer substantial discounts. Take a look.
http://www.nmra.org/convention/conv2009/boothnum.txt
Jim S.
Remember, most of the manufacturers who have booths at the NTS are there to display their products and are not there for the purpose of sales. At one of the conventions--St Lous, 2001?--there was one manufacturer who had order forms for his products--you filled out the order form and paid and your order would be filled upon his return home; his products were train-show discounted 20%--at least that's what it said on the order form. I tend to view activity like this with a cocked eyebrow but while I was perusing his products--and I can't remember now what it was--a gentleman stepped up, whipped out his checkbook, attached it to an order form, and walked away. Based upon the conversation which transpired between him and the attendant at the display I took it that he had been here before and I will, therefore, presume that this manufacturer was an Honestinjun.
There are retail sellers there and most of what they offer is discounted for the train show. Remember, "THERE AIN'T NO SUCH THING AS A 'FREE LUNCH'"and retail sales at these functions usually mandate sales tax be collected. There are some real bargains to be found--one guy, I remember, was offering 45% off on select Kato's N-Scale diesel locomotive--in these retail sales booths but most--notice that I said most--can be found cheaper with on-line sellers. Of course one of the advantages of purchasing it then and now is you know that the seller has it on hand because you have it in yours.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
I find my Best Deals at a train show. I was recently at the Galesburg Railroad Days Show with over 300 tables. Most were at least 20% off while there were a few offering 40% of list on NEW items, and there were many including engines, boxcars etc.
I never found any real deals at a train show. You have to get there right when the doors open to find any good bargains. The rest of the stuff is fun to look at and you get a chance to play with the product a bit to see if you like it or not, but price wise it's not much of a deal.
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
I'm planning to attend the National Train Show Friday July 10th. Can I expect any bargains? Mainly looking for scenery, but I'll take any advice.
Thanks,
Mark