I've always wondered this. When I go to train shows I usually only go to buy rare/cheap stuff. Since Greenburg Train Shows usually are 2 days(Saturday and Sunday), I usually only go on Saturday, as I figured all the good stuff will be gone by Sunday. However, this year, I got some extra time, and wondered if its worthwhile going a second time. I got a pretty thorough look at everything, so going a second time looking at the same items wouldnt be worth the drive. So my question is:
From part experience, do vendors save items to sell on the second day of train shows? Is it worth going?
Thanks!
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
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I can only speak about train shows in Florida.
.
90% of the shows in Florida are 1 day now. Only Fort Myers, Tampa, and Deland still do two day shows as far as I know.
At all of these shows, there are fewer dealers on Sunday. Then the remaining dealers spread out onto the empty tables vacated by the one-day guys.
In my experience, better deals are to be found on Sunday on the bargains. The remaining dealers put out stuff that is not worth the effort to put on a full price table, but on a "free" table, why not?
I prefer to go tot these shows on the second day. As always, your mileage might vary.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Yes, because on the second day many venders that negotiate would like to carry cash back then repack products.
Timonium has a White Elephant table of consignment sales from show attendees. Maybe it changes from Saturday morning to Sunday as new things arrive.
I only went Sunday to buy a Bachmann 4-4-0 Ma & Pa with DCC that I should have bought on Saturday.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Usually one day visit will do except if you stumble on something Great. Now I don't know where you live, but if you can get to the amherst show at eastern states expo center in w Springfield Mass,,,now that is a train show! 5 buildings and every possible mfgr you can think of,
I think it depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for new, higher quality things, you want to get there at the start, if you are mostly looking for bargins, the second day sounds like the time to go. Use the first day for scouting, then the second day hope some of what interested you is still there. As Kevin youe mileage makes a difference also.
Most of our shows are one day, but the same concept stands, except it is whether to get there early or wait until after lunch and when the dealers start thinking of packing up.
The only two day show I have attended is a bus ride away for me, so I take the "leave the driving to us", enjoy the trip, look over all that I can and relax on the way home. I do take a list of interesting dealers and locations so that I can hit the highlights I am interested in and get to look over the booths I pass on the way from one spot to another. If I lived where I used to, less than half an hour away, I'd probably do things differently.
Have fun,
Richard
When I go to train shows a second day I am often shocked at what I see on Day 2 that was clearly right there Day 1 and I utterly missed it. Plus I just like being at train shows.
Dave Nelson
Good show today. Depending on what you want there might be some good deals tomorrow. Some of the vendors were very willing to negotiate today.
Depends on how "hungry" the dealer is on the second day.. If he had a bad Saturday he will be more will to deal.. If he had a great Saturday then,I doubt if he would deal unless its items in had in stock for several months.
I once picked up two Proto(LL) C&O GP9s for $30.00 each-he was asking $55.00 each. I found out later from another dealer he had those Geeps for almost two years..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The first day is best if one is looking for new or current items that are hard to find. Since hobby shops have pretty much joined the T-rex in availability this is often the best or only way to find the new stuff or see it in person.
Often the 2nd day is a bargain hunters day. Many dealers would rather take less for something than pack it up and drive it home. Often better pricing is possible, and as mentioned, when the rush is out of the way it's often easier to see some things in a more relaxed way. Sometimes sellers will use vacated tables to spread out their stuff.
If you have the time I think a 2nd day is well worth the time and money.
oldline1
I second the Yes vote. I used to find many deals on things, maybe not on hot items and maybe not screaming deals for DCC ready/installed locos. Couplers, rolling stock, buliding kits and used put together ones, etc all have to be boxed back up by the vendor and a lot of times they would rather sell stuff at a discount than have to put it all back in the trailer.
deckroidrather sell stuff at a discount
Russell
csxns deckroid rather sell stuff at a discount That is one thought a guy had when i was selling a circus train he came back at the end of the show to see if i will sell it cheap no it went back home and a local bought it for more than i was asking for it.
deckroid rather sell stuff at a discount
That is one thought a guy had when i was selling a circus train he came back at the end of the show to see if i will sell it cheap no it went back home and a local bought it for more than i was asking for it.
Ok, true, but have you ever let a box of odds and ends go for a buck? I bought a motorized turntable (Diamond Scale Kit fully built) for $40 at a show because the vendor didn't want to put it back in his truck. He had it listed the previous for $100. It worked perfectly.
Of course, I also bought a BLI 2-8-2 the day previous at almost LHS price. I don't want to cheat anyone and I will pay a fair price, but I do like to look for deals.
deckroidbut have you ever let a box of odds and ends go for a buck?
In case anyone was curious, I went to the Oaks PA train show.
I did end up taking all the advice and went for a second day. Didn't buy anything with better deals, but instead ended up buying some stuff I decided against the first day, including two Walthers Santa Fe El Capitan Transition Cars for $35 a pop! Even though I spent more money than I liked this year, Im glad I went1
Thanks all for the replies
Trainman440 Didn't buy anything with better deals, but instead ended up buying some stuff I decided against the first day, including two Walthers Santa Fe El Capitan Transition Cars for $35 a pop!
It sounds like we can put this one in the "win" column.
One thing I have found with second day is that in the last couple of hours many dealers are already packed (some are even gone).
Paul
For me - the two largest train shows each year in my area (both NMRA-sponsered) are not worth going to the 2nd day. In fact, the past couple of years they haven't even been worth going the 1st day. I skipped the one this past October and will probably skip the other one in March. I do better finding what I need/want/deals on places like eBay...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I've noticed that many vendors have too much inventory for their available table space. Whenever a spot opens up, they pull inventory from boxes they have under the layout. A steady stream of inventory means they often have items for sale on the second day that weren't available to see the second day.
- Douglas
csxns deckroid but have you ever let a box of odds and ends go for a buck? Yes it was Tyco stuff.
deckroid but have you ever let a box of odds and ends go for a buck?
Yes it was Tyco stuff.
Tyco collectors and enthusiast would jump for joy over a box of Tyco odds and ends for a buck.
One of my best odd and end deals was a coffee can of junk I paid $3.00 for. To my surprise this "junk" included several AHM railroad workers ,some Revell railroad workers ,some Athearn BB trucks and coupler clips plus a nice selection of gondola scrap loads that I would need to make by using my Xacto knife and saw. I got my $3.00 worth just from the AHM and Revell railroad workers.
tstageI skipped the one this past October and will probably skip the other one in March. I do better finding what I need/want/deals on places like eBay... Tom
Tom,I fully believe e-Bay and on line shopping will eventually kill the train show as we know them..
I don't know if I have ever gone back for day 2, not that I can remember. I drive a good distance to it isn't worth it for me to do it two days in a row and not worth the cost of a hotel. Even the Chantilly Greenberg show is an hour away and being it has limited HO and N trains, not worth going a second day.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I've stopped going to train flea markets unless they really are train shows that predominantly highlight other peoples layouts. The problem with the flea markets is that if you so much glance at something for an instant you get the hardsell shoved at you.And then if you politely but firmly decline they become offended. No thanks.
Ulrich The problem with the flea markets is that if you so much glance at something for an instant you get the hardsell shoved at you
Maybe it's a cultural thing? A number of dealers will say "make me an offer", but I've never had the hard sell at Timonium.
There have only been two scenarios where I encounter a hard/aggressive seller at a train show.
1) The dealers with nothing but new stuff.
2) People selling non train items, like cell phone chargers or food processors.
Other than those guys, I have a good time with the sellers. Of course, I am buying a lot of the time.
ahem..springfield mass train show sponsored by the AMEHERST model rr is in two (2) weeks!
I go the Milwaukee Trainfest on the first day, early bird package, and I have never gone back for the second.
I'm not into hanging out talking to manufacturers, or vendors. I know what I'm looking for.
2 years ago, I specifically went to the Scale Trains booth, to get one of their advertised $149.00 Operator locos, with ESU sound. I couldn't even buy one there. When I did finally get someone's attention ( they were all busy yacking with other manufactures) I was told to get it online or look for a local retailer.
Which I did, at my LHS.
Nobody has sweat shirts any more. Just heavily over priced embroidered jackets.
I did find some cool tweezers with a built in stand. Quite a bit cheaper than Micro Mark sells them for.
Mike.
My You Tube
BigDaddy Ulrich The problem with the flea markets is that if you so much glance at something for an instant you get the hardsell shoved at you
On the second day of a train show, the dealers are typically more hungry to make a deal, to make some money. There are bargains to be had on the second day.
They would never hold back inventory for the second day; especially at the Timonium Show, they know that the vast majority of selling takes place during the first couple hours. Why would you hold back any inventory for the second day, when most sales are on the first day?
Respectfully submitted--
John
I have experienced the "hard sell" at Timonium.
It was one dealer who very aggressively sells ScaleTrains merchandise.
I informed them of the reasons why I don't buy ScaleTrains products anymore, after initially having tried them.