Have you ever been disappointed with a Train Show? Years ago, I was able to get to train shows. Not so much these days. A neighbor invited me to tag along (he was driving) on a trip to an area show.
Now, I must admit, it was nothing like Edison, NJ or (what I hear about) York. There were about eighty or so exhibitors, of which, half were HO, N & G and half were O. The "On-The-Table" and the "Under-The-Table" inventories had prices that "Knocked My Socks Off". (Even the post bargaining prices)
To me, the quality vs prices was not there. And, it appeared that there was certainly no economic slow-down as cash was flying. Wow!
This recent experience (now, don't shoot) makes me appreciate E-Bay more.
As always, thanks for reading.
I'm basicly going to put it this way. Have you ever gone to a yard sale and evrything was priced like brand new and it wasn't it was nice but not new. well you run into train shows, gun shows ect. ect. ect. the same way don't give up theres a lot more better ones out there. Now on the other hand I've seen lately where folks are cranking up prices even on ebay as they need money and there point is I'm not giving it away. I've seen good prices and outrageous prices
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
RT: Thanks for your comment.
A "great" show is one where you found something you were looking for.
A "good" show is one where you bought something.
A "bad" show meant there was nothing that interested you.
I go to shows mainly to be entertained...so I can't think of a "bad" show. However, I agree that eBay is a good way to find a particular item, and at the best condition for the price. I remember a postwar caboose I was looking for. Spent 2 Yorks searching...then found 2 very nice ones on eBay within a month.
Joe: Thanks for the post.
I know hunters that spend a whole season in a tree stand, didn't bag a deer, but still enjoy it; fisherman that spend all day drowning worms then go home and watch Bassmasters...same holds true for train shows. I go, to go. If I score a great deal, or "bag" an item I can use on my layout...well, that's just a plus.
Fifedog: Gotcha! Thanks.
I like to see what I am buying, to me I can't do that on ebay, as I have bought an item or two that wasn't what the seller listed it as. So ebay for model trains is off limits for me.
Train shows to me are the best way to find what you are looking for and to see if it works, can't do that with ebay until the item arrives. Also setting up at a train show is a lot of work but it is more fun than going to my job, and you get a chance to meet people at train shows and talk about the hobby or railroads.
Lee F.
Lee F.: You're absolutely right. Hands-on, face-to-face etc.
My "disappointment" was only that I didn't see the quality of items vs. the prices being asked for them. It sort-of felt like (to me) that the vast majority of what I was seeing was "stuff" that the vendors just wanted to "unload". Please, don't get me wrong. Most of the guys were extremely friendly and some of them even appeared to have a knowledge about trains. AND, I might add, were even in my age group which certainly was a plus. (Three of us had a lively discussion about the pros and cons of 'postwar' collecting versus 'modern' which carried on to the refreshment area.) A real delight!
Again, not the 'folks', only the "stuff". Thanks for your input.
At the show I attended on November 14, I was looking for any Gilbert Flyer items. I noticed some 18B and 30B transformers thrown in news paper filled boxes under one table. From the looks of them, I figured they were junkers that needed work (missing handles, lens caps, and very filthy). Thinking this could be the deal of a lifetime, I asked the vedor what he wanted for them. His reply was that they were $300 each. The vendor was very friendly, so I thanked him and moved on. Another vendor had a clean and complete 30B for only $175, but I was out of money by the time I saw it.
I like what Fife said about going just for the experience. That is half the fun sometimes.
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