Well, Larry, I hope you really enjoy that crane! There are areas I just don't even look at for budgetary reasons, lol.
To All--
Another reason to go back the second day: if you are seriously trying to sell at the white elephant table, the second day is double the exposure.
I often go to Timonium on the second day because my friend is (still--infernal bankers) in the process of taking over a train store. Since he always works the store on Saturday, we go to Timonium on Sunday, because it's the only time we can go. Then we go get steak for lunch on the way home...now my 13 year old son is going with us, too.
Is the show what it once was? No. But it's still worth going. We go and are able to find all kinds of items that may be already gone from the Ebay dealers, items that could be a couple years old now, and at pretty good prices. Then there are the occasional finds in brass, etc. My issue is not finding stuff I want, but affording the stuff I find, lol.
I actively search every day online for certain things that I want, to not find them. However, I have a long history of finding things at Timonium. There's perhaps a few, just a handful, I wish I'd kept instead of later trading away...
I'm still looking for a well-painted Westside SP 4-10-2 that runs well...
I also enjoy running into the people I've known for many years and catching up, and I always think of the ones I used to carpool to Timonium with, as well.
John
P.S. Looking for items: my current holy grail is Overland Models item numbers 5288 through 5291, CN and CP M-636's, some of which can also wear some hot Mexican paint jobs like FCP.
A couple times I've gone to a show, shopped, and then come back after a meal for the end. That has resulted in a few deals, but generally I opt to just get there as early as possible. The deals I come for are generally snapped up early.
If I were looking for something mid-priced, but slightly more common, I'd probably consider coming back at the end of the show to see if there are any I can dicker and deal for, but otherwise my strategy is in early (pre-admission is worth it for GMT) snap up the deals and out before the place fills up.
Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading.
PRR8259Keep in mind that before the doors open, the dealers typically trade with each other. So it is very possible that what appears "new" on one dealer's table actually may have come from another. I've seen that plenty of times.
I have worked the Bucyrus show and seen the dealer swamping items or buying items from each other.
I know for a fact the items other then the crane was not on display Saturday. I never rush through a show..In fact I make three trips looking things over and after my normal coffee and apple pie break I start my purchasing round. Probably around 4 hours total.
The only reason I went back Sunday was to get that crane.. I spent the night with my younger sister and brother-in-law and decided to go back ad get it.. Had I drove the 85 miles home I would have not made a special trip for the crane....
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Larry--
Keep in mind that before the doors open, the dealers typically trade with each other. So it is very possible that what appears "new" on one dealer's table actually may have come from another. I've seen that plenty of times.
Since my friends were big into buying brass, my job (years ago now) was to find out what dealer had what items at what price. The first thing I did was to circulate through the Timonium Show as fast as I could. I knew what everybody was looking for (because we had stopped for breakfast) and it was my job to find who had it. I sometimes have a photographic memory, at least for brass, lol.
Also, working as extra eyes for security reasons on behalf of certain dealers (now deceased - Mountaineer Brass) would get me in the show early before the doors opened, so that I knew who had what.
With the higher ticket items, they do move from dealer to dealer before the doors open, and maybe even on the second day.
PRR8259They 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?
John,Maybe not at the Timonium Show I've seen it done at 2 day shows here in Ohio not so long ago.. Maybe those modelers that couldn't attend Saturday could attend Sunday or perhaps the guys like me that return to take a closer look at some models or decided to buy that certain car or engine after all sees the new stock and buys more then he intended.
Actually I return to buy a Walther powered American Crane lettered CR that was on "closeout" sale and I notice some of the dealers had new stock on display.. I bought the Crane ,a Atlas CR GP7, a Walthers CR (exNYC bay window) caboose and both numbers of Athearn RTR PamAm 50' boxcar. I spent less (IIRC $20.00) Saturday not including the admittance price..
Having attended some Greenburg shows, I find the 2nd day better for the reasons mentioned above. I think that show is far less popular than it was years ago. Regardless of where you attend, knowing the market value of items helps. Many at the shows are looking to fill their customer's "gotta-have" itch.
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.
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--
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
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
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
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
ahem..springfield mass train show sponsored by the AMEHERST model rr is in two (2) weeks!
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.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
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.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
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.
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.
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..
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
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deckroidbut have you ever let a box of odds and ends go for a buck?
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.
deckroidrather sell stuff at a discount
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.
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
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..
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.