1st time Selling as a TCA member at the Oct. meet. Advice appreciated

Bring:

• Lots of small bills to make change
• Plastic grocery bags in case a buyer needs one
• A tablecloth and a cloth to cover your table at night.  Not absolutely necessary, but covering your table at night lets people know you have not yet arrived in the morning if you are late getting to the halls.
• A comfortable folding chair if you have one that does not take up much space (the ones the fairgrounds provide are not the most comfortable)
• A cooler with beverages and lunch or snacks (it can sometimes be hard to get away from your table to eat)
• A small note pad and pen, in case you need to get or give contact information
• A book, magazine or other amusement for the slow periods (Saturdays) -- of course these are easy to find at York...
• Extra price tags in case you need them (I use mini sticky notes and stringed tags for items without boxes).  It helps to have everything priced before you go.
• A dolly or cart.  You will be hauling your stuff a ways from the parking areas.

Also, if you can, arrange for a friend to come and watch your table if you want to check out the halls or just get out and walk around, get fresh air, etc.

Keep in mind that many people like to haggle, so keep that in mind when pricing stuff.

And get to know your neighbors.  You never know what will happen when you make new friends.

Selling at York is a very different experience than going as just a buyer.  I have found it to be very enjoyable, and it is a very good feeling when someone discovers the treasure they've been looking for on your table.

Andy

Decide on an overall pricing strategy.  If you've been attending for over 20 years, I'm sure you've noticed that some folks haul the same items to one meet after another - I think they like displaying their stuff and don't care if they sell it.  Other folks price their stuff to sell and end up bringing very little home.

Another option is to post your items on the forum for delivery at York - you might be able to sell everything on Thursday morning before the meet starts and not have to bother with a table.

Tables could be limited depending on what the ED does with regard to COVID 19.  All I know is current holders of a table registration, going back to April 2019, have preference but the table or tables may not be in the usual location.

That said,  there have been requests for refunds which the ED accepted prior to May 7, 2021.  So, some tables may have been freed up.  Register as soon as registration is open preferably on line.

Maybe a calculator, especially if you are required to collect sales tax.

your competing with a lot of other sellers price your items fairly and on the lower side, you have enjoyed your trains and now its time to pass them along.  Expect potential buyers to negotiate price, so be prepared to strike up a friendly discussion and soon you can come up with a fair agreement.  Engage the patrons to look at your items, " Check out my table, I'll be glad to answer any questions" ( I see too many sellers virtually asleep at their tables)

HAVE FUN

ALSO

As we are still in the COVID era, the attendance could be the lowest we have ever seen. Why not list some of your items here on the OGR forum. I have had lots of success selling here. Give it a try

If possible, get a piece of soft rubber floor mat the length of your tables: customers will stop just to give their feet a rest and stay long enough for a closer look at what you have. Above all else, bring a sense of humor and a lot of patience.

@Sam posted:

I have been going to the York meet since 1998 but have never registered for a table to sell. I need to thin out the collection and am considering getting a table for the October meet. Any advise for a 1st time seller will be appreciated.

Thanks!

Sam

Getting lots of good advice.

Just remember: Minus points from the potential buyer for seeing butt crack when bending over.

@Mallard4468 posted:

Another option is to post your items on the forum for delivery at York - you might be able to sell everything on Thursday morning before the meet starts and not have to bother with a table.

Former forum member Rocky Mountaineer liquidated much of his previous inventory this way and I have sold many items this way.  You can even meet at other times depending what days/times the buyers are arriving.  Is is a bit of a pain? Yes, but to me the advantages outweigh the negatives:

• you sell your stuff
• you don't have to ship it
• you don't pay fees to sell it
• you still get to enjoy the shopping experience of York

Granted, some folks have too much stuff to sell as to make this impractical, but I know folks who have arrived with the back of their SUV packed with items they sold on the Buy/Sell board for York delivery.  It may be an option for you.

If not, Andy, who posted above, has sold at numerous York meets and gives sound advice from experience.

If you do decide to get a table(s) at York, it's always good to post where you're located and what type of items you will be selling so we can at least stop by to say hello. 

-Greg

Be sure that any children on your team understand the value and prices of the things you have for sale. There have been stories over the years of a seller leaving his table in charge of a child, while the member went to shop or relieve himself, with unfortunate results.   A rare item marked at $500 was once sold by a well-meaning but confused kid for $5.00.  The buyer waited for his chance and took advantage of the kid's lack of knowledge.

@Greg Houser posted:

Former forum member Rocky Mountaineer liquidated much of his previous inventory this way and I have sold many items this way.  You can even meet at other times depending what days/times the buyers are arriving.  Is is a bit of a pain? Yes, but to me the advantages outweigh the negatives:

• you sell your stuff
• you don't have to ship it
• you don't pay fees to sell it
• you still get to enjoy the shopping experience of York

Granted, some folks have too much stuff to sell as to make this impractical, but I know folks who have arrived with the back of their SUV packed with items they sold on the Buy/Sell board for York delivery.  It may be an option for you.

If not, Andy, who posted above, has sold at numerous York meets and gives sound advice from experience.

If you do decide to get a table(s) at York, it's always good to post where you're located and what type of items you will be selling so we can at least stop by to say hello. 

-Greg

Great idea about posting your table location.

There are so many deals going on in the lot before the meet on Thursday that my sweetie said it looked like a bunch of drug deals.

@Mallard4468 posted:

There are so many deals going on in the lot before the meet on Thursday that my sweetie said it looked like a bunch of drug deals.

That actually got an audible chuckle out of me when I read it!

-Greg

Put a nice table cloth down. Medium to dark red or green really sets off the colors of the trains.

Bring a counterfeit bill pen, available at any Staples or similar office supply.

I am sure that 98% of everyone at the show will be honest, but there are large numbers of counterfeit $20 bills out there in circulation, that many people unknowingly have in their wallets.   As well as $50s and $100s.  (At one retail place I frequent, they use a counterfeit pen on anything $20 or larger, and for good reason.)

When you are counting the stack of money handed to you, don't engage in any chit-chat.  Very very easy to accidentally lose count and end up with a lesser or greater amount than the price.

Also, bring a small bright flashlight and a medium size magnifying glass.   Often, the lighting in a convention center is really really bad, and a flashlight or glass can really help you make a sale.

Put all of your show supplies (pen, paper, counterfeit pen, flashlight, etc.) in a cardboard school pencil-box, available any Walmart etc.  That way, all of your stuff is one box and not falling out of your pockets.  Bring at least 4 ballpoint pens, because they have a tendency to grow legs and walk away during the day.

As others have mentioned, bring lots of change, in $1s and $5s and $10s.

As far as pricing, you have to decide whether you are trying to make a profit, or trying to get "all of your money back" or trying to make a sale at what you absolutely know to be a fair and reasonable price.

When I go to shows (for my other hobby), I am there to SELL, not fool around.  I know exactly what the item is worth, and price it about 3 to 5% below that price.  I rarely negotiate, and they sell fast.    When someone tries to negotiate hard, I just tell them (very pleasantly), "Hey, I'm sure that you have been in this hobby longer than I have, so I am sure you know that I have priced this below fair value.   Why?, because I am here to sell it.   Bargains don't last long at shows, so if you really don't want it, I am sure that someone else will take it."    Smile a lot.

Mannyrock

"There are so many deals going on in the lot before the meet on Thursday that my sweetie said it looked like a bunch of drug deals."

There are a lot of sweeties out there who swear the whole train collecting thing is addictive.  So, she's not that wrong.

Art,

I know what you mean about parking lot deals.

First question is always, "Hey buddy, . . .watch'a got in the box?"  :-)

Mannyrock