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An interesting--and diverse--train weekend coming up for me (after-action UPDATE)

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I'll be exchanging my magazine editor cap for a train salesman cap this coming weekend, and it should be both fun and instructive.

On Saturday, I, along with three other train buddies, will be operating Dave Minarik's Mercer Junction Train Shoppe in Mercer, PA, in Dave's temporary absence. As many here know, Dave is the drummer with the popular rock group, The Clarks, and the band has gigs in Philadelphia on Friday and Harrisburg on Saturday. Rather than close the shop on Saturday, Dave asked if the four of us would be willing and able to pitch in to keep things going on Saturday (his lovely wife Marsha will handle things on Friday). I haven't done the retail thing for some years now, but am certainly willing to give it a shot to see if I still have some salesman abilities in me. It will take all four of us to replace the one very talented and highly experienced/knowledgeable Dave, of course, but we will give it our best shot. Mercer Junction is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, so if you are in the area, drop by to say hello and give us some encouragement. Bring your wallet, too, 'cause I told Dave and Marsha that we wouldn't let anyone out the door unless they bought something. 

Then, on Sunday, I, along with my bride, Wendy, will be sellers at the Youngstown Model Railroad Association's train show in Salem, Ohio. I haven't sold trains at a show or meet in a long time, but decided to get a couple of tables to see if I can sell off some of the overflow train stuff I have after having moved to a new home late last year. I'll just fill the car with whatever it will hold--mostly small items and accessories and excess track--and see if I can make a few bucks to help defray the cost of several locomotives I have on preorder at the present time. I'll leave most of the high-end excess stuff I have to sell for posting soon here on the forum, but I do have a ton of miscellaneous items I would like to find new homes for. Should be an interesting experience since I really have no idea what to expect in terms of what folks might be looking for, expected crowd size and their interests, and that sort of thing. If you're attending that show on Sunday, please be sure to stop by and say hello! Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All in all, it should be a rather interesting--and fun--weekend. I have my fingers crossed that Wendy will agree.

 

Last edited by Allan Miller
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Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
MartyE posted:

Hmmm.  Sounds like a Big Sale at Mercer Junction on Saturday!   LOL!  Good luck Alan!

That's what Brian, Frank, Sam, and I told David we have planned. Figured if we do things right, the shop could have its biggest sales day ever. Would have to beat Marsha's all-time best day, though, and that will be tough. In addition to being Dave's wife, she is the one who keeps track of the $. We will have to be very careful!

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
dk122trains posted:

The catch will be not what you sell each day but what you find to buy! Have fun!

I believe that has already been taken care of...perhaps even as early as today since a couple of locomotives I preordered (U.S. Army and Pittsburgh-Ohio Central) are possibly due in to Dave's shop today, as a matter of fact, along with a bunch of MTH stuff for other happy folks.

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
wild mary posted:

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you Allan  but it sure sounds like fun.  Just remember one thing when selling retail - THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

Actually, the key is making them feel they are right, even if they aren't. But with Saturday at the train shop I won't have much to contend with because it's just a matter of answering whatever questions I can (keep in mine there will be three other knowledgeable guys with me), scanning the tag, ringing up the sale, and making the right change. I won't have to worry about wheeling-and-dealing.

It will be a bit different on Sunday. I am definitely pricing things to sell and fully hope to come home with an empty car (except for my wife). "No reasonable offer refused" is the guiding phrase for that day. I'm mostly taking all sorts of misc. pieces, accessories, boxed and unboxed rolling stock of various makes and roads, and a few new-in-box K-Line Plymouth sets (some still shrink-wrapped). Also going to dig out some O27 track, FasTrack, and Atlas O track tonight if I have enough time. I'm using GarGraves track and Ross switches on the new layout, plus Atlas HO for the On30 line, so there's not much point in holding onto things I will not be needing.

It will be an interesting weekend!

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Mark Boyce posted:

Hmmm...If I go to Mercer Junction and the Four Horsemen won't let me out of the door until I buy something, I'll be hurting for going to York in two weeks!!     I'll see if I can get time away to take a ride up anyway.

I've seen advertisements for the show in Salem.  It should be a good weekend!!

Sure thing, Mark! Come on up and join in the fun.

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Alex M posted:

Hey Allan 

I’ve never been to Dave’s store , but from the pictures and videos I’ve seen it’s a hobby shop I would love to work in. Enjoy and have fun. 

Alex 

It will be fun, as well as instructive in many ways. Always willing to pitch in to help Dave and Marsha on anything. After all, he was the Best Man at my wedding in December.

Allan MillerAllan MillerOGR Editor-in-Chief SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I promised to post an after-action report of my diverse weekend experiences, so here it is....

On Saturday, Brian, Frank, Sam, and I filled in as temporary hobby shop managers at forum member Dave Minarik's Mercer Junction Train Shoppe. All went well, and I don't think we lost any customers or money for Dave. We actually had a pettry darn good day, and started it out by setting up a gag photo that we could send to Dave who was on the road with The Clarks band (see attached). We then checked off the pallet load of MTH trains that had arrived on Friday evening and that went without a hitch. Had some sales during the day, including three items for yours truly--two preordered locomotives that were on that pallet and a single-stall engine shed that I will use on my new layout. A young fellow named David, who is wheelchair bound, made his customary Saturday visit to operate the train shop's layout for customers and visitors, and he always does a splendid job. Pizza lunch for the crew was courtesy of Marsha Minarik, who usually runs the place in her husband's absence, but who had to work that day. All in all, it was an instructive and fun experience.

Wendy and I were sellers at the YounngstownModel Railroad Association's train show in Salem, OH, on Sunday, and we did very well. The event appeared, to me at least, to be well attended. My goal of coming home with a completely empter car wasn't quite accomplished, but we came darn close because of the ridiculously low pricing we were selling things for (including some freebies that Wendy gave to little kids who attended the event).  I guess a highlight for me was being interviewed in a live three-minute TV news segment by 27News, the local CBS affiliate. Spent most of the time talking about my role with OGR magazine and informing folks where they could buy it. I was surprised by the number of people who stopped by our tables during the day and said "saw you on TV this morning." Finally, I actually bought something at the show (see photo)--a vintage 3x4 Marklin HO dealerdisplay layout that had been built especially for an FAO Schwartz store many years ago. It needs a whole lot of cleaning and TLC, but is completely intact including structures and all the trackwork. It will be a fun project--I already have a good number of Marklin HO trains--and the fellow sold it to me did so for practically nothing, even though I told him it was worth much more. All-in-all, Wendy's first-ever selling day at a train show was a fun and productive/profitable day for both of us!

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Last edited by Allan Miller
B BobbyDOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Allan Miller posted:

I promised to post an after-action report of my diverse weekend experiences, so here it is....

 We actually had a pettry darn good day, and started it out by setting up a gag photo that we could send to Dave who was on the road with The Clarks band (see attached).

IMG-5996

Nice gesture among friends Allan.

And a fabulous marketing plan too!

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