Bandit Meets?

@Larry Mullen posted:

Really wish I could have seen them back in the heyday.

Me too.  I've heard so many stories from the guys in my club.  Driving around, they often point out where some of them were, and many of them had both indoors and outdoors vendors, like the Wyndham Garden does today.

I would love to hear more stories about them from "back in the day."  Things like how many of them there were, and where they were located, and what treasures people found there.

Andy

Twenty years ago the bandit meets were much more robust.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Twenty years ago the bandit meets were much more robust.

So very true! No comparison to what they are in recent years. I used to go to York on Tuesdays just to attend all the bandit meets that I possibly could over a couple of days, and at a leisurely pace. Found lots of good stuff at those meets, and it was a whole lot of fun if/when the weather was decent.

@Allan Miller posted:

So very true! No comparison to what they are in recent years. I used to go to York on Tuesdays just to attend all the bandit meets that I possibly could over a couple of days, and at a leisurely pace. Found lots of good stuff at those meets, and it was a whole lot of fun if/when the weather was decent.

This, and John's similar comment, begs the very important question "Are they worth still worth the trouble?", which is, perhaps, what the OP is getting at.

Any opinions?

Mike

To me, as just a shopper, they are worth the trouble for one day.

Andy

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

This, and John's similar comment, begs the very important question "Are they worth still worth the trouble?", which is, perhaps, what the OP is getting at.

Any opinions?

Mike

Yes, they are worth it

Not worth the cost an extra night of the hotel to me. I never saw them at their peak in the 90’s and early 2000s. 2007 was my first. You could now put all the sellers at the current meets inside the Wyndham.

Pete

I’ll check them out tomorrow!

Peter

Alan Miller is always NEGITIVE about the bandit meets. Between the Windham inside and outside, the Sheraton and the firehouse there must be well over 500 tables. THAT IS A FACT.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Twenty years ago the bandit meets were much more robust.

As were most of us...

@eddie g posted:

Alan Miller is always NEGITIVE about the bandit meets. Between the Windham inside and outside, the Sheraton and the firehouse there must be well over 500 tables. THAT IS A FACT.

a

nd the Sheraten,

I enjoy the bandit meets.  I wasn’t around years ago so I have nothing to compare them to.  They are fun, NOW.

I will be in York on Wednesday and plan on hitting all the bandit meets.  It's like any other meet in that you just never know what you will find, and sometimes you don't realize you need something until you see it on a dealers table at a show.  I have friends down there now, and some are complaining about high prices, but its day 1, of course that will be the case.

There are some dealers who do the bandit meets and York, there are some (and I know a few) that only do the bandit meets and pass on doing York.  To each their own.  As long as they are enjoying themselves and having fun, that is what it's about!!

Oh, and BTW, the boards seem a little quiet, guess a lot are heading there already.

I'll do the stroll also Peter....I miss the fun

The bandit meets are not what they once were but I still think they are well worth it.  Some folks set up at the bandit meet and do not sell at the fairgrounds.  Others will set up in both places but by then the good stuff was sold at the bandit meets.  I also like the bandit meets because you seem to find more "junk" (small stuff) there as opposed to the fairgrounds where people are selling better stuff,

I'll see you there Peter

@eddie g posted:

Alan Miller is always NEGITIVE about the bandit meets. Between the Windham inside and outside, the Sheraton and the firehouse there must be well over 500 tables. THAT IS A FACT.

Allan didn't post anything negative about them except that they weren't what they were 20 years ago. Sometimes I wonder where you get your "FACTS".

I have found some good deals at the Bandit meets over the past several years.  I would agree the selection is less than at the fairgrounds but there are still more trains than you can shake a stick at...

Wish I could have seen York in the heyday.  I've been to a colossal number of model train shows over the years (I was HO until 2010 about 40 years at that point).  Even if I were in O then I most likely would not have gone.  The "deals" may be great.  However, by the time I factor in: hotel, gas, food, incidental expenses, etc., I could buy $2000 worth of stuff and have it sent to my home for "FREE" knowing I got what I want.  I could go there and NOT find anything I'm interested in and be out $2G.

I envy you folks who are within "striking distance."  There are several PHENOMINAL train shows right here in Central Indiana within striking distance of my home that have more stuff than I could afford. The BEST train show in Indiana is growing EVERY year for the past ten years and is about 15 minutes away.  I'm counting my blessings.

Still, after hearing YORK stories for these past 13 years, I would have loved to have seen it even once for the experience.  :-)   

@Norton posted:

Not worth the cost an extra night of the hotel to me. I never saw them at their peak in the 90’s and early 2000s. 2007 was my first. You could now put all the sellers at the current meets inside the Wyndham.

I'd love to check them out, but the last time I did that, they weren't worth it to me.  As you say, the extra cost of a hotel has to be added into any "bargains" you might find.  Also, my viewpoint nowadays isn't what it was 20 years ago, I have too much stuff now, so attending the bandit meets would be me at a seller's table.

As mentioned above my first bandit meet was around 2007. Even then there were probably as many sellers at the bandits as on the Fairgrounds. Those who have never been can go to google earth and find the Wyndham hotel. At the time it was a Holliday Inn. The whole west side of the parking lot and half the north side was filled with sellers outside plus all the conference rooms and passageways inside were filled. Then we could park on hotel property but in its heyday I was told you had to park in the mall parking lot behind the hotel it was so packed.
Likewise the Billy Budd, now a Days Inn, had the parking lot half filled with sellers plus a smaller conference room inside. Best Western had a large number of sellers in their parking lot. Finally the two firehalls near the fairground and one on east Market St.

It was worth the extra one or two days then. If I lived an hour away I would still go but at 5 hours away, no more.

Pete

What happened if it rained? Did all Bandit sellers have tents, or did it move indoors? Were they just cancelled?

@BenLMaggi posted:

What happened if it rained? Did all Bandit sellers have tents, or did it move indoors? Were they just cancelled?

Some had tarps but many just closed up. Only the Best Western was all in the parking lot. The rest had at least some indoors. Thats the thing to consider when going to bandits is weather. They will be much smaller in the wet or cold.

Pete

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I have too much stuff now, so attending the bandit meets would be me at a seller's table.

This is my problem - once I get my goods home and realize I didn't have the space I thought I did while standing in the bandit meet parking lot

Took in a few today. Nothing like the old days. Parking lot was maybe 1/5 full of vendors. Inside was good but not packed. Since I was already here it was fun to flap my lips but I wouldn't plan an extra day around the bandit shows

@John C. posted:

Wish I could have seen York in the heyday.  I've been to a colossal number of model train shows over the years (I was HO until 2010 about 40 years at that point).  Even if I were in O then I most likely would not have gone.  The "deals" may be great.  However, by the time I factor in: hotel, gas, food, incidental expenses, etc., I could buy $2000 worth of stuff and have it sent to my home for "FREE" knowing I got what I want.  I could go there and NOT find anything I'm interested in and be out $2G.

I envy you folks who are within "striking distance."  There are several PHENOMINAL train shows right here in Central Indiana within striking distance of my home that have more stuff than I could afford. The BEST train show in Indiana is growing EVERY year for the past ten years and is about 15 minutes away.  I'm counting my blessings.

Still, after hearing YORK stories for these past 13 years, I would have loved to have seen it even once for the experience.  :-)   

You're absolutely correct on the math, but the math is missing the point.  I travel from central Indiana (559 miles each way), spend a bunch on hotels and food, and buy very little that I couldn't have delivered to my front door.  Between visiting the various train attractions in Strasburg, spending a few days away from home, spending time with fellow enthusiasts, and seeing stuff IN PERSON that I've never seen before, it's WORTH IT! (Even though it ain't what is used to be.)

They were a shadow of the heydays, but fun nonetheless. I didn't spend a lot but found some great deals.......and, what could be better, looking at trains and following it up with a nice meal at the ED Welcome party where I visited with old friends and made some new acquaintances.

If you are into PostWar, The Wyndham  was a treasure trove of both mint and runner items. Lots of boxed sets and I saw at least a half a dozen boxed uncataloged sets.

Peter

@eddie g posted:

Alan Miller is always NEGITIVE about the bandit meets. Between the Windham inside and outside, the Sheraton and the firehouse there must be well over 500 tables. THAT IS A FACT.

Where did you see/find anything negative in what I posted, Eddie? Check your spelling AND your eyes!

@Putnam Division posted:

They were a shadow of the heydays, but fun nonetheless. I didn't spend a lot but found some great deals.......and, what could be better, looking at trains and following it up with a nice meal at the ED Welcome party where I visited with old friends and made some new acquaintances.

If you are into PostWar, The Wyndham  was a treasure trove of both mint and runner items. Lots of boxed sets and I saw at least a half a dozen boxed uncataloged sets.

Peter

WOW..... that is sparse compared to what it use to be several yrs back, that parking lot use to be full w/sellers.

Also back then there was alot of complaints about these meets prior to the York meet .

Just thought I would share my experience at the bandit shows on Monday.  I had a really good time.  I know they often have reviews that they are dwindling etc.  Is that comparing it to the super big shows they used to be though?  Yes, it isn't the size of the main show, but there was a lot of stuff..  I don't know of other shows in the PA area other than York and Allentown that are larger.  I could be wrong though.  There is no way all the tables would fit inside the Wyndham like mentioned somewhere else though.  

I started at the Wyndham.  While the photos above look really sparse, there were numerous people set up although far apart.  It could just be me, but I feel like there were quite a few dealers not shown above.  Perhaps they hid for photos haha.  I would imagine all the outdoor tables would fill half the inside banquet hall.  There were quite a few people in the parking lot.  It wasn't packed but if you walked around there was a lot of stuff to see.  Several people were offering to wheel and deal and it is only Monday.  Inside the main banquet hall, it wasn't completely full but perhaps some tables will fill in on Tuesday.  I would say it was 75-80% full.  The majority of the stuff was more collector high end inside.  There was also stuff in the lobby and in two other smaller rooms around the corner.  It was neat to look at some rare items inside.  I bought a few things outside, parts and a boxcar.

Next up was the Four Points Hotel.  I was pleasantly surprised here.  This hotel is way better than the old Days Inn or whatever it used to be held at.  I had gone there maybe 10 years ago and the hotel was rough and the people set up were mostly selling junkier stuff.  There were quite a few tables here now.  Several sellers were very friendly and inviting.  I bought a 2025 with tender for 50.00 and a 711 switch without the housing for 20.00.  Those seemed like good deals to me, but I haven't been super involved in the hobby in the past few years.

Last was the Reliance Fire Hall.  This had quite a bit of American Flyer but there was a little new and old Lionel as well. Perhaps the smallest of the bunch but you never know where the item is you are looking for.  All in all, free admission everywhere so how can you complain?  All in all I bought several things and some odds and ends parts looking through some boxes.  Things like insulated pins, 154C contractor, trucks, uncouplers really cheap.  

I don't have a hotel involved as I am local.  If I didn't live close I would still consider coming a day early to see them.  It's kind of like a York happy hour before the real show starts.  It was nice to find a bunch of parts as that can take up time at the main show too.  Coming to York at all is a luxury, so I guess it's up to the person to decide if it is enjoyable enough to them.  I like the laid back atmosphere myself.

@Putnam Division posted:

They were a shadow of the heydays, but fun nonetheless. I didn't spend a lot but found some great deals.......and, what could be better, looking at trains and following it up with a nice meal at the ED Welcome party where I visited with old friends and made some new acquaintances.

If you are into PostWar, The Wyndham  was a treasure trove of both mint and runner items. Lots of boxed sets and I saw at least a half a dozen boxed uncataloged sets.

Peter

Those pics don't do justice to how brutal the weather was in the morning - I don't know how much it affected the turnout.  Inside, there were a lot of vendors, but I did hear some grumbling about the foot traffic.  Still worth a visit.

I remember going to my first bandit meet in 2004 and then again in 2005.  I wouldn't return to York again until 2016 and even then I could see they were shrinking.  Boy the mid 2000's were the heyday for trains.

@eddie g posted:

Alan Miller is always NEGITIVE about the bandit meets. Between the Windham inside and outside, the Sheraton and the firehouse there must be well over 500 tables. THAT IS A FACT.

This is the one of the first times that I have seen areas with tables not set up inside the Wyndham Gardens.  I was told that there were not enough tables delivered, but if that was the case, why were there still empty tables with "Available" tags on them?

The bandit meets are not as robust as they were prior to 2020 and as a former seller at the bandit meets, I have found that the smaller crowds and the costs of selling at the bandit meets, no longer make it worthwhile for me to sell at them.

I still go and look, but I am buying less as I am not finding items that interest me.  I mainly go to the bandit meets to talk with friends that I have met over the years.

@superwarp1 posted:

I remember going to my first bandit meet in 2004 and then again in 2005.  I wouldn't return to York again until 2016 and even then I could see they were shrinking.  Boy the mid 2000's were the heyday for trains.

They were.  I joined in 97 and was my first York.  I didn't do many Bandit meets but the few I did go to were pretty good.  I do remember the fairgrounds parking to be out in the racetrack as overflow.  Things change.  While not as big, I still enjoy my Traincation.

Thanks for the pictures Peter!  Hope you found some goodies.

My friend will be arriving at the fairgrounds tomorrow around 9AM.  Are any of the bandit shows still going during York since some of the sellers don't come over to the fairgrounds?

I am not aware of any.  The three main bandit meets are wrapped up as of the typing of this.

(Fireman's Hall, Wyndham Hotel, Sheraton 4 Points).

@Mallard4468 posted:

Those pics don't do justice to how brutal the weather was in the morning - I don't know how much it affected the turnout.  Inside, there were a lot of vendors, but I did hear some grumbling about the foot traffic.  Still worth a visit.

It was nasty!

Peter

Back in the late 90’s it wasn’t uncommon for us to sell out of everything we took to York at the Holiday Inn show and not even set up at the Fairgrounds. Throw in the fire house , Valencia Ballroom, Billy Bud and others and it was a totally different time

As an Oklahoman who's spent more than his fair share of time in fire stations (and has never been to York), if anyone has pics from a firehall bandit meet (current or back in the day), I'd love to see them.

Thanks in advance!

redrockbill

MAGGI, Just curious, What is your TCA member number?