Great Train Expo..Disapointment...Overland Park Kansas

Did anyone else in the area attend?... Just curious what your thoughts were.

The last few years I attended the G.T.E. in Delmar, Ca.  This year I didn't go, but last year I bought a boxcar from a guy near the front for a good price, and that was a noon.  At the end of the show, I walked back around to his spot and bought two more cars.  Later that day I looked at both receipts to record the prices I paid, and I noticed the receipt numbers were only 7 numbers different.  In four hours he had only 6 sales besides mine.  That's a poor way to do business, so I don't think that the shows bring the same amount of people as they once did.    

Our club had our traveling kids layout set up at the GTE here in Atlanta the weekend before Thanksgiving.  I arrived at the show around noon on Saturday and stayed till the 4PM closing.  This was about the most poorly attended GTE I have seen in my 9 years in Atlanta.  Normally we would have kids about six deep the entire way around our layout yet that Saturday, I don't recollect any children having to wait more than a minute or two for a chance to run one of the trains. 

The vendors all seemed to be spending more time visiting with each other than making sales to customers.  And, from what I heard from the guys who manned our layout on Sunday, the attendance was sparse that day too.

About the only positive I came away with on Saturday, was a marked increase in the number of non-white families which, in my opinion, is an encouraging indicator for the model railroading hobby.

Curt

That is too bad it was not as billed.

I would be disappointed also if it was advertised incorrectly. I could see if the ad numbers were off a bit from the actual number of displays and tables but not by a landslide.

 

It does sound like you made the best of it though. I agree, a day with trains is a day with trains...and that's a good day. 

Again.. Still had a nice time with my 3 year old boy. Wanted to spend some of my Christmas money and help the economy ....oh well

The GTE's in my area have badly declined over the past several years. Used to be a pretty decent selection of all eras of O-Gauge but now has likewise been overrun by the smaller scales and the selection of O has whittled down to the same batch of overpriced Postwar at every show.

 

Then I discovered York 

I went to a show last year in New Jersey that advertized 500 plus tables in a high school.  They claimed the cafeteria and gym plus hallways.  All that was there was a couple tables in a hallway and the cafeteria.  I complained and told them I drove up from Maryland because the show was advertized as a larger show.  They told me it used to be, but no one changed the advertizement.  They did offer to refund my admission price.

 

Great point Nick! ...I will be attending my first York this Spring !!

Keep in mind that GTE does not provide sellers, they are open to those who want to sell. I agree Bill needs to get his advertising to more realistically reflect the declines, but they are estimates based on prior shows. With the crappy economy (there is no recovery no matter what they are trying to tell us) & the higher cost of fuel, many of the sellers that come from long distances have stopped making the trip because they cannot recoup the cost. Again, not much Bill can do about it but keep trying. As to the mix of product, Bill has no control of it, it is dependent on what sellers sign up. I still find it one of the better family, not club orientated venues available. Plenty of issues, but still good.

Bill is pretty much a one man show covering the whole country. If we, the patrons, sellers and exhibitors do not support him, the show will go the way of many others and he will finally be able to spend time with his wife & kids.

 

Steve

 

The cost to get into a show is nothing compared to the time and cost of traveling 1-2 hours to get to it. I'd say you were lucky to find so many layouts to view. Also, there can be a BIG difference between number of tables vs number of dealers, as one dealer could have 6 small tables full of junk or toys.

Yes, a trip to York tends to spoil one!

My LHS owner indicated to me that traveling long distances to attend these shows is nothing more than a money pit for him. Unfortunately we hobbiests look forward to going to these shows to get 'great' deals. We have to remind ourselves these deals come directly out of our LHS's pockets. The cost of driving, meals out, table, and lodging are just too high a price these days.

im preaching to me, I have to remind myself if I want local support though a LHS, then I must support such and be willing to pay a little more to keep them open.

I've never been to York, hard to justify a 3000 round trip, but I'm sure it's no comparison to these other smaller shows. Would love to go someday

Parking fees and overpriced admission fees have killed their shows. Last time we went to one, there were more layouts than tables. That was our last visit.

I don't think they even come to the Detroit area anymore.

Steve, consider this to be a learning experience. The disparity of O-Gauge equipment to other scales is the norm at this type of show.

 

These shows do serve a purpose as they introduce many to the hobby of model railroading.

 

If you are not already a member of the TCA, you should join and go to York. This is a sure cure to the problem you encountered

All great points gents. The good news is visiting family in KC.... Union Station one day and a train show the other. 2 days of trains is great stuff for me! 

I went yesterday to the Overland park KS show.  I agree, it was disappointing.  9 dollars a piece to get in and not very many tables.  

 

Mike... The only think that made it worth while was that my little guy had fun with the layouts they did have.