Greenberg at Edison

This was the worst show I have ever ben to  I was able to park right at the front door which was indicative of the attendance.  There were more helicopters, toys, dolls and Hess trucks than trains.  Only good point was the Raritan Valley Hi Railers layout and Ted Bertiger and Steve Musso's TMCC demo layout.

Ouch!!!    Can't imagine all the work sellers put into a show... only to not even cover their table/booth costs???  Wow... just sad... REALLY sad. 

 

I suppose Summer isn't the "best" time for a train show.  But then again, it's also just possible that folks are so bombarded with constant year-round sales nowadays, that some of the shows that haven't "grown with the times" just may not have the draw that they once had. 

 

I don't have any silver bullet answers.  On one hand, we hear great success stories with events the LCCA is promoting... like the TW TrainWorx layout extravaganza in Texas, and the United Airlines North Pole event at San Francisco airport.  Both events are SURE to be fabulous "themed" events for families.

 

And on the other hand, "traditional" shows like York, Allentown and Springfield seem to make the short-list of must-attend shows for toy train enthusiasts.

 

Perhaps the Greenberg shows have found themselves stuck in the deadly "middle ground" that lacks the wow-factor / buzz-factor that's needed to sustain interest over the long haul and grow with the times.  It's probably been over 10 years since I've attended a Greenberg show.  Have I missed anything?  I don't think so.

 

David

I don't think August is the best time for a train show.  They could probably cancel this one and no one would notice.  I generally like to attend these because it is close to home but it was August, the weather was nice and I really did not need anything.  I am looking forward to the next one however.  Greenberg and Allentown are the two regular must attend shows for me.

Absolutely  horrible show, just like Ben said the worst show ever. They need to move this show

into late September.

 

Alex

I was considering going, but now I'm glad I didn't...

Hold on Fella's!!!!

 

Are we being too critical here? In case most of you don't know I am new to this hobby, Greenberg gave me a taste (in 2005) of what a train show could have been at that point, the other stuff collectables such as dolls, race cars, and flying helicopters came and eventually took over the show. As a consequence of that, I no longer go to the Greenberg show and haven't been to the Greenberg EVENT in 3 or 4 years now.

 

There is a reason that I call it an EVENT and NOT a train show anymore. If and when they go back to selling and displaying trains as they once did, then I might go back, for now I can get my train kicks out of Allentown, York and Springfield. You'd think the folk's at Greenberg would get the message?????

 

 

Mike Maurice

 

P.S. I guess my "self imposed" boycott is working. The only sad thing about it is that due to low set up costs that train clubs are displaying there still. That will eventually change.....if it hasn't trended downward already.

I foresee this show either being held at another time of the year or canceled all together in the near future. 

The only thing good about this year is if they conduct one next year, it will do worse!

 

In three or four years no one will remember it! In time, the organizers will say market forces caused them to cancel the venue.

 I would like your comments about the show emailed to me if you don't mind.

Bob

quote:

I don't think August is the best time for a train show.

 

I consider shows that are within a hour to 90 minutes to be local. Here in the Albany NY area, our first local show used to be in September. That show was dropped several years ago.

Now the first local show isn't held until the beginning of November.
The last will probably be mid-April, but IMHO, that show is rather late.

Dear BK,

 

That's ok, if you don't believe me just look at how many times this particular article has been viewed! 177 by my last count. it's so unpopular no one wants to view it even!

 

Mike Maurice

 

PS. I did give Greenberg something though, they did hold my interest long enough to find out that there were other places more interesting.

 

Mike Maurice

 

 

I think it was poor timing, doing a show like that the weekend before labor day is suicide. The weather has been amazing for August in NJ (almost cool), and a lot of people are on vacation these last couple of weeks, and if people are shopping right now often it is back to school stuff, not trains. They would have been a lot better off in late September, when people are thinking of things like Christmas, and there isn't quite as much competition with the outdoors. 

My 1st Greenberg show was in Danbury,CT in 2013, wasn't that bad of a show, then I went to the one in my Area in Queens, that was sorta a horrible show, i spoke to some vendors and they didn't make barely or nothing at all, plus it was in a horrible spot and the weather was bad that day, I went to the Big E in 2013, but this year i didn't go, but in 2015 i will go to the big E

Even as a buyer, there wasn't any big steamers or ideal diesels I was after. I did meet a nice guy and his GF and made a couple of purchases from him, but I still felt disappointed in the end.

The Big E is an awesome show   I rank it right up there with York   Greenberg is officially off the list

Crowd was light, Greenberg shows spreading out into toys. Seems most of the crowd and sales went to the vendors selling hobby tools. As bad as this thread is bashing this show the January show at Queens College was 10 tomes worse.

I try to go to as many shows that I can get to.  Unfortunately the Greenburg Shows are becoming mundane.  Most of the shows I've attended in the summer months have been sparsely attended.  You see the same dealers trying to sell their product and every show it's the same stuff.  Their prices are not that great and when you add the price of admission and your gas it becomes even worse.  I guess they would rather pack it up and hope someone makes a purchase at the next show.  I planned to go last week, just because I needed a train fix.  I found out the pickle guy would not be there so I changed plans.  There is a show coming up in York in September that I think I will attend.  The East Coast Train Show.  It used to be called the East Coast Large Scale Train Show.  In 2014 they divided the shows.  The Spring Show is Large Scale and the Fall show will be open to all gauges.  This was the show I went too that got me interested in O.  The show dates are September 19 & 20

Sounds like most Greenberg Shows...waste of time. I don't even bother anymore and haven't for years. I went to one in March and August of 2013 to assist with the club layout and/or meet a fellow club member for other business and walked around a bit both times - LAME. Nothing. More dolls, rusty junk, old toys, etc than trains. Glad I got in free both times because I wouldn't pay the admission fee to get it.....it was THAT bad. Both shows I went to in 2013 also seemed much smaller than shows of the past.