Greenberg Train Show at Raritan Center

Went on Sunday and was really disappointed in what it has become  Train shows used to be the place that you were able to get bargains   It seems now most of the vendors double their prices at the shows   Its hard to support a vendor when he is trying to rape me on price   The subway set prices were absolutely ridiculous   These guys think they have gold bars on the table

@gmorlitz posted:

This show had very little new stuff and, as you can see from the pictures, it had a lot of Barbie and even a Mary K table. WOW, what changes.

At the Greenberg show in Monroeville, PA earlier this month, we had a good mix of new and old stuff, and a surprising amount of nice Weaver, and we had two different fudge and candy sellers, and a gutter and window replacement company.  And there was a noticeable amount of empty space, mostly due to a long-time dealer not being there (cutting back to doing York only).  Monroeville will also likely be seeing more space available at the next show as another long-time dealer passed away recently, and his family was there this show to try and liquidate as much of his stock as possible before selling it off to other dealers.  As Dylan sang, "The Times They Are A-Changin'" ...

Andy

I had fun vending this time around. I think I got more sales off my artwork and trinkets at this show than any one previously.

I wasn't really in the mood to look for trains, but I will say aside from a few decent deals on some of the newer Lionel LEGACY/MTH PS3 equipment, there wasn't too much for the guys looking for newer equipment. There will always be a lot of prewar, postwar and Fundimensions stuff around (conditions and prices certainly varies), but even the LTI/LLC/early MTH/Weaver/Williams stuff was scarce, and the stuff that was there was pretty high up in prices.

I do agree that a lot has changed since COVID. I don't usually come to these shows for the trains these days, and more so the friends who flock there now. The Thomas the Tank Engine exhibits have really become the hot thing these days, especially with the younger crowds, and personally if those get more of the youth of today interested and excited about the hobby, that's perfectly fine by me.

Blue line, these days any word can offend anyone. You might consider editing your strong feelings about high prices

I try to get to one a year, I have to drive thru NYC to do it and the drive home is always brutal.

@gmorlitz posted:

I went to the Greenberg train show at the Raritan Center on Saturday and Sunday. Now that I'm a snowbird I miss many train related activities (Allentown, Springfield, and Trainstock) so this was a "fix" for me. I got to see and talk to Kevin Quinn, TCA President, Alex M, and a bunch of NJ HiRailer including Ben, Vinny, Eric, Felix and others. It really was very nice, and the show had a decent attendance of the usual train buyers.

The show has really changed a lot over the years. When I started going it was almost all Lionel orange boxes with some Weaver, Williams and Third Rail thrown in. Then it changed to being mostly Orange boxes, Purple boxes, Yellow boxes with some K-Line, Weaver, Atlas, Third Rail and Williams added to the mix. And there always seemed to be a nice mix of new stuff and used stuff. This show had very little new stuff and, as you can see from the pictures, it had a lot of Barbie and even a Mary K table. WOW, what changes.

I guess this is the way it's going to be. Shows will continue as long as dealers and train sellers support them, but the dealers and train sellers will only support the shows as long as we buy from them at the shows. If there aren't enough dealers and train sellers at the shows, then, the sponsor (Greenberg) has to determine if the effort is worthwhile. I guess you can be a purist and say a train show should only have trains, but I don't know where that gets you other than a lot fewer train shows. Personally, I prefer having the shows with the additional sellers. I just hope the additional sellers don't force out train sellers who want to sell at the show. What do you think?

Gerry

Was great to meet you Gerry, always a blast catching up with fellow modelers.

@@T1Titan_ZachF posted:

Was great to meet you Gerry, always a blast catching up with fellow modelers.

Was Kevin manning the Barbie Headquarters? Lol

Looks like a good time. I totally missed out on the show…

Tom

@Dave Nichols posted:

Blue line, these days any word can offend anyone. You might consider editing your strong feelings about high prices

You have to be kidding me right  Words have multiple meaning so if they offend anyone they are ignorant  Merriam webster definition of my context - to seize and take away by force

Went on Saturday,  enjoyed raritan valley display, got in my steps, went home.  Nothing of interest for me, lot's of overpriced trains, lot's of bargin bin Hess trucks.  Highlight of the day was the cast of characters attending the horror.com event in the adjoining hall.

Have not been to this show in years, it's no longer worth the trip for me as I can get everything I need from my local hobby shop at better prices.

I can’t speak to the Greenberg shows up north but, when they still had them here in the South, they tended to be about evenly split between trains, dolls and doll houses and, to a lesser extent, old toys. I never found them to be comparable to the old Great American Train Shows.

Curt

Great meeting you also Zach.

Gerry

Gerry

it was great to see you !

Alex

When I first discovered Greenberg shows back in the early 90's I thought they were a blast - a lot of product and a good mix. Now I'm at a point where I'm not really missing the show if I don't go. Between pre and post York sales and catching an occasional 'blowout'  there's not much I feel I need. Plus, I've been catching some hidden gems (at least to me, where you'd least expect to)  during my travels at out of the way shops.

If I remember correctly, the early Greenberg shows were advertised as trains and dollhouses.

@Krieglok posted:

Was Kevin manning the Barbie Headquarters? Lol

Looks like a good time. I totally missed out on the show…

Tom

L-O-L This was a good laugh. Disappointing that Grzyboski's was not at the summer Edison show but from a business perspective I do understand as the summer traffic is obviously slower than the winter traffic. Wishing for more weaver boxes at the edison show.

I haven’t attended many Greenberg shows but they never impressed me. Toys and Trains and other things just don’t cut it for me. The one place I do visit is the Raritan Valley HiRail display. That’s always the highlight of the day at the Edison show. Give a show like Allentown and York and I’ll be there. Greenberg not so much.

Too many toy vendors at most of the Greenberg shows...

They used to be advertised as train and dollhouse shows. Used to be plenty of dollhouses too. I remember a show at i belive stonybrook or farleigh dickerson university that was more toys than trains and they had a compleate area just for dollhouses. Id say about very early 90s.