While York is a treasure trove for buying trains sometimes the fast pace can lead to purchases which are defective or otherwise not right-- this to only be discovered later on.
I have bought the occasional flatcar with the wrong load and items on which defects have been covered by price stickers. This might be a good post to alert first time Yorkers what to be careful of.Also, I made it a practice to carry an illustrated pricing guide for on- the- spot reference.
Bob C.
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After being to 61 straight Yorks I can say I never have been stung buying a train item at york.
But as usual you should know what you are buying and always check what you are buying.
I've only ever been stung by my own hesitation. Seeing something, passing it up, then deciding I wanted it only to go back and find it gone. But that is 100% on me.
Andy
No • This train show and most train shows have a test track. If the seller, will not let you take the engine to a test track. Walk away........
Yes, just once, a bee got me walking to the Blue hall in 2000.
I have had a couple of questionable deals
I had a prewar 261 engine that the seller told me was stock and in great shape, about a month after I got home I noticed that the number plate on the other side said 262
Last trip I bought caboose from the dealer that had a truck missing the pin to hold the wheel truck in place.
Both could have been found if I had looked a bit closer, so it's on me I guess
cbojanower, yes, you should have looked closer but even then sometimes we miss something. But, I bet the seller knew it was missing and he/she should have said something about it. Not many, but there are a few that just aren't honest. I have even bought trains and models that were missing parts or had broken parts when the seller was honest enough to tell me and reflect it in the price. At least then I wasn't mad about it when I saw it.
Rick
I've never had an issue at York. However, I must mention that I haven't purchased many big ticket items like locomotives.
Once. I bought a Lionel Oil Derrick from a dealer which was in very good cosmetic condition. I was promised that it worked. Well I got it home and tested it and it tripped the circuit breaker in my CW. Long story short, it wasn't even wired correctly anymore.
Moral of the story: Always test items. I have even started bringing jumper wires to test accessories.
No, nothing but very good results with York Meet purchases. It is by far the safest place to buy train equipment.
You need to know whom you bought it from. If you get taken or stung at York, it's your own fault.
Bought a new Legacy Mohawk from Joe Gryzboski and he refused to give me a receipt.
His reason, as stated by him was "I am out of receipts." I was with another forum member who witnessed the entire exchange.
I brought a Lionel senior employee back with me to remind him I was due a receipt.
I never got the receipt. I considered reporting Geyzboski to York officials and decided I had enough trouble in my life without that. The Lionel official promised to honor my purchase warranty. There are those of you out there who might say there are two sides to every story. I'm reporting what happened. I would prefer not to name the Lionel official but he is about as high up as it gets below the new President.
Why do I mention this? It deserves to be mentioned. Should I have reported it? Probably.
Just the opposite, my friend who was set up in the red hall had a $600 item walk away this past October!
Maint, Does the eastern division know about it?
I haven't had any problems, but I almost accidentally stung someone else this past October: I had a box of tunnel portals - a pair, I thought - fortunately the buyer opened the box and found only one inside. I was very embarrassed, and hoped the guy realized it was a mistake not a rip-off. That taught me to check the contents of the boxes for what I'm selling in April. 
Yes. It was at my first York. I was not yet into O gauge but was looking for something for my father-in-law (he wanted to go to York so I went with him).
He saw a Lionel Southern Railway Trainmaster that he really liked, and the seller said he had just run it and it was in "excellent" condition and everything worked. I went back later in the day and bought the engine for a birthday present. Not having much experience with swap meet sales, I took his word for it.
When we tried to run the engine after we got home, it just made a loud grinding noise and did not move. Turned out the plastic drive gear on this engine was stripped, a common problem with these engines. Since then, I don't buy much in the member halls, and when I do I really check over the item first.
no,never. the good people at york would never do something bad or dishonest to their fellow tca member friends.-jim
There was an OGR member who had four Atlas Reefer cars from the Buy/Sell Forum that I had agreed to buy. Per his email we were to meet at 2:00 PM to complete the transaction. I arrived at the booth at 1:45 and was informed that they had been sold almost immediately after the doors opened. Fell into the "thanks for nothing" category.
Gilly
Was looking at an LW in the member hall and the guy told me it was in great shape and he had tested it that week and it worked perfectly. Only problem was the power cord was dry rotted and not only burnt where it entered the casing one of the the wires were broken. When I asked him how he could have tested it in this condition he just shrugged his shoulders and offered to take $20 off the price, I walked away. But for the most part I've been happy with my purchases at York and elsewhere.
Jerry
"I am out of receipts."
If I'm a buyer, and a seller said that to me, and I had any doubts, I'd take out (or borrow) a piece of paper and a pen, write down what I bought (e.g., "2065 in E+ condition, all original, not a re-paint, etc., etc.) the price I paid for it, and I'd end with the words "Paid in Full, York Meet, October XX, 20XX". I'd then ask the seller to sign it and write down his/her TCA number.
If the seller had a problem with ANY of that, I'd give him or her a good view of my ample backside waddling away in the opposite direction.
As a seller, I've signed dozens of those and I respected the bejeepers out of everyone whoever asked me to.
Steven J. Serenska
You need to know whom you bought it from. If you get taken or stung at York, it's your own fault.
Originally Posted by Maint.
Just the opposite, my friend who was set up in the red hall had a $600 item walk away this past October!
Originally Posted by eddie g:
Maint, Does the eastern division know about it?
By the same token doesn't it reason that if someone walks off with your stuff it's your own fault?
If you get ripped off or stung at York or robbed you should report it to the officials, things like this should not be tolerated on both sides of the deal. To say it is your own fault that you got taken smacks of "old boy network".
Jerry
been stung, but not at York.
went to a TTCS show in Rochester New York.
Guy had a whole box load of metal wheel sets.
I was looking for several to replace plastic ones.
I asked him if they were Lionel. He just about
jumped outta his pants when I mentioned I needed
24 sets @ $1.00 each which is what he was charging.
I should've seen the "red flag" waving when he got so excited.
anyway. I purchased 24. when I got them home, they would not
fit because they were actually MTH metal wheel sets and I had
to grind the points down to fit because they were to long to fit into
Lionel rolling stock.
Just the opposite, my friend who was set up in the red hall had a $600 item walk away this past October!
your friend may have had an item "walk" away,
but what goes around, comes around and the person that
stole will feel the wrath sooner or later. Your friend may or may not see the results
of that persons misfortune, but eventually they will have something happen to them because of their callous disregard for other peoples property.
As a former officer of TCA, I can assure you that members who "cheat" other members are dealt with. The issue is members do not always let the complaint department know of the issue. Purchasers should know the person they are buying from, everyone must wear a name tag with their TCA number, their tables are labeled, and there is always their TCA number. Resolutions to issues are the first option. If guilty of an infraction that is considered intentional with no resolution, we have taken ember ship from the member. This should ever be tolerated...we are not out to harm our hobby or members. Do not be gullible, there are Standards members in every hall and if asked, they will assist you in evaluating condition and legitimacy of an item, then the choice is yours. I personally have never been taken at York, most TCA'ers value their membership and friendships developed over many years of Yorks and TCA shows. Yes, membership costs $50 and whatever local dues if you decide to be a local member as well, but with that come the benefits of being a member of an organization that should be based on honest, fair, deals that would benefit the hobby, not an individual's pocket.
was selling some Hess trucks for a friend. Guy came to my table and opened every box to chck trucks. he set a few aside and walked away. some lady came up and purchased all the trucks that that guy had set aside. He came back about 20 min later and said.
"what happened to the trucks I set aside." I told him that I sold them. snooze, you lose.
There was an OGR member who had four Atlas Reefer cars from the Buy/Sell Forum that I had agreed to buy. Per his email we were to meet at 2:00 PM to complete the transaction. I arrived at the booth at 1:45 and was informed that they had been sold almost immediately after the doors opened. Fell into the "thanks for nothing" category.
Gilly
Gilly that is a serious breach of trust. I would never do business with that individual ever again, and would have made sure my buddies knew exactly who it was as well. 
Not all stings are bad, though!!!
A year ago, April 2014, I rounded the corner, following the arrows
, in Red Hall, looked down at the first table and saw a Lionel B&O red wagontop caboose in a crispy box....with a "30-" sticker on it!!!!!
Seeing what these things had been going for on da bay, I was incredulous!
So I picked up the package, asked the gorgeous lady assisting her husband (or squeeze) staffing the booth if this was the price...for real. She said, "Sure!" My wife (our exchequer) quickly handed over the $30...while I stood there shaking, staring at the item in my clutches.
Now, I already had a red B&O Lionel wagontop caboose. It didn't matter. I know a deal when I see it!
Later on, when we had a chance to catch a break, I checked my inventory on our tablet. Yep, there was my caboose. Whoa!....My new purchase was a different 'boose number! WHAT LUCK!?!?!
But, hey there....what's this??? The crispy box that my gnu caboose came in carried the same 6- number as the one I already had!! 
After checking Lionel's website, I found that I had a great new caboose....in the wrong crispy box.
They say that mixed emotions are like watching your mother-in-law drive your newly restored '57 Chevy BelAir convertible, larkspur blue, off a cliff. 
Well, that's what this 'boose 'sting' was....mixed bag. But, hey....not complaining, mind you.
I did casually return to the vendor's table later, though, to see if the mixed-mate was lurking among the other boxes. Yeah, right.
Nope, all in all, that was a good sting.
It happens...
KD
BTW...No, I don't have a '57 Chevy BelAir convertible, larkspur blue. But I wish I did!....my Mecum, Barrett-Jackson fantasy buy!
There was an OGR member who had four Atlas Reefer cars from the Buy/Sell Forum that I had agreed to buy. Per his email we were to meet at 2:00 PM to complete the transaction. I arrived at the booth at 1:45 and was informed that they had been sold almost immediately after the doors opened. Fell into the "thanks for nothing" category.
Gilly
The days of a mans words are over.
There was an OGR member who had four Atlas Reefer cars from the Buy/Sell Forum that I had agreed to buy. Per his email we were to meet at 2:00 PM to complete the transaction. I arrived at the booth at 1:45 and was informed that they had been sold almost immediately after the doors opened. category.
Gilly
Evidently that seller didn't have any more faith in your integrity than his own, eh?
In the member halls, I paid for an item that I wanted but the price was higher than elsewhere--so shop around. Other than that, I did purchase a MTH building purportedly new in its original wrapper. Upon removing the wrapper, I found that it was used because the wiring had been previously connected. This might explain why I got it at a lower price than retail, but still I thought it should have been labeled properly to reflect its used condition. I was about to buy a set of small ore hoppers on an impulse, also new in original boxes; however, one of the brake wheels was off a car. The seller was embarrassed when I pointed this out; but it was probably not his fault. He wasn't willing to reduce the price, though. So I walked on, not trusting whether the others in the boxes might be OK.
no,never. the good people at york would never do something bad or dishonest to their fellow tca member friends.-jim
Wow, you really believe that?
There has never been any group in all of human history you could trust every single person within it. TCA, or any other group, wouldn't need rules if that was the case in real life.
Sorry, I'm not a TCA member as I'm not into 3-rail but I laughed out loud when I read this.
Fortunatly all of my purchases at York have been fine (and fun). However I do come across a member every now and then that for whatever reason is not happy or cooperative. I just move on. And my wife always reminds me, "if it's too good to be true then it is".
I have no doubt that 99.9% of members are friendly and honest. Given the amount of members selling at York there will always be 1 or 2 bad apples.
For me York is still the most (legal) fun I can have once a year.
Ed
I have only had one problem at York, it was a couple of years ago.
A big dealer (who will remain nameless) had a big blowout on a stack of Legacy PRR U-boats, two different cab numbers too. The loco was laying in its box, port side up, on top of a stack of unopened boxes of them. The display model looked great, so I bought both cab numbers. Paid by check.
I got home from York, sat down, put my feet up, opened up my laptop, and looked at this forum...and son of a gun, right on top of the forum was a warning that the whole run of Legacy PRR U-boats was missing the both Keystone logos on the starboard side. I immediately inspected both locos and indeed the Port side had both Keystones, the Starboard side had none.
I felt duped, now I know why there was a the big blowout. I did ask why was there such a big deal and the error was not mentioned, just supply and demand stuff. I should have looked at the other side of the engine on top, but figured it was ok, never had a decoration error before.
On the way to work Monday I dropped them off at the UPS store, and sent them back to the dealer. When I got to work I called the dealer, and told him the story, he acted surprised and offered to send me decals. I told him decals were unacceptable and that the locos are already on the way back to him, and that I had stopped payment on the check. He was fine with that, and I never heard another word.
I have done more business with them since. I know it was a Lionel problem not his, but I doubt that the missing painted keystone logos were a surprise to him.
I fault Lionel for not recalling these locos before or after they hit the dealers, and fault the dealers (most all of the dealers had these for sale and no mention was made of the lack of decoration) for in some cases I am sure, knowingly passing on bad merchandise to us customers.
My problem worked out ok for me, that is my only "Taken at York" story.
I have also have had trouble getting receipts from a couple of big dealers in the Orange Hall, same lame line too. But, if you pay by check you can use your canceled check as a receipt, same with a credit card charge.
Hey Craig! Want some cheese with that whine!?? 
I bought the same diesels from the same dealer at the same Meet. I looked at it as getting a couple of Legacy diesels at a terrific price. I can live without the logo decals, or I can add some later.
Funny thing was, I saw the same locomotives at other vendors for a few dollars cheaper!
This will be York number 70 for me. All dealings have been great.
NO
Yeah I got burned at my first York. There was a friend of a guy (selling his personal stash) who sells trains right next to the Lionel booth. He promised this Dash 8 was in superb shape, but had been a closet queen for quite a while. OK
i inspected it while it was in the box, and should have taken it out to test run!
Finally a month later i take it out and a wheel/axle was almost off. Pushed that back.
The smoke unit barely worked. the rear electro-coupler CAME OFF soon after about 3 passes on my Carpet Central.
I sent it to Atlas and a fella named Don (I believe that was his name) fixed it PDQ.....returned it FREE.....FREE...FREE in time for Christmas and put a note/affidavit attesting that this engine had "many miles" on it; the coupler was jammed in place to make it look like it fit...........so folks the thing to do is TAKE IT OUT OF THE BOX, give a 3x look over...and take it to the test track!
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