RRinaBox York Experience

Wow.  I was there with my family.  Had a blast. Used the cell phone once or twice.  Bought a bunch of stuff.  Had lots of conversations.  My kids bought items.  My wife bought items.  It was a really great family day and we all can't wait for the next York.

I really wonder when I hear people wanting it to change. I am of the mind set that I know a ton of work and planning goes into It and I'm thankful it happens. 

Why everyone wants to change someone else's event is beyond me.  Let me know when you establish an event like York of your own. I'm sure there are many people to tell you daily what you are doing wrong.

Just go, buy or sell, and have a good time. York is a wonderful event.

RRinabox,

Remember all rules are created by the Eastern Division of the TCA.  So complain to them.  I can tell you that I saw most people having a great time with smiles from ear to ear.

The meet can never , repeat never be opened to the public because of Dept of Pa Internal Revenue.  We are not allowed to make any changes because of the end result to the sales tax issue.  Everyone of the member tables would have to get a Pa tax Id and submit tax.  We can not have a split hall arrangement where some (dealer halls) collect tax and others do not.  So no opening to the public period.  Sat hours could be altered but that is for Eastern Div folks.

Cell phones , done.  Photos likely will be next, give it time.  Welcome back to the Greatest Train Meet (not show)in the world.  If the public wants to come so badly they need to join the TCA.

Paul Edgar

Past National President

Well played Paul Edgar, well played. 

If you really are a representative of RRinaBox welcome to the forum. 

I must admit however that I am rather skeptical that someone who represents a commercial enterprise aimed at model railroaders would join what is arguably the largest forum in the O gauge model rr community three hours ago and the first and only posting would be a complaint about the York meet.  Note I said Meet - not show - as this is still a membership required event.  By its very nature York will be overwhelmingly attended by older men as that is the demographic of the hobby that has disposable amounts of cash to spend at the meet.

Again if you truly represent RR in a Box - then welcome, and I look forward to your input.  However I find the body of your post rather odd for a commercial enterprise.

JZ

... the hobby doesn't depend on it.

The hobby depends on quality. value, & reliability, at multiple price points. It depends on manufacturers & importers that stand behind their product & customers, and introduces new products that keep hobbyists interested & engaged. It also needs a  local retail chain that understands what drives customer loyalty.

The father who seeks to introduce his young son/daughter to O gauge trains could care less whether the York meet ...  or what Mr. Edelman has to say!

Gee, I didn't even miss you when you weren't there for two and a half years.  I'll be sure to miss you again when you are there.

.....

Dennis

Weird way to grow your business.

It sounds to me that RRinaBox was not happy with the sale of their layout system at York, hence, let's blame that on the fact that the public was not invited. The RRinaBox system is not what I would call a "impulse purchase", and certainly not something that most "non-train" people would jump on. I would think their sales would come later...after a person had time to think about this system.

I think that RRinabox didn't go to York for another reason which they are not saying. They are just using excuses, and blaming it on TCA. STUPID. Don't go, we won't miss you, your loss. 

I agree with all that this initial post is a very poor way to promote one's own business.  York is one of, if not the only place where you can find twelve thousand plus O gauge train nuts in one area.  If you can't sell a train item to us then you probably could not sell it to anyone.  Blaming the TCA rules for whatever woes you had with York is pretty lame.  BigRail

To underscore Jeff Metz's point, I have to say, though this is hardly analogous, when I go to the theater, or to Lincoln Center for an opera or a ballet, I certainly do not discomfit myself while in attendance by complaining about what rules were in place for my conduct. I go to somebody else's venue, to somebody else's event, and simply follow the rules for engagement. There are lots of places in a polite society where one does this, obeying the rules and enjoying the moment.

At York, I may not have been a fan of all the rules, but I have simply obeyed them and contributed my little 10x10' part (no simple feat for me to accomplish) of the Meet. I am happy. My customers are happy - their purchases tell me that, as do their pleasant and very welcome conversations, which in eight years have never once been about cameras, phones, or strollers, and certainly never about tipping restroom attendants (!) Simply, I thoroughly enjoyed the business and the company of so many like-minded fellow hobbyists. 

And I do not think I am alone in that regard.

FrankM, Moon's son

Layout Refinements

Sales tax, shmales tax...They should not open the event to the public even if nobody had to pay sales tax (or if everybody did).  Really now, are some so dense that they still don't see the purpose of this distinctive event? 

Folks,

This will be my last post on this subject.  As usual you just can't please everyone all the time.  Keep in mind as far as Eastern Div goes York is nothing more than a semi annual division meet.  Just like any other TCA division meet.  With the exception to it's size and scope.  It is held for the benefits of Eastern Div. members.  The rest of the TCA is welcome as you would be at any other divisional meet.  It is not being held for the benefit of dealers and manufactures.  Although those 2 groups add a lot of excitement to the meet. and make York what it is.  Many people belong to the TCA just to go to York.  If York was opened to the public there would be no incentive to be a TCA member.  York is a benefit of membership.  Say what you will about the tax issue.  Have any nasayers sat down with anyone from the Pa Dept of Revenue and discussed this topic?  Eastern Div officials have!!It is not an old and stale issue but quite real and by the way they are drooling to get into the pocket of every member table holder.  This is a fact.  So don't tell me about what you don't know!  It is a privilege to be able to attend the York meet.  It is a jewel of TCA membership.  Why should it be given away to anyone?  It won't be.  If you are a TCA member and live in Eastern's area, why not get involved with their Board of Directors and try to make some changes.  Complaining on this or any other forum is pointless.  We could use some fresh blood so how about helping out?  That's how change will come about.

Paul Edgar

AMEN, Paul!  I'm 100% in agreement!

Not quite, Bob.  Those of us in the dealer halls pay PA sales tax (often the tax is incorporated in the selling price).  In any case, the PA revenue folks get their chunk from gross sales.  Do we like it?  No, of course not, but that's just how it works.

But we also don't gripe about those in the member halls being excluded from the tax requirement, the imposition of which would open a big can of worms in more ways than one.

Sounds like a great deal of verbiage over sour grapes. I don't think the forum will resolve that any time soon. 

You can be quite sure of that!  

If PA. were to take sales tax in the member (collector) halls, That would be the beginning of the end. There would be a lot of empty tables. You need to remember what happened at the Billy Bud.

Nothing to worry about, Eddie!  It's just some of the bizarro "off-season" York comments surfacing since some folks apparently don't have trains or layouts to work on or talk about.  

HERE HERE Brian!!!!!!!!

Plus, Andy is a "spokesperson" on your website.

Now that the dust has settled on our posting (May 14, RRinaBox York experience), we would like to express our appreciation for all of the interesting comments.  We are also thankful to Allan Miller for guiding the conversation.  During the meet RRinaBox gave a presentation to the forum (see Grandstand video).  See our website (rrinabox.com) and we are also on facebook.  Looking forward to seeing everybody in October.

It has been suggested many times that the York Meet be open to the public. At least the dealer halls and charge admission.

First, as was pointed out to me by Dick Maddox,  York is not a major city so I'm not sure how much of a public crowd you would attract. Greenberg holds a show at the Fairgrounds so their attendance would be one benchmark.

Second, the member halls tables are not always manned by the table holder and it would be difficult to provide security.

Lastly, it was also pointed out on numerous occasions that if the halls were open to the general public their would be no need to be a member of the TCA.

I hope they keep it a members-only event for as long as I'm around, and I think it's a pretty darn safe bet that they will.  There are plenty of opportunities for the public to get more than enough exposure to toy and model trains (not to mention real ones), especially in the months preceding the holiday season.

I wonder if anyone ever just showed up and asked to be admitted as a guest?

Jumping on this crazy thread kinda late, I have to say that with the condescending tone from "RR In a Box", Dennis had the best answer to RR's whinning.........."I haven't missed you in two and a half years and I certainly will try and miss you at this years YorK".   I submit that RR In a Box doesn't understand who and/or what York is about.   To say the least its' existence is from and for those ALREADY interested in the hobby.

     It's not browsing at the Mall (thank you Rodney Dangerfield).