So how do I pay?

 Not everyone takes credit cards.  Cash is always good, and some sellers will discount for cash sales.  Have an enjoyable 1st York.

Cash will work anywhere at York. Denomination of the bills makes little difference, but many private members may not be set up to be able to make a lot of small change. There are ATMs on the grounds. Most established dealers (such as in the Orange and Purple halls), also take credit cards. Many will also take personal checks from TCA members.

Mornin'  JD Train.........if you did live in " Historic Frederick County"...we probably passed by each other over by Monrovia......I live a bit down Rte 75, over by the 75 and 80 dragstrip.    The "take" on using cash versus debit/credit card............cash works with just about anyone; AND if you try bargaining a "little" lower price you may get the item for that price or darn near.     Some vendors become offended if you try and bargain.........I either chat a bit with them or if they are getting unruly....I just walk away!   So.........take some cash in the denominations that you mentioned......some 50's: a few 100's: and many 20's. And know that some vendors just want debit/credit.   FWIW.....I start York at inside the Orange hall; left side of the center food booth; and I'll be wearing either a B & O Blue hat or a TrainStock 8 Ball Hat!    You're welcome to join me, Barney, Scott, SideRod, Gary and myself..........HClarke will be AWOL, says he is having a health issue!

Cash is king, taking a seller’s temperature before attempting to haggle is key to successful bargaining. Striking up a conversation will quickly tell you whether or not he or she may be willing to negotiate.....I’ve found some folks are not bashful to tell you right off the bat a piece is or is not firm on price.....I always ask politely of course, “do you have any wiggle room? “ ......this starts a dialogue and I go from there............Pat

Bring more cash than you need, the bank will take back the excess when you get home. Denominations depend on what you intend to spend.  100's take up less room in your wallet and make change that you can use on small items later. 

Make sure you have a couple of 5's for the small stuff, and a few $1s to pee. 

Don't expect someone to give you change if you are trying to buy a $30. item with a $100. bill, especially early on day one.

Boilermaker1 posted:

Bring more cash than you need, the bank will take back the excess when you get home.

 

Unless you are married. Then give it to your wife to ensure you will be going in October.

Boilermaker1 posted:

 

Make sure you have a few $1s to pee. 

 

 

I usually take the "Over 70" plan. $5. up-front gives you unlimited peeing all day.

Joe Hohmann posted:

Boilermaker1 posted:

 

Make sure you have a few $1s to pee. 

 

 

I usually take the "Over 70" plan. $5. up-front gives you unlimited peeing all day.

Oy Vey, Joe!  

I wish I qualified for the Over 70 Plan!!  You would think I could get the plan by showing my Medicare card!!

Jim, Seriously though, make sure you have a picture of Washington available for each time you use the restroom.  Though not over 70, I have to make many trips, and that means many tips to the cleaning guys.

Quite often I've paid through the nose .

Bring a bag of quarters for the restrooms. As for using credit cards, some, if not all will charge you sales tax.

Cash talks quite easy in sales there.

 Just wear comfortable walking shoes and lots of money for York.

Pay toilets? I've never seen one before.

I thought that was basically done away with over a half century ago.  You can't serve food & drink here without a public restroom; just carry out. If folks can buy and eat there, you've gotta have a bathroom for guests by law.

Ohh, you’ll know how to pay. And pay, you will!

The trains, they’ll find you, they’ll talk to you. Before long you’ll want to buy them. You’ll need and crave to buy them. At that point it won’t matter. You’ll do anything, go to any length to acquire them. 

Youll have cash in one hand, credit cards in the other hand. You’ll be begging the vendor to take your money. If the trains say the right things to you, and you begin to be too afraid you won’t get them, you gotta have it!!  You may give the vendor everything. EVERYTHING!!

Not pay toilets. Toilets with attendants who expect to be tipped since they are volunteers.

  I usually drop 3-5 one time, first time to attendants and like to wipe the sink or seat myself anyhow. (slob at home, "Monk" in public places) Maybe I'll be back maybe not. I don't want to be bothered with pennies to pee; I'm used to being remebered. But it's usually in a more formal setting too. It still kinda strikes me as odd at that big a place, but "When in Rome".

at any train show, CASH CASH CASH, ANDdealers love it when you have exact amounts. so bring plenty of cash and have enough to give exact amounts

ones, fives, tens, twentys, fiftys,

CASH!

Lots of cash. Any denomination, they love it all, and youll love the better prices with cash.

Always CASH. Take enough. The ATMs there often empty out.

Landsteiner posted:

Not pay toilets. Toilets with attendants who expect to be tipped since they are volunteers.

I find the attendants as well as the food court staff extremely pleasant.  With regard to the attendants, they are not running around buying train stuff like us, for a reason, not cheap hobby.  Never hurts to remember how lucky we are going to York and spending our hard earned money on discressionary purchases.

Better than our trip to Egypt.  Bring your own toilet paper and pay the buck everytime.

Gentlemen,

Thank you for all the replies!

I'll plan on bringing an assortment of 10s, 20s, and 50s.

Also, some ones to tip the attendants.  I always appreciate having a clean restroom in a public environment!

Jim

Maybe it's just me, but I try to pay with exact cash when negotiating a price.  Seems like bad form to look at a $40 item, negotiate down to $30, then hand the seller two $20 bills.

Another benefit of not getting change is that it protects you from taking counterfeit currency.  I don't think that TCA members would knowingly pass fake bills, but some of it can be pretty convincing, and it's becoming a widespread problem even with smaller bills.

Many members (and most dealers) will also take checks.

In the dealer halls, I always ask if there's a break for cash or check.  If not, I pay with plastic and get the points.  But I've found that most dealers will discount to at least cover the tax if paying cash.

Re the restroom attendants - I've thought about the "tip a lot the first time" approach.  However, I don't know if the attendants pool the tips beyond the guys who work that particular restroom.  Since there are so many buildings, I make it a point to drop some coins each time - it's a bit of a hassle, but it makes sure that everybody gets some.

Get a receipt on every purchase.

If you get your Choo Choo home and it doesn’t work, you will need a receipt to get it repaired under waranty.

Jim 1939 posted:

Always CASH. Take enough. The ATMs there often empty out.

Fyi....there's a Santander branch about a half mile from the Orange Hall entrance to the fairgrounds.  I have my slush fund at this bank so I don't have to carry ridiculous amounts of cash.  Plus it makes me think twice about if I really need an item (the answer is almost always `yes`).

I just explain to the vendor and offer $20 for them to hold until I get back in 30 minutes tops....never had a vendor say no yet.

-Greg

Never been to York, but I have been to my fair share of large train meets, including four TCA national conventions. Never really had a large budget though. I would say take half your cash in $100's, 25% in $50's, and the last 25% in $20's, $10 and $5's. Seems like a reasonable mix, while keeping the bulk down.

I don't know if personal checks are accepted the way they used to be. In the old days being a TCA member came with a level of trust, though there were always horror stories of bad checks.

I'm a big fan of credit cards wherever possible, and don't mind paying the fee, unless the deal for cash is exceptional.

Use the ladies room.  The attendants will be so shocked they won't notice if you tip or not.   

Farmer_Bill posted:

Use the ladies room.  The attendants will be so shocked they won't notice if you tip or not.   

They have a ladies room?

Yes, and the attendants are very lonely.

Cheapskates note: The restrooms in the Black Hall (modular layouts) have never had a attendant or tip tray. If you want to "cheap-out" low-paid workers, while spending hundreds on "toys", be my guest.

On my way to my credit union so that I can "fuel" up my wallet for tomorrow!

Jim

Farmer_Bill posted:

Use the ladies room.  The attendants will be so shocked they won't notice if you tip or not.   

 Bill, Good one. ROFLMAO. Going to miss you this time at York.

Ted

Like another Old Philosopher once said:  "Cash is King!"  

One of the Men's room attendants a few years ago was working the crowd for tips..."step right up, or sit right down!"

LMAO!

Craignor posted:

One of the Men's room attendants a few years ago was working the crowd for tips..."step right up, or sit right down!"

 

About every 2 hours I'm stepping up. One of the joys of old age.