Things To Watch Out For When Buying At York

How about always test an item before you purchase it.

Try not to buy any tinplate that is too shiny.

i think i would beware of dealers-sellers that used a pricing guide book.....

All TCA members are a elete group and no one will sell you something that is not right knowing they would get called on the carpet for such dealings. It's a honor to get into this organation  member don't make mistake to get banded.

douger posted:

All TCA members are a elete group and no one will sell you something that is not right knowing they would get called on the carpet for such dealings. It's a honor to get into this organation  member don't make mistake to get banded.

 

What?

the points I listed were based upon actual York experiences I myself had.

Bob C.

1) Don't use a published price guide.  I've found they are wrong.  They don't keep up with the supply/demand curve.  Know what an item is worth from input from many different sources.

2) Know what you are willing to pay for an item based on #1.  If it is below it, buy it on the spot.  If it is above it, wait....chances are you'll see it again.

3) Don't pass-up an item you are willing to pay what they want for in hope that you will find it elsewhere.  If it was a great deal to you, it will be a great deal to someone else right behind you and by the time you get back, it will be gone.  I cannot remember how many times I violated this rule and lost out.

4) If you think you are getting a great deal, don't try and get an even better one.

5) Don't stand in front of an item debating if you are going to purchase it - someone might just reach over your shoulder, pull it out, and buy it literally right from under you.  Have seen it happen.

6) See #1.  Wild fluctuations in price on "identical" items, within the same isle, same hall, and different halls.  Of course, the sellers will tell you that theirs is different.  Theirs is unopened.  Only gloves have been worn when handling.  No pets, no children, no smoke, no alcohol, no drugs....  Theirs came from the estate of so-and-so.  Theirs has been on a shelf for 30 years and hasn't had power applied.  Theirs hasn't seen a track - ever....etc.

Examples:

1) Was missing the LTI 6464 Series 1 remake set of boxcars.  I "borrowed" a Greenburg guide at a local table.  If I recall, it said they were "worth" $650....maybe in 1995!  It was like 2012.  What did the guy want?  Around $650!  Went 2 isles over in Red/White hall and found the same item, this guy wanted $275.  Passsed again.  Went home and bought a set on Trainz for like $120 and still probably overpaid.  Bottom line, know what it's going for on-line.

2) Conversely, saw a MTH UP RPO car I really wanted.  It was on my list.  It was $30-35.  It was the first one I saw in the Purple Hall.  Wanted to hit a couple other halls first.  By the time I got back, it was gone.  I knew I was willing to pay $60.  Couldn't find another.  And after seeing one for $30, wasn't willing to even go up to $50.  Still bugs me today for not getting it.

3) MTH PS2 major road name 6-axle diesel (well used) was not labeled.  Asked for price.  Was told $150.  Knew it was probably worth around $200+ to me, as it was a road name/number that I was missing and was on my "look-for" list.  Saw one or two on e-bay for $250.  For some stupid reason, I tried to get him to go down in price just a little.  He looked at the item, and then it struck him that the price he gave me assumed non-powered and since it was powered, he raised it to $250.  Turn-around is fair play.  Needless to say, he wouldn't sell it for $150 and I wouldn't buy it for $250, and it was clear we were not going to meet in the middle.  Had I kept my mouth shut, I could have had it for $150.

good points to note

Bob C.

in the times I went to York there were side auctions at night one of which I attended. there was a Lionel 027 passenger car for auction which could be had for 20.00. I caught the bug and bid the item to 40.00. emotions can rule at York if you are not careful.at any rate I got the car home to add to the collection and found that I already had one.

Bob C.

Robert Coniglio posted:

in the times I went to York there were side auctions at night one of which I attended. there was a Lionel 027 passenger car for auction which could be had for 20.00. I caught the bug and bid the item to 40.00. emotions can rule at York if you are not careful.at any rate I got the car home to add to the collection and found that I already had one.

Bob C.

I  found duplicats I didn't know or forgot I had when digging things out to list in ebay. 

Hey !!  Go have fun ! Spend some $$ and hope your good deals/bargains equals the mistakes.  It is only a hobby. Wish I was going. Especially with a bag full of $$  !!

Get the seller's name, address and telephone, if possible. Also get their TCA number. Though I have not been burned often, I have been taken.

Scrappy

Suggestion:  Make sure that when you leave York, after 3 days of all those "bargains", you still have enough money left get back home!

Paul Fischer

Don't spend all of your money in the parking lots, hotels and fire halls on Monday through Wednesday.

As mentioned above, if you see something you really want on your list, grab it because you may not see it again in any hall.

Route for shopping:

Thursday

I always start out at the Purple Hall, then hit the Red and White Halls.  From there I dash down to the Brown Hall, then spend the rest of the day in the Orange hall.  The number of venders in the Purple and Brown Halls have been dropping off, there was a lot of empty space in these two hall back in October. In October I was able to make it down to the Orange hall on Thursday much earlier than in previous years.

Friday

I always hit the Blue and Silver hall the first thing on Friday and then spend the rest of the day in the Orange hall. Oh, and work in the OGR meeting in the old Gold hall area under the stands.

Head home on Saturday.

O hope to be there in October, the second grandson's baptism is this weekend in Aberdeen, NC. I think I need to be there .

Good shopping and safe travels to all.

Richard

Richard Gonzales posted:

.........  From there I dash down to the Brown Hall, ....

 

For anyone who hasn't heard yet, there is no more Brown Hall, so don't include that in your grand plan.

(Though if you are planning to that level of detail, I'm very impressed! )  I usually used to just hit Brown before or after Orange in the past unless I heard a specific tip on something I wanted maybe being in there.

-Dave

Dave, 

Thank for the update. The Brown Hall was pretty empty in October. Also the Purple Hall had a lot of empty space last October.

 The Public Delivery Track was the only vender I made a point to visit in the Brown Hall. They were AWOL back in October.

Richard

York is like any other train show, only bigger.
Be familiar with what you are purchasing, and look over the merchandise carefully.

mlavender480 posted:

douger posted:

All TCA members are a elete group and no one will sell you something that is not right knowing they would get called on the carpet for such dealings. It's a honor to get into this organation  member don't make mistake to get banded.

 

What?

In the world of the Internet, I think this is known as "sarcasm".

Dave45681 posted:

Richard Gonzales posted:

.........  From there I dash down to the Brown Hall, ....

 

For anyone who hasn't heard yet, there is no more Brown Hall, so don't include that in your grand plan.

(Though if you are planning to that level of detail, I'm very impressed! )  I usually used to just hit Brown before or after Orange in the past unless I heard a specific tip on something I wanted maybe being in there.

-Dave

Based on past experience, the lack of the Brown Hall will save me about 5 minutes.  However, I will miss seeing the arrows that all point to the middle of one vendor's booth - no matter how many times I saw it, I always got a chuckle out of it.  (If you've never been to York, you won't get the "arrows" thing.)

Mallard4468 posted:

Dave45681 posted:

Richard Gonzales posted:

.........  From there I dash down to the Brown Hall, ....

 

For anyone who hasn't heard yet, there is no more Brown Hall, so don't include that in your grand plan.

(Though if you are planning to that level of detail, I'm very impressed! )  I usually used to just hit Brown before or after Orange in the past unless I heard a specific tip on something I wanted maybe being in there.

-Dave

Based on past experience, the lack of the Brown Hall will save me about 5 minutes.  However, I will miss seeing the arrows that all point to the middle of one vendor's booth - no matter how many times I saw it, I always got a chuckle out of it.  (If you've never been to York, you won't get the "arrows" thing.)

---> ---> ? <--- <---

As long as the price seems fair, buy it now...and do not kick yourself later if you find it for a few dollars less. If you wait, it will probably be sold to someone else...or you won't be able to find the dealer later.

If you find something you REALLY want, but the price seems a bit high, buy it anyway. Life is short.

For very expensive items, don't think in terms of money. Pretend you are "adopting" it for the rest of your life.

Don't be afraid to dicker on a price.  The least that the seller can say is no.  I have had this happen and after walking an aisle over the seller came up to me and said if you still want it, I'll sell it for that.

Have a pocket full of change for the bathroom attendants.

douger posted:

All TCA members are a elete group and no one will sell you something that is not right knowing they would get called on the carpet for such dealings. It's a honor to get into this organation  member don't make mistake to get banded.

 

Don't quit your day job, comedy is not your thing!

One thing I know for sure, if you see something you really want - buy it. If you decide to "think about it" and go back you will either not find the spot again and/or it will have been SOLD!

THE DEAL. If there is something you want, decide now what you are willing to spend for the item. Even if it is 5 minutes after first opening, if you find what you're looking for BUY IT NOW. Wait to make the rounds and:

• You may not find a better deal.
• The item may very well not be there when you come back.
• You could forget where you saw it and not be able to find it again.

very good advice

Bob C.

FOLLOW THE ARROWS!!  Nothing worse than everyone going down the right way and some clown walking the wrong way down the aisle usually carrying some huge box knocking into everyone.  Its not that hard to realize you're the only one walking the opposite direction but some people seem blind to that fact obviously.

FOLLOW THE ARROWS!!  Nothing worse than everyone going down the right way and some clown walking the wrong way down the aisle usually carrying some huge box knocking into everyone.  Its not that hard to realize you're the only one walking the opposite direction but some people seem blind to that fact obviously.

People here like to make fun of the arrows, and other rules at the York show. Some of those rules have been eliminated without an adverse impact. But the arrows do help with traffic flow.

Thanks guys - although its not my first train show  - this will be my first York.

I hope its not like a "Trade Show"... I am more in for the buying and selling of Newer used items...

Which hall should I favor?

J Daddy posted:

Thanks guys - although its not my first train show  - this will be my first York.

I hope its not like a "Trade Show"... I am more in for the buying and selling of Newer used items...

Which hall should I favor?

Orange and Purple are the new stuff but all of the halls are open when it comes to modern stuff. You never know what you may find where. There is plenty of new stuff (and old stuff) in the member halls.

I agree a lot of the rules are a little much but the arrows one I can live with it only takes one stroller or cart going the opposite of the flow to clog up the whole aisle.  

If you find you are walking the wrong way, turn around and walk backwards, no one will notice.

Jack

Gilly@N&W posted:

THE DEAL. If there is something you want, decide now what you are willing to spend for the item. Even if it is 5 minutes after first opening, if you find what you're looking for BUY IT NOW. Wait to make the rounds and:

• You may not find a better deal.
• The item may very well not be there when you come back.
• You could forget where you saw it and not be able to find it again.

This is good advice. I don't know how many times I said to myself, "It will still be there later" but it wasn't. This seems to happen even worse (for me) at Allentown than York. 

Last October a friend and I where on the hunt for some postwar diesels for him. I spotted a NW2 624 C&O one on his list. I looked at the price tag and it said 795.00...I showed my friend and he showed me a box car for 450.00.  I said to him, this guy must of brought his collection to show, I do not think he wants to sell them.

This guy overheard me and commented he just sold a seaboard NW2 to a fellow in Brazil for 1300.00.

I said are you proud of that and he said you get what you can.

I said you are taking advantage of folks, he just shrugged. I hope he is there this time, I am gonna have a little fun with him.

I hope he is there this time, I am gonna have a little fun with him.

Why?