Post show observation

[budinoh]

This month I had the ability to travel to 4 different shows on the east coast. I walked around each show hunting for those good deals I was used to finding at shows when I was in trains years ago. They just don't exist anymore hardly. It seems as though there is a revolving cycle that doesn't have an end. The dealers complain that the buyers are not buying and the buyers say the prices are too high. The only youth I saw was younger ones with their parents and they were looking at the layouts. I also noticed $500 goes alot longer in scale modeling than it does in model trains. A couple N scale locos and 10 or so MT cars will eat that up and almost fit in a little bag. I could fill the backseat at a model show. Thing is alot of the tables at a model show are guys selling their extra stuff. At a train show, it seems like they are all dealers. And they all want dealer prices. One dealer told me he has to raise the prices cause people don't buy and he needs to make more off those who do buy. Not sure just how logical that is. His prices were higher than mail order even with shipping.

So my wonder is this, has the hobby priced itself out of reach to attract the younger crowd? Scale models almost did that until they realized they could only sell but so many $200 kits to the same 200 people before sales ended. Aside from the cheap Bachman and lifelike stuff, model trains has no cost minded items. Most cars are 15.00 and up with some in the 30-40 dollar range. Someone on another site figured out that if you want a realistic string of the new Tropicana cars, you would have a few thousand dollars invested in just one of each different one they make. I wanted a N&W J with the passenger set but the whole train pushed me up towards 400.00 at the Dayton show.

So, is the bad economy killing the train shows or the higher prices and the associated cost of going(gas,food at venue, admission, parking) all a contributing factor. All I know was there was no crowding at the Dayton show and no real lines anywhere. But, in comparison, the gun show next door was packed and so was the model show in Columbus. So, the economy isn't hurting all the shows. So if you go to shows and don't buy, what is your reasons?

Bud

 

[TrinityJayOne]

The last show I went to had a large stall (in addition to the dealer ones), great for picking up odds & ends, and this wasn't even that big of a show. The biggest in my state is coming up in 2 weeks so I'll let you know how the stalls turn out there.

 

[Larry]

I'm making two medium sized shows in the next 3 weeks. I don't like the Giant retail shows because there's no Mom & Pop dealers that are getting rid of there stuff to downsize to a Condo. I like the small to medium shows where you can actually wheel & deal w/someone to get the best price. A lot of the older folks(my age) are downsizing to smaller scales & smaller layouts because they are downsizing their living quarters. I can usually get good deals on just about everything I am looking for. Sometimes when it's all hobby shops & no small dealers I go home empty handed. I don't go overboard on buying stuff just because it's a good deal. I have layout needs & I can usually find what I want.
I need a lot of code 100 track for a future project & I'll buy if it's at my price. Last year I bought 60 new Coal Cars for $40.00 w/steel wheels & Kadee's. Then across the isle I bought 2 6 packs of Walthers cars for $12.00 for both sets. I ask dealers for items I don't see on their tables. I also hit the Club tables before I go anyplace else for great deals. There's more & more family dealers just selling on Ebay than there were 5 years ago. I like the guys that will make a deal w/you just to get rid of their wares. I've been going to trainshows for about 45 years. The deals are there. We have 3 a year. The 1st one is 50 miles away, the second is 60 miles away & the 3rd is 95 miles away. But, I try to make all 3 every year. Always 2 to 4 guys go & we make a day out of it. Show, Lunch at a nice rest. & if there's any Hobby Shops close by(w/in 50 miles) we hit those. We don't take our wives. It's a home away from home.

 

[nwdrummer379]

The last show I was at had a mix of dealers/people just selling their odds and ends. I found a great deal from about 6 different tables, except one fella who wanted $30 - $40 a piece for Walthers kits.. I guess it could depend on the size of the show? This is a smaller one held twice annually and I've never been disappointed once with the out come. I filled 3 bags of stuff for $90, mostly Athearn & Walthers rolling stock. As for younger kids attending shows, me and a buddy were the only teenage representatives around.

-Jeff

 

[Gary B]

I hit the monthly show in Wheaton in the Chicago area once or twice a year. I think it has a good mix of dealers, people selling off excess stuff and of course those who think any OLD junk is worth a collector price. Helps to know what you want and what it is worth to you.

I'm also in plastic model kits and there has been a steady trend of expensive super detailed kits for quite sometime. However in the last few years a few new players are coming out with interesting, well designed and if not inexpensive, at least reasonably priced kits. Hopefully they will get some new blood in the hobby.

 

[Cjcrescent]

...Sometimes when it's all hobby shops & no small dealers I go home empty handed...

I know what you mean Larry. The last big show I went to, although I saw some brass I wanted, I got a bottle of CA, a Hat, and a new pair of decal scissors.

It was nothing but dealers, and they weren't making deals! So, instead of leaving the show with something I really wanted, I got to take most of my money home!