by kjd73170
Hello all!
Recently because of various situations I for about 2 years did not really attend any model railroad shows. The main reasons for my not making the 100+ mile trips in some cases to shows were the cost of gas (2.75 then, 3.75 now) cost of lodging (yes I can find a $40 a night room, but will I have some sort of skin condition in the morning) the LACK of anything other than high rail being sold (Like every other or every 3rd vendor sold high rail, no offense meant if you're a high rail collector) and the fact that besides a rare few vendors, those not selling high rail were selling new items I can get through my hobby shop and at not that much of a discount. So the appeal of seeing the same vendors (Northeast USA shows) for not getting any "real" bargains, rising travel costs, I called it quits for a bit to let life settle down for a bit... Until Yesterday.
I went to a smaller show and although I did reconnect with some model railroaders I haven't seen in a bit (A very big plus) the same issues persisted. Why can't they just drop the pretenses and call it a "Lionel and O gauge meet with a sprinkling of other stuff there show". Look in the early summer train shows are rare, most vendors have headed to the lake or the beach and will re emerge in September when the shows start again. But for a small "family" show, $5 bucks a head for admission and a high rail almost exclusive show is a bit much. Plus the ONLY operating exhibit/layout was an N-TRACK group (Being an N scale person I was more than okay with this) and the fact that some of these vendors are not selling "Family Friendly" priced items. If you're bringing a 5 year old out to look at the toy trains you may wish to pick up a set with track and a transformer for $75-$100. Row after row of limited edition Lionel/MTH/American Flier/Etc. locomotives @ $500 a set is probably going to sit and have to be packed up at the end of the day. Educated guess on that one.....
There used to be really good late season shows around of vendors looking to deal and move items other than sit on them for the summer. I miss those shows......
My questions to you are this -
1. Am I the only one seeing this trend in shows?
2. Besides an "Exclusively whatever scale" show, have all train shows evolved into high rail heavy shows?
3. Railroadania (not just books) where are these guys at shows? I know there's Timonium MD... But just there?
4. Have you seen the "Curmudgeoning" of many vendors with kids and teens heck even adults?
5. Lionel made 89 quadrillion billion million of that boxcar in 1954. It's not that rare trust me the price guides say so.... Chill out if I as a responsible adult pick it up to look at it. If you don't want people to touch your trains - may I suggest not selling them and put them into a lucite case on your wall with a lock.
6. I understand margins are tight and if you're selling new items you need to make money, But I paid to enter the show, you're not carrying the overhead of a store (sometimes) and at a show bargains are expected. Please don't hit us with MSRP and not be willing to deal. I can hit my hobby shop for free and have them order it for me. Why hit the show if I can talk to my guy and get it all the same?
Sorry for the rant but I think the show thing can be great again with more shops closing or "in danger" this may be the way the hobby is headed. Maybe it's me in belonging to a group at one time that was EXCESSIVELY child and family friendly, but I think attitudes and actions of vendors and collectors alike need to change at these shows.
Recently because of various situations I for about 2 years did not really attend any model railroad shows. The main reasons for my not making the 100+ mile trips in some cases to shows were the cost of gas (2.75 then, 3.75 now) cost of lodging (yes I can find a $40 a night room, but will I have some sort of skin condition in the morning) the LACK of anything other than high rail being sold (Like every other or every 3rd vendor sold high rail, no offense meant if you're a high rail collector) and the fact that besides a rare few vendors, those not selling high rail were selling new items I can get through my hobby shop and at not that much of a discount. So the appeal of seeing the same vendors (Northeast USA shows) for not getting any "real" bargains, rising travel costs, I called it quits for a bit to let life settle down for a bit... Until Yesterday.
I went to a smaller show and although I did reconnect with some model railroaders I haven't seen in a bit (A very big plus) the same issues persisted. Why can't they just drop the pretenses and call it a "Lionel and O gauge meet with a sprinkling of other stuff there show". Look in the early summer train shows are rare, most vendors have headed to the lake or the beach and will re emerge in September when the shows start again. But for a small "family" show, $5 bucks a head for admission and a high rail almost exclusive show is a bit much. Plus the ONLY operating exhibit/layout was an N-TRACK group (Being an N scale person I was more than okay with this) and the fact that some of these vendors are not selling "Family Friendly" priced items. If you're bringing a 5 year old out to look at the toy trains you may wish to pick up a set with track and a transformer for $75-$100. Row after row of limited edition Lionel/MTH/American Flier/Etc. locomotives @ $500 a set is probably going to sit and have to be packed up at the end of the day. Educated guess on that one.....
There used to be really good late season shows around of vendors looking to deal and move items other than sit on them for the summer. I miss those shows......
My questions to you are this -
1. Am I the only one seeing this trend in shows?
2. Besides an "Exclusively whatever scale" show, have all train shows evolved into high rail heavy shows?
3. Railroadania (not just books) where are these guys at shows? I know there's Timonium MD... But just there?
4. Have you seen the "Curmudgeoning" of many vendors with kids and teens heck even adults?
5. Lionel made 89 quadrillion billion million of that boxcar in 1954. It's not that rare trust me the price guides say so.... Chill out if I as a responsible adult pick it up to look at it. If you don't want people to touch your trains - may I suggest not selling them and put them into a lucite case on your wall with a lock.
6. I understand margins are tight and if you're selling new items you need to make money, But I paid to enter the show, you're not carrying the overhead of a store (sometimes) and at a show bargains are expected. Please don't hit us with MSRP and not be willing to deal. I can hit my hobby shop for free and have them order it for me. Why hit the show if I can talk to my guy and get it all the same?
Sorry for the rant but I think the show thing can be great again with more shops closing or "in danger" this may be the way the hobby is headed. Maybe it's me in belonging to a group at one time that was EXCESSIVELY child and family friendly, but I think attitudes and actions of vendors and collectors alike need to change at these shows.