Cash or Credit at York?

Many will take a credit card, but cash is preferable to most vendors. You can also use a personal check.

Cash is always king.  Cash and checks will get you the best prices in the dealer halls (which are often the extent of my travels when I make York a day-trip).  Dealers will typically add sales tax when you pay by credit card.

David

Cash is preferred. First time a vendor took a check from me, he lifted it up and then intentionally dropped it on his table. He then said it didn't bounce so it must be good.

Some vendors will want your TCA number on your check. That's an advantage of a member's only convention.

Gerry

Cash for the smaller items, a check for the bigger items.

Not all dealers can take a credit card at York, they also may not give you as good of a price.

You can use your cancelled check as a receipt or proof of purchase if it needs a warranty repair, or if need be you can stop payment on a check if something is not right.

I doubt many table holders in the member halls can take a credit card. Some of them will not take checks either.

In all halls cash is king!

What C.W. just said. So

TAKE CASH that's the buying king at York.

If you spend it all....There's an ATM in the orange hall lobby. Just get in line...

As said before, cash is king. I've had people accept checks, but I always carry the cash, just in case.

Another point...although the fairgrounds has 2 MAC machines, be prepared them to have them be out of cash.

I've used a check once. All other in cash.

You beat me too it Joe!  I've run into the same occurence - MAC machine out of money.  Had to go find one in a local strip mall. 

--Greg

I don't like carrying a lot of cash, so visa for the dealers and checks for the vendors.  What cash I do carry will be for food or small odds n ends

I always pay with cash and once all the cash is gone I'm done. 

I pay everything else by credit card. This way I don't go over my train budget.

Credit card for my official train budget that goes thru the household budget and standard management oversight.

Cash for the rest of the stuff I really need to run the railroad.

Cash over credit card at least 2:1.

What is your ratio? be honest!

Joe K

Most everything that I buy at York over $50. I pay with a check. That way if there is a problem with an item when I get home,  I have the name & TCA number. I have never used a credit card at York.

My experience has been that many, perhaps most, dealers will cover the tax only when paying in cash.  (Technically, they have to pay the sales tax regardless of payment method, so they are not "adding tax" when you pay by check or CC.  The tax man might be watching this forum, BTW.)

I have a big shopping list, I just figured out how much ross switches I need, so it will have to be credit card in the orange hall, I use the cash for non dealers. 

quote:

Most everything that I buy at York over $50. I pay with a check. That way if there is a problem with an item when I get home,  I have the name & TCA number. I have never used a credit card at York.

I always consider train show purchases to be "as is". York is no different.

If you want to buy from tables you need CASH my friend. Yeah some will take a check but most want CASH. Go without it and you might get disappointed on that one thing you always wanted. Even some businesses do not have CC equipment with them. If you want name and TCA # it's right there on them just like yours.

With the exception being guests.  I wouldn't suspect most guests of members would be out to screw people during their first York experience, but you never know.

-Dave

Not wanting to accept checks isn't necessarily out of concern for a bad check. Some folks may just want more cash in their pocket for making purchases.

I don't think you'll find guest selling there. If so they would still have some kind of ID. If not...ask.

I may have misread your original post, but most concerns here seem to be based on  taking a check from someone you don't know.

If the original topic was how you know someone stands behind the product they sell, then I guess you may have a point.

Some member table holders won't take a check, no matter who you are(also possibly for the reason CW mentions, might have nothing to do with trust).  I can understand if they've been burned before, at some point you get tired of the risk/hassle.

-Dave

Someone up the line mentioned that he would use checks so that he could find them if his purchase was bad. My reply was they wear name and TCA numbers like the rest of us. Then Dave mentioned guest not having a number. Thus my last reply. I still say take cash.

for me the credit card is king, besides getting 1.5% back on all purchases (that is how I funded my big boy) the card insures you against theft while it is in your car waiting to go home, doubles mfrg warranty up to 1 additional year and keeps your pocket from bulging. some cards even have low price guaranty.

Cash is king as already mentioned. I've used a debit card occasionally but otherwise, cash can get you a better deal and can be used in more places at York. 

Another thing - DO NOT rely on the ATM machines on the Fairgrounds. I've been going to York, off and on for 10 years or so. Every single trip being a Friday. I have always, always, always seen the ATM's drained Friday AM before the meet opens. Bring more than you think you'll need. You can always re-deposit it when you get home. 

But never at your booth.  

matter of opinion, if you think getting an engine for $20 less + the loss of an extra of warranty + all the other protections is worth it.

dealers in orange hall check or cc, member halls....cash...cash...cash.ive never had a table at york,but if i did it would be cash transaction for everything.-jim

what is the discount for cask?

There is no "cash discount" for anything but if you are paying in cash, most dealers are likely open to a bit more "negotiation" than if you were paying with plastic. Remember, when you use the card, they have other fees to cover as well. 

Answered a different way, I think the credit card merchant transaction fee is on the order of 2-3%. 

If you see me at York with the tin cup, please deposit cash.  But if you want to drop off your credit card with valid expiration date and security code, that's cool too!  I'm not that picky.  

Bring that tin cup Bill to Tuesday's - I might have a new "target".

walt

I can only imagine what will end up in the cup.  Give me a hint, how low does he have to hold it?

using the C/C gets you an EXTRA year of warranty on top of what the manufacturer gives you. example, Vision line loco gets 2 year warranty, by using most C/C's you will now have a 3 year warranty which includes the shipping. and you get all the purchase protections your C/C offers also. to me well worth the extra few bucks you pay for the item.

Have you ever made an extended warranty claim via your CC?  How much of a hassle was it?

I have 3 times, absolutely no hassle with MC or Visa, once the purchase was verified and i sent them a copy of the warranty they paid. 2 weeks tops. I did a TV, VCR and refrigerator. 100% satisfied and would expect no less from them. and you really have to see all the protections you also get, besides the 1.5 cash back. well worth it.