Payment Options at York

I have heard some sellers accept Pay Pal! 

When last I went there was a fair variety of payment methods being accepted.  Some of the dealers I visited were accepting credit cards, some were accepting checks and cash was always accepted by everyone.  I won't comment on who was accepting credit cards as a form of payment only because I would be wrong, but I definitely saw credit card processing machines in some of the bigger vendors.

We for the most part take cash. We will take credit cards to through pay pal.

most outher in orange hall I know we're that way to.

most I know prefer cash.

Cash is king, especially in the member halls. I've found most dealers will take a card in the dealer halls. 

Cash yes.  The Fairgrounds has many ATM machines.  Most people will take a check from a fellow TCA member. 

To pile onto Marty's mention of the ATM machines, I've seen them ALL wiped out clean and empty by Friday morning often. Bring more than you think you may need, you can always re-deposit it when you get home. 

 Gold Doubloons will usually work.... As for wiping out the cash, TRAINPOP drained my wallet 5 minutes after the doors opened back in Oct 2012. That said, I got the best deal to be had on a Lionel N&W 1218 at the meet!

 

Gilly

I have always paid with a check. That way I know who I paid in case there is a problem later. I have never had a problem with a check, but that could be because I have been in TCA almost 40 years, & my TCA number is on my check. 

Agreed on the ATMs.  Last October they were out of $$ quickly. I had to make a quick jaunt down the street to pick up dough for some additional purchases.

quote:

Bring more than you think you may need, you can always re-deposit it when you get home.

 

This is probably the best advice. Most of the big dealers take credit cards, and its probably wise to use them for a high dollar new in the box purchase, but by and large, my experience is that cash is always preferred by everyone. Make sure you at least have enough to cover a day's worth of looking... you can always hit one of the many banks around York to get some gas money for the trip home. 

Cash as noted by others works well, but we, and I know other dealers take credit cards, and checks.

There were only 2 ATM machines (Orange and Red Halls). Nice, but don't count on them.

Just my opinion: cash in the member halls. Many dealers take credit cards, perhaps not all. Some of those dealers are really rather small businesses. If they take credit cards or any other form of electronic payment, they have to pay a fee.

I think the only dealer I've ever paid with a credit card was Nicholas Smith.

I use strictly cash.  Keeps me on my budget with out the end of the month regret.

 

As others have said, cash, check w/ TCA#, and CC in the dealer hall for most.

cash is king.

especially in the proper denominations.

don't pay for a $5.00 with a $50 dollar bill.

I may be in the minority, but I'll be set up to take Cash, Check, Visa, Master Card, Amex, and Paypal. Most major dealers in the orange can take CC, but yes cash is good.

Check is the same as cash.

I may be in the minority, as an occasional tableholder in the member halls, I prefer not to take a check and am less likely to dicker when the buyer will be paying by check.

One obvious reason: I cannot use that check to make a purchase at the show.

I would recommend CASH for a couple of reasons.

 

1 - Several dealers will charge sales tax if a CC is used where as cash they didn't from what I noticed.  Might not be the case for all, but several did not charge when cash only was used.  

 

2 - ATMs, they are not guaranteed and last York I had an issue with VISA flagging them as suspect.  There was one in the Orange Hall that several had that happen to so not sure what was going on with the network.  Also, the ATM gives you a $200 limit per w/d so depending on what you want to buy you and need cash might have to be a few transactions in order to get it.

 

This year will not be a problem for I have cash in hand already.  Plus it keeps you on a budget.

Obviously -- as posted above -- some dealers do take checks. However, one York I must have asked 5-6 dealers who I was ready to buy from if they would take a check and all said no. A few looked at me as if I was nuts.

 

Bring cash. More then you think you'll need.

Cash or check, Some dealers in the orange hall will charge you PA tax if you use a credit card.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE CASH. BRING PLENTY.

 

SOME WILL SELL IT CHEAPER IF PAID IN CASH.

 

GG1GUYY

always bring cash...because the food stands don't take cards.

 

rat

CASH IS KING. HOWEVER MOST OF THE LARGER DEALERS DO TAKE CREDIT CARDS

Thanks for all the replies.  I definitely appreciate the information and suggestions.

All you guys with all that cash, I hope there are no pickpocket's. Just check your cash when someone bumps into you.

Pickpockets at York?

I thought all folks interested in trains were good, honest people.

I am one of those small, "cottage" craftsmen and accept credit cards and checks, as well as, of course cash.

FrankM (Layout Refinements),

not at my table........cash or hit the road...jim

The pickpockets have only been a problem since they removed the 2 member signature rule

 

::ducks::

I don't know about pickpockets, but there was a pretty serious robbery outside the Holidome at a pre-York bandit show in 1998 or 1999.  I recall that 1) he stole around $12,000 from someone who had that much cash on him (likely a dealer) and 2) the thief was arrested.  That's around fifteen years ago, and likely an isolated incident, but still...

 

Obviously, we all need to strike a proper balance between liquidity and vulnerability.

 

Also, there are a few banks (i.e., not just lone ATMs) either touching the fairgrounds or a block or two away along the back side (i.e., corner of North Highland and West Market).  Depending on where your hotel is, there are also several out on Rt 30 and others down West Market toward the city center.  I make it a habit of hitting one of them on the way into the show, before I enter the fairgrounds.  The regulators frown on it when banks run out of cash, so I've never had an issue there.

 

Cash doesn't bounce! 

Any vendors take Bitcoins? <G>

If they have their hand in my front pants pocket, I probably know them already....

We all must pay sales tax on every thing we sell, regardless of the method of payment to us, and we must evidence that total payment to the state before TCA will let us receive our badges and enter the hall.

 

I play by the rules.

FrankM.

I wonder how many dealers report there actual selling figures.