cash, credit, or both

If you are planning to visit the member halls, bring cash. Few, if any table holders in the member halls take credit cards. Some take checks, others don't.
In the dealer halls the larger dealers take credit. I am not certain about the smaller ones.
I almost always pay cash, even in the dealer halls.

Cash is King rite now everywhere..!!!

Depends on how much you are planning to buy.

Bring cash. (credit OK for many dealers, but they may alter the price if paying by CC so they don't take a hit on the fee they need to pay if you use CC)

Don't depend solely on the ATMs on site (historically they run out), though I did note there were more of them last meet, so maybe that is better now.  Can't say for sure since I've never tried to use one.

-Dave

I would bet more dealers are accepting credit with the availability of Square terminals for smartphones. You should bring cash, but I haven't seen folks walking around with briefcases full of it.

Bring more cash than you think you need. Sometimes you need it, sometimes you don't. 
I always presume that there's one or more people with more cash than I have in my pocket, so I dont worry too much about it. I typically start off with $100 bills because they make the wallet thinner, and leave whatever spare small bills that were already in there in case I need to pay to pee. 

You may want to find the location of your bank in York before you go. This way, if you need a lot of cash for a unexpected purchase, you won't have to depend on the 2 on-site money machines not running out. I usually take $300., and spend about $150.. Your mileage may vary.

Joe Hohmann posted:

You may want to find the location of your bank in York before you go. This way, if you need a lot of cash for a unexpected purchase, you won't have to depend on the 2 on-site money machines not running out. I usually take $300., and spend about $150.. Your mileage may vary.

That's a good point.  One of the few benefits of having your accounts at one of the largest banks is that they likely have locations nearby.  There's a somewhat close Wells Fargo near the Weiss food market at the intersection of 30 and Roosevelt.

I noted other ATMs in I think the Silver/Blue lobby and also maybe in Purple in October.

-Dave

Regarding cash: I have always brought as much money as I have budgeted to spend, mostly in larger bills.
For many years, I had no problem spending it all.
For the past few, I came home with most of it.

I have never run a balance on a credit card to buy a train.

Most dealers (not all) will "cover" the sales tax if you pay with cash.  Take plenty of cash.  Before deciding on method of payment, negotiate a fair price and then ask if they can do better for cash.  If it's going to be the same price regardless of payment method, whip out the credit card and get the points.  

Regarding ATMs... I haven't used the ones at the meet, but I expect that there's a "convenience" charge.  Also, although I don't consider York to be particularly dangerous, I don't think I'd feel comfortable using an ATM outside of the fairgrounds.

Almost all dealers take credit cards, a few don't.  With the devices that work with smart phones now, taking cards is simple.

Boilermaker1 cracked me up, addressing the one thing l hate about York. Back in the Billy Budd tent days, l had to find a bank for a cash advance Them were the days.  No need, lately.

It depends on what you are looking for. Older stuff is in the member halls. Bring cash. new/newer stuff is in the dealer halls. Credit cards are OK. CC usually cost more due to CC fees and Sales Tax.

Since it is your first time at York, Bring about twice as much as you think you need.

George

I bring credit cards and checks for train items and cash for food vendors.

I don't like carrying cash around with me, if a vendor will not take my card or my check, there are plenty of others that will.  There are more train items at York than I can bring home with me.  If someone won't sell to me it's off to the next vendor.  Even if I miss out on something I'd really like, it comes up again eventually.  But in 30 years of attending York Meets, I only missed out on an item once because I didn't carry cash.  But guess what?  I did get that item at a later date from another source.

But beware!  You can miss out on an item if you think about it too long.  If you see something you want, grab it, it most likely won't be there later.  Although most of my purchases happen on Saturday!

Bring Cash and lots of it.  Since this is your first time to York I would advise also bring comfortable shoes for walking.

Everyone always says, "wear comfortable shoes" at York. Do you also have uncomfortable shoes? If so, where do you wear them? Church? When you want to stay awake? Other?

Everyone always says, "wear comfortable shoes" at York. Do you also have uncomfortable shoes? If so, where do you wear them? Church? When you want to stay awake? Other?

Work?

I'm putting cash back and should have a good chunk as per my budget I put together for York.  Was thinking of bringing 1 credit card for unexpected something if needed, and have planned to get new shoes several weeks prior to have them broken in where I like them. I need comfy shoes daily with all the walking I do for work. Thanks for the advice I'm sure as we get much closer I will have more questions.

Bring cash. Lots of it. It never fails that when you finally find that gem it's cash only.

Rod Miller