This will be my first time going to the York Meet. I have been wondering about what payment options are accepted by sellers. I am assuming that the member halls will be all cash, but am curious as to whether the dealers typically accept credit cards or if they also require cash only transactions. Any help from those who have attended in the past would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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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.
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.
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