Purchasing at York - Cash & CC?

Most vendors accept CC. Last time I went to York, I remember taking out a significant amount in cash, spending that and using my CC the rest of the time. 

Bring it all. Cash, checks and credit cards. Vendors will usually take all. All member tables take cash and many but not all take checks. I think we'll see more members taking credit cards soon too with the new device that you can connect to your iphone or droid. I had planned to for this York but will likely be next one.

The money machines usually have lines and run out of cash but the hotel you are staying it would probably cash a check for you.

As far as how much, just depends on what  you can buy. There are folks that spend less then $50 and I have heard of some folks strolling around with 10K.

As SJC wrote, those in the dealer halls tend to take credit cards. Tableholders in the member halls generally do not accept credit cards. Some take checks, others do not.

Cash is always king.

Most (but not all) Orange Hall vendors accept credit cards, as do some established dealers in other halls such as the Purple Hall and Brown Hall.  Many private sellers in the other halls are not set up to accept credit cards.  I like to have some cash, a credit card, and some checks with me so I can cover just about any/all circumstances.

Some vendors will even give discounts or be willing to haggle on prices for those paying with cash, since they do not have to pay the CC fees on the transaction.

Andy

Cash is king, and untraceable. Credit card statements are a dangerous device invented by wives.

Some vendors in the Dealer Halls will add sales tax if you are paying with a credit card.

I was actually was able to send money to a vendor via PayPal and my iPhone at the last York

I, too, go by the Holy Trinity when entering the York Meet...cash, check, and credit card.  If you do a little bit via each method, it doesn't seem as though you're spending as much!  

- Mike

I've never seen a vendor NOT add the sales tax on a credit card purchase.  With cash, the vendors usually take the tax out of the final sale price later as it sort of balances out with the percentage of the sale that the credit card company would have taken.  Most dealer prices have the credit card company's take built into the asking price of the item, which is why they are more often willing to haggle when they know you are paying with cash.

Andy

Most will take a check. I like paying with a check so that I know who I bought it from incase there is a problem later. Check is the same as cash.

Good point about cash being king and perhaps providing an opening for a bit lower price whether due to no CC fees or just plain negotiating.

However, I had not considered checks. I would have thought that most vendors would be apprehensive of accepting a check from a person they do not know.

–OR–

Is it possible that the TCA membership provides some degree of confidence to the vendors that the checks will not bounce?  

Thank you very much for your replies!

Alex

quote:

Is it possible that the TCA membership provides some degree of confidence to the vendors that the checks will not bounce?  

Some folks think that those days ended long ago.

There is only so much the TCA can do to help someone recover the funds from a bad check. So the bad check passer gets tossed from the TCA. Big deal, the seller would still be out the money.

I bring as much cash as I want to spend at the show. When I have a table, cash sales add to the fund. Checks do not. So guess who would get a better deal.

I would certainly take a check from Eddie!

Keep it simple with a wad of greenbacks.

Depending on your banking institution, there are also some local branches not too far from the fairgrounds if you need to reload with some more cash.  Probably worth doing an internet branch search for your institution and see where the closest one is in the York area (unless you know it to be a regional bank that will not have a presence in PA).

The particular one I am referring to has the stagecoach logo and seems to have a presence from coast to coast now, so if you happen to bank with them a short drive (just a few blocks away form Carlisle on 30) covers you if you make sure to do so during open hours(also verifiable online).

-Dave

Think bazaar. There are a broad spectrum of sellers @ York. You have dealers, jobbers, craftsmen, small business types, hobbyists, etc.  For some sellers, professional or not, York is part of their inventory liquidation business/plan. I used to buy on EBay pre PayPal; I have been buying at York now for almost 15 yrs. I have found over those years the credibility of York purchases about the same as my earlier EBay purchases. My recommendation is  to leave you credit card in you wallet & take your check book instead. (I myself have never used a credit card there; then again I am less willing to do so anywhere). Here's  the way I do business @ York... even if I am dealing w/a known B&M dealer!

"Token cash + TCA cheque if it supposed to run*"

"TCA cheque certainly if over $75"

"Cash if less & the price is right"

"Dealers are strictly cheque."

*seller's TCA # goes on any check, except if B&M dealer. And yes, you do want a receipt, & you want to test it if it is supposed to run!

_______________________________________________________________________

One of my most memorable heard quotes: "Sure you can test it. After you buy it you can do whatever you want with it."

Depends on the seller, of course, and some may not want to accept checks.  But over the years most of the big-ticket items I have purchased at York have been paid for with a check.

I simply do not like to tote around a pocket full of cash, although I have seen some folks at York with rolls of $100 bills big enough to choke a horse.

Different strokes for different folks, and it is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.

pretty cool would the York Police deem that as using a cell phone.. I wont tell

Years ago there was a guy that owned a train store in Manhattan He was very fat & sloppy looking he wore a jacket that looked like he picked it out of the garbage. He would walk around the Billy budd buying expensive items. He would take out this big roll of bills, pay then stuff it back into his jacket pocket. I followed him around for years hoping he would drop it..

Alex, you will never take enough $$$ or credit cards. Take twice what you think you will need, and you will easily spend all of it and wish you had more.

I got this little doodad that I plug into my iphone and swipe cards  Its awesome   I will tell them its not a phone its a CC machine

JohnS, sounds like the Voice of Experience!

Allan, y'all sure do things funny in the Midwest. 

Choking a horse with $100 bills?  How quaint.