TCA York idea - plausible? What do you think?

Folks already can use the forums here to post wants. There is nothing stopping folks from posting that they will have a desired item at table XYZ in the abc hall.

Believe it or not, there are still many people who aren't into smart phones, pda's, etc. Those folks would be put at a disadvantage. I don't think the Eastern Division would have any interest.

I think it would be far more trouble than it was worth for the dealer (and very convenient for a buyer). Let's hear from dealers/sellers on this.

There would be a lot of requests from buyers like "hold on to it for me; I'll be there on Fri morning - and then no show".

Half the fun of York for the buyer is the hunt. From the sellers viewpoint, there is always a buyer for a desirable item at a fair price.

Jim

It would take a lot of the fun and excitement out of York, IMO.  

- Mike

If you attend York then you must also be a member of the TCA. There is a Wanted to Buy section of the newsletter that all members have access to including every York attendee. Internet not required.

Pete

Nice thought, but as others mentioned, TCA beat you to it. We've (TCA) had a complete Buy/Sell ad section for quite a few years now. It's even on line also.

Jim, you are right on. It's the hunt that makes York great.

I like the guys who wear a sign around their necks"Looking for *****"

It seems to work

Well, I have had items on the TCA "for sale" and "wanted" websites for YEARS, now, and never gotten a nibble.  I think a lot of members are not computer literate or, like me, forget to look for things on it.  With eBay to page through daily, there is a lot to look at and a lot of time squinting at a screen.  I don't see, as had been said above, that a lot of people can be in three rail trains and not belong to TCA, and be familiar with York, but a lot of people cannot make it to York (2800 mile drive from San Francisco).  Even if IT is at York, and in an unpacked box under a table, or was left in the trunk when sale items were carried in, TCA's attitude toward phones and electronic devices is going to make it difficult to search for it

electronically while there.

not a good idea.........jim

Kenn,

This has been thought of before.  Regardless if it would work or not is the issue of WHO is going to set this program up?  York volunteers are up to their ears with work now.  Why don't YOU contact Eastern Div. and volunteer to set this up!!

Paul Edgar Past President, TCA

Newer attendees tend to forget that the appropriate model for the York meet is the age old bazaar, not the new age/technically dependent market places that have sprung up of late.

As it's  been said many times before: "York is where you discover all those things you never knew you wanted, or those things you never thought you'd see again." The TCA/ED meet neither works very well, has never really been intended for,  nor is very efficient (economical) for personal order fulfillment.

That does not even begin to address the probable disadvantage of the less technically savvy  & capable sellers vs. those with paid professional staff.

Between A&B, I read what you wrote above 3 times and I still don't understand what you are saying, sorry, maybe I'm just dumb.

My understanding is you may as well do without York and buy/sell on the Internet. Easy, but no fun.

quote:

I think if TCA's current membership list was crosschecked with a list of active participants on this forum you would see only a very low percentage of people on both lists.

I expect you are correct. But what makes you think TCA members who don't even bother to visit this board would be interested in your proposal? If they were interested, they could join the board, and leverage the buy-sell forums. 

I imagine that would look something like the floor of the NYC Stock Exchange as buyers and sellers scramble to locate wanted items.   Probably would be more effective to walk around the halls with a placard around their neck....and a lot more fun! 

As president of a rather large volunteer organization in my community I echo Paul's sentiment - draft a proposal to chair this effort and submit it for review if you feel that strongly about it.  The worse you can be told is "no". 

Just my 2 cents...

--Greg

quote:

Probably would be more effective to walk around the halls with a placard around their neck....and a lot more fun

I have seen people do just that at some of the large, outdoor antique shows that I attend. Also folks with signs mounted on their hats.
I think I have seen it done at York too.

the fun in toy trains is not the purchase, it is the

search. half the fun of finding your want list is doing the search.

I love looking, searching and seeing what everybody has for sale.

Also, having been to many, many shows over the years as an

exhibitor,(I have an O and O27 gauge board i run at shows),

its not about the trains. its about relationships, friendships, commaradery.

Take away the search process and the relationships and the hobby goes

nowhere.  As Lou Palumbo says in his article in Classic Toy Trains magazine

"Keep Searchin"!!!!

Mr. Burfle,, you need to walk around the halls with your name hanging from your neck so that I will know who you are. I'm sure that you know who I am.

The first guy to show up at the table with the money wins every time.

Little did I know, going to York in Oct., that I could not live without a hand-built HellGate bridge. All I was looking for was Mike's Kosher hot dogs.

Why don't we leave York the way it is.

Jim and others have made "the " points that make York great. A large part of York is the hunt. Oh  I have at times been really REALLY frustrated at not finding what I want at York, Big deal...............there is always ANOTHER day.

          The idea of York isn't "instant gratification".

I like York the way it is:  "the roar of the greasepaint, the smell of crowd..."

Oh, that last phrase is a little too close to reality.

George