Understanding The York Train meet

If you want Postwar, go to the member halls (Blue, Silver, Red, White). There will be some Postwar in the dealer halls (Purple and Orange) but that is mostly modern stuff. 

I am mostly a modern guy that has grown to love and appreciate Postwar. Leave some for me...

What about the Brown hall?  I think that is also a dealer hall...no?????

Rick

RICKC posted:

What about the Brown hall?  I think that is also a dealer hall...no?????

Rick

Brown hall was closed several years ago. 

If at all possible, it would be best if you could attend on Friday. Sellers are told not to pack up early, but a good number of them do on Saturday. Also, there is some postwar in the dealer halls, as well.  I think most of the great deals are gone by Saturday (some would say gone by late Thursday). If I were looking for postwar in a limited time frame, my visit order might be red hall first, then blue, then silver, then white. 

Thanks guys.  I have to watch my spending so there should be at least one or two items left for you, SJC.....LOL

If you want the old stuff the Blue and Silver are probably the place to start, the last would be the Orange,and if you are going Saturday you can't waste time ,but you can save money. Also if you see it and you want it buy it. Good luck.

I've always had mixed feelings about when is a better time to attend a train meet.  As the saying goes, "The early bird gets the worm".   But what about the sellers who don't want to take home too much stuff ?   Can better deals be had near the end of the meet ?   Of course the pickings are slimmer then.  

Occasionally, on Saturday some dealers and members start dealing so they don't have to take all the stuff back with them.

From someone who lives 3000 miles away.... Saturday was a waste. Thurs or Friday are the days to go. I've been twice and don't see myself going back. Sure it was cool to check it once or twice, but I have to ship what I buy so there goes the great deals. If I lived a couple hours away....sure absolutely. It's really not something you can take it all in with just one day.... especially Saturday.

Check the meet flyer. Dealer halls are open 2 hours later on Saturday than the member halls. This is new. Plan your day accordingly. Member halls first, then dealer halls.

If you are looking for hard to find or rare post war the best time and place are the bandit meets on Monday and Tuesday. For more common post war it really doesn't matter as there is so much of it to choose from. For deals Saturday is best. The isles are pretty empty and the dealers still manning their tables are willing to deal. Friday morning is when the halls are packed and items easy to miss through the crowds.

Pete

If I had to choose one day, then it would be Friday.   Friday has the longest hours, I think 9 to 5, and pretty much everyone is still there and motivated.  On Saturday some table holders come in fairly late and start packing up.   Other table holders packed up and left Friday evening, arranging for the person next to them to cover their table(s) with merchandise.  Obviously, items purchased on Thursday and Friday will reduce what's available on Saturday.   

But, going on Saturday is better than nothing at all.  You just have to move really fast through the aisles.

Dan Padova posted:

   But what about the sellers who don't want to take home too much stuff ?  

My own feeling is, what is taking home a engine or three compared to the other 500 lbs of stuff you have to pack up? In fact, some sellers seem to WANT to take EVERYTHING home, based on their prices. Although I've only seen two Saturdays at the York meet, I think "Saturday bargains" are not worth the motel cost or cost of gas.

I agree that a seller at a flea market has a end-of-day incentive to get rid of a dining room table.

Have been there many times and agree that Thursday and Friday are the days where you will see the best selection.  Saturday always impressed me as a "wind down day". If you are in a buying mode York is a great train meet to find just about anything O gauge.  I have suggested that the ED open the dealer halls to the public on both of those days to maximize gate revenue but it remains to be seen whether or not they will heed that advise. 

I've always had mixed feelings about when is a better time to attend a train meet.  As the saying goes, "The early bird gets the worm".   But what about the sellers who don't want to take home too much stuff ?   Can better deals be had near the end of the meet ?   Of course the pickings are slimmer then.  

IMHO, both views are perfectly valid. I guess which view is correct for each of us depends on what we'd like to get at York.

Looking for specific items that are less common? - then be there for the beginning, and focus on finding what you are after. Don't waste time with casual browsing. You have competition, there are other people looking for that same item.

More into bargain hunting? - there will be some items that people are trying to clear out quickly at reduced prices, so you still might want to get there early. But if you go late, you might get some "I don't want to bring this home" bargains.

I am in the first group. If I cannot get there for the opening of any show, its not worth attending for me.

I have suggested that the ED open the dealer halls to the public on both of those days to maximize gate revenue but it remains to be seen whether or not they will heed that advise

Hopefully they will not. There has to be some advantage to being a member. For the TCA members who are into current stuff, being first in the dealer halls is a concrete advantage.

Look at the Lionel Warehouse sale. There is a public business giving first dibs to the MEMBERS of a private organization. Where is the outrage over that?

If they open to the public on Thursday then run the risk of alienating members.  The EDTCA in my opinion will have to provide a day that is members only.  Why else be in the club?  Yes my primary participation in the TCA is the York meet.  While I do enjoy the member halls my majority of participation is the dealer halls.  If Thursday is open to the public it's quite possible I'll no longer have much incentive to retain my membership.  I'm more than happy with the arrangement they made to balance the member and public time.  I think at least for now they made a good compromise.  I'll wait and see how it all works out before getting worrying about it.  I applaud the EDTCA for trying.  They deserve a lot of credit for making a change and probably no matter which way they went someone always thinks their idea is better.

As far as Saturday is concerned, the dealers, maybe not all, but many asked for this so they should be strictly held to the 4pm closing time.  Saturday will be the most popular day for the public so take advantage of it.

Look at the Lionel Warehouse sale. There is a public business giving first dibs to the MEMBERS of a private organization. Where is the outrage over that?

Interestingly enough we went last year as LCCA members.  And while we did "think" we were getting in early, Lionel had a friends and family time approx an hour before the LCCA time.  All I have to say is Lionel has a lot of friends and family.  Folks were walking out of there before the LCCA time with dolly full of product before we even stepped in the door.

Marty, couldn't have said it better.  My sentiments EXACTLY!  

David

And while we did "think" we were getting in early, Lionel had a friends and family time approx an hour before the LCCA time.

LOL, make that second dibs for LCCA members .