I’ve always wondered this. When I go to train shows I usually only go to buy rare/cheap stuff. Since Greenburg Train Shows usually are 2 days(Saturday and Sunday), I usually only go on Saturday, as I figured all the good stuff will be gone by Sunday. However, this year, I got some extra time, and wondered if its worthwhile going a second time. I got a pretty thorough look at everything, so going a second time looking at the same items wouldnt be worth the drive. So my question is:
From part experience, do vendors save items to sell on the second day of train shows? Is it worth going?
90% of the shows in Florida are 1 day now. Only Fort Myers, Tampa, and Deland still do two day shows as far as I know.
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At all of these shows, there are fewer dealers on Sunday. Then the remaining dealers spread out onto the empty tables vacated by the one-day guys.
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In my experience, better deals are to be found on Sunday on the bargains. The remaining dealers put out stuff that is not worth the effort to put on a full price table, but on a “free” table, why not?
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I prefer to go tot these shows on the second day. As always, your mileage might vary.
Usually one day visit will do except if you stumble on something Great. Now I don’t know where you live, but if you can get to the amherst show at eastern states expo center in w Springfield Mass,now that is a train show! 5 buildings and every possible mfgr you can think of,
I think it depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for new, higher quality things, you want to get there at the start, if you are mostly looking for bargins, the second day sounds like the time to go. Use the first day for scouting, then the second day hope some of what interested you is still there. As Kevin youe mileage makes a difference also.
Most of our shows are one day, but the same concept stands, except it is whether to get there early or wait until after lunch and when the dealers start thinking of packing up.
The only two day show I have attended is a bus ride away for me, so I take the “leave the driving to us”, enjoy the trip, look over all that I can and relax on the way home. I do take a list of interesting dealers and locations so that I can hit the highlights I am interested in and get to look over the booths I pass on the way from one spot to another. If I lived where I used to, less than half an hour away, I’d probably do things differently.
When I go to train shows a second day I am often shocked at what I see on Day 2 that was clearly right there Day 1 and I utterly missed it. Plus I just like being at train shows.
Depends on how “hungry” the dealer is on the second day… If he had a bad Saturday he will be more will to deal… If he had a great Saturday then,I doubt if he would deal unless its items in had in stock for several months.
I once picked up two Proto(LL) C&O GP9s for $30.00 each-he was asking $55.00 each. I found out later from another dealer he had those Geeps for almost two years…
The first day is best if one is looking for new or current items that are hard to find. Since hobby shops have pretty much joined the T-rex in availability this is often the best or only way to find the new stuff or see it in person.
Often the 2nd day is a bargain hunters day. Many dealers would rather take less for something than pack it up and drive it home. Often better pricing is possible, and as mentioned, when the rush is out of the way it’s often easier to see some things in a more relaxed way. Sometimes sellers will use vacated tables to spread out their stuff.
If you have the time I think a 2nd day is well worth the time and money.
I second the Yes vote. I used to find many deals on things, maybe not on hot items and maybe not screaming deals for DCC ready/installed locos. Couplers, rolling stock, buliding kits and used put together ones, etc all have to be boxed back up by the vendor and a lot of times they would rather sell stuff at a discount than have to put it all back in the trailer.
That is one thought a guy had when i was selling a circus train he came back at the end of the show to see if i will sell it cheap no it went back home and a local bought it for more than i was asking for it.
Ok, true, but have you ever let a box of odds and ends go for a buck? I bought a motorized turntable (Diamond Scale Kit fully built) for $40 at a show because the vendor didn’t want to put it back in his truck. He had it listed the previous for $100. It worked perfectly.
Of course, I also bought a BLI 2-8-2 the day previous at almost LHS price. I don’t want to cheat anyone and I will pay a fair price, but I do like to look for deals.
In case anyone was curious, I went to the Oaks PA train show.
I did end up taking all the advice and went for a second day. Didn’t buy anything with better deals, but instead ended up buying some stuff I decided against the first day, including two Walthers Santa Fe El Capitan Transition Cars for $35 a pop! Even though I spent more money than I liked this year, Im glad I went1
For me - the two largest train shows each year in my area (both NMRA-sponsered) are not worth going to the 2nd day. In fact, the past couple of years they haven’t even been worth going the 1st day. I skipped the one this past October and will probably skip the other one in March. I do better finding what I need/want/deals on places like eBay…
I’ve noticed that many vendors have too much inventory for their available table space. Whenever a spot opens up, they pull inventory from boxes they have under the layout. A steady stream of inventory means they often have items for sale on the second day that weren’t available to see the second day.
Tyco collectors and enthusiast would jump for joy over a box of Tyco odds and ends for a buck.
One of my best odd and end deals was a coffee can of junk I paid $3.00 for. To my surprise this “junk” included several AHM railroad workers ,some Revell railroad workers ,some Athearn BB trucks and coupler clips plus a nice selection of gondola scrap loads that I would need to make by using my Xacto knife and saw. I got my $3.00 worth just from the AHM and Revell railroad workers.