Train show purchasing question

Over the weekend Greenberg's train show was in town. I went and picked up a few things but most of the stuff I really wanted is cheaper online. For example I wanted to get a 2nd Bachmann DCC ready Conrail GP35 loco. Out of the 150+ sellers only two guys had it but the price was $55 from one guy and $60 from the other. Online I can get it for $43 shipped. So my question, is it ok to haggle with the seller or are there prices pretty firm? This is the first time I've been to a train show in a long time so I don't really know how things work when it comes to talking prices.

 

Absolutely. The worst they can do is say no, and if their price is too much for you, they loose out on a sale.

It can also depend on the booth. A hobby shop booth might not be very flexible on price, but a collection seller might go down as much as 30%. Of course, the key difference may be that a hobby shop booth tends to have new, straight from the dealer, items, and the collection seller would have 2nd hand, 3rd hand, 4th hand, and even reclaimed from the trash can items.

 

I purchase lots of goodies at train shows, especially used stuff. The main advantage is that I can get to look at and handle the merchandise before I buy.

 

Haggle....

The worst they can do is say no. Don't feel intimidated that you have to pay their asking price. At any model or train show it's all about negotiation and haggling.

The smart guys will know what their bottom line cost is and what their competitors (both online and brick 'n mortar) are selling it for. The guys at the tables will try to make as much as they can off the not so smart and impulse buyers.

So, haggle and deal.

-G-

 

Hey guys. Thanks to some info off this forum, I was able to get some back issues of Great Model Railroads (Kalmbach) from Paul at Railpub. I'm looking for a couple more and may need some more help.

I'm looking for Great Model Railroads 1992 & 1994. Paul doesn't currently have 1992 and according to his catalog doesn't currently have 1994 either.

Does anyone know where / from who I might get these two issues? Would appreciate any help or advice. Thanks again!

 

Basically if this is a yearly train show.. You shouldn't have to worry..

If its a monthly show.. you may not want to haggle too much and gain a dislike from certain vendors..

The main thing is to be knowledgeable with what you're looking to haggle on..

What I do.. is find the lowest price online..

Lets say I can get a N scale Kato SD70Ace at a E-tailer for 69.99.. It helps to factor in shipping.. In most cases shipping is 6-8 bucks..

So try and keep it within that range. That way you aren't out much more than you should be and you also won't be taking any vendors for trouble.. Most of the time that way you can get some deals.

 

Hi Cagewalk, welcome to TrainBoard!

You might try listing a wanted ad in the TrainStore forum.
Good luck with the search.

 

I think you would be fine to make an offer but I wouldn't mention the "I can find this for X dollars online" thing. The online seller didn't schlep his stuff to the show, pay the table fee, set it all out for you, and allow you to inspect the object before buying it. You're certainly not obligated to buy it if you don't like the price, but he may not have the same wiggle room on it as SuperCloseoutTrainsShishBoomAhh dot com does.

I find that I can get some wiggle room on train show prices often if I just start showing the cash in my hand and I'm really polite about it. On the other hand, if I am looking for, say, an old beat up junker for a kitbash project and someone wants 60% of new retail for said beat up old junker I don't even bother. I just keep on walking by.

Probably the biggest, most valuable thing for me at a train show is making contacts, seeing new stuff, checking out new layouts, learning some new techniques, etc. The swap meets are a little better for the actual buying.

 

I've come to the conclusion that in general, my LHS is going to give me a better deal than most of the vendors at a show. I get 10-15% off at the shop. The last "big item" I got was a couple of years back, an IHC Mikado for about $70, after IHC closed its doors. The vendor took plastic with no surcharge, too. I didn't mind paying his asking price, since I knew that it was well below MSRP, and the item wasn't going to be available anywhere else. When you have a happy buyer and a happy seller, the free market is working just right.

 

I have much the same experience. Also, with a good LHS nearby I don't have to pay shipping every time I need a packet of rail-joiners or two pieces of flextrack.

 

Appreciate it. What thread in the TrainStore Forum are you selling them in? I'd like to check them out.

 

IHC bit the dust? When?

Dieter Zakas
Outta Daloop, NJ

 

I always go later in the day or on the last day, I find they are more willing to barter if it has been slow or they just don't want to carry it back home. I also try to find a vendor that may have a few things I want and ask for a pkg price. I picked up a box of used but like new n flex track, most full pieces about 50 pcs in all for 25.00 as he told me he didn't want to lug it around any more, he had a price of 50.00 on the box.

 

The real IHC shut down late in 2009. The remnants were picked up by someone who appears to be selling out unsold inventory from someplace in Texas. As far as anyone can tell, they are not making or importing any new items, so when they're gone, they're gone.

I've got one IHC engine, a Mikado. From this experience and what others have said, they made solid, reliable products. They were low on detail, perhaps, but priced so that anyone could afford them.