Every time I go to a train show or swap meet, I always face the same dilemma; who has the best deal. Many times, I won't buy something because I think I might be able to get it cheaper either by mail order or from some place on the internet. Most mail order places are less expensive for the item (let's say its an Atlas Locomotive), but you incur a shipping and handling fee plus tax. However, they tend to have huge inventories to pull from so chances are good they will have "it" in stock. Also, if it's broke you have someone to send it back to. Now, the guy at the train show probable already paid those S&H expenses and has marked up his merchandise to cover all his costs (and included a profit of course). But I'm not too crazy about buying a "new" item in an open box (as most things are at these shows) that has been handled by who knows how many prospective buyer unless I can get it for a good price. So, do I plunk down $100 bucks at the train show for that new Atlas locomotive, or do I spend $135 (S&H + tax) via the internet/mail order? By the way, I'm not considering ebay in my shopping options. I was recently at a train show and made some interesting observations: 1) O scale is hot! I would say about 80% of the tables were 100% O scale. 2) Most dealers are unloading older stock and discount prices seem to be easier to negotiate. 3) It looks like they finally put a stop to people selling "non train" items at train shows. Who really goes to train shows looking for dollhouse furniture anyways? [ 10 June 2002, 16:23: Message edited by: MarkJ ]
Before I even think of leaving that swap meet with new locomotive in hand, I'd have it checked out on a test track. This is a little trick I learned over the years- I never leave a hobby shop or swap meet with the locomotive unless I test-run it. If it runs like crap, or don't run at all, it ain't worth 100 shiny copper pennies, let alone 100 bucks. If it's in good shape, runs well on the test track, then I'd say yes, plunk down the C-note & take the sucker home. Being loyal to your local hobby dealer, if he or she is good to work with , is a good thing, but don't pass up a good bargain.
I find that the real value of train shows is not the "New from dealer stock" items, but rather the stuff that someone has had in a box forever and has no idea what is. The best example I have of this is a trio of aluminum passenger cars I bought at the Lynden show (ummmmmm......) last year. I paid an average of $10 apiece for them and with a little work they are now beautiful additions to my EB consist at a fraction of the price of brass. I generally go to shows for exotic items and deals, but not for anything I could get out of the Walthers catalog. For that, I buy almost exclusively on eBay as I can almost always find a better price than anywhere else with a little patience. As for where to send it back, I've never had to. In all the years I've been buying trains on ebay I've never gotten burned, except a couple of times by my own ignorance (How was I to know that not all aluminum cars were as nice as the Blue Line ones I got at the show?).
