Model Show Etiquette

Most shows sell table space to retail vendors and often times several individuals like yourself will purchase a table to sell their own stashes. I've known 2-3 guys who chip in to buy one table to sell, but I've never seen a table set up to trade.

But if you don't buy a table, keep the kits in the trunk of your car and have a "boot" sale in the parking lot. Price your kits in multiples of fives ($5, $10, $15, etc.) to ease making change and bring a good deal of cash to make change.

Thanks Rob,

I wondered if they would sell a table to a "non vendor".  I used to do that when I was into sports cards.  Of course that would really tick off the regular vendors.  Maybe I'll just forget about it this time and try to strike up some contacts/friends that might like to trade.  I'm not really looking to make any profit or make a business out of them, just thought I could trade for some kits I really wanted.  My "youth wish list" is getting harder and harder to check off.

Eagle90

There are plenty of non-vendors like yourself who sell at shows, but as I said, I don't know about trading.

I'd stuff them in your trunk. Often show raffles are for specific kits. Someone like me who wins a kit that isn't my cup of tea would be hot on trading it for a kit right up my alley. I know I once won a resin warship. Very nice kit, rather expensive and not something I was remotely interested in.

I saw another attendee who won an armor kit but didn't want it. He was asking a few of his friends if they'd give him $20 for it. I told him I'd give him my resin ship for his tank. He was a ship builder and we both left happy.

If you got something in the trunk, you have your trading material close at hand.

Rob, didn't think about any raffle possibilities.  Thanks!  Yeah, I guess I'll but them in the car and bring along.  You just never know.  

What Rob did is kosher...he was trading one item for another. However, a stash in the trunk would be strongly frowned upon by the organizers and the vendors, both pro and amateur. They paid for the right to make money at the show. A "boot sale" in the parking lot undermines the abililty of the organizers to sell space and the vendors to make money. Don't do it. Consider buying a table if you want to sell. You might  even inquire into joining the club and putting stuff on the club table. The club takes a percentage and you get the rest. Best case in the boot sale is you get a bad reputation...worst case you the local police pay you a visit and inform you that you are trespassing. Repeat, don't do it.

Hey, not trying to undermine or take anything away from anyone.  Perhaps I should have been a little more specific in my question.  My train of thought was actually if the vendors themselves would be interested in trading or giving credit for some of their products.  I wasn't planning on handing out leaflets and popping the trunk to sell contraband in the parking lot.   I remember when I was into sports cards.  Most vendors were willing to trade or give you $ credit for something you had that they wanted (sometimes they would buy it outright too).  So I didn't mean to offend anyone or rock the boat....like I said, I have never had the opportunity to go to a model show, that's why I asked.  Sorry for any confusion.

Eagle90

I wasn't trying to diss you, but it sounded like you were considering selling out of your trunk to show attendees. That would have been poorly regarded. Approaching the vendors with trade deals or giving them the option to buy your stash is another story completely. Sorry for the confusion. Hope you enjoy the show.

ajlafleche

I wasn't trying to diss you, but it sounded like you were considering selling out of your trunk to show attendees. That would have been poorly regarded. Approaching the vendors with trade deals or giving them the option to buy your stash is another story completely. Sorry for the confusion. Hope you enjoy the show.

No offense taken.  Text/e-mails can be a funny thing when it comes to interpretation.  I should have been a little more clear in my initial statement.  No intent or desire to sell anything from my trunk in the parking lot.  Was just wondering if the vendors would be offended if I asked if they would be interested.  Thanks for the good advice!

I think it would be perfectly alright to bring a list of your kits into the show and ask the vendors if they would be interested in anything, either to buy or trade.  Those that are interested probably won't pay very much as they would only be buying to sell.

Paul

PSSST...... Hey buddy...... Want a good deal on a 1/200 bizmarck?     Step on over to my car office.

padakr

I think it would be perfectly alright to bring a list of your kits into the show and ask the vendors if they would be interested in anything, either to buy or trade.  Those that are interested probably won't pay very much as they would only be buying to sell.

Paul

Hey Padakr, That was my intent.  See if they would be interested or not.  I know I probably won't get much for them, but in trade I might be able to get one I'm looking for.  I've done business with oldmodelkits.com and had a great experience there.  I was hoping they might do the same at the show, but like I have mentioned, it's Vermont, so how big it turns out to be will be seen Saturday.  I plan on taking pics of the builds and post them hopefully that night.  It will be my first show, I'm kinda excited about it.

littletimmy

PSSST...... Hey buddy...... Want a good deal on a 1/200 bizmarck?     Step on over to my car office.

                                                                                         

Too funny! Now I'll really get a bad rap.........and I don't even have any ships for trade!

please post your impressions of the show after you get home

If you have as good a time as most of us do, you will be all enthused about building some special project,,,,,,,,,and rarin' ta go for the next show you can get to

as for the trading thing,,,,,it actually happens a lot once you know people,,,,,,,I always have some books or kits along that "Phil might be interested in",  a few vendors have set aside kits that "Rex might want" for me to look at before they put them up on the stacks,,,,,but, I am a long time customer with those vendors, to be fair

Rex

TarnShip

please post your impressions of the show after you get home

If you have as good a time as most of us do, you will be all enthused about building some special project,,,,,,,,,and rarin' ta go for the next show you can get to

as for the trading thing,,,,,it actually happens a lot once you know people,,,,,,,I always have some books or kits along that "Phil might be interested in",  a few vendors have set aside kits that "Rex might want" for me to look at before they put them up on the stacks,,,,,but, I am a long time customer with those vendors, to be fair

Rex

Tarnship, I am excited about it.  I really hope it turns out to be a big show with lots of vendors!  I'd like to get to know some of the people locally, but I fear there are not too many here in Vermont.  I asked about vendors in another post.  Just wondering if they thought there was any chance some "big name" vendors might be there.  We shall soon see.  I will most definately post what it was like.  I plan on taking lots of pics.  I like seeing built models for future reference on size.  The older I get, the 1/72 (unless it's a B-52!) scale stuff is getting harder and harder to do.  So seeing what Revell's 1/85 B-57 looks like would be a help to me.  Anyway, I will let everyone know how it goes Saturday! 

Eagle90

Just remember that  the price can be negotiated with most venders.  A kit with a $5 price tag  may be had for less. Especially if you buy more than one kit from his pile. You may also want to circle the entire show before buying / traiding.  My first show I went nuts at the first vender I found and bought a bunch of stuff that I later found much cheeper at another table.

littletimmy

Just remember that  the price can be negotiated with most venders.  A kit with a $5 price tag  may be had for less. Especially if you buy more than one kit from his pile. You may also want to circle the entire show before buying / traiding.  My first show I went nuts at the first vender I found and bought a bunch of stuff that I later found much cheeper at another table.

Really?!  These are the things I need to know about!  It is my first show, so I'm not used to the ins and outs.  Thanks so much for the advice!

Another odd question.  Cash or credit?  Do they have the ability to do credit cards or should I bring a wad of $20's? 

I would bring cash and leave the card at home. Just so you wont be tempted to spend the morgage payment on kits that wont have a home if you spend the morgage payment !!!

littletimmy

I would bring cash and leave the card at home. Just so you wont be tempted to spend the morgage payment on kits that wont have a home if you spend the morgage payment !!!

I agree.  And when it comes to haggling, cash is better.  A lot of vendors can take CCs (there's an app for that), but each transaction costs them, so they don't take home the amount you paid.  With cash, they might be willing to deal a little more, since they don't have the CC fees biting into their profit.

Paul

Just be aware that sometimes when you pass something by in hopes of finding it cheaper, you don't always find it at another table and it could be gone by the time you come back around to the first place you saw  it at.

If it i something that you have really been looking for and it's kind of rare, you may want to grab it when you see it. Of the ordinary or common kits, there's probably multiple vendors selling the same item so look for the best price.

Also if you plan on staying towards the end of the show, sometimes vendors drop their prices just so they don't have to pack it up and take it home. I remember when the Trumpeter Strv-103 S-tank was a new kit running $25-30. Towards the end of the show a vendor talked me into buying it for $10.

I recall from my sports card days someone at a show would occasionally sell from the trunk of their car and the shows vendors would complain but there wasn't really anything that could be done about it. In the cases I saw it was just some guy taking advantage of a one time situation as opposed to someone that made it a habit of showing up during a card show.

The hotel didn't want to get involved especially if the trunk seller was a paying guest staying at the hotel.

littletimmy

I would bring cash and leave the card at home. Just so you wont be tempted to spend the morgage payment on kits that wont have a home if you spend the morgage payment !!!

I could see me doing that too!  

padakr

littletimmy

I would bring cash and leave the card at home. Just so you wont be tempted to spend the morgage payment on kits that wont have a home if you spend the morgage payment !!!

I agree.  And when it comes to haggling, cash is better.  A lot of vendors can take CCs (there's an app for that), but each transaction costs them, so they don't take home the amount you paid.  With cash, they might be willing to deal a little more, since they don't have the CC fees biting into their profit.

Paul

Good point.  I think the CC companies have enough of everyone's money already!  Thanks for the tip!

Rob Gronovius

Just be aware that sometimes when you pass something by in hopes of finding it cheaper, you don't always find it at another table and it could be gone by the time you come back around to the first place you saw  it at.

If it i something that you have really been looking for and it's kind of rare, you may want to grab it when you see it. Of the ordinary or common kits, there's probably multiple vendors selling the same item so look for the best price.

Also if you plan on staying towards the end of the show, sometimes vendors drop their prices just so they don't have to pack it up and take it home. I remember when the Trumpeter Strv-103 S-tank was a new kit running $25-30. Towards the end of the show a vendor talked me into buying it for $10.

Another good point!  I had planned on shock and awing my way through quickly, but a little patience may see better results.  I had not planned on staying the whole time, but now........Great points brought up by everyone.  Thanks!

mitsdude

I recall from my sports card days someone at a show would occasionally sell from the trunk of their car and the shows vendors would complain but there wasn't really anything that could be done about it. In the cases I saw it was just some guy taking advantage of a one time situation as opposed to someone that made it a habit of showing up during a card show.

The hotel didn't want to get involved especially if the trunk seller was a paying guest staying at the hotel.

No trunk sales here for me.  Never was my intent to start a "model black market".   I used to do the card shows, but they were just too "shifty" for me.  Every card vendor looked like a shifty alley character.  Besides, the cost of those cards got to be WAY too much (started to cut into my model and guitar funds!).  Just not worth it to me anymore.  Sold all but one box of my favorites and my Marino collection.  

And don't forget the raffle's,  I went to a show in rochester MN this winter intending/hoping to by some OOP kits from vendors, didn't really find anything but I won 3 kits in the raffle,  stuff that I will build all for $5 in tickets.   Woo Hoo!

John

Another point about cash. At our show we had 64 tables (31 vendors)  rented out. Only 24 of those tables were taken by "professional" vendors, those with a brick and mortar or on line business. The rest were guys who were cleaning out their stashes or who only do this occasinlally at shows. They deal only in cash. The professionals are less likely to give big discounts since they have overhead to cover, including salaries for their workers. The other guys may be more likely to haggle since their goal is to get rid of stuff.

What I've done at the two figures shows I attend each year is create a shopping list of kits I have seen n the previous few months and start with those. Then I'll go back and bottom feed for bargains or look for new releases.

Getting several iems form one guy will likely cause him to be more generous in his asking price. Let him set the first price, ""Wha's the best you could do on this/these?" If the price sounds good, you might want to save time and go for it, especially if it's a pro. If you think it's above you're budget, you might counter with "I was thinking more like $X." And see where it goes. He may come down, you may need to go up. This is how the shoppers on PBS's Market Warriors work and it seems to get them good prices. Of course, having a full camera crew next to you may help!

Also, bring small bills. You don't want to give a dealer (or the registration table) a $100 for his first sale and kill his bank for the day.

HI :

It has been my experience that if you are honest and above-board with the vendors they are willing to trade . All you have to do is ask " Hey , if this kit is all there , would you be willing to do a trade ." Remember though , he may just do it and then turn around and put it in the space the kit you got was in . This way everyone is happy .

  DO NOT , and I repeat DO NOT even think of selling out of your trunk ! This is unethical at least .Let the vendors  know what you want , if they have it  , and try to see if he or she will trade . I have done it many times and both the vendor and I were happy .

 The same vendor ,at the next show , called me over and told me he had a kit I might be interested in . He showed me the kit and I asked " Cash or Trade " his answer ," Either is fine , let's see what you got " Again , we both left happy .      Tanker - builder

Raffles!!!!!  I'm going to need more cash!

ajlafleche

Another point about cash. At our show we had 64 tables (31 vendors)  rented out. Only 24 of those tables were taken by "professional" vendors, those with a brick and mortar or on line business. The rest were guys who were cleaning out their stashes or who only do this occasinlally at shows. They deal only in cash. The professionals are less likely to give big discounts since they have overhead to cover, including salaries for their workers. The other guys may be more likely to haggle since their goal is to get rid of stuff.

What I've done at the two figures shows I attend each year is create a shopping list of kits I have seen n the previous few months and start with those. Then I'll go back and bottom feed for bargains or look for new releases.

Getting several iems form one guy will likely cause him to be more generous in his asking price. Let him set the first price, ""Wha's the best you could do on this/these?" If the price sounds good, you might want to save time and go for it, especially if it's a pro. If you think it's above you're budget, you might counter with "I was thinking more like $X." And see where it goes. He may come down, you may need to go up. This is how the shoppers on PBS's Market Warriors work and it seems to get them good prices. Of course, having a full camera crew next to you may help!

Also, bring small bills. You don't want to give a dealer (or the registration table) a $100 for his first sale and kill his bank for the day.

More great advice!  Thanks so much.  Being my first show, I'm feeling pretty good about the buying part now.  Thank you!