Think Hershey was small this year
- Thread starter dustyp489
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C26Pinelake
BANNED
This trait is not new. This regression has been going on for 10 years. It's more efficient to shop on EBay or sell on EBay. No travel costs, motel, table fees or food. It is only a shadow of what it once was. Wayne
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
My perspective on the age thing is that the younger generations find their items online in places such as Facebook, eBay, and Fordbarn classifieds. The value to attend Hershey really is not there like it was 2 or 3 decades ago. Even I have only been once in the last 5 years, and I only went that year because I had a client that paid me to go. The R.O.I. for both money and time is not there for me to attend Hershey. Even more so, my typical customer does not attend Hershey, and as such it is not worth my time to set-up. Most reproduction vendors are seeing the same thing. Hershey attendees come to look for stuff they cannot get at a store. Therefore why should they spend their funds buying from a store when they can buy those items online at a later date.
Also, while I do not know the exact age, I have 17 projects at my shop right now and I would speculate that better than 50% of the owners are under the age of 60, and possibly 50% of those are under the age of 55, --or at least look like it. From my vantage point, the demographic age of Model-A & T owners is younger than most people think.
1931 flamingo
Well-known member
I'm glad I went last year and checked it off my bucket list. I was lucky and got the last scooter (or so I was told) or I couldn't have seen as much as I did in one day. Met some barners and covered one section with BarryB from Ma.
Paul in CT
Paul in CT
Oldbluoval
Well-known member
We'll, first of all thanks to Hershey region for putting this on.
What an effort for the hobby
I was there Tues-Thurs and yes all of the above is my observations about
crowd and empty spaces. I guess the factors are many but car parts seemed to encompass less than half of what was set up. LOTS of signage and collectibles
But it is what it is and likely will not get much better if you are expecting the "old stuff".
I know most of the original parts vendors and can visually attest that most of the returning inventory was what they left with last year!
I was once told that you know you are getting old when you prefer everything the way it used to be!!! Guess I'm getting old!
One other thing...the PA Dept of Rev makes no friends either. Hawking all vendors for their sales tax. Maybe Hershey state reps need to push for a law similar to TN's "girl scout cookie" law. This allows one time vendors at specific or one time events to skate on collecting sales tax. I display only and will not sell in PA
What an effort for the hobby
I was there Tues-Thurs and yes all of the above is my observations about
crowd and empty spaces. I guess the factors are many but car parts seemed to encompass less than half of what was set up. LOTS of signage and collectibles
But it is what it is and likely will not get much better if you are expecting the "old stuff".
I know most of the original parts vendors and can visually attest that most of the returning inventory was what they left with last year!
I was once told that you know you are getting old when you prefer everything the way it used to be!!! Guess I'm getting old!
One other thing...the PA Dept of Rev makes no friends either. Hawking all vendors for their sales tax. Maybe Hershey state reps need to push for a law similar to TN's "girl scout cookie" law. This allows one time vendors at specific or one time events to skate on collecting sales tax. I display only and will not sell in PA
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C26Pinelake
BANNED
Governments are supposed to create and promote employment. In this case the government has been successful in discouraging entrepreneurs. They should be ashamed of their efforts. Maybe it is time to move the function to an area or state that is business friendly. Pennsylvania obviously is not! Wayne
mhsprecher
Well-known member
I went today and remembered that I first went 50 years ago.
I noticed a lot of empty spaces and not large crowds, although many were starting to leave. It is still a lot of fun. We walked 5 miles today and I spent all of $14. I look forward to the car show tomorrow. I have bought one of my cars the past couple of years, but I was too late to register this year. There are always some great cars at the show. Rain is forecast, but hopefully it won't be too bad.
It is still great to see and talk to the people. So many cars for sale are the 50's and up. Nice to see them, too, although I don't care much for the newer cars.
I noticed a lot of empty spaces and not large crowds, although many were starting to leave. It is still a lot of fun. We walked 5 miles today and I spent all of $14. I look forward to the car show tomorrow. I have bought one of my cars the past couple of years, but I was too late to register this year. There are always some great cars at the show. Rain is forecast, but hopefully it won't be too bad.
It is still great to see and talk to the people. So many cars for sale are the 50's and up. Nice to see them, too, although I don't care much for the newer cars.
C26Pinelake
BANNED
Is there a Model A fire truck for sale? Wayne
Jeff/Illinois
Well-known member
What oldbluoval said in post #7. I was reading this thread and recalling folks in the past, talking about Penn. State Tax rules and such and people deciding to skip these events held in Pennsylvania because of this nonsense. Same reason I quit going to Iowa Gas years ago looking for petroliana. I refuse to pay the stupid state sales tax on top of the bidder's penalty for over the top priced stuff at their auction. Vendor prices were in LaLa land not close to anything realistic.
Never been to Hershey, probably won't ever go after reading these posts the last few years. I think it would be a better use of time and money to either buy from the reputable guys on FB Swap Meet or go to a place like Bert's. Sometimes Model A parts turn up in Estate auctions and farm sales around the Midwest. Haven't seen a GOOD swap meet around here in years as far as old car parts go. Mostly Avon stuff and that type of thing. Arts and Craps. With a few mixed in totally rusted junk pieces and parts.
Iowa Gas used to be a Thursday-Friday-Saturday event but everybody was packing up by Thursday night- Friday morning and going home. The insiders did all their buying and selling Tuesday nite. I learned this one year when I went out there on a Saturday morning and almost everybody had already left. I figure that same type of thing is going on at Hershey, maybe the reason the vendor spaces are emptying out by Thursday.
Never been to Hershey, probably won't ever go after reading these posts the last few years. I think it would be a better use of time and money to either buy from the reputable guys on FB Swap Meet or go to a place like Bert's. Sometimes Model A parts turn up in Estate auctions and farm sales around the Midwest. Haven't seen a GOOD swap meet around here in years as far as old car parts go. Mostly Avon stuff and that type of thing. Arts and Craps. With a few mixed in totally rusted junk pieces and parts.
Iowa Gas used to be a Thursday-Friday-Saturday event but everybody was packing up by Thursday night- Friday morning and going home. The insiders did all their buying and selling Tuesday nite. I learned this one year when I went out there on a Saturday morning and almost everybody had already left. I figure that same type of thing is going on at Hershey, maybe the reason the vendor spaces are emptying out by Thursday.
Mikeinnj
Well-known member
Vendors arrive on Tuesday and set up and start "insider trading" and then pack up and leave by Thursday, so in the future, go on Wednesday if you want to see all vendors.
C26Pinelake
BANNED
The administration should charge a substantial penalty for any vendor that leaves or just uses their space as a convenient parking space. Maybe $250 dollars for each day and your space forfeited for future years. Many vendors are not vendors but opportunists to grab the great buys before the buyers get in. Cherry pickers I think they call them. Wayne
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mhsprecher
Well-known member
Tough for those of us who are still working stiffs. We all need to support what we like, though, and I will probably go to Hershey as long as I am able. It is only 2 hrs away by modern car, although I would much rather go in one of my cars that takes 4 hrs to get there.
Car coral was loaded
Stretch Cab
Well-known member
There were so many spaces with new cars parked in them that it made you walk needlessly down rows without vendors filling the spaces. I figured it was a way to park your car close to the action but it made me go home early as I couldn't walk anymore. Had fun though and found what I was looking for. Probably won't go back.
Wick
Well-known member
Thursday and Friday were great sales day's for me. Parts I found were better quality then I've seen in the past. Security was very lax,and the loud speaker was almost silent. They must have Cracked down on the scooters this year,it was very nice not having to dodge them. Parts that I didn't see....rears,zenith carbs,steering colums,running boards,engines and transmissions. I did find everything I was looking for and the deals were good. My new spaces were a real blessing with great neighbors.
Terry NJ
Well-known member
It is now 10PM, Two hours ago I got home from Hershey. And what everyone is saying is true! Overly optimistic vendors and resistant buyers. For example, I found a rebuildable distributor body (Body, shaft, cam and lower plate) I probably could have been persuaded to pay $5 for it, but it would have been a hard sell! This Citizen wanted $25 for it. And like any amateur, he begins to try to build value in it. Completely ignoring the likely fact that I wanted it as a spare. So if that's typical, there are many unfufilled wishes on the part of many vendors tonight. Crying over a beer that these people are a bunch of cheapskates! Completely wrapped up self pity inspired by their inability to make deals. On the other side, folks go home with the idea that they're lucky that they got home with being forced to pay such criminally high prices, ( I paid $13 for a sausage sandwich and a bottle of water, Never Again!) From now on, I will go but not to buy. But who can say what I'll stumble on to. But the days of going to get some specific item are gone. Hershey's a great show! But as a bourse, it is done!
Terry
Terry
C26Pinelake
BANNED
$13 for a sausage on a bun us atrocious. There should be a fair price guide that can not be exceeded. It seems like the monkeys are running the zoo. Wayne