Hams Gripe At Hamfests
 

So what you are saying is that hams attending hamfests should buy damaged radios at list
price ?

Everyone likes a bargain. Everyone likes to make a profit.

Somewhere in between there is a middle ground.

Steve
N2UBP

In article , says...
Often heard comments from hams attending a hamfest:

Where are all the dealers? How come there are way less dealers
this year? Why don't dealers come to hamfests anymore?




Often heard comments from hams at a hamfest when speaking
to a dealer at a hamfest:

Hey, how come youze guys dont have special hamfest prices?
Your prices are way too high.
Will you take a $100 less for this rig, since we're at a hamfest?
When are youze guys going to bring rigs to hamfests that people

Well I have some products to sell at conventions, meets etc.
First is the cost of getting there with today's gas prices $40 to $60
Second For out of town meets there is hotel rooms, food, etc $170 +
Third the booth cost is way too high can be $300
Fourth Advertising is $35 to $100
Fifth hams are cheap -- one guy offered me half price for a book -- I asked
him which Chapter he wanted (;-)

The last convention I went to -- sold 50 products -- barely broke even
Ain't worth the time and effort
--
Lamont Cranston

The Shadow Knows
"LA Runabout" wrote in message
...
Often heard comments from hams attending a hamfest:

Where are all the dealers? How come there are way less dealers
this year? Why don't dealers come to hamfests anymore?

And if this is a business for you a good businessman would roll up their costs into the
price of their products adjusting for what the market will bear +/- selling based on
demand to get rid of the junk as a loss leader and sell the stuff that moves at a profit.

Haggling has always been part of sales.

Would you walk into a car dealership and pay sticker price ?

I wouldn't get bent out of shape over haggling.

I would get out of the business if it were not profitable.

Seems to be a big market these days for well trained bomb sniffing dogs.

Steve
N2UBP



In article W%xHc.780$TT2.321@fed1read01, says...
Well I have some products to sell at conventions, meets etc.
First is the cost of getting there with today's gas prices $40 to $60
Second For out of town meets there is hotel rooms, food, etc $170 +
Third the booth cost is way too high can be $300
Fourth Advertising is $35 to $100
Fifth hams are cheap -- one guy offered me half price for a book -- I asked
him which Chapter he wanted (;-)

The last convention I went to -- sold 50 products -- barely broke even
Ain't worth the time and effort
--
Lamont Cranston

The Shadow Knows
"LA Runabout" wrote in message

"LA Runabout" wrote in message
...
Often heard comments from hams attending a hamfest:

Where are all the dealers? How come there are way less dealers
this year? Why don't dealers come to hamfests anymore?




Often heard comments from hams at a hamfest when speaking
to a dealer at a hamfest:

Hey, how come youze guys dont have special hamfest prices?
Your prices are way too high.
Will you take a $100 less for this rig, since we're at a hamfest?
When are youze guys going to bring rigs to hamfests that people
wanna buy?
You guys stink, I can do better through your competitor's catalog.
This rig is scratched, will you take $250 off the marked price?
Hey, tell me about this new rig (takes up 35 mins of salesman's time,
then walks away saying he can get it for less.)




Comment Dealer makes when asked by hamfest committee
to set up at a hamfest:

Not worth my time or the expense.


Only one word that created this environment: Ebay

"UR 59 OM" wrote in message
...

Ironically, at any given hamfest where there is a boneyard, CBers, truck
drivers, pirate broadcasters, boat owners, commercial fishermen, &
others looking for 2nd hand unlicensed radios are cruising the boneyard
and paying top dollar, without complaining or whining aboout the price.

I know of guys who travel from hamfest to hamfest, selling reconditioned
ham a.m. xmtrs to pirausite broadcasters, amplifiers to CBers, HF rigs to
truck drivers, etc. They are paid the price as marked, top dollar, no
haggling with cheap skate hams. And business couldn't be better.

And spare me the typical ham whining about the illegality of doing this.
I am NOT the guy selling the stuff, only making an observation of what
I see at hamfests.


UR 59 OM


So haggling is whining to you? Not that there aren't some whiners in the ham
ranks. They are everywhere these days.

I used to work for a commercial two-way radio business as a salesman. On
Friday night or Saturday, I'd earn some extra change by working in the
amateur radio side of the business. What a contrast it was between selling
to business folks on cold calls during the week and standing behind a
counter on the weekend. Too bad I didn't earn the same commission on the
amateur side as I earned on the commercial side.

Heck, the owners didn't make as much on amateur gear as I, their salesman,
made on commercial gear. The mark up just isn't there. I don't know why
anyone would waste their time selling ham gear. The profit is miniscule.

Ed, NM2K

How the heck can you blame eBay for this? Are you one of those hams that
blames eBay for everything? eBay is just an avenue to sell. I think eBay
is fine as you as you don't overpay/overbid - if you do, it's because of
your own stupidity and through no fault of eBay.

If dealers don't want to go to hamfests, who cares. It's their business to
run as they see fit.

"©" wrote in message news:wpBHc.49927$%_6.19179@attbi_s01...

"LA Runabout" wrote in message
...
Often heard comments from hams attending a hamfest:

Where are all the dealers? How come there are way less dealers
this year? Why don't dealers come to hamfests anymore?




Often heard comments from hams at a hamfest when speaking
to a dealer at a hamfest:

Hey, how come youze guys dont have special hamfest prices?
Your prices are way too high.
Will you take a $100 less for this rig, since we're at a hamfest?
When are youze guys going to bring rigs to hamfests that people
wanna buy?
You guys stink, I can do better through your competitor's catalog.
This rig is scratched, will you take $250 off the marked price?
Hey, tell me about this new rig (takes up 35 mins of salesman's time,
then walks away saying he can get it for less.)




Comment Dealer makes when asked by hamfest committee
to set up at a hamfest:

Not worth my time or the expense.


Only one word that created this environment: Ebay

In article , says...
Often heard comments from hams attending a hamfest:

Where are all the dealers? How come there are way less dealers
this year? Why don't dealers come to hamfests anymore?




Often heard comments from hams at a hamfest when speaking
to a dealer at a hamfest:

Hey, how come youze guys dont have special hamfest prices?
Your prices are way too high.
Will you take a $100 less for this rig, since we're at a hamfest?
When are youze guys going to bring rigs to hamfests that people


On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:55:35 GMT, Steve Stone
wrote:


So what you are saying is that hams attending hamfests should buy damaged radios at list
price ?

Everyone likes a bargain. Everyone likes to make a profit.

Somewhere in between there is a middle ground.

Steve
N2UBP

Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.

Raymond Sirois KU2S
SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS
607-733-5745
telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6000

Steve Stone wrote:

Haggling has always been part of sales.

Would you walk into a car dealership and pay sticker price ?

Try walking into a Kroger store and saying, "I'll give you $3.50 for
this pork roast and that's my final offer."

I pay sticker for gasoline and electric power too.

Dave K8MN

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: KU2S
Date: 7/9/2004 10:27 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.

Not me!...I go to check out the hot babes!

(gurglegurglechokechoke ! ! ! !)

73

Steve, K4YZ

In article , Dave Heil
writes:

Try walking into a Kroger store and saying, "I'll give you $3.50 for
this pork roast and that's my final offer."

I pay sticker for gasoline and electric power too.

Always wondered why most new consumer goods, from a head of lettuce to the big
ticket items like wide screen TVs, are "price as marked", but a few things like
cars are all about haggling. Except Saturns.

I've had good luck at hamfests by:

- Marking "asking" price on items so people have an idea what I think it's
worth.
- Marking "firm" if the price is not negotiable
- Offering stuff I just want to move as "name your price" or "make offer"

Of course eBay and the 'net have had a big effect on 'fests. We've essentially
got a worldwide 24/7 hamfest going on, either as an auction or outright sale.
Plus you can toss out "wanted to buy" posts. Only downside is you're dealing at
a distance and the whole packing/shipping/payment/insurance headache.

Why folks expect to get eBay prices at a hamfest is beyond me, though. If you
want eBay prices, go to eBay.

73 de Jim, N2EY

In article , says...

I pay sticker for gasoline and electric power too.

Dave K8MN


I don't pay sticker for electric. In the empire of NY you can negoiate a price with your
electric vendor of choice. Not that it saves alot of money for me.

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 21:44:11 GMT, Steve Stone wrote:

I don't pay sticker for electric. In the empire of NY you can
negoiate a price with your electric vendor of choice. Not that it
saves alot of money for me.

Out here in Greenie-land one has the choice of several "green"
sources, all at a higher price than "mutt" (mixed) power. I can't
even get what I really want -- in the Umpire State can one
negotiate a residential contract for guaranteed-all-nuclear-generated
power?

I suppose that if my consumption was 1000 MW (one standard
generating unit) I could negotiate same...assuming that they had a
spare unit sitting around offline or they could get the permits and
insurance to build another one (fat chance of that).

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

In article , Steve Stone
writes:

In article , says...

I pay sticker for gasoline and electric power too.

Dave K8MN


I don't pay sticker for electric. In the empire of NY you can negoiate a
price with your
electric vendor of choice. Not that it saves alot of money for me.

Negotiate?

Or do you simply have a choice of providers?

Here in EPA we can choose providers, all of whom have different rate plans. But
there's no negotiation - you pay what the rate plan says.

Is New York different?

73 de Jim, N2EY

In article , "Kim"
writes:

It will be a truly deregulated market when a REP provides "block pricing"
for entire neighborhoods. The more neighbors/streets/blocks that want to be
involved, the better the price. No reason residential markets shouldn't be
able to negotiate price--it just hasn't been done yet (well, at least that I
know of).

That'd be a hoot, Kim! Imagine trying to get a bunch of neighbors to agree on
something like that. Maybe in those McMansion-CC&Rs-out-the-wazoo communities,
tho...

The big joke about all this is that we really don't choose who actually
generates "our" electricity. It's more of a shares type of thing.

And after the mess out on the Left Coast a few summers ago, and now the
revelations of Enron double-dealing, the idea of highly regulated monopoly
utilities looks better and better, in some ways.....

Which reminds me - how come we can't buy group auto insurance?

73 de Jim, N2EY

Steve Stone wrote:

In article , says...

I pay sticker for gasoline and electric power too.

Dave K8MN


I don't pay sticker for electric. In the empire of NY you can negoiate a price with your
electric vendor of choice. Not that it saves alot of money for me.

Buying something from someone else isn't the same as negotiating a
price.
You're simply paying someone else's sticker price. You aren't haggling
with an electric company; you're changing providers.

Dave K8MN

Report On A Local Hamfest

After more than 5 years away from the hamfest scene, I went to the Kimberton,
PA (MARC) hamfest this morning. Last time I was there was 6-7 years ago.

Weather was great - clear and sunny but not humid or hot. Brought a van full of
stuff (mostly parts and ham magazines) to sell and sold a good amount. As is
usual, there was no good way of predicting what would sell and what wouldn't.

Attendance was about the same as I remember from 6-7 years ago. Kimberton is
not a big hamfest, and is not dominated by dealers or computer stuff. Prices
were what I consider reasonable for what was offered. Saw some old friends and
made some new ones. Said "good morning" or "hello" to everyone who visited my
table, and always got a pleasant response. Had some great conversations, too.
No griping, no nasties, no problems.

Main problem with hamfesting (for me) compared to internet selling is the time
investment. Have to spend some hours getting the sell stuff ready, loading the
car, driving there, selling, then loading up what didn't sell and reversing the
process. The time is in big chunks rather than a few minutes here and there If
the weather doesn't cooperate the effort is wasted. Internet prices are
generally higher but you have the packing and shipping work to do.

Now to check when the next 'fest is...

73 de Jim, N2EY

"LA Runabout" wrote in message
...
Often heard comments from hams attending a hamfest:

Where are all the dealers?

1) Most are Out of Business from lack of sales and/or were fed up with
putting up with
exceedingly cheap, dirty minded, odiferous old men. Also the complete
looneys
with the ball-mount antennas on their hard hats, which they used to see
at
each and every hamfest, year after year after year, who last parted
with a
$5 Bill when Jimmy Carter was President.

2) Their now on e-Bay where you can make big $$$ selling
40+ year old tube radios to complete suckers. (errr..radio
collectors)

3) Gave up long ago when they saw the writing-on-the-wall
with 65+ yo hams who still chain smoked and drank
like fish at the VFW or AL Hall and were 2 steps
from the graveyard.

4) Kids have abandoned ham radio a VERY long ago.
Oh sure, some ham's kid will be brow-beaten to get his
to get his license just so the old man can look
good at the club meeting, but sure as glub made
green apples, when the kid (uaually male and white)
turns 13 or 14 and the hormones kick-in, ham radio
goes away and in comes girls and Internet Chat rooms
and music swapping. (Hint: Put a teenager of 2004 in
front of a table with an FT-1000MP on one side and
and Apple Ipod with all accessories on the other and
tell him he can take his choice what he wants. Guess
what electronic goodie will win out in 98.9% of the time
with today's teenagers..?)

How come there are way less dealers this year?

See the above. (Plus it makes VERY GOOD FINANCIAL
SENSE to keep a listing of the hams in your area. When they
finally croak, and this is a sure bet per reason #3 above.)

In most cases their XYL's can't stand their ham radio, their male
ham friends and those goddammed antennas in the back yard !
Keep a list. When the Ham's name is in the Obit Listing in the
newspaper, be ready to pay a visit on successive trash nights
when she may put her dead hubby's radios out on the curb
or sells the radios for peanuts at the springtime yard sale.
Also place a call and offer to clean out all that radio crap a
few weeks after he's planted in Terra Firma! You may strike
a bargain like I did once and pick up pair of TS-850's for
$100.00 - (later re-sold on E-Sucker at considerable profit)

Why don't dealers come to hamfests anymore?

Most of em are too damm old and can't walk up
a flight of stairs at home, let alone a flea market.
Comes from years of smoking cancer-sticks or
smelly pipes. Watch'em drop in QST each month.
(Wayne Green was 100% right on this tobacco issue)

Often heard comments from hams at a hamfest when speaking
to a dealer at a hamfest:

Hey, how come youze guys dont have special hamfest prices?
Your prices are way too high.
Will you take a $100 less for this rig, since we're at a hamfest?
When are youze guys going to bring rigs to hamfests that people
wanna buy?
You guys stink, I can do better through your competitor's catalog.
This rig is scratched, will you take $250 off the marked price?
Hey, tell me about this new rig (takes up 35 mins of salesman's time,
then walks away saying he can get it for less.)

QSL and 10-4 on EVERYTHING you said above.
I've seen and heard it hundreds of time.

Comment Dealer makes when asked by hamfest committee
to set up at a hamfest:
Not worth my time or the expense.

Roger-Roger-Roger! Somebody buy that man a beer! : )

KU2S wrote:

Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.


And that simple fact is lost on so many people.

And sellers... don't forget supply and demand. If you don't sell
anything, you won't make anything, and maybe that's another reason why
some people drop out.




- Mike KB3EIA -

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: KU2S
Date: 7/9/2004 10:27 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.


Not me!...I go to check out the hot babes!

(gurglegurglechokechoke ! ! ! !)


I've actually *seen* some at the last several I've gone to! Real ones,
not the "2:00 am in the bar" babes.... hehe


- Mike KB3EIA -

N2EY wrote:
In article , Dave Heil
writes:


Try walking into a Kroger store and saying, "I'll give you $3.50 for
this pork roast and that's my final offer."

I pay sticker for gasoline and electric power too.


Always wondered why most new consumer goods, from a head of lettuce to the big
ticket items like wide screen TVs, are "price as marked", but a few things like
cars are all about haggling. Except Saturns.

I've had good luck at hamfests by:

- Marking "asking" price on items so people have an idea what I think it's
worth.
- Marking "firm" if the price is not negotiable
- Offering stuff I just want to move as "name your price" or "make offer"

That's the way to do it! Somehow I suspect you don't hate the customer
either, eh?


Of course eBay and the 'net have had a big effect on 'fests. We've essentially
got a worldwide 24/7 hamfest going on, either as an auction or outright sale.
Plus you can toss out "wanted to buy" posts. Only downside is you're dealing at
a distance and the whole packing/shipping/payment/insurance headache.

And getting robbed one way or the other.


Why folks expect to get eBay prices at a hamfest is beyond me, though. If you
want eBay prices, go to eBay.


The bloom is fading from that rose anyway. I did a quick perusal of ham
related equipment, and the prices seemed quite similar to what I would
expect to pay at a flea. There will always be the occasional outrageous
selling price, either on the high or low end, but it looks as if sanity
may be coming home in Ebay.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Harry K wrote:
Not low-end products but low profit margin items.
Did not see anywhere in the original poster's post where he/she had
"an axe to grind." However, you are welcome to your opinion.
And why are you telling the original poster he/she will never be
successful at sales. I see no where in the original post where the
poster claims to be in "sales." Also, please explain the criteria for
predicting success or failure in "sales."


As much as I bust seller's chops, I really liked the original posters
story, be it true or not. It's a good illustration of the
buyer/purchaser relationship.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 7:32 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: KU2S
Date: 7/9/2004 10:27 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.


Not me!...I go to check out the hot babes!

(gurglegurglechokechoke ! ! ! !)

I've actually *seen* some at the last several I've gone to! Real ones,
not the "2:00 am in the bar" babes.... hehe

Imagine the sales at HRO, AES, etc, if we start having "reps" like the
ones you find adorning the cover of some of the automobile specialty mags...! !
!

73

Steve, K4YZ

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 7:32 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: KU2S
Date: 7/9/2004 10:27 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.


Not me!...I go to check out the hot babes!

(gurglegurglechokechoke ! ! ! !)

I've actually *seen* some at the last several I've gone to! Real ones,
not the "2:00 am in the bar" babes.... hehe


Imagine the sales at HRO, AES, etc, if we start having "reps" like the
ones you find adorning the cover of some of the automobile specialty mags...! !


Burghardt has or had a nice young lady working for them (Michelle) that
graced their pages for a while.

- mike KB3EIA -

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 10:18 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Burghardt has or had a nice young lady working for them (Michelle) that
graced their pages for a while.

Oh yeah...Sweater Gal.

I'd like to see the gal who hawks stuff for "Watson's Furniture" in
Nashville at a Hamfest.

73

Steve, K4YZ

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 10:18 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Burghardt has or had a nice young lady working for them (Michelle) that
graced their pages for a while.


Oh yeah...Sweater Gal.

I'd like to see the gal who hawks stuff for "Watson's Furniture" in
Nashville at a Hamfest.


There's also a lady that works at one of the battery booths in Dayton
and other hamfests. Not a YL, but quite easy on the eyes!


HAR! we're sounding like a couple adolescents! No matter.

- Mike KB3EIA -

WA wrote:

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: KU2S
Date: 7/9/2004 10:27 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.


Not me!...I go to check out the hot babes!

(gurglegurglechokechoke ! ! ! !)


I've actually *seen* some at the last several I've gone to! Real ones,
not the "2:00 am in the bar" babes.... hehe


- Mike KB3EIA -




Were they wearing "I Love Hams" buttons?

I think most of them *were* already spoken for, and with Hams already.
One was definitely a ham, and was dragging her husband around. Now that
seemd like role reversal.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 11:49 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 10:18 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Burghardt has or had a nice young lady working for them (Michelle) that
graced their pages for a while.


Oh yeah...Sweater Gal.

I'd like to see the gal who hawks stuff for "Watson's Furniture" in
Nashville at a Hamfest.

There's also a lady that works at one of the battery booths in Dayton
and other hamfests. Not a YL, but quite easy on the eyes!


HAR! we're sounding like a couple adolescents! No matter.

Yes matter! =)

As long as the box isn't nailed shut just quite yet I fully intend to
enjoy all the perks of being a male of the species, including a little "Eyeball
Liberty" from time to time!

73

Steve, K4YZ

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 11:49 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 10:18 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Burghardt has or had a nice young lady working for them (Michelle) that
graced their pages for a while.


Oh yeah...Sweater Gal.

I'd like to see the gal who hawks stuff for "Watson's Furniture" in
Nashville at a Hamfest.

There's also a lady that works at one of the battery booths in Dayton
and other hamfests. Not a YL, but quite easy on the eyes!


HAR! we're sounding like a couple adolescents! No matter.


Yes matter! =)

As long as the box isn't nailed shut just quite yet I fully intend to
enjoy all the perks of being a male of the species, including a little "Eyeball
Liberty" from time to time!

You bet! I told my XYL years ago that when I *stop* looking, its time
for her to be worried!

- Mike KB3EIA -

Mike Coslo wrote in message ...
Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:
Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 10:18 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Burghardt has or had a nice young lady working for them (Michelle) that
graced their pages for a while.


Oh yeah...Sweater Gal.

I'd like to see the gal who hawks stuff for "Watson's Furniture" in
Nashville at a Hamfest.


There's also a lady that works at one of the battery booths in Dayton
and other hamfests. Not a YL, but quite easy on the eyes!


HAR! we're sounding like a couple adolescents! No matter.

- Mike KB3EIA -

There was a looker in the flea market at Dayton a couple of years ago.
She was selling, of all things, a pneumatic tower!

William wrote:

Mike Coslo wrote in message ...

Steve Robeson K4CAP wrote:

Subject: Hams Gripe At Hamfests
From: Mike Coslo
Date: 7/12/2004 10:18 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id:


Burghardt has or had a nice young lady working for them (Michelle) that
graced their pages for a while.


Oh yeah...Sweater Gal.

I'd like to see the gal who hawks stuff for "Watson's Furniture" in
Nashville at a Hamfest.


There's also a lady that works at one of the battery booths in Dayton
and other hamfests. Not a YL, but quite easy on the eyes!


HAR! we're sounding like a couple adolescents! No matter.

- Mike KB3EIA -


There was a looker in the flea market at Dayton a couple of years ago.
She was selling, of all things, a pneumatic tower!

Ohhhh dear! hehe.

- Mike KB3EIA -

My gripe is why the hell do they have to be soooo early on the weekend? The
weekend is my time to relax and sleep in a little bit compared to my
workweek of which I normally have to be up at about 5:30am. If they were to
start at say 10am instead of 7am or 8am like I see most of them start I
might actually go to more of the hamfests....... (since I have to drive at
least 1-3 hours to get to most of them.)

The other gripe is, personal hygiene....... is it really a huge inconvience
for someone to grab a quick shower and toss on a little bit of
antipersperant/deodorant???

Ryan KC8PMX



"Steve Stone" wrote in message
et...

So what you are saying is that hams attending hamfests should buy damaged
radios at list
price ?

Everyone likes a bargain. Everyone likes to make a profit.

Somewhere in between there is a middle ground.

Steve
N2UBP

In article , says...
Often heard comments from hams attending a hamfest:

Where are all the dealers? How come there are way less dealers
this year? Why don't dealers come to hamfests anymore?




Often heard comments from hams at a hamfest when speaking
to a dealer at a hamfest:

Hey, how come youze guys dont have special hamfest prices?
Your prices are way too high.
Will you take a $100 less for this rig, since we're at a hamfest?
When are youze guys going to bring rigs to hamfests that people

Hot babes??? Which hamfests are you going to?? LOL Mostly guys at the
ones I have been to.


Ryan KC8PMX

Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.

Not me!...I go to check out the hot babes!

(gurglegurglechokechoke ! ! ! !)

73

Steve, K4YZ

Hey, I wonder how a hamfest might go if they got a couple dozen REALLY
attractive women to work the hamfest in some capacity or another?? LOL

Ryan KC8PMX


I've actually *seen* some at the last several I've gone to! Real ones,
not the "2:00 am in the bar" babes.... hehe


- Mike KB3EIA -




Were they wearing "I Love Hams" buttons?

I think most of them *were* already spoken for, and with Hams already.
One was definitely a ham, and was dragging her husband around. Now that
seemd like role reversal.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Yeah Mike,

Take the old expression from business school and adapt it: "You can look,
but ya can't touch the merchandise, but who the hell said you cant take
inventory!"

Ryan KC8PMX


You bet! I told my XYL years ago that when I *stop* looking, its time
for her to be worried!

- Mike KB3EIA -

I think a bigger problem is that some hams have absolutely no concept of
depreciation!!!!

I saw lately a ham trying to sell some PC's that were in the 100-200Mhz
range for over 400 bucks! Saw some others trying to sell some transcievers
for about 30 bucks less than they sold for new, BUT the rigs were AT LEAST
15 years old. I can understand that if there are not alot of those rigs out
there, but when there is a ton of a certain model, then the supply/demand
theory goes out the window and doesn't demand such a high price.......

Ryan KC8PMX


"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...
KU2S wrote:

Besides... If we wanted to pay retail, we'd just go mail order.
Hamfests are where one goes to look for a bargain.


And that simple fact is lost on so many people.

And sellers... don't forget supply and demand. If you don't sell
anything, you won't make anything, and maybe that's another reason why
some people drop out.




- Mike KB3EIA -

Well Jim, at the hamfests within our local area/state it seems to be a TON
of junk, and not too much in the way of decent stuff from the past 10-15
years which is what I am looking for. It seems more like packrat mentality
types finally trying to get rid of stuff from 20-30 years ago. Do I really
need a damned Commodore 64 computer? I guess one mans junk is another mans
prize..... My impression is that hamfests are the equivalent of a a
yard/garage/rummage sale but for ham radio people. (private sellers, not
dealers that is)

Ryan KC8PMX





Why folks expect to get eBay prices at a hamfest is beyond me, though. If
you
want eBay prices, go to eBay.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Why not create some type of organization legally recognized as some type of
a corporation or whatever might be close to that and get FLEET insurance??
:) :) :)

Ryan KC8PMX



Which reminds me - how come we can't buy group auto insurance?

73 de Jim, N2EY

Ryan, KC8PMX wrote:
My gripe is why the hell do they have to be soooo early on the weekend? The
weekend is my time to relax and sleep in a little bit compared to my
workweek of which I normally have to be up at about 5:30am. If they were to
start at say 10am instead of 7am or 8am like I see most of them start I
might actually go to more of the hamfests....... (since I have to drive at
least 1-3 hours to get to most of them.)


Good point, Ryan. It seems that the pressure to get the "great deal"
gets people coming out earlier and earlier. So many of the sellers
accommodate. But it is now at the point that its ridiculous. I've seen
sellers closing up shop at 10:00 a.m., and many shut down before noon.

If I ran a hamfest, I *would* start it later. Sellers just might find
some more business.



The other gripe is, personal hygiene....... is it really a huge inconvience
for someone to grab a quick shower and toss on a little bit of
antipersperant/deodorant???

How do you know that everyone stinks if you don't go to them?

At Dayton this year, I recall one person that wasn't morning fresh.

At Rochester, I didn't notice anyone.

At Butler, the same.

At the fest near Scranton PA, there was one person that didn't quite
meet sanitation standards - well okay, he actually really really stunk.

No doubt there were some others, but it's an awfully small percentage.

But you can run into that sort of thing at any flea market, be it Ham
or otherwise.


- Mike KB3EIA -

"Ryan, KC8PMX" wrote in message
...
My gripe is why the hell do they have to be soooo early on the weekend?
The
weekend is my time to relax and sleep in a little bit compared to my
workweek of which I normally have to be up at about 5:30am. If they were
to
start at say 10am instead of 7am or 8am like I see most of them start I
might actually go to more of the hamfests....... (since I have to drive
at
least 1-3 hours to get to most of them.)

The other gripe is, personal hygiene....... is it really a huge
inconvience
for someone to grab a quick shower and toss on a little bit of
antipersperant/deodorant???

Ryan KC8PMX

Remember that many of the vendors may have a very long drive home and so
have to be out of there by 1pm or so. Besides there is nothing stopping you
from coming in at 10am instead of first thing in the morning. In the
private sales, prices are starting to drop by then anyway.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Ryan, KC8PMX" wrote in message
...
I think a bigger problem is that some hams have absolutely no concept of
depreciation!!!!

I saw lately a ham trying to sell some PC's that were in the 100-200Mhz
range for over 400 bucks! Saw some others trying to sell some
transcievers
for about 30 bucks less than they sold for new, BUT the rigs were AT LEAST
15 years old. I can understand that if there are not alot of those rigs
out
there, but when there is a ton of a certain model, then the supply/demand
theory goes out the window and doesn't demand such a high price.......

Ryan KC8PMX


I note that you said "trying to sell." I bet they were still sitting on the
table at the end of the day. Hamfests are poor places to get that high a
price out of the equipment as the prospective buyer merely needs to go
"across the aisle" so to speak to get a new one at very little more.

Price dropping when there is a glut is certainly part of the supply & demand
principle.

Low supply + low demand = medium price
Low supply + high demand = high price
High supply + low demand = low price
High supply + high demand = medium price

However anyone trying to sell a typical 14 year old radio who is trying to
get nearly new price will wait a long time. The most I will ever pay for
used gear, except under very special circumstances, is 1/2 to 2/3 the new
price. If they won't sell for that, I'll buy new and get a warranty.

Dee D. Flint,