03-23-2010, 01:25 PM
This was my blog entry on this topic from way back in 2007 at the other forum.
I'm getting tired of train shows. Want to know why? Read on.
I recently attended a Great Train Expo in Ridgefield, WA, at the Clark County Expo Center. Parking was $5, and admission $9. And once you were inside it was another $3 to let your kiddo bounce in the inflatable train bouncehouse. Outside there was a neat gas-powered train on rubber tires for parents and kids for $3.50.
We rode the train, and my 3-year old was not scarred for life by not getting to go in the bounce house. I told him "It's the principle of the thing, kid." and "You'll understand someday." A quick diversion away from the bounce house and he was happy looking at something else.
Then there are the dealers. I did buy a kit for myself and my son helped me pick out another 1:20.3 car for our Xmas tree train. He's got a good eye, as he picked a Bachmann Big-Hauler Emmett Kelley Jr. Circus Combine. It looks splendid behind our ET&WNC livery ten wheeler and matching combine.
But I refrained from making other purchases, even though they were great deals I would have loved to have had. Why? Because the dealers themselves looked like they slept in their van the night before and hadn't shaved in a long time. Or, they were making disparaging comments about products to folks who I could tell were newbies to the hobby by their questions. Well, potentially newbies, if said dealers didn't scare them off.
The dealers I did support were nicely dressed, clean and presentable. They weren't loudmouths and they were courteous, almost to a fault. One was a hobby shop owner in Camas. When I paid, he invited me to stop in the store if I'm ever down that way. I certainly will if I ever am. They paid money to exhibit at that show, and I paid money to get in. We'd better have a good interaction to make it worth both our dollars and time.
And their displays were well lit, well organized, and even their used merchandise well displayed. Versus other dealers with the typical assortment of tyco, etc. (with a few hidden gems within, if you know what you're looking for...a minefield for a newbie, goldmine for the experienced modeler) sprawled out on a folding table.
Oh but wait, there's more! In part II, I'll discuss the layouts.
Galen
I'm getting tired of train shows. Want to know why? Read on.
I recently attended a Great Train Expo in Ridgefield, WA, at the Clark County Expo Center. Parking was $5, and admission $9. And once you were inside it was another $3 to let your kiddo bounce in the inflatable train bouncehouse. Outside there was a neat gas-powered train on rubber tires for parents and kids for $3.50.
We rode the train, and my 3-year old was not scarred for life by not getting to go in the bounce house. I told him "It's the principle of the thing, kid." and "You'll understand someday." A quick diversion away from the bounce house and he was happy looking at something else.
Then there are the dealers. I did buy a kit for myself and my son helped me pick out another 1:20.3 car for our Xmas tree train. He's got a good eye, as he picked a Bachmann Big-Hauler Emmett Kelley Jr. Circus Combine. It looks splendid behind our ET&WNC livery ten wheeler and matching combine.
But I refrained from making other purchases, even though they were great deals I would have loved to have had. Why? Because the dealers themselves looked like they slept in their van the night before and hadn't shaved in a long time. Or, they were making disparaging comments about products to folks who I could tell were newbies to the hobby by their questions. Well, potentially newbies, if said dealers didn't scare them off.
The dealers I did support were nicely dressed, clean and presentable. They weren't loudmouths and they were courteous, almost to a fault. One was a hobby shop owner in Camas. When I paid, he invited me to stop in the store if I'm ever down that way. I certainly will if I ever am. They paid money to exhibit at that show, and I paid money to get in. We'd better have a good interaction to make it worth both our dollars and time.
And their displays were well lit, well organized, and even their used merchandise well displayed. Versus other dealers with the typical assortment of tyco, etc. (with a few hidden gems within, if you know what you're looking for...a minefield for a newbie, goldmine for the experienced modeler) sprawled out on a folding table.
Oh but wait, there's more! In part II, I'll discuss the layouts.
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!