We went to the fall swap meet in Hershey for the first time in 2019 and had a blast. I picked up a bunch of parts for my '38 Chevy and we're planning on going back this October (already got time off from work, rented a vrbo, etc). What I'm looking for is some feedback from long time vendors on how busy / good they think it will be this year. I know no one has a crystal ball but I'm concerned about potentially lower vendor turnout with the current fuel prices and coming out of the last rough couple of years. I'm psyched about coming but don't want to show up and find a half empty event. Please and thanks in advance for your input!
Spike, A couple points having been there 2021: 1) there were not as many vendors as folks from Canada could not come and some great vendors originate there. Travel restrictions play a large part in this. 2) there were very few people as customers from outside the US for similar reasons 3) there was still a lot of merchandise there and I left happy from a customer standpoint 4) the event moves one day closer this year so not sure how that effects the dynamics as this will be new 5) everybody getting older and possible pool of vendors is somewhat diminished due to age etc. 6) there is long-standing tradition with attending that may counter the cost of gas etc for many who see this event as a social wonder as well as a parts exchange. All this being said, I still believe the part you are looking for is at Hershey. You just need to be able to spot it and move on it before someone else.
.It would help if we knew where you were. If you're in Oregon or Japan you might think twice about coming. If you are East of the Mississippi, come on back to Hershey.
A few more details. For 2022, set up day will be Monday. Fall Carlisle will wrap up the preceding Saturday, so many vendors will double up and sell at both. Plan on leaving Friday afternoon; it will go back to being a parking lot Saturday morning. The Canadians will be back in droves. Sales in 2021, despite lack of Canadians and Europeans, were incredibly brisk. If you don’t come to Hershey, you’ll just sit at home and wish you had!
I have just about wrote off this summer of swap meets. Gas just went to $5.25 a gal. in my home town and motels are getting crazy not to mention the price of swap spaces. Sometimes you have to think, is the juice worth the squeeze.
As bad as you think things may be, they will be worse if we don't support the events. If you can't go to many shows / swap meets, at least support those that you can. We live in Pennsylvania now, down from Connecticut 4 1/2 years ago. We still go back to Connecticut for "The Fall Out " in October. It is a 5 1/2 hour drive on a good day, but we get to spend time with people that we miss and only see once or twice a year. Yes, things are more expensive, but I am 81 years old, my wife is 73 years old, and we will keep doing this as long as we can. Enjoy life, be thankful.
I hit around twenty swap meets a year, and if I were forced to give all of them up except for one, I'd be going to Hershey. I see things there that I see nowhere else. I feel fortunate that it's only a 210 mile drive for me. I've got space there and camp in the back of my truck for a couple days, so motel rates are a nonissue for me. I've also got good neighbors who are fun to interact with, and they even invite me to partake of their nighttime meals. This year's revised schedule doesn't bother me; I'll adapt.
The Jalopy Journal
