I've just spent two days at Hershey-first time I ever got to see both the vendors and the show. My experiences parallel the usual report. On Friday, I thought there were more vendors than ever-seemed to stretch behind the stadium as well as back behind the Giant Center. Almost every spot was full, I thought the crowd was good, but friends who were there selling said sales were light. This tends to mirror their reports from Englishtown and Carlisle, too. I bought stuff, but no more than usual. Here's what I don't get: It was absolutely beautiful weather:clear blue skies and 70. If you've been to Hershey,you know this NEVER happens. And, as always, there was a lot of harping on how the antique car business is ending with all the old dudes and how we need to get the young kids involved-"take a kid to a car show" yadayada. So why, on a beautiful weekend, were 90% of the vendors packing up by 10AM Saturday? Saturday's crowd was decidedly younger, lots more kids, lots more families. But it really wasn't representative to have to walk down aisles where most people were closing up and big spaces were in between open vendors. I heard Dennis Carpenter and some other biggies packed up and sneaked out on Friday night. Now I know that if you've been on the road for three weeks with E-town and Carlisle you want to go home and I know that the judged cars-which were spectacular!- are only there Saturday afternoon, but I think these guys collectively need to focus on keeping a full shopping experience for the entire show-either that or decrease the price of parking the last day. Still, with parking $10 and no admission it's probably the best deal around for a show. The judged cars were truly works of art and magnificient machines. And there were a dozen older race cars which were pretty special as well as a $850K and a pile of Bentley parts up for auction which did not sell for $165000. The auction, as always was dull-25 rich folks bidding-half or more cars not selling and amazingly, considering this was a big name auction service, the auctioneers were surprisingluy dull-everything was worth twice as much as bid. Their info was spotty-"California car" then with a "Florida registration",etc. It wasn't the staid English variety or the rousing country variety just plodding. Anyway, I had a blast. Met a few HAMB guys, never did find Megan-where were you?- and eventually made it home to sort my stuff,accept that winter's here and start to do winterize the house.
I agree with you. I was there friday and there were people packing up by noon. I guess I'll have to start going the first day. One fellow we talked to that was selling there said he had more people going thru his dollar pile than his high ticket stuff. Ya think if you want to sell some things you would lower your prices just a little to at least stimulate the buyer some. I did see some good deals though not a whole lot of parts for my car, still looking for that elusive set of headlight buckets for a 40 mopar,lol. later shawn
I recently saw the exact same pattern at smaller midwestern swap meets. We sold the sh*t out of under-$100 items and couldn't move $500 parts marked at $250. Sign of the times!
I arrived in my swap meet spot at High Noon Tuesday bought and sold very well until mid afternoon Friday and started packing the unsold stuff. Had it all knocked down and on the road home by 4 Saturday. The 5 dollar pile became a larger 1 dollar pile, and there is a small scrap pile for Tuesday. Had a great time, next year is 40 in a row if I make it. Unloading and restocking the leftovers as I type this, didn't buy any keepers, but there was lots of under priced items Tuesday and early Wednesday.
It was nice to meet you however briefly. I think your HAMB sign-in was a great idea. I usually attend Wedsday and Thursday each year. My old fart legs can't go any farther.
most of the vendors are there from tuesday.. by friday I'd want to be home too. 37 kid.. I was by your place twice and you werent there.. sorry I missed you again.. sawzall
Thats weird.... I think 37 kid was following me, hahahaa. I'll be back with some hi lights, gotta get some stuff done in garage. Be back later...
As a "Younger" Hamber in my early 30's.... I'm shocked. Been going to Hershey my whole with my dad, now that I don't live in UPstate NY anymore I meet him at Erie and we drive down together. What shocks me, is that if the vendors don't make sales they leave, stating they're better off staying at home and selling on ebay.... Part of this "hobby" is the swap meet. That's where stories come from (weather true or "enhanced") I feel that when paying for a booth you've already invested the cash for the weekend you might as well stay. And besides, its hard to get off of work that many days to go to that show and pay for a hotel etc etc...I think most of the crowd is there Saturday....yikes.... oh-well
Yeah, I get the exhaustion part, but yes the spot's already an expense,so why not utilize it? Plus those of us still working-ie not over 65 and not Euro car guys-have trouble taking off during the week. Saturday is when that large crowd can come,so why not try to attract their business? The other difference I noted from Carlisle is how few non-Caucasion vendors and visitors there are at Hershey. Given the diversity of our country and our passion,there's a whole huge segment of the car loving, money spending world being ignored by AACA. One more funny thing. I saw probably two dozen or more vendors advertising for the hotrod crowd including signs that cars/bodies should be made into the next great rat rod! OMG! Do they really think that BBC manifolds with two 4 barrels are really just going to restore old muscle cars? Or that Honest Charley andothers are refusing to sell to street rodders? But, it's their show and I just go to have a good time. So I do.
I have sold at swap meets for many years. I have had spots at Carlisle and at Hershey in the past. Now I just do Charlotte AutoFair in the spring. Saturday is alwaya low sales day. Yes, the crowds are larger but they are mainly just lookers. The R E A L parts buyers were there on the 1st and 2nd days. Sunday sales ( the last day of the meet ) at Charlotte will not even buy lunch as a general rule. The crowd comes in around 9 to 10 but is gone by 1 o'clock. If you are selling " impulse buy " items like wax, hat pins or trinkets ... Saturday and Sunday can be good sales days ... but for real car parts ... the first and second days are always the best. Or at least that has been my experiences
I spent Wednesday at Hershey, walking my ass off from 7:30am to 4:00 in the afternoon, and found several good items for cheap prices--much better than last year, for me anyway. My theory has always been to go early on; for all of the neat shit I found, and all of the other good shit I saw others running off with, I can't imagine much of the sort being left by Friday.
I think they forget about the "working man" not all of us make 6 figure saleries and can afford to take off early or have the time because of family obligations. I can understand the "lookers" alot of people want to get the most out of there money and refrain from an impulse buy because there might be a better part or better price somewhere else and besides how many Model A's and T's does someone need to restore. I swear thats all I seen down there. I have one project and thats all I'm buying for at the time. Maybe my outlook would be different if I was a seller and not the buyer. later shawn
My best selling days are always Tues, Wed and Friday. Don't know what happens to Thursdays. We were set up in the Orange field on the way to the car show Sat, and I only sold $2 worth of stuff. Packed it up and left around 1:30 after a quick walk through the car show. Most of what I sold was under 20 dollar items. Did sell a lot more than I thought after I counted it all up though. Only bought a half dozen small items for myself and a couple friends. Did anyone check out the home built boat tail Packard made with a real aluminum boat in the car corral?
I have been going to Hershey for something like 23 years now. When I first started going almost the entire flea market was on grass/dirt/mud, with the exception of a small part of the old airstrip. Just like now, you found the best stuff earlier in the week. Just like now, if you tried to bring a modified car into the car corral you ran the risk of getting booted. To me it seems like the only thing that's changed (besides the crowd being a LOT older) is that we don't fear rain as much as we used to. If the skies open up you'll at least be able to drive off the field without the help of a bucketloader with a chain. Hershey's always had some odd rules. It's that AACA region's party and they can ultimately do what they like...from their idiotic double standard about golf carts and other vehicles to the way they lay out and number some of the fields, there are some things that sane people might do differently if they were putting it on. But ultimately it's worth the trade off. Not once in the two decades that I've been going have I ever said (or heard anyone I go there with or know there) the words "Screw this, this is the last time I'm coming here." As far as vendors packing up early, there are a variety of reasons. I used to go and stay all the way through the show on Saturday...haven't done that in years...this year and last year I was there from Tuesday to mid day on Thursday and had walked every field at least twice in that time. Three years ago I flew down and was there for only a day, walked every field, and found and bought more great stuff than I ever had any other year. Hershey's special enough that you make time for it, no matter what else is going on in your life. If you're looking for things and you can only make it on Saturday (or Friday or Thursday, etc.) then you're going to miss out for a variety of reasons. We walked a few of the fields on Tuesday which is setup day and even that early you have this sense of dread that you may have missed something good already. Proof? Tuesday afternoon, 2:30 pm, we saw this interesting little item: And it already had this written on it: Cris
I saw that when we were walking thru on the way to the truck to leave. Did you see the price they were asking for it? $28,000, I was lmao.later shawn
I bought some crap for my next project, Im tired of people complaining about the "young" crowd not getting involved in this hobby. Honestly being 19 years old and only making 9 bucks an hour I highly believe that the high prices on old shitty parts are turning away the young crowd of kids. Dont get me wrong there are still deals out there but seems like everythings gold to the old people. They also have no means of caring if they sell the parts or not. You ask a guy if will take alittle less for his hubcaps or something he thinks that your a cheap ass. Though on the other hand if he was buying it from you he would want it for nothing.
2008 Hershey was the best in the last couple years. Tons of cool hot rod stuff on the cheap. Saw two full race V-8 60's (one with a correct V8-60 H-C mag) go for under $1K. I bought some NOS Fenton heads for almost 1/2 of new Offy heads. Great weather and great people. I bought the heads from a HAMB'er and another HAMB'er came up and it wound up being someone I was PM'ing over some stuff. Hershey is truly a small world of old car people. This was my 29th year and I'm only 36. Will be going again for sure next year. May bring my 6 year old son for one of the days as well. Get some years under his belt.
Cris.... said it all right. I miss the grass and mud....but wouldn't trade Hershey for my birthday, X-mas, or even sex with two girls at once. It is hands down my favorite place on earth... so far. I've been up and down the East Coast, Bakersfield which is pretty killer, a few other places on the West Coast, a few in between, and alot of Europe.... and nothing beats Hershey for me. It is what it is.... dont like it, dont go. I'm awful glad street rods don't get in, radials don't belong on hot rods anyway. Keep em out... few will get it, and most would ruin it! Facts! I had the pleasure of meeting a few hot rodders this week finally. 37 Kid...great guy. Bought a baby I beam and split bones off him for a future soap box derby car... for the kid I don't have. Ran into him all weekend... see ya next year. Zach, SUHR... I talk with Zach all the time... but finally got to shake hands. I met Clark or Larry, still not sure which... hahaha. I 1st noticed him, he was talking to a gent. So I asked his buddy which one he was... friend replied the fat one is Larry. So I said hello Clark....pleasure to finally meet you. Then later in the conversation I believe he referred to Clark.... so I'm still not sure whom I talked with. Either way, he was way cool. Jetmek... walked for three days with him, great times. Nobody's hero and me never miss it! We fight over 81's and 4 banger parts....but thats half the fun. We always walk away with giant smiles from the goodies we got for those cold winter projects. Thanks God for Hershey... and fireplaces in the garage!!! Thanks for the ride home in your super sweet trailer Dirty Petcock. Also a great pal of mine. My parts all got home safely! By the way....your Petcock seems clean? I found everything I went looking for... everything. I got a spare pair of 40 backing plates...perfect...25 beans. An amazing 37 tube axle for the Belly Tank/4 banger project. The 37 tube seemed to be a difficult piece for this project to find for me.... found it my 1st day at Hershey. I was there early Tuesday on the prowl... I also got some large aluminum wheel covers for the Belly as well... 4 for 50 beans... Cloth wires for the 32, hood straps, 35 Ford mecahnical drums(nos). 40 Ford spring already shaved for a 32 crossmember... The last of the parts I needed for my 32 project. Thanks Hershey! Thanks to the boring old cranky non street rod people that gave me lots of swell info for my hot rod future. If you dig early hot roddding... and draw and influence from 1910 to 1940, these are the gents to speak with, and the place to be! Great times, many laughs, great buys, soar feet... See you next year!
Don't be fooled by the current hot rod craze and old timers talking about the days of nearly free parts, quality parts have always been expensive. 20 years ago I felt the exact same as you. How the hell can anyone build a decent car on 3 bucks an hour??? Answer- for the most part, you can't. Seek out some kind of education or skilled trade to bump your earnings, otherwise be prepared to scrimp and scrounge for the rest of your life stringing together whatever's cheap, instead of what you want. Hot rodding is, and always has been, a game of haves, and have nots. Some of the have nots work REALLY hard to build cars like the haves, but it's always at the expense of another aspect of their life. good luck
Damn, I must have made a real big impression on you...you dont even remember it was me!! "the Fat One"
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the future of our hobby, cool guy, respectfull, fully aware of automotive history and the people who made it. That is why older guys like me sell stuff at cost to you and others that share your outlook. I feel so much better now after reading the 7 page rant by the new guy with the Street Rod that was rightfully kicked out of the Car Corral. See you next year! Thanks for some more great Hershey memories.
I have been selling at Hershey for many years! Most of your sales are wed, thur and friday. I used to sell on sat and it was a waste of time! If you were set up right by the show it might be different. I am in the Red Field people just walk by...
"THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the future of our hobby, cool guy, respectfull, fully aware of automotive history and the people who made it. That is why older guys like me sell stuff at cost to you and others that share your outlook. I feel so much better now..." 37 Kid 37 Kid: I wasn't there on Friday and missed the get together at the race cars (was that the plan). I love your attitude. I'm 36 and have been helped out by many fellows that have more years in this hobby. I've learned from this attitude and try to pass it along. Looking forward to next year. Only 361 days to go!
after all the tech posts on here about saving some really grundgy steel... making silk purses from scrap piles... ... maybe the perfect gennie stuff is starting to show the signs of being overpriced and to good to cut up for hotrodz
In the 26 years I've been alive i have been at hershey 27 (mom walked me around haha) with the exception of a year or two while in college... I totally miss my family's old spaces on the Green Field prior to the giant center and the asphalt... We were located near the east side of the field at the top of the hill above "the dip" and it was always a blast growing up and watching the vehicles spin up hill in the mud... But this year brought back those old days! I'd say that I saw a lot more vendors sticking around on Saturday than normal... and the regular vendors seemed to be moving things alright... My buy of the show was a perfect, non-rusted out original paint Model A sedan door with no glass but all other hardware.. $10~! gotta love hershey!
Hahahaaaaa. Larry, ok... I got it. Glad to meet you man... real nice talking to you. I'll look you up next time I head towards Pa. Look forward to meeting Clark as well... 37 Kid.... your not that old. Hahahaaaa...
Take a look at the car thrown out of the corral (in the "nightmare thread). Tell me what you think. I am just curious!
I don't pull down a six figure salary (not even close), but I don't find it impossible to take a vacation day in the middle of the week so as to not miss the deals at a swap meet the magnitude of Hershey. The dates of next year's meet are published currently, so it's not like you can't give plenty of notice of your intentions to your employer.
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