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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Swap Meet feedback: vendor early access
by Ethan O'Toole 03 Mar '22

03 Mar '22

What is it that you missed out on? If you mention what you are looking for ... amazing things happen. > [NON-Text Body part not included]

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Swap Meet feedback: vendor early access
by Ian Primus 03 Mar '22

03 Mar '22

I'm having a hard time understanding what you want. It sounds like you want to have early access to the show. Which you can do - all you have to do is pay the vendor admission fee. You chose not to. This is simply how swap meets and hamfests work. I can understand the frustration, not getting a chance at something, or seeing someone else walking off with something you wanted to buy, but, that's just how sales of anything work. You can't not allow vendors to have early access to buying stuff from each other, because, well... they have to be in there early in order to set up. Not to mention, most of the sellers already know each other. Many trades and sales were worked out days ago. One source of frustration that I see a simple solution to, is how many sales happened before the show, privately, via email, based on uploaded spreadsheets and lists of things vendors were going to bring for sale. Sure, it's frustrating if you're not checking the spreadsheets regularly, and miss out that way - but what's worse is when the item in question is physically at the show, there at a table as if it's out for sale, with no way of knowing that it's already been sold. I know at least one person that stood at a vendor's table for an hour, waiting for the vendor to return, trying to buy an item, only to find that it had been sold days before. Simple solution to this. If something is sold, either don't bring it in to your table, or put a SOLD sign on it. It should be easily clear to anyone walking around if an item is available or not. You can't pretend you can block presales, vendor to vendor sales before the event, etc. It just needs to be done in such a way as to not mislead other buyers. -Ian On Wed, Mar 2, 2022 at 4:03 PM skogkatt007--- via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > Nothing in your response changes the fact that sellers are granted exclusive early access. There is no way that can be called fair, regardless of what is done wherever else. > > I was going to stay out.of this conversation. But upon hearing repeatedly how vendors should own the whole show, And then there was those who brag about reselling items found the very same day at a significant markup. I just couldn't keep silent. Don't get me wrong most of the vendors I dealt with were fair and respectable. There is no way to prevent every instance of impropriety. But you don't have to lay out the red carpet for those simply looking to gouge. I guess I'm not supposed to use words like that. > Oh and this is not about "money", mine or someone else's. Nor is it about "anger". I did leave the show a little angry, still am. I'm actually grieving at this point. I passed up 2 items, 1 was free, the other was 20$ and didn't work. Maybe neither did. It wasn't that I could have made a killing on either. I just wanted them. > > > On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 02:39:50 PM EST, Dean Notarnicola <dnotarnicola(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > “One person’s trash is another’s treasure” holds true here. What one may consider a golden discovery may have been overlooked by many others. I was finding things I wanted well into the swap meet. > Speaking strictly for myself, my three tables were not nearly enough space to display all I had for sale, so it came out in batches over the course of the morning. Persistence was rewarded for those who came back for second or third looks. > > > On Wed, Mar 2, 2022 at 2:25 PM skogkatt007--- via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > I was not exhibiting anger, but a measure of frustration at continually hearing how vendors are the whole show. I had a reasonably good time at this show, more so the last albeit. > > There's nothing wrong with suggesting the rules be made more fair. Feedback was requested and provided. If ⁴4people want to pretend that something less then a gushing review constitutes anger, that's their business. > On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 02:09:17 PM EST, Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > skogkatt007 at yahoo.com skogkatt007 at yahoo.com > > Wed Mar 2 11:19:11 UTC 2022 > > A lot of anger in that response. It's fact of experience, that some > people will be angry about money; theirs or someone else's. > > This poster, myself, and others, have suggested a number of rules > followed by various organizations at various times. To me that makes a > point, that there's not a single classic solution to these matters of > what is sold when to whom, or who is charged for access to these events. > > Resolutions and rules won't please everyone; and as pointed out, rules > can be circumvented. Practices and rules state an intention, and > intentions are half the battle. The rest is up to individuals, as they > act or not. > > That's what I draw from the discussion. > > Regards, Herb Johnson > > > -- > Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA > http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net > preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing > email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com > or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net > > >

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Survey Results of Swap Meet 2022 Feb
by Jeffrey Brace 03 Mar '22

03 Mar '22

So Rick Lewis our newest volunteer to join our group asked to help do a survey for the swap meet. It was simple, and not necessarily comprehensive, but has some useful information. He wants to help me develop more surveys to help me plan, organize and focus the events that we organize. This was our first attempt, so it is a good start. Here's the results of the survey at the swap meet on 25 Feb 2022: 50 participants were asked two questions at the entrances to the swap meet rooms - all attendees, no vendors. Q1. Have you been to a VCF swap meet before? [ Y/N ] Q2. How did you find out about this swap meet? Results: - The majority (70%) were first-time attendees, having not been to a previous swap meet. - The *VCF Website* (38%) was the greatest source of knowledge about the swap meet by a factor of nearly 3 times more than the second source (*Other; From a Friend*) at 14%. - 12% knew about the event from the amateur radio club, matching the number who heard about it from social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) - The VCF Flyer (0%) and the VCF Mid-Atlantic List were not productive sources. Complete data can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1n0s7OGtICCW6gEcztPRX-IYho_cuDKfV/ed… ========================================= Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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Wait all these guys from Commodore are coming?
by Christian Liendo 02 Mar '22

02 Mar '22

If I read this correctly https://vcfed.org/wp/events/vintage-computer-festival-east/vcf-east-schedul… We are going to have Bil Herd, Dave Haynie, Andy Finkel, Al Charpentier, Benny Pruden, Bob Russell, Neil Harris and Joe Myshko!?! First of all this is great, second we need to be telling people about this. I'm glad I hot my hotel stuff done

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Swap Meet feedback: vendor early access
by W2HX 02 Mar '22

02 Mar '22

My 2c... I was not at the swap meet, but I can give some insight into the hundreds of hamfests I've been to (take it or leave it as to the applicability of these experiences). First, they all charge entrance fees even for buyers. It can be modest, but they all do it. This is, after all, a swap meet. If it was just an educational exhibit and you want to encourage attendance from non-vintage computing visitors, then I can see the value in free attendance. But this is for like-minded people to buy and sell stuff, so I would consider a nominal entrance fee for buyers as well. Second, in the world of hamfests, the people who buy tables (sellers) get first crack at the booty. Period. Some hamfests "discourage" trading before the gates open, but it always happens. There was a period in my life when I was a net buyer of stuff and I wanted the choicest items. For myself and my friends, if we wanted access to the good stuff, we bought our own vendor pass and entered early with the other vendors, even when we weren't selling anything. Others at these hamfests are not in a rush to buy the choicest items (the current period of my life) and so we're happy to come in with all the other buyers. Bottom line: Want access to the best stuff? Pony up the extra dough for a vendor ticket and join the party. Don't care about the best stuff and are happy with whatever stuff is still available? Come in with all the buyers. Either way, it will help raise additional money for the club when most clubs can definitely use the extra money. 2c (now worth 1c for inflation) 73 Eugene W2HX Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/w2hx-channel/videos

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Swap Meet feedback: vendor early access
by Dean Notarnicola 02 Mar '22

02 Mar '22

“One person’s trash is another’s treasure” holds true here. What one may consider a golden discovery may have been overlooked by many others. I was finding things I wanted well into the swap meet. Speaking strictly for myself, my three tables were not nearly enough space to display all I had for sale, so it came out in batches over the course of the morning. Persistence was rewarded for those who came back for second or third looks. On Wed, Mar 2, 2022 at 2:25 PM skogkatt007--- via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > I was not exhibiting anger, but a measure of frustration at continually > hearing how vendors are the whole show. I had a reasonably good time at > this show, more so the last albeit. > > There's nothing wrong with suggesting the rules be made more fair. > Feedback was requested and provided. If ⁴4people want to pretend that > something less then a gushing review constitutes anger, that's their > business. > On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 02:09:17 PM EST, Herb Johnson via > vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > skogkatt007 at yahoo.com skogkatt007 at yahoo.com > > Wed Mar 2 11:19:11 UTC 2022 > > A lot of anger in that response. It's fact of experience, that some > people will be angry about money; theirs or someone else's. > > This poster, myself, and others, have suggested a number of rules > followed by various organizations at various times. To me that makes a > point, that there's not a single classic solution to these matters of > what is sold when to whom, or who is charged for access to these events. > > Resolutions and rules won't please everyone; and as pointed out, rules > can be circumvented. Practices and rules state an intention, and > intentions are half the battle. The rest is up to individuals, as they > act or not. > > That's what I draw from the discussion. > > Regards, Herb Johnson > > > -- > Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA > http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net > preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing > email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com > or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net > >

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Swap Meet feedback: vendor early access
by Herb Johnson 02 Mar '22

02 Mar '22

> skogkatt007 at yahoo.com skogkatt007 at yahoo.com > Wed Mar 2 11:19:11 UTC 2022 A lot of anger in that response. It's fact of experience, that some people will be angry about money; theirs or someone else's. This poster, myself, and others, have suggested a number of rules followed by various organizations at various times. To me that makes a point, that there's not a single classic solution to these matters of what is sold when to whom, or who is charged for access to these events. Resolutions and rules won't please everyone; and as pointed out, rules can be circumvented. Practices and rules state an intention, and intentions are half the battle. The rest is up to individuals, as they act or not. That's what I draw from the discussion. Regards, Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net

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Is Anyone in Need of an Emulex UC-07 qbus SCSI Controller?
by Alexander Jacocks 02 Mar '22

02 Mar '22

I'm thinking of buying an Emulex UC-07 for my PDP-11, and would like to try to make a volume deal. Does anyone else want one? - Alex

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Swap Meet feedback: entrance/admission fee
by Jeffrey Jonas 02 Mar '22

02 Mar '22

Replying to Sentrytv: > One of the best ideas that you guys had > was not requiring an entrance fee for the buyers. Once upon a time, there were computer shows run by promoters such as Ken Gordon, Tri-State and Peter Trapp. Everyone paid: vendors and attendees, although discount cards were available. Infoage has been very benevolent with low fees (so far) so like those TV commercials "we pass the savings ONTO YOU!" -- jeffj

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Swap Meet feedback: vendor early access
by Jeffrey Jonas 02 Mar '22

02 Mar '22

Replying to Adam Michlin: > To my mind, the event is nothing without the vendors > and a perk of being a vendor should be > having early access to other vendors Thank you for stating that so eloquently. At other events, I volunteered to staff a maker space's table, load and unload, etc. Early access was the perk that made it all worthwhile, thus freeing me to focus on supporting the event during "open hours". > especially since we want vendors manning their table > during open to public hours. Agreed. > Whatever "official" hours we post, > there will always be "unofficial" hours ... > So early vendor to vendor access at 7am > and general public access at 8am > seems to be the worst option > except for all those other options > that have been tried from time to time > (with apologies to Churchill). There's the letter of the law and then there's the intention of the law. There are always ways to circumvent any attempt of "fair access". One place had the rule "no SALES until opening time", so everyone quietly and politely set things aside, reserving items for other vendors until the opening bell. -- jeffj

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