Swap Meet feedback: How did it go?
Just looking for feedback from everyone. What went well? What can be improved? Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message. Thanks! ========================================= 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@vcfed.org
Thanks for running it - i was super-happy to be there and do shopping. Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any hamfest, swapfest, etc. 95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte public arrives. I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!' gear was enormous. Too many buyers, too little gear maybe? I don't really have a fix for this. Perhaps a chunk of it is post-pandemic "YAY we can start doing this again!" enthusiasm. On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 10:58 AM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Just looking for feedback from everyone.
What went well?
What can be improved?
Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message.
Thanks!
========================================= 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@vcfed.org
-- Dave Shevett shevett@pobox.com
Correct me if I’m wrong, but are you talking about all the “bargain hunters” who are looking for deals prior to the actual event time? ( I could use other words to describe these people but I won’t here). That is the case at every single Hamfest I have been to and Swapmeet. As they say, “ the early bird gets the worm“ and sometimes you just have to deal with it. The only fix is to come earlier. Ha! Mike R. Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. On Feb 28, 2022, at 11:02 AM, Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote: Thanks for running it - i was super-happy to be there and do shopping. Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any hamfest, swapfest, etc. 95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte public arrives. I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!' gear was enormous. Too many buyers, too little gear maybe? I don't really have a fix for this. Perhaps a chunk of it is post-pandemic "YAY we can start doing this again!" enthusiasm. On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 10:58 AM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Just looking for feedback from everyone.
What went well?
What can be improved?
Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message.
Thanks!
========================================= 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@vcfed.org
-- Dave Shevett shevett@pobox.com
On 2/28/22 11:02, Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any hamfest, swapfest, etc. 95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte public arrives. I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!' gear was enormous. Too many buyers, too little gear maybe?
Hahaaa, surely you remember when you and I would often get a selling spot at TCF in the mid-1980s with the express purpose of getting in early and having a place to put our purchased goodies! :-) -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
Oh I remember it :). LIke I said, this isn't a new problem. There's really nothing to be done about it. It's just frustrating to drive a long distance to come to an event that is mostly done 15 after it's opened. -d On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 11:26 AM Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
On 2/28/22 11:02, Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any hamfest, swapfest, etc. 95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte public arrives. I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!' gear was enormous. Too many buyers, too little gear maybe?
Hahaaa, surely you remember when you and I would often get a selling spot at TCF in the mid-1980s with the express purpose of getting in early and having a place to put our purchased goodies! :-)
-Dave
-- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
-- Dave Shevett shevett@pobox.com
Well I guess they can tighten up restrictions on everybody, to stay at their own table after moving stuff in. Until the pre-arranged time. But then it wouldn’t be fun would it? Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. On Feb 28, 2022, at 11:27 AM, Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote: Oh I remember it :). LIke I said, this isn't a new problem. There's really nothing to be done about it. It's just frustrating to drive a long distance to come to an event that is mostly done 15 after it's opened. -d On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 11:26 AM Dave McGuire via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
On 2/28/22 11:02, Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any hamfest, swapfest, etc. 95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte public arrives. I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!' gear was enormous. Too many buyers, too little gear maybe?
Hahaaa, surely you remember when you and I would often get a selling spot at TCF in the mid-1980s with the express purpose of getting in early and having a place to put our purchased goodies! :-)
-Dave
-- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
-- Dave Shevett shevett@pobox.com
I agree that there was quite a bit of pent-up demand. The promise of lower than eBay pricing combined with the instant gratification of being able to see and buy in person is very compelling. While some pre-show dealing was done, there was a huge rush of people right when the gates opened at 8:00. I sold nothing before the gates opened, and sold a full 25% of what I had by 8:30. That is the nature of the beast. I think 1:00 for a closing time would be a good compromise. I sold a ton of stuff between 12:00 and 1:00. On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 11:02 AM Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Thanks for running it - i was super-happy to be there and do shopping.
Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any hamfest, swapfest, etc. 95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte public arrives. I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!' gear was enormous. Too many buyers, too little gear maybe?
I don't really have a fix for this. Perhaps a chunk of it is post-pandemic "YAY we can start doing this again!" enthusiasm.
On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 10:58 AM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Just looking for feedback from everyone.
What went well?
What can be improved?
Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message.
Thanks!
========================================= 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@vcfed.org
-- Dave Shevett shevett@pobox.com
I agree 1 PM would be a good cut off time. 10% of what I sold was between 12 and two. I hardly had a chance to go look around! But I did pick up a box of free stuff so I am happy. Mike Rosen Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. On Feb 28, 2022, at 11:57 AM, Dean Notarnicola via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote: I agree that there was quite a bit of pent-up demand. The promise of lower than eBay pricing combined with the instant gratification of being able to see and buy in person is very compelling. While some pre-show dealing was done, there was a huge rush of people right when the gates opened at 8:00. I sold nothing before the gates opened, and sold a full 25% of what I had by 8:30. That is the nature of the beast. I think 1:00 for a closing time would be a good compromise. I sold a ton of stuff between 12:00 and 1:00. On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 11:02 AM Dave Shevett via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Thanks for running it - i was super-happy to be there and do shopping.
Unfortunately, the real 'problem' is something that's the case in any hamfest, swapfest, etc. 95% of the 'dealing' is done before hte public arrives. I am as guilty of this as the next person, but I was in there 20m after the official opening date, and the piles of 'sold!' gear was enormous. Too many buyers, too little gear maybe?
I don't really have a fix for this. Perhaps a chunk of it is post-pandemic "YAY we can start doing this again!" enthusiasm.
On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 10:58 AM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Just looking for feedback from everyone.
What went well?
What can be improved?
Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message.
Thanks!
========================================= 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@vcfed.org
-- Dave Shevett shevett@pobox.com
(Just looking for feedback from everyone.) I think it was a very good event. Being inside, (but necessary when cold outside) I thought it was a little questionable but it turned out good. (What went well?) Vendor participation was up and foot traffic was considerably better between 8 AM and 11 AM (What can be improved?) Cooperation with the other InfoAge groups and advertisement as such. In other words include the ham, antique radio, train and the other groups. Advertising on the amateur radio sites. If tables are going to be supplied in the future, please let everyone know next time. I will not bring tables if there are already tables there. Mike Rosen Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message. Thanks! ========================================= 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@vcfed.org
Fun day! Some ideas: 1. End at noon. 2. Maybe those plastic flap things at the doors that hang down where people can walk thru but cold air doesn't get in as much? Up in the dining hall it was a little bit chilly after a few hours. I know the cadets were manning the doors down near the lower room but the upper room no so much. One issue with plastic thing is that the entrance that was open -- it goes straight into stairs and it could be a fall hazard since visibility would be more restricted. 3. The people way out in the other building and the free pile, bring em closer. Load in was easier than I thought it would be. Reg and things were good, it was fun. My Haul: Intellavoice in box $20 Space Quest 2 box (no disks but some paperwork) $10 Atari 1040STf unknown condiiton no mouse $50 2 x Motorola DPC-550 AMPS flip phones $5 1 x Motorola Advisor pager/beeper - not sure what it will cost me yet :-) 4 hours at Silverball museum : Priceless. Games played: Junkyard Funhouse Whitewater Cyclone JJP Pirates of the Carrib Medevil Madness Cirquis Voltaire Cactus Canyon Whirlwind Revenge from Mars Joust (Pinball) And a few EMs.
Just looking for feedback from everyone.
What went well?
What can be improved?
Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message.
Thanks!
========================================= 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@vcfed.org
I had a level of concern over how this first indoor event would turn out, especially when it was spread across separate rooms. I can't begin to guess how the public traveled throughout the event. There was a lot of traffic, I just don't know if people deliberately went to all three locations, or even knew where those locations were if they didn't go to all of them. If we do another indoor swap meet, let's hope we can keep it as self-contained as possible. This time around, 9032A COULD have been arranged as an outer loop of tables with vendors sitting between their tables and the windows, and an inner loop of tables with vendors sitting inside the ring of tables. I think we could have gotten a few extra vendors in there. If I recall, we only had a vendor or two in the women's bunk room. We may have been able to consolidate the vendors into one building. But when multiple vendor locations are a necessity, we should split the "free pile" across all locations. It'll be an incentive to get the public to visit all the rooms if they weren't otherwise considering it. Those who came to a FREE event to get only FREE stuff, probably did not stop in the other two locations. Of course, with our outdoor version of the event, those ideas are moot. We need some feedback from the actual vendors themselves, not just those on this mailing list. I was talking to one vendor at the workshop who came from Vermont to sell his stuff, AND he got some things he desired at the swap meet. Those kinds of stories are great to hear, and makes the event a worthwhile endeavor. We should also gather as much feedback as possible from the HAM radio vendors since we invited them to participate. There was one vendor in 9032A that was a tried and true HAM radio vendor. It looked like he sold some stuff, and I hope he did well, but his inventory seemed disparate in nature from the vintage computer vendors around him. I hope to see more HAM radio vendors in the future, and their feedback now will help us cater to that hobby in the future. Let's make this the BEST D&MN event of its kind in this side of the world! Jeff Salzman On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 10:58 AM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Just looking for feedback from everyone.
What went well?
What can be improved?
Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message.
Thanks!
========================================= 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@vcfed.org
Jeff I admit that I didn’t go for too long to the other buildings after setting up my table. As a vendor, I really did not get to see everything there. I guess you didn’t notice that I was selling some radio equipment, not much, but I did bring some. 1/3 of my table space was devoted to that stuff. Many of the people that I know, who are hams, asked me if this was going to be a hamfest and I said: “not exactly, but There will be vendors with radio equipment, I just don’t know how much”. If this were a spring outdoor event, I would have brought much more radio related equipment. Mike Rosen Sent from:. My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. On Feb 28, 2022, at 12:55 PM, Jeff S via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote: I had a level of concern over how this first indoor event would turn out, especially when it was spread across separate rooms. I can't begin to guess how the public traveled throughout the event. There was a lot of traffic, I just don't know if people deliberately went to all three locations, or even knew where those locations were if they didn't go to all of them. If we do another indoor swap meet, let's hope we can keep it as self-contained as possible. This time around, 9032A COULD have been arranged as an outer loop of tables with vendors sitting between their tables and the windows, and an inner loop of tables with vendors sitting inside the ring of tables. I think we could have gotten a few extra vendors in there. If I recall, we only had a vendor or two in the women's bunk room. We may have been able to consolidate the vendors into one building. But when multiple vendor locations are a necessity, we should split the "free pile" across all locations. It'll be an incentive to get the public to visit all the rooms if they weren't otherwise considering it. Those who came to a FREE event to get only FREE stuff, probably did not stop in the other two locations. Of course, with our outdoor version of the event, those ideas are moot. We need some feedback from the actual vendors themselves, not just those on this mailing list. I was talking to one vendor at the workshop who came from Vermont to sell his stuff, AND he got some things he desired at the swap meet. Those kinds of stories are great to hear, and makes the event a worthwhile endeavor. We should also gather as much feedback as possible from the HAM radio vendors since we invited them to participate. There was one vendor in 9032A that was a tried and true HAM radio vendor. It looked like he sold some stuff, and I hope he did well, but his inventory seemed disparate in nature from the vintage computer vendors around him. I hope to see more HAM radio vendors in the future, and their feedback now will help us cater to that hobby in the future. Let's make this the BEST D&MN event of its kind in this side of the world! Jeff Salzman On Mon, Feb 28, 2022 at 10:58 AM Jeffrey Brace via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Just looking for feedback from everyone.
What went well?
What can be improved?
Feel free to reply to this or send me a private message.
Thanks!
========================================= 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@vcfed.org
Thought it was good overall. I hope VCF made some money given all the work put into it. That is really the goal of the event. I don't have much to complain about, it is a work in progress and I know the VCF team was talking about new ideas and changes to make things better. I think it's official to say that doing these events was a good idea. Positive Feedback: ------------------ It was inside, I can't tell you how much I prefer that over outside. It had food. I know this was a lot of work and I want to recognize the effort. It had real bathrooms. I know this sounds stupid, but it was great. I got to see people I like. Which is always a plus. I didn't sell everything, but that's ok. I made more than the fee and I was able to afford the food. Negative Feedback: ------------------ Building 9032 where I was at didn't have the crowd that 9001 had. I spoke to someone who I expected to be in the know around 12:30pm and he didn't know there was anything in 9032. Building 9032 had a sign that said "Free Stuff", I actually had someone assume stuff I was selling was free. Neutral Feedback: ----------------- I agree with McGuire. I used to buy a space at TCF because I wanted to be there early and be able to buy stuff and walk over to the van. If you are not charging for entry, then I can see where early access is a vendor perk. Or make an early access fee for people not selling. I think noon is too early. I started to pack around 1pm and it seemed that new people were coming in, but I had to pack because I was losing a table that Brian brought. I cannot bring a table due to subcompact car issues. I'm willing to pay a bit for a table if that was an issue. In the parking lot spaces are well defined. It's easier to say you have this space number. It's a lot harder in the building.
participants (8)
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Christian Liendo -
Dave McGuire -
Dave Shevett -
Dean Notarnicola -
Ethan O'Toole -
Jeff S -
Jeffrey Brace -
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