Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion info. for show promoters

look at some of the posts in the past of the "gas shows"... over rated... gagged on the prices... too far to travel for nothing... got there and everybody was packing up... couldn't find a pump ... didn't fall into my time frame and on and on ...not good press if you ask me. you can't make EVERYBODY HAPPY.... we of ourselves will destroy a good part of this hobby. for me... right now.... i'll stick to ebay.

If some of you guys are in your twentys or thirtys. This hobby is alive and well.

Larry

"look at some of the posts in the past of the "gas shows"... over rated... gagged on the prices... too far to travel for nothing... got there and everybody was packing up... couldn't find a pump ... didn't fall into my time frame and on and on ...not good press if you ask me. you can't make EVERYBODY HAPPY.... we of ourselves will destroy a good part of this hobby. for me... right now.... i'll stick to ebay. "

You can never make "everybody" happy but some promoters do a better job than others of trying to please their customers.
The Chicagoland's show at Peotone is a good example. Dealer set up and early buyers on Saturday afternoon. The show is Sunday for the general public. Indoor vendoors cannot leave early.
Dealers get to trade "early" between themselves on Saturday. Serious buyers can get in then too if they want to pay the early buyers fee. The general public is assured the sellers will still be there for the advertised show hours. The promoters draw an average of 1100 buyers. Eveybody wins.

Some promoters aren't as far sighted. Some shows are over before the advertised start time. Can you imagine a retail store advertising being open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm but actually open at midnight and close at 6:00 am? Its not going to happen. The people running those stores realize that wouldn't be good for the health of their business. So why do show promoters allow it to happen?

Ebay? There's no substitute for being able to inspect something in person before you buy. Can't do that on ebay.

I have thought for a long time that admission should be free to all shows. The vendors should pick up these costs as they are there selling. Buyers should get in free always!

p.s. I am a vendor as well as a spectator at some shows.

Rich

I just turned 27 about one month ago, and I have been in this hobby with my father for about 17 years. I would have to beleive that myself and Aaron Hopp are the only two that have 15+ years of experience and still are under the age of thirty. I personally do not know Aaron, know who he is but never met him. I would be willing to bet that out of all the regular show attendees, that they could pick the two of us out of a crowd. (Aaron and his dad have all the good globes and my father and I are usually in the corner with 300+ cans for sale.) I try to attend as many shows, auctions, ect. that I can, without missing to much work. I very rarley spend 1K let alone 2K, but theres always that certain auction or show were stuff is just to good to pass up. I don't expect to get in free, but it would be nice, I'm not going to lie. I do suggest that spouses and childeren get in free, I have neither.

I go to shows to sell, and there are some people that just go to shows to do just that, SHOW. Do you pay to get into a museum? If you are running a booth with nothing for sale under $500, your not hurtin'. I would pay to go buy, but I wouldn't pay to go look. I can do that on the internet, check out Mr. Bettin's web site. I generally sell beteween 1,000 and 3,000 dollars worth of stuff at every show, with nothing over $500.00. I will not set up at Peotone anymore due to the fact that certain auction companies have ruined most of my fun by holding auctions one or two days before the show. I live 5 hours from this particular show and no closer than 2 hours from any show that I attend each year. I personally know atleast 4 vendors that are not setting up this fall because of this reason. Not that we don't have money to spend, but if I can't make money at a show I sure ain't going to be spending any money.

I'm going to travel the 5 hours this weekend to deliver stuff that I have bought for people that have contacted me through this site, auctions and what not. I go to see people and have a good time. If the two auctions that are going to be held this weekend would happen to be one month apart from each other later on down the road, I would personally spend more money and get to see gas friends and have a good time, AGIAN and AGAIN.

To me, taking off for a weekend with my dad is a vacation, even through I see him everyday of the week. We do not spend the $20 dollar early bird fee, for the simple fact that the stuff we buy will probably be there the next day(cans). If it is not, we were not meant to have it anyways.

If some of you know who I am please say hi, as I love to meet new people that I can talk to about gas n oil. I will be sporting a VON DUTCH hat and coat, name is Chad Thompson.

Myself (28) and John O'Hern are two more young guys that I can think of off the top of my head that attend shows and auctions. I shouldn't count towards the hobbyist total though, since, this is my occupation moreso than my hobby.

As to the shows & the schedules that they keep, there are ALWAYS going to be guys that come to town 2-3 days before the show, regardless of when that show starts. They will have an impromptu swap in the Wal-Mart parking lot if they have to. I don't begrudge them though, because they are either A)putting food on the table by buying & selling or B)wealthy enough to be there hanging out.

This topic gets brought up again and again,the funny thing is that it always seems to change as many of the new collectors no matter what age give their opinions of the shows and how they are run and the prices of the items offered there.I went to the last Peotone show and had a great time.Whether I buy or not,I just like to see old friends and different pieces for sale.Im 33,been collecting for about 10yrs,have had many old cars and old Harleys and thats what got me started and the people like Kim,John,and Seth keep me and my money here in this hobby.Remember,we are not owners but just holders of this stuff for a while,it will pass on,hopefully to someone that will enjoy it as much as we do.
P.S. Hey Ihavegas if you have so much money extra to spend let me know,I have 2 old Harleys and plenty of pumps to sell,help me out,trying to get off welfare,LOL!

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Chad,
How has the auction ruined the show for you?
I've set up at every spring Peotone show and attendance (and sales) really jumped when Aumanns started holding auctions in conjunction with the show.
An auction was part of the very first Peotone show. That auctioneer was one of the original promoters.
It can be argued that the auction (that is not officially part of the show) siphons money that could be spent at the show. BUT it can also be argued that the auction brings in more buyers and more money to the show.

Either way I can't blame the auction company. Their job is to get the best price for their sellers. A sure way to do that is to hold the auction in conjunction with a show.

Most of us go to shows to buy. Having an auction (or in this case 2 auctions) makes it better.
I plan on buying at both auctions and the show, but even if I can't find something to buy I'll still have fun hanging out with friends.

I feel, as a 27 year old collecter, who has been active since 15 that if you want to attract the younger crowd (which will be the life blood of this hobby) you sellers should adjust the prices accordingly. No college grad fresh out on his own will have hundreds or thousands of dollars for a sign and dont even get me started on globes. I realize the economics of pricing but where will it stop. I have seen prices climb exponentially since I first started. what youn collector will be able to eventually pat 1500 for an unrestored visible, which will just sit in his living room. Just something to consider.

If you are into collector cars at all, and follow the trend on muscle cars, and bother to read what is going on in THIS hobby, you will know that 'these are the good old days' as Carly Simon once sang----

It is a known fact that within ten years the muscle car cow will be dried up. Those million dollar Hemi Cudas will be long gone because this market is poised to collapse, reason being THERE ARE VERY FEW YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE SWAP MEETS AND AUCTIONS they, as a group, could care less about old cars. The only guys active in this are the Vietnam era vets, and they are getting older too.

The same will happen with the petroliana hobby.

What I'm saying is, if you like an item buy it, but don't buy it simply because you think years from now you will quadruple your money. The "investors" at Barrett-Jackson have already destroyed the old car hobby, making it a game for the wealthy only...............

We all understand your frustration Ryan, but remember, unless it's coming out of a long-time collection, sellers are paying big bucks for the piece to begin with, so how can they resell it cheap?

Take an urestored gas pump for example. The other day, I bought a M&S 70 from a picker for $450. It was missing faces & a piece of stainless. Because I make parts, let's say I was able to make it complete for $50 add'l dollars, so now we are at $500. Now, let's say I take it to a show 500 miles away (1K mile round trip @ $2/gallon = $200 fuel), that requires I spend 2 nights in hotels (at least $150). I gotta eat 6 meals on those 2 days ($50/minimum). When I get there, my 10 x 10 booth is $75. So I've $475 in the trip before I've ever had the chance to sell the M&S 70.

Now hopefully, I've got other items to sell to amortize the expense of the trip over, but you get what I'm saying. 5-8 years ago, that same picker would've sold me that same pump for $150 instead of $450. Most of the guys that I know that are selling the $10k & $20K items aren't marking them up that much. They are laying huge amounts of cash to get the items in the first place.

Like I said, I know it's frustrating, we all want the best deal we can get.

Seth, I do understand your point. I also realize that as America becomes one soul less "cookie cutter" city and town after the other the desire for a glimpse of the old days becomes quite appealing. I have done business with you and your company before and always felt as if I was treated fairly. My problem is with the select dealers who jack prices up so high. I have always found my items out in the wild then purchased replacement parts from dealers, this has been the easiest way for a college student to collect petro. Im worried that years from now only a handful of collectors will controll 90% of the items in this hobby then what?

I've watched this string for a bit, and thought that I might add something... As each and everyone of us got into this hobby for our own reasons, I ask you.... Did ANYBODY think to themselves about the cost? Nobody gets into a hobby to SAVE money.... Think about what attracted you to this, or any other hobbies. WOW factor, Right? You probably saw someting petro related, and said to yourself "Thats Cool"... Maybe somebody thought" Hey my Dad, Grandfather, Uncle, whatever, had one of those, and I always liked it" Or maybe you saw a can collection, sign collection, went to a restaurant that had some petro decor..... I think that its about the PASSION of the hobby, not the cost. I agree that some costs are high, I also know what it takes to produce some of this stuff. Plain aluminum faceplates probably cost a few bucks, Right. But thats AFTER the cost of the pattern, dies, press, silkscreens, ect.... Thats where the $$$ come in. I'm good with that. But back to the passion. How many of your friends, saw someting in your collection, and said "WOW"...? Now, to me, thats where its at. Unless there is an attraction, to what we do, and what we have, cost wont matter.... I will give ANYBODY here a free POG to start their pog collection..... I doubt that anybody will take me up on that. Who remembers pogs anyways? Look at todays youth. If I'm stereotyping anybody here please dont be offended. Most High school kids are into their cell phones, computer and/or video games, IPODS, downloading music... Techno stuff right? How many, young adults, get exited about something like and old sawmill, a mining museum, or a railroad museum? What about street rods? You would be hard pressed to find a 20 something, driving a 39 Buick, or a 68 Chevelle..... How many of them could drive a manual transmission, let alone know what "Ram Air" or "Cowl Induction" is.... And what does "Boss" mean, on a "Boss 351"? And whats a "Cleaveland" anyways? We are a select few, that choose to preserve history and collect works of art. Afterall, it is art, isn't it? Without some sort of inspiration, or a burning passion, why would anybody go to a "Petro Swap Meet" at any cost? Stores are free, but how many of you guys, go to a train store, for example? I think that the age issue, is only because some of us older guys, have a want to remember the "Good old days" and this brings some of it back for us. Then it goes on from there. Like the guy who has an old car, and wants "A" pump, for his shop, because the look kinda cool.... Something needs to fire up a passion, for the passion to grow. I dont feel that cost is a major issue. If a person wants something bad enough, they'll find the money..... JMO.

Here... Lets see if I can inspire any body. Here is a FREE gas pump, for each and everyone of you guys.....
http://www.schaalbouw.nl/bpomp18.pdf
http://www.schaalbouw.nl/bpomp43.pdf

Have fun guys.....

[This message has been edited by Thunder II (edited 10-24-2006).]

Lastgas 15

I have set up at the last 6 consecutive Peotone shows and a vey nice spot in the front room, and have had all the traffic that I could ask for in one day. Attendence is great at this show, but the sales have not proven to be great for me at this particular show. Does the economy play factor in this, maybe so, maybe people are not willing to spend as much money as they use to. BUT, since the start of the pre-show auction, I have continuously made less money at each show. I do not know the actual numbers, but the last time I went to this show and set up, it cost me more to go there(gas, hotel, food, space) than what I made. This doesn't even account for the money invested in the product that I sold. It was the least amount of money that I have made at a show in at least 10 years.

I'm obviously still going, but for the only reason being that people are and have been paying me some very good wages to go to auctions for them and bid on stuff they can not. I do not ask for any money to do this, but you know as well as I do that if you want something at an auction that you can not attend, it is a luxery to have friends that knows what they are looking at bid on something for you.

It is not economically unfeasable for me to go and set up at this show at the current rate of sales that I have had in the past. Like I have said, I'm not the only one from my area that feels this way, and or the state. It has showed at the last three shows as I sure it will show at this one as well, the inside vendors are not as abundent as they use to be.

As I did state though, this is a vacation for me, and if I didn't enjoy going on vacation I wouldn't go. I guess that I will enjoy the fact that I can walk around and talk without worrying about my booth. At the next "non pre-show auction" event in Peotone, I will set up.

Chad,
I've had good shows as a seller and bad shows as a seller. When a show draws 1100 people in one day and I look around and see people carrying things out to their cars I know that if my sales are low that day that I either don't have the right merchandise or what I have is priced too high.

Are you and your Dad collectors as well as dealers?
I consider myself a collector and not a dealer. I'd rather go to a show to buy than to set up and sell. Thats why I don't usually set up at the fall show.


Jeff,
Its passion that motivates the collector.
Its potential profit that motivates the dealer.