Selling Parts at Shows

[5 WoodenWheels]

There is currently a post about attending Hershey and selling parts. This brought to mind my experience many years ago when I loaded up my '67 Mercury pickup and headed to Carlisle, PA where another large car show takes place. I was very much into mid-60s Ford pickups and had amassed quite a collection of spare and unneeded parts.

At that time you could rent the space to sell whatever you were bringing, and also camp in that same spot. There were two of us, and that's what we did.
It was in a grassy field, not on pavement--which was nice.

I did manage to rid myself of some large parts, but by no means everything. I remember to this day the sight of one buyer walking across the fields back to his car with the hood of a '65 F100 held aloft over his head. It's not a lightweight piece of steel. All in all, I enjoyed the experience and had no expectation of making a killing on all those parts. As is often the case in these situations, I was able to pay my expenses and travel from the parts I sold. Probably broke even down to the last penny. And I had some fun in the bargain. Wouldn't do it again, though.

[BobShirleyAtlantaTx]

Thanks for the memories. Lights up the old theater in my head. The old day were very special.

[Steve Jelf]

When I had the sign business I used to set up at swap meets. My absolute favorite was on the grounds of the Pate Museum, west of Fort Worth. It wasn't as big as Hershey, but it was big, and where I usually had my best sales of the year. The weather was a crapshoot. Sometimes it was beautiful. Sometimes the rain poured down. Sometimes a light rain made the ground slicker than snot, then the sun came out and in an hour there was dust blowing. One year there was a guy from Colorado with an old school bus full of Model T parts. After it rained he was on a little island, and he bought bales of hay and laid down a causeway so customers could reach him. Some years it was Tuesday or Wednesday after the meet before the tractors got everybody pulled out of the low, muddy places. And even in lousy weather I always had my best sales there. Eventually they moved the meet to the Texas Motor Speedway, and that killed the magic. I guess they still have it, but the last time I went was 19 years ago.

[Norman Kling]

I went to Hershey once, many years ago. I flew in and rented a car to get there from the airport. It rained so hard that a bridge along the way was like a waterfall from the sides of the bridge. I only stayed for a short while and met Bruce McCally while there. Only thing I could have bought small enough to not have to ship home were T coils, but was afraid the airplane security might think I was bringing bombs so I didn't get any.
The best ones I have been to in the past were within driving distance from home. Long Beach is the best one in Southern California. They have both parts and cars for sale there. Bakersfield used to be a good one, but it has been moved to Tulare. That one is good but unfortunately when I was there the Model T section was about the farthest walk from the parking lot. We used to have one for all makes of old cars in San Diego, but the stadium has been removed and we don't have a swap meet here anymore.
Norm

[J1MGOLDEN]

Selling at Hershey now requires a PA Sales Tax number and collecting the tax for anything sold.

That is a fair amount for an automobile sale!

[tdump]

Selling at Hershey now requires a PA Sales Tax number and collecting the tax for anything sold.

That is a fair amount for an automobile sale!
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Well that de incentives me going somewhat. Taxes were paid on the parts when new.That is a bit greedy of the states part.

[5 WoodenWheels]

Selling at Hershey now requires a PA Sales Tax number and collecting the tax for anything sold.

That is a fair amount for an automobile sale!

I don't believe a private seller could collect tax for a vehicle sale. In Maryland, the sales tax is collected when the new owner goes to register their car with the DMV. They'll be happy to collect your money then.

[Steve Jelf]

On the other hand, if you buy used parts at a salvage yard there is a tax on them.

Taxes at swap meets vary by state. Most states don't bother. At least one seems to have a tax on the books, but doesn't enforce it. And some are pretty aggressive, including threats to sellers in their instructions.

[speedytinc]

Not only threats passed thru to the swap organizers thru signed liability waver sheets, but a few years back, franchise tax board agents visited vendors during the meet. (california) They were not treated kindly. They actually asked each vendor how much they were going to sell to collect the sales tax in advance.
Surprised they were able to leave under their own power.

[tdump]

Not only threats passed thru to the swap organizers thru signed liability waver sheets, but a few years back, franchise tax board agents visited vendors during the meet. (california) They were not treated kindly. They actually asked each vendor how much they were going to sell to collect the sales tax in advance.
Surprised they were able to leave under their own power.

Well, that means there are a few smart folks left in california.

[Steve Jelf]

Having to guess what you will sell is like guessing how much gas you need to buy when you fill up. When I run to an outfit with that policy I tell them I'll go buy my gas someplace sane. And I do.