[MRCA] Frost Fesst AAR

[Ray Fantini]

AAR of the Frost Fest event, Richmond VA February 4, 2017

Mission Goals were to attend the show, sell items to generate additional revenue for upcoming Aberdeen and Dayton shows and socialize with other likeminded individuals.

Resources:

Have been trading and selling lots of stuff lately, because of this had a much depleted stock of Ham fest fodder. In order to alleviate this situation had recently partnered with another Ham who wants to downsize his collection. In a furtherance to this effort I had removed several items that I believed would be guaranteed to sell at the event. This included four Collins 180L-3 antenna tuners, four BC-348 receivers, all modified an Collins 18S-4 transceiver, Hacked ARB receivers and assorted other parts along with an first generation HP 201 audio oscillator.
Purchased two tables at the event to accommodate the above and additional items that were brought along by my fellow travelers.

Operations:

The trip was around four hours each way, because of the distance it was decided to stay overnight the day before to be there first thing in the morning with an additional stay the day of the event. Arrived at the Fest around 0700 local to see that many were already in attendance. Many vendors had set up the night before along with some selling and swapping occurring at that time prior to the rules of the event. Buyers (Non vendors) were not permitted into the event until 0830 local so there is defiantly an advantage to being a vendor. The HP 201 audio oscillator sold for $50.00 as soon as I put it on the table before the event opened. I did try to get out and look around to see if there were any targets of opportunity but did not see anything that I needed more than the money. Did look at a back power supply for the KWM-2 but did not want to pay $225 for it and also a tool box for $95 that was maybe $40 nice but that would be all I would have spent on it.
Was surprised to see all the ARB receivers that were for sale. Remember that I had two hacked ARB receivers that I was trying to sell for $20 each and I saw at least five or six additional ARB receivers in various states of being hacked in the same price range. It's uncommon to see more than one at an equal sized event but by my count including my two there were at least eight to ten at that event. Only saw one R-390 receiver with a MARS sticker attached and an R-388 in a very strange sealed transit case. There was a GRR-5 that was present along with a lot of accessories that sold for $75 Friday night a day before the event during the set up along with a lot of military wire antenna hardware. Did not see and ARC-5, TCS or ART-13 transmitters.
I was able to sell three of the BC-348 receivers along with one of the ARB receivers and did a package deal to sell the remaining receivers, transceivers and antenna tuners as a lot to one individual.
Attendance at the event was heavy from 0900 to around 1300 hours local, perhaps the highest attendance that I have seen in the past several years. Also managed to meet with and exchange greeting with several of the list members at the event.


Thing Learned:

I assumed that things like the BC-348 and the ARB receivers were the perfect gateway into the hobby of milsurplus collecting and as such a number of people would want them.
Selling three of the four all be it at for a lower price then I anticipated I am still questioning the wisdom of all the work involved. Especially items like the ARB that I had to work the sale to get rid of for $20
A lot of work goes into gathering, storing, transporting and finally selling the items and when you generate $20 to $40 an item you have to question just what it is your doing. The bulk sale I did of all the remaining equipment to someone who will be listing this stuff on EBay was far less work and if it were not for the fact that I enjoy selling and interacting with people would have serious questions about doing this sort of thing.
Another item learned was just like Dayton you have to be there the day before the sale starts, lots of items were sold way before the general public are let in.


Conclusion:
Despite the problems would rate the operation as a success. Did raise funds for other events along with spending time with associates that are not frequently in the North East sector of operations.  I have attended Frost Fest for some years now and plan on attending again next year. With the uncertainties involved with Dayton and the smaller crowds at the Aberdeen MVPA it's good to see an event that's still growing and improving.

See Nick England's (K4NYW) excellent photo coverage at:

http://www.virhistory.com/ham/rich-17.htm


Ray F/KA3EKH


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