[NCARC] More Swapmeet thoughts

[Bill & Suzie Whatley]

More thoughts regarding the enjoyment of Ham Radio Swapmeets:



First, consider getting a table and attending as a seller, not just as a buyer. Sellers are not prohibited from being buyers and attending as a seller has numerous advantages, such as the ease of recovering the cost of travel, table and admission as well as the often-overpriced food-like substances available at the event.

But even if you attend only as a buyer, you should plan on staying throughout most all of the event. A swapmeet should be considered as more of a social gathering rather than a moneymaking opportunity, such as an auction. Staying for the majority of the event makes for a more relaxing day and allows you a chance to catch some of the "bargain" transactions that usually occur toward the end of the event. As a buyer, you can have an enjoyable experience by doing some homework prior to the event.

Make a list of the items that you are interested in obtaining for your ham radio operations. This would include both currently needed items as well as other treasures that you might want within the coming year. I have even seen buyers carrying lists of wanted items for friends that could not attend a particular event.

Research each item on your list to find the accurate second-hand value based on its intended use. Stated another way, don't use the sales prices found on an auction site (such as E-bay) to forecast the sales price you should expect to pay at a non-auction event such as a swapmeet. Some sellers actually attend swapmeet events hoping to find a chump in an effort to maximize their achieved sales price. Many times they end up having to take the items back home but occasionally they find someone who has not investigated the item and will pay much more than it is worth. Don't let it be you.

Come to the event with sufficient funds to cover the expected cost of items on your list that may be found at the event. It is rare that any sellers are set up to accept plastic. Many will not take checks unless they know you to have been a member of the local ham community in good standing for some number of years. Cash works the best but do not bring large bills as most individual sellers have a limited cash supply for making change.

If you come across an item that you want and the seller has overpriced it, do not walk away assuming that they fall into the category of seller mentioned above. There are many reasons that a seller may have an unrealistic price attached to a particular item. The asking price may be their guess because they have not researched the item and are not aware of its actual value. They may have looked at an auction site and thought that the prices seen there would be about the same as those found at a swapmeet. Perhaps they were the chump at a previous swapmeet event and are just looking for someone to share the pain of their experience.

Take the time to discuss your interest with the seller. Examine the overall condition of the item. Ask the seller about their experience with it and, if the item is operable equipment, see if there is a way to power it up and verify the operation of the basic functions.

If you are still interested in the item, make the seller an offer based on your research and how much you are willing to pay for the item, considering its overall condition. Do not argue or try to convince the seller that his asking price is "wrong" based on your research. It should be expected that any two persons would assign a slightly different value based on their personal experience, knowledge of an item and their desire to possess it. Learning or knowing how to barter as a seller or buyer should be part of the enjoyment of the event, not an obstacle to be overcome.

If you can not agree on a selling price that the time, be willing to walk away. You can always stop by toward the end of the event and see if the seller still has the item. Many sellers become highly motivated to "unload" items as the ending time of the event draws near, rather than having to take the stuff back home. Some of them are so motivated that the items end up in the dumpster as they leave the event.

Your expectations as a buyer should be to have a good time by attending the event as a social gathering, with a chance to find items that you have included on you wish list. Having an enjoyable experience is defined by each person's expectations. By attending the event with this perspective, you will not be disappointed if the items for which you are searching are not available or unreasonably priced.



73 to all,

WA5VRL

Willis