Just wondering (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

How many of you out there know excactly what your going to buy at a show,and stick to it.Or do you decide on the Hoof when you get there.The times i have thought "right i am going to buy this today",only to get there and see all the K&C stuff laid out and change my mind again.I can stand at the stall for ages agonising about what to buy next.Will be at the next London show on the 26th March, and no doubt will be loitering with intent to purchase long before i finally decide.Just wondering if i'm the only one who does this!.

 

[Leadmen]

I usually take a list of things I am looking for to the shows. I never follow the list- yes, I get items on list that I really want but also I end up with things I never intended to get. I am a sucker for picking up loose figures also. If I like the figure or pose I usually get it.I always spend more then intended and tell my wife I did not spend much. Sometimes I come home with stuff I never intended to get. For example, once I come home with a Marx tin litho castle and about 100 foot knights by Marx. Still sitting in storage.I found times where I would keep going back to look at something and finally find someone purchased it. I try to maintain some discipline but with all the new stuff it is hard to resist especially when you like metal and plastic. John

 

[panda1gen]

Dear Rob

Only been to two shows - don't want to talk about it....

Kevin

 

[Louis Badolato]

I tend to buy up any older K&C I find, whether I need it or not. I often let other collectors I know at the shows buy my purchases from me for my cost if they need the older item and I already have it, but if not, I keep it in hopes of using it to trade for something I am looking for.

 

[jazzeum]

When I go to a show I bring a list of the retired items that I'm looking for but now the word is out so it's hard to find these things. So if I see something, I pick it up. Usually, I'm not buying current K & C as I can do that through dealers. And to reinforce what Louis said, he and I went to Valley Forge last year and he got there first and picked up a WS 06 B for a pittance and sold it to me. That was my best show buy ever, closely followed by a German aces sets I got from Hobby Bunker last year in Chicago.

 

[wadepat]

Rob,

In all my years, I have only been able to attend one toy soldier show: Chicago, 2005. I traveled to Chicago with a number of items in mind for which I wanted to search and with a budget I was determined to stay within.

Did I stare at items before making purchasing decisions? You bet! I was very discplined during the first day of in-room trading (Thursday) I surveyed the items available and I made absolutely no purchases. From the second day (Friday) forward, I lost all control. I found many bargains I could not resist and I found other figures that captivated me. In fact, I now collect two new lines as a result of my attendance! I purchased Knights, Rorke's Drift figures, WW II soldiers, Samurai's, military bands, tanks, and artillery. I even purchased a figure of Zorro for fun, which is now hidden in my Alamo display!

Did I stay within my budget? Not really, but I did not exceed it too greatly. All I can say is that I don't remember when I had so much fun.

If I learned a lesson, it was not to attend too many shows as the temptations can become greater than your pocket book. The other lesson I learned was to avoid all shows unless you have a reasonable amount of money to spend at the show. I cannot think of many things more discouraging than (1) seeing all these beautiful items and not being able to buy some or (2) buying more than you can afford.

Warm regards,

Pat

 

[Rob]

Pat,you are spot on.There is nothing worse than going to one of these shoes with limited funds,its a recipe for disaster!.I spoke to a chap at the last London show who told me his wife had just lost her job and that they were really struggling for money.He then said "i've no idea how i'm going to tell her i've just spent £500 on soldiers"!.

Rather him than me!!!

Best wishes

Rob.

 

[boot51]

If I learned a lesson, it was not to attend too many shows as the temptations can become greater than your pocket book. The other lesson I learned was to avoid all shows unless you have a reasonable amount of money to spend at the show. I cannot think of many things more discouraging than (1) seeing all these beautiful items and not being able to buy some or (2) buying more than you can afford.

Warm regards,

Pat[/QUOTE]

Great words to live by, Pat. I'll be attending my first toy soldier show in April and will take your words with me, for I am weak and can not resist that which I desire and do not wish the wrath of my master (wife) to descend upon me.

Fred

 

[wellington]

Pat....I've been there before and know how that feels...I live by the same words....


Cheers
WELLINGTON

 

[fishead19690]

If I learned a lesson, it was not to attend too many shows as the temptations can become greater than your pocket book. The other lesson I learned was to avoid all shows unless you have a reasonable amount of money to spend at the show. I cannot think of many things more discouraging than (1) seeing all these beautiful items and not being able to buy some or (2) buying more than you can afford.

Warm regards,

Pat

Great words to live by, Pat. I'll be attending my first toy soldier show in April and will take your words with me, for I am weak and can not resist that which I desire and do not wish the wrath of my master (wife) to descend upon me.

Fred[/QUOTE] Fred the dedham show has alot of good deals so i,d suggest that you start saving some money now and hold off buying any figures till then becuase you,ll most likely find them at the show cheaper. And you,ll find things you may not see again for awhile so save the money now and don,t do what i did at my first show and come under funded and over buy and leave yourself stuck for money and have the wife all over you for spending all your money on toys. And if you do over spend hide half of what you buy in the car and sneak the rest in after see falls asleep. And if when she sees does notice the new figures just tell her you,ve had those figures for months.