OTSN How Much Do You Spend? (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

This is a personal thing, but any one who wants to join in, I think this could be interesting.
I,m bringing $2000 this year. No doubt in my mind I will spend every penny. And more than likely will add a few hundred more to my credit card.
My first few years attending, 1991 thru 1995, I brought $250, but at the time I collected only plastic.
Every year since the amount I,ve spent just gets higher and higher.
Gary

 

[Njja]

Gary

Thats a very interesting question! Its interesting that as the years go by the budgets always seem to climb. Its probably best to make a list of items you want and prices you expect to pay and go from there.

I'm not going to be able to make the show this year, so I wish all the rest of you the best of Luck!

I hope you have a great time, enjoy Rick's luncheon and say hi to Andy for
me!

Njja

 

[jazzeum]

Last year, being my first, I budgeted around $2000 but that was for the whole trip. Airfare was cheap (United had a special, $300 round trip) and the Hotel charged about $103 per day and with meals and incidentals it came out around $300 (I think) so that left about $1400. At the show, I think I probably came under that. But then through Louis and Andy, I made a few contacts for warbirds, which I then later got in November so you can say I exceeded that.

Anyway, I think $2000 is a good number and I would try to stick to that. I think Gary said that by Sunday before the day of the Show, he had met his budget and didn't even stay for the Show. I know of people who spend much more than that ($3000 and up) so I would try to be careful. As John (njja) has said, and it's good advice, don't let the hobby eat into savings and everyday necessities.

 

[gk5717]

John, that,s my problem, I made a list this year and was closing in on $1000, before I ever walked in the front door.
And with all the new companies, hopefully having their wares to sell at the show, I had to budget more as I normally, the last few years, took $1000.
As Brad pointed out more than likely I,ll be busted by Sunday, and in all the years I,ve attended, rarely did I find anything new at the show.
It,s the room trading that,s the best part, although Lewis & Clark would get lost in the hall ways of the Hyatt.
Gary

 

[Alexdakar]

I spent $1600 last year just for the flight and room. Then again I did take my wife, daughter, and mom with me because hurricane Rita was going to hit Houston. It was all worth it because the OTSN was awesome and we also did a lot of sight seeing. This time I going solo.

 

[Phalanx Toy Soldier]

You know, this raises a second interesting question...one that I've thought about more than once...

How much of the money spent at OTSN (or any other show) is spent on items readily available from other sources, any time of the year? In other words, what percentage of budgeted money actually goes for normal stock items?

Seems a bit of a shame to travel all the way to a show to pick up stuff one could get anytime, and perhaps miss/ignore things that are hard to find outside of the show venue.

The paradox seems to be this: to the extent that one makes up a list in advance, the list probably does consist of already-available soldiers and sets. Much harder to make up a list of the things which are shown for the first time at OTSN. Of course, for those who are not hampered by $$$ constraints, the sky is the limit. For me, and I'm sure many others, there are far more things at any soldier show than I have money to buy. I'd rather not spend on things that I could order as soon as I get home, or things I could have ordered prior to the show anyway.

Is the excitement of buying normal items THERE part of the fun, or do some of us -- me included -- just lose control when confronted by the riches of the show?

Terry in Iowa

 

[Showman]

It's been a few years since I've been. I plan on a $1,000 budget for soldiers. I am bringing my son too. That'll cost me an extra 10% for sure
I mainly interested in seeing some of the newer manufacters in person. I'd like to look at NMA and HB . Figarti I am intersted in seeing some of there newer item too. I do not have a brick and motar shop here i the area so it's a good time to check out this stuff in person. I will be looking for some other sets , Imperial , KnC . I hope not to exceed this budget. I'll bring a CC just in case something blows me away.

 

[Peter Reuss]

How much of the money spent at OTSN (or any other show) is spent on items readily available from other sources, any time of the year? In other words, what percentage of budgeted money actually goes for normal stock items?

This is an interesting question for dealers as well. The space we have at the show is very limited, so we have to carefully choose what products we will put in that space. With that in mind, we at Treefrog work to bring more 'unique' things to the show (i.e. Beau Geste, Manes Marzano) that people will likely not have seen before.

I remember the first year we had anything at the show. We mainly brought the newest King & Country, and we heard over and over as people walked into our room 'Oh, more K&C' and they walked out. It's not that K&C isn't a great product - it's more that many dealers are selling the exact same thing. With that in mind, watch for the K&C Streets of Hong Kong at the Treefrog room We will have some WWII.

We also have had quite a few people tell us "I'll order that as soon as I get home so I don't have to carry it with me." For people who are used to getting things shipped, this is quite normal.

How is it for you guys who go to the show? Are you looking to pick up a piece you would buy anyway or are you there for more obscure stuff that you haven't seen anywhere?

Pete

 

[Njja]

Terry:

You make a very interesting point, I think when I attend I would arrive early and use my available funds for the retired items I was looking for. Once I had covered all the car trunks, closets, and looked under the beds twice.....then I would check my pockets for any loose change and I would go after a few dealer displays......that perhaps they would not want to carry back with them!

How cool would that be? Of course there would be items you just couldn't pass up! Then if there was any emergency funds left anywhere.....perhaps in a shoe, or hat band....would I look at normal stock items.

A lot of the big dealers offer free, or almost free shipping so why lug home a
bunch of items your friendly Fedex man could bring?.........Unless of course it is the Beetle Bailey figure in Nam Camo, carrying a Stoner with the 7th Calvary Stetson!

Njja

 

[ucla1967]

I am bringing $2,000 in cash---no credit cards or checks. In the past, I have promised myself to limit my purchases to cash, but wound up cheating. I have also spent my entire allotment before in the first two or three rooms I have gone into which can make the rest of the show a bummer. I hope I don't come anywhere close to spending what I am bringing since I have no room left to display it. But I am bringing a large empty suitcase to bring my purchases home in just in case.

 

[DMNamiot]

Wow am I ever amazed at how much you all seem to be willing to spend in Chicago. I'm sorry I wont be there but I also think I'm really far down the food chain when compaired to the big spenders here. 2K would be more than my entire expenditure for a year on this hobby. I look forward to hearing what you all discover while you are there. Have fun.

All the Best

Dave

 

[Steven Chong]

...How much of the money spent at OTSN (or any other show) is spent on items readily available from other sources, any time of the year? In other words, what percentage of budgeted money actually goes for normal stock items?

How is it for you guys who go to the show? Are you looking to pick up a piece you would buy anyway or are you there for more obscure stuff that you haven't seen anywhere?

I only purchase normal stock items at Chicago (OTSN) if it is a good deal e.g. a few years ago I purchased all the early EA sets (which were then available) for 40% of list price from a collector/dealer who was retiring. I love to barter, and many dealers just don't want to ship or carry back unsold stock after the show. What I usually purchase at Chicago are unique items like St. Petersburg figures. Each figure is painted slightly differently, so I need to inspect each figure before I purchase it. I am also always looking for rare or retired K&C figures for trading with Louis.

 

[jazzeum]

Re Pete Reuss' post, I remember him telling me after the show that the Beau Geste really flew off the shelves. I would imagine that would be the same this year plus I'm sure Honour Bound will do well. There really are tons of K & C dealers.

I did buy a couple of current items, plus an item or two that I might not have seen elsewhere but it was the retired items that I was looking for and I did succeed well there. I found three pieces of the Normandy Village as well as some other retired items so it was a big success for me. However, a year later, there aren't that many retired items that I want to/need to get or that I think I will find there. I doubt I'd find the pre 2000 retired items. However, that's not the only reason to go. The camaraderie, the looking around, kibbitizing, touching the items (which you can't do with the web), talking to Andy, seeing Ana and Daniel are things you can't really put a price tag on. I was really looking forward to seeing Andy, Louis and Hans and talking to Ana and Daniel about Argentina (I used to live in Uruguay) but it just didn't happen.

 

[Fubar]

I had heard about the show for years and in 2003 I actually went.I sold off a couple large 25mm painted Colonial armies for mad money.Since I knew I would probably only go once I decided to go loaded for bear.I took $3,000 cash for spending ,{ $2,000 in emergency reserve , just in case} no guilt buy what ya want kind of thing.A kid in a candy store adventure.It was indeed.

I went again in 2005 but didnt go near as hawg wild.Yes, theres plenty of things i could just order and have delivered, but it was still a great time wandering the halls with Leadmen and talking to everyone.
Thats what I'll miss this year, just the wandering and talking.Next year for sure!

Fubar

 

[Leadmen]

Thanks Fubar: Had a great time last year also and Jim came for the first time and bought more then I thought he would. I am going to try to limit under a grand this time. Already counted money spent since first of year and I am under the watchfull eye of you know who. I will mainly focus on metal figures and a few armor. No plastic- except one Beton guy I need and new SD soldiers,I try to be good but can't at times. I even booked another day-Thursday. I will probably be sitting behind the steering wheel Tuesday. That is really sick, but I enjoy it more then any vacation recently. John

 

[Warrior]

To further Pete's comments; from a dealers side, I first attended OTSN in September of 1997. I had one room and was able to fit all my stock into a small SUV and had one table for the show on Sunday.

Fast forward to 2006 and I've got two rooms, six tables for the day of the show and a van full of product, plus I am picking up stock from Michigan Toy Soldiers, Treefrog and Britains at the show, plus I will be shipping about a dozen boxes out to the hotel. Next year, I will probably need three rooms to properly display everything.

The show really has become quite an event, something I look forward to months in advance. I will have some pretty good retired K & C items this year, including a Rommel Staff Car, a WS 47, plus quite a few Arnhem sets and loose figures. I have also managed to get my hands on the first K & C Normandy Village (well, 7 of the 8 pieces) and custom painted it.

In all my years attending the show, I cannot remember a year where there was so much new product available, so we'll see how things go..................