Jump to content

Starting the “ How Is It Going at HERSHEY ? “ thread !!!

mobileparts

By mobileparts
in Hershey Meet

 Share

Recommended Posts

TerryB 25,000+ Points

TerryB

Posted
Posted

The AMX by Christian Zinn has to be one of the best.  He is known in this area for his collection and knowledge of AMC products.  His family owned Zinn’s diner and entertainment complex in northeastern Lancaster county for years.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
solorogue

solorogue

Posted
Posted

I was at Hersey yesterday Tuesday 10/3 looking for parts for my 41' Dodge business coupe and it was a really sad waste of a long trip.

Very few vendors selling many parts and only three I could find on the map for old dodge parts, and they didn't even have much and nothing I needed.

The Carlisle summer events for both Ford and Mopar before Hersey were way better, and I was told there that Hersey was really the place to be for old parts.

Sadly, this was not the case, and I made the long 7 hr round trip for nothing going home with nothing :(

Talking with Vendors they are saying it's not like it used to be and turnout was really low. Not sure why the Hersey event did not go to the weekend, but a weekday only event really hurts people to go as well as vendors.

I am done doing to these events and will just look online now, which is sad as it's great to talk with (nice) vendors and other collectors. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tompett 1,000+ Points

tompett

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, mobileparts said:

Today at HERSHEY —- it was empty…. For long periods of time….

I have never seen the aisles so empty on a beautiful Sun shiny day….

Some of my friends, many year customers, and others said the exact same thing…

 

Where is Everybody ??? What are they waiting for ???

It was busier Yesterday / Monday … than it was today…. That’s crazy….

 

And the vendors …. Where are they ??? There are so many empty spots everywhere you look…. That is a crying shame , also….

 

That being said, I had two of my bigger orders picked up, 3 other orders picked up,

met 2 really good people who made nice initial purchases, and had one “ be-backer “ from yesterday come and buy yesterday’s request….

 

Laurent and his father from Belgium brought me a gift of some Belgian Chocolate —- and I am sorry, HERSHEY, with all the chocolate you have inside Chocolate World;

this was clearly superior !!!

 

You add up everything today, it was acceptable…. But I had plenty of time on hand, to make it a smokin’ hot day !!! Maybe, tomorrow…..

 

See y’all tomorrow…. Craig…..

Where are you at Hershey?

tomp

Link to comment
Share on other sites
R W Burgess 25,000+ Points

R W Burgess

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, solorogue said:

I was at Hersey yesterday Tuesday 10/3 looking for parts for my 41' Dodge business coupe and it was a really sad waste of a long trip.

Very few vendors selling many parts and only three I could find on the map for old dodge parts, and they didn't even have much and nothing I needed.

The Carlisle summer events for both Ford and Mopar before Hersey were way better, and I was told there that Hersey was really the place to be for old parts.

Sadly, this was not the case, and I made the long 7 hr round trip for nothing going home with nothing :(

Talking with Vendors they are saying it's not like it used to be and turnout was really low. Not sure why the Hersey event did not go to the weekend, but a weekday only event really hurts people to go as well as vendors.

I am done doing to these events and will just look online now, which is sad as it's great to talk with (nice) vendors and other collectors. 

*

I understand that the Hershey corporation had a special event set up for this weekend, which is why we put a day behind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mobileparts 5,000+ Points

mobileparts

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Solorogue,

Were you here at my stand —-=RED Field R C C 74 - 76 ???

Did you get my card & flyer ???

 

I have half your car sitting here BRAND NEW ——

Master Cylinder, Wheel Cylinders, Brake Hoses, Brake Shoes, Water Pump, Fuel Pump,

Front Motor Mount, Tune Up —- Points, Condenser, Rotor,Cap, and Spark Plugs,

Voltage Regulator,Ignition Switch & Tumbler, and much, much more…….

 

All in top notch Quality parts and N.O.S.,etc., etc…..

 

My guess is that you didn’t see —- A L L —- of what HERSHEY has to offer…. I bet that you got tired and quit —- you tell us otherwise…..

 

Here is my telephone number ,for future use…. 516 - 485 - 193five……. Craig……

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
joe_padavano 25,000+ Points

joe_padavano

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, alsancle said:

IMG_3298.jpeg

IMG_3297.jpeg

While I realize that the 1970s were not Ford's best time for quality control, a cursory examination of the bed on this conversion screams "kit car. I say the "1 of 8" claim is pegging the BS meter. I can find more than eight different versions of this conversion on the interwebs.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
edinmass 25,000+ Points

edinmass

Posted
Posted

I would say the best swap meet in ten years……more vendors, more stuff, and money changing hands. Lots of foot traffic, and weather was warm but tolerable. Visited with lots of friends, made a few good scores. More tomorrow.

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
alsancle 25,000+ Points

alsancle

Posted
Posted
6 minutes ago, edinmass said:

I would say the best swap meet in ten years……more vendors, more stuff, and money changing hands. Lots of foot traffic, and weather was warm but tolerable. Visited with lots of friends, made a few good scores. More tomorrow.

I don’t disagree. Today was a pretty active day all around. However, you can’t compare the foot traffic to what it was 10 years ago. In the car corral is probably 60% of what it was 10 years ago.

 

I will say this, Vendors are much more likely to have reasonable prices than in the past.  Things are changing, but it’s not the end of the world. I think there  needs to be some adaption. If you want young and working people you need to have some of the meet over the weekend.

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
trimacar 25,000+ Points

trimacar

Posted
Posted

I’m sure people walk by our spot and think “what a shame, those people aren’t selling anything, just sitting there, what a waste”.

 

But, you don’t see our sales.  Traffic somewhat light but we sold a lot of good stuff. Tempted to tell you our two day take, but you might not believe it, and plenty for tomorrow. Suffice it to say pays for flea market spot and camping site many times over.

 

Love the rumors about where Hershey is headed.  A whole new post should be on the rumors! Yes, it’s changing. Yes it may be fewer fields.  Yes it might move to a farm.  Only two years on wooden nickle, instead of three…what fun, I heard that and more on field today.

 

But, people don’t help, and I’m guilty of the Internet lure too.  Have a big, great, poster, showing lots of badges and emblems in color.  Hundred bucks, guy offers fifty.  Sometimes low ball offers can piss you off, I said no, I can post it on line and sell for 100 all day long, and I put it back in my Suburban.

 

Low ball something heavy and awkward to move?  You might own it….

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mobileparts 5,000+ Points

mobileparts

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well , hello everyone,I Read all the comments above , and I agree with many of you…

The attendance was easily the busiest of all three (3) days so far, but the 

aisles were never so full that people had to elbow one another to get through….

 

So, we could have invited another 50,000….

 

I had two more orders picked up —- so I am up to 12 of 14, and the two others said that they would be here Thursday….

 

Regular sales were good —- I would say better than mediocre , but not to the level of

Great…. Good is accurate…

 

The vendor across the aisle from me —- 6 spots —- rolled in here at 1:00 P.M. today.

I told him that he had missed 2 1/2 days !!! His reply was “ Yeah, I know —- I should 

have been here Monday. “ I said, you’ve got that right, some people that walked this field and might have bought some of your goods, won’t be back. “ which as we all know is true…. 
 

A lot of people do the Chocolate and the Red Fields earlier in the week —- and then head down towards the Green and Orange….

.I have often said that if you have a splash spread ( N OT. M E !!!), you vend in the Chocolate or Red — now — Monday through Wednesday, and then , the Green or Orange Thursday and Friday……

 

Anyway , tomorrow / Thursday , will be Day # 4 of 4 with absolute dynamite weather…

Enjoy !!!

 

Friday’s forecast has improved a tad…. The r drops are from 2:00 A.M. through the overbite until Noon Friday…Then, a break in the r action until 4 : 00 P.M. , and then to resume until and through Saturday morning….

Monitor the situation, as we all are doing, and prepare accordingly…. 99 + % of us are not rookies…..

 

Good luck to all —- and if you see HERSHEY Region Volunteers, Don’t forget to thank them for all the effort that they put in to make this the # 1 Automotive Event in the Universe… LONG LIVE HERSHEY and LONG LIVE ALL of US !!!!

 

Craig…..

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mobileparts 5,000+ Points

mobileparts

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I am sure you are watching with me —- 

Thursday —- all glorious….

 

the r word rolling in tonight around midnight —- for 12 hours —-

all morning through Noon —-

clear window from 12 : 00 Noon through 7 : 00 P.M. Friday 

r returns at 7 : 00 P.M. Friday evening into Saturday….

 

We shall see —- cross your fingers and toes and Pray….

 

Craig….

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pkhammer 10,000+ Points

pkhammer

Posted
Posted (edited)

  Please don't judge but I am one vendor that had to leave early. My job, pets and my 90 year old Mother required a shorter Hershey for me this year and I chose to be there the first half (Monday thru Wednesday) rather than the latter half.

  THE GOOD: It was great to see friends once again and thank you to those forum members that stopped by to say hello. Hershey is special and the people are what makes it special. It was also good to see Mr. Moscowitz cruising around the grounds. I only spoke to him briefly and he seemed quite tired but it was good to see him out and about!

  THE SO-SO: Sales seemed a bit off this year. I always bring a different variety of parts for sale so maybe what I brought this year just wasn't what people needed. I have had years where me and a helper barely had time to sit down because we were so busy helping customers. This year we had plenty of idle time between customers. I was there Monday thru Wednesday evening and the crowd seemed smaller, at least to me it did. Weather was a bit on the warm side too and I think it pooped some people out prematurely. I also didn't see/meet as many of our foreign friends again this year as years past.

  THE BAD: It's hard to say anything bad about the Hershey meet, but the dozens and dozens (hundreds?) of empty spaces are a concern and something I'll never quite understand. If all the spaces get sold out, why would anyone pay for spaces and not show up at all? Maybe it's just me but it seems there is a big difference between pre pandemic and post pandemic. Also, bicycles, mopeds and even motorcycles were out of control on the grounds.

 

  That is my observances from this week in a nutshell.

Edited by pkhammer
mispelling (see edit history)
  • Like 3
  • Thanks 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mobileparts 5,000+ Points

mobileparts

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hello and Good Evening everybody,

Here is my final report from HERSHEY 2023,

 

First, I agree with PK Hammer, above, that a concern is with 4 just beautiful days these past four (4) days , why in the world are there so many EMPTY vendor spaces ???!!

We know the HERSHEY Region of the AACA got paid for them, so they are not fretting, but, really, what gives ??? One patron asked me, “ what’s wrong with this field ? “
I answered him, “ I agree, but I don’t know, I am not their babysitter…” and shrugged my shoulders, agreeing with him in disbelief….

 

Ever vendor I spoke to (dozens) did fair, mediocre, eh - okay , or below par, awful, terrible, worst HERSHEY ever, and I don’t think I am coming back…..

 

And, of course, that is NOT GOOD………

 

There were only two I know who did “ GOOD “ —- my friend Andy and me….

 

I had 13 of my 14 orders picked up, and the only one who didn’t pick it up, it is only a 

$ 75 item —- I gave him a courtesy call even, but got a voicemail… He didn’t call me back, so we’ll figure out a plan C , no big deal….

 

With my medical conditions, I had two friends help me get all my merchandise, tables, and overhead canopies back into the van and U - Haul, and then I treated them to Dinner and Ice Cream Sundaes inside Chocolate World….

 

I am going to pick up $ 2000 worth of merchandise an hour and a half from here , while I have the U - Haul ( pre arranged ) while I am down this way —- I might as well get my money’s worth…. So I will not be able to attend the show….

 

————————- HERE IS SOME GREAT NEWS !!!!!!!! ——————————

The r event has backed off some…. It is now scheduled from 4:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. this overnight, early Friday A.M. , 

then supposed to subside, and pick up again from 8:00 P.M. Friday evening through 

10:00 A.M. Saturday….

 

That gives everybody a 10 Hour window to have the show go on !!! So everybody Pray tonight that you all can enjoy ( with due respect to Barnum and Bailey ) , the

G R E A T E S T.  S H O W.  O N.  E A R T H !!!!

 

God Bless Us All , God Bless America and all our foreign friends, Have a blessed winter all, Let’s do this again in 2024 and for many years to come….

 

In fact, “ So much more, in 2024 !!! “ and “ Let our engines roar in 2024 !!! “

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rniez 250+ Points

rniez

Posted
Posted

I have some thoughts about why the flea market spaces are sold out yet there are so many empty spaces.

 

1. Could it be that vendors are unhappy with they're current spaces but are not willing to permanently change to new spaces without trying them out. You pre-register for your current spaces and also register in August for more spaces, In effect you have two spaces but only use one. When you decide which you like better you don't renew the one you don't like. You could do this for years until you find the right space. You can't blame Hershey Region for this.

2. There is a domino effect it the flea market. Customers come, see the empty spaces and stay home the next year. Vendors see low spectator counts and decide it isn't worth selling so they stop coming. As a result, show shrinks a little every

3. It would be a big help if a section for motorhome parking existed. People use flea market spaces at Hershey for motorhomes out of convenience so they can be close and save cost/hassle of a trailer park.

4. All of this hoopla about golf carts, etc, could be resolved if the rules on the books were enforced. Here is an example of random enforcement.

The vendor next to was confronted by Hershey Region because he had some parts in the aisle and was asked to move them. He complied. Meanwhile, the vendor across the aisle was partying away: loud music, drinking (Martinis at 10) etc. ,which went on all weekend. They had an illegal 4 person golf cart. One of the women was acting like a circus barker selling some product. It appears that all of that is OK so long as you don't block the aisleway. Why can' Hershey region hire some Hershey Parks police to enforce the rules a the entrance to each field?

We do the York TCA Meet 2 weeks after Hershey and none of this goes on because rules are strictly enforced. York fair police do the enforcing. Example: You cannot leave York on Saturday before 3 PM unless the meet chairman ok's for an emergency, etc. If you leave without permission, they send you a warning letter. After two letters you lose your spaces permanently. The show is great-totally organized with none of the hassles of Hershey. They control the golf carts by the way.(And you can rent a handicapped scooter for half the price of Hershey.) York is in Pennsylvania, and they restrict golf carts and ATV's -why is Hershey different?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mobileparts 5,000+ Points

mobileparts

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

To address your comments above :

# 1 ) If you have spaces all over, and are only using one set of them, you are paying an awful lot of extra money with no return on investment…

        I know I wouldn’t be foolish enough to do that, and I don’t think (?) too many are 

(?)….

 

# 2 ) That is , for sure, the crux of the problem… That is why some prominent shows of yesterday year are no longer, or , on their death bed presently….

What we must do, is fill the aisles with vendors and fill the walkways with patrons, like it used to be….

Our opponents , naturally, are people dying, people too old to walk, very little next generations interest, and more….

 

# 3 ) There is a motor home parking lot —- where the Blue and White Fields used to be.

If a motor home is part of a vendor’s spread, it needs to be at the back of their spread, like my next-door-neighbors….

 

# 4 ) Golf Carts are clearly a problem… Certainly at a lot of shows, where they just drive around through the swap meet area, and buy nothing from anyone…. And are constantly in the way of the walking patrons….

 

   Here at HERSHEY, it must be said, and for years, That I actually have MORE golf carts stop at my stand and purchase items than at any other show !!!

 

   We are an older crowd, of course, so it really is difficult to deny people the right to cover more ground , as big as HERSHEY is, without the aid of some motorized equipment…. There, the golf cart drivers just need to utilize patience, and allow their slower moving brothers and sisters the right of way…..

Edited by mobileparts
Darn spellcheck (see edit history)
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...