Doing swap meet business

[Mikael F.]

[Loren L.]

Bargain; some vendors take plastic;

good AND bad sellers; if it's a rare or CRITICAL part to you, buy it on the first pass because it won't be there when you return; trunk of the car should be safe; glad to have you - Help keep America GREEN!

[William C.]

Re: Doing swap meet business

At Corvettes at Carlisle, you will find everything from professionsl shops/dealers to Guys cleaning out their garages (me) Very little non Corvette stuff there, some bargans generally show up, but usually not at the booth of the large dealers who are set up for Plastic, the cheap parts usually require cash. Is it safe? I've never heard of a problem, and it's the way most of the small fellows conduct business. There is an ATM facility on the grounds to convert plastic to cash, but you pay a premium to do it that way. Stop by F-38, even Loren has been by in the past.

[Mike M.]

Re: Doing swap meet business

mike: if you stop by clupper's booth(f-38) the beer is cold and the prices and parts are right on. mike

[Loren L.]

Will be there again on Friday, right

around Beer-thirty/

[Al S.]

Re: Doing swap meet business

Mikael,
The answer to all of your questions are......YES!
Loren's advise is correct, there are reputable and nonreputable people selling parts....Here's a few tips in advance while adventuring through the best eighty-something acre Corvette Treasure hunt known to man.
(I don't know about your's, but on my calendar, these Corvette events are listed as national holidays!)

1) When you pay your admission at the gate they will hand you a program with a map of the fairgrounds, vendor listings, and a schedule of events. Use it. I usually have a list of parts needed and vendors who might have them. I look up the vendor to see what space they're in and write up a little list of who's- who and what isle and space number they are in. Then I hit as many of the sure bets first by isle and make notes along the way of who I'd like to stop back at and see.

2) I have first hand experience of knowing the money machine in building "T"
(I think it's T) still has cash in it late on Sunday afternoon.

3) Although the days of muddy paths are gone it also helps to bring some sort of a cart to drag these treasures along in. My wife and son usually make the "pilgrimage" with me and help tote things along in one of those collapsable wire basket carts. Depending how much you purchase, and your stamina of how long you can drag this stuff around, will be the deciding factor of how many trips to the car (or truck) you'll be making. So get there early and park as close to a gate as you can. I've been going there for the past five years or so and I've never heard of any problems with cars being broken into. Carlisle is a nice town and I feel relatively safe keeping the merchandise tucked away out of sight in the car. Pack a cooler with ice and "cold beverages" to quench your thirst. August can be brutally hot, and it also gives you something to look foward to on those long trecks back to the car. An umbrella or a poncho in the cart usually helps incase the weather turns sour.

4) I never hurts to bargain. All they could say is no. One bargain is some vendors will pay the shipping if you buy there.(ie: I should have purchased my tires there, but they didn't have them so I waited till I got home and then I placed the order and paid the shipping!) What can I say, I personally like to see and feel the quality I'm buying. You see many items in many catalogs that appear correct, until you see it with you own eyes. I guess you could say another "plus" is that it can save you from having to return it. If it looks great in the brochure and it's not to your eye, you just don't buy it. It also gives you a chance to compare some re-pops to NOS side by side and see exactly how cheaply made some items really are made.

All in all it's a great adventure. I know I got a little long winded, but I hope this helps you out. When you get done you'll be saying "I've seen it all in Carlisle"

[Dennis C.]

Re: Doing swap meet business

Don't tell a soul, but I'd start shopping on Thursday...

[Mike Cobine]