I'm thinking about taking some war-gaming related books, magazines and surplus figures etc. to the Bring & Buy at a show. As, I've never done one before and only have car boot selling experience. I've a few questions that someone might have answers for and have a few tips to give.
Do you leave your stuff (merchandise) there all day? What about haggling the price? Who looks after your stuff when you're walking about buying more stuff to replace the stuff you're selling?
Many thanks
Broadly speaking you:
- take it to the B&B table at the show. This is staffed by members of the group running the show.
- They will give the items a number/label etc so that they can record it as being sold or otherwise.
- You tell them the price you want it sold at.
- You may have to pay a small up front fee or a percentage of the sale cost in 'admin charges'.
- At the end of the show, or at anytime of your choosing, you can go and collect your takings or the unsold items.
- Unfortunately items do get stolen from B&B tables, so be warned. I think Warfare at Reading last year had quite a few high value items stolen.
Hope this helps?
Alternatively, some shows have Tabletop Sales, like Vapnartak http://www.yorkwargames.org/VapnartakTableTopSale.htm (http://www.yorkwargames.org/VapnartakTableTopSale.htm)
There are also a few events which are just Tabletop Sales, like Lincombe Barn near Bristol http://www.bristolwargaming.co.uk/table_top_sale.html (http://www.bristolwargaming.co.uk/table_top_sale.html)
If you are interested, if you are searching for Wargaming Tabletop Sales, they are also known as Flea Markets, like at Pendraken's Smoggycon.
See the nice new Smoggycon website at http://www.smoggycon.co.uk/index.html (http://www.smoggycon.co.uk/index.html)
Hey Albie B & Steve J
Many thanks for your replies and the information. I've heard about stuff going 'walkies' from people's tables before, which is a pretty low thing to do!
I like the idea of the tabletop sales! A great idea would be to travel to the shows, sell surplus stuff and then buy more stuff!
We run the Gauntlet B&B as a no fee own risk table - watched over by me normally. Not lost anything, but have gained on occasion. Wargamers are mostly an honest lot. Having said that an unpainted 25mm Roman army was half-hitched from the Triples some years ago, the organisers paid me for it.
IanS
Cheers Ian
Looks like a good show and not too far from my part of the world.
Ta very much
Why not come along ?