Post by af3020 on Oct 21, 2023 17:35:41 GMT
Rockymountaineer and Traindiesel! You see these kinds of differences for the same item in the same condition all the time.
One of my favorite York attendance stories involves this issue. Many years ago I took a guest to York. He was looking for a Lionel #356 Operating Freight Station in mint condition which, at that time, was going for about $35. He had spent a lot of time on his search and had had zero success in his hunt (this was way before the internet). I told him I knew it was a relatively common accessory and I assured him there would be dozens for sale in mint condition at York.
We arrived, went directly to the Blue Hall, walked in and, sure enough, sitting on the very first table on the very first isle was what he was looking for - price $30. He gave me a big grin and started to reach for his wallet. I stopped him and told him to walk a bit more to see what we could see. You could tell he wasn't very keen on the idea but he put his wallet back and we continued walking down the isle. About 1/4 of the way down that first isle we found a second one in the same condition - price $26. We went through the same drill and continued our walk. About half-way down that isle we found a third - price $20. I still told him to wait and, even though you could see it was really getting to him, he complied. We were just about to the end of that first row when we found yet another - same condition - price $15.
Before I could say anything he said, in a rather loud voice," I don't care if there's anything cheaper than this one! I'm buying this one right now!" A few people looked around and the seller looked a bit startled but the purchase was made and my friend and I returned to my car to put his find in the trunk. As it turned out, $15 for a mint #356 at that particular York, was the lowest price at the meet.
One of my favorite York attendance stories involves this issue. Many years ago I took a guest to York. He was looking for a Lionel #356 Operating Freight Station in mint condition which, at that time, was going for about $35. He had spent a lot of time on his search and had had zero success in his hunt (this was way before the internet). I told him I knew it was a relatively common accessory and I assured him there would be dozens for sale in mint condition at York.
We arrived, went directly to the Blue Hall, walked in and, sure enough, sitting on the very first table on the very first isle was what he was looking for - price $30. He gave me a big grin and started to reach for his wallet. I stopped him and told him to walk a bit more to see what we could see. You could tell he wasn't very keen on the idea but he put his wallet back and we continued walking down the isle. About 1/4 of the way down that first isle we found a second one in the same condition - price $26. We went through the same drill and continued our walk. About half-way down that isle we found a third - price $20. I still told him to wait and, even though you could see it was really getting to him, he complied. We were just about to the end of that first row when we found yet another - same condition - price $15.
Before I could say anything he said, in a rather loud voice," I don't care if there's anything cheaper than this one! I'm buying this one right now!" A few people looked around and the seller looked a bit startled but the purchase was made and my friend and I returned to my car to put his find in the trunk. As it turned out, $15 for a mint #356 at that particular York, was the lowest price at the meet.
