Related to a previous thread I posted about having a boatload of mid-50s truck parts, I'm hoping some west-coast forum members can chime in on their experiences selling at the California swap meets ('The Big 3' in San Diego and the monthly Pomona swaps, specifically). To recap, my late father left behind enough car stuff to keep us busy selling for going on 8 solid years now. While I'm not super thrilled about it, I've come to realize that I need to ramp things up and hit the major swap meets if I'm ever going to finish getting all these items into the hands of fellow hobbyists.

So - I'm hoping for any tips you experienced sellers might have on the logistics of arriving at a show with lots of parts, such as...

• What size rental truck can one show up with and still be within event guidelines? Are there logistics that favor a specific size vehicle?
  • I'd love to use a lift-gate rental truck as we have multiple parts racks on wheels that would be much easier to load/unload with such a truck, but perhaps this isn't feasible at the event itself
• For those swaps that take place over multiple days, do you reload your stuff at the end of the first day, leave, and then come back? If not, is your 'stuff' secure overnight?
• Are certain categories or types of parts just not worth bringing? (heads, transmissions, generators, brake drums, etc.)
• Any/all other tips on what you wish you'd known beforehand or had to learn the hard way?

We are planning to show up at each of the above swaps just once, so I'm trying to be as prepared as possible to offset the costs I'll incur between the truck rental, gas, and event fees. Thanks for any guidance you might have.

 

1. Go to the website of each meet and see how big the spaces are. Don't bring a 20' truck to a 10x25 space. You got to save room for your stuff. Are you bringing your own tables or renting from them?
2. At Carlisle I move my tables together, put a tarp over them then lower my tent over the tables. Some vendors sleep in their vehicles. I've never had a problem. Super rare, expensive stuff or things that shouldn't get damp from rain or dew I take with me.
3. You never know what some guy is looking for. You don't want to get home and say, "I wish I had brought that!" Cause of the weight of things like tranny's could be a problem, but you're better off selling it a meet than shipping it. If you get a lift gate truck it's even easier.
4. Do your research for pricing and know how low you will go on items.

 

Be prepared for wind, mud, dust, blazing sun and rain. One of those four things is gonna happen for sure and maybe 3 of them all at once.

When I sold stuff at a swap meet, I made a 'free' box of decent but hard to sell or ship items. It was all for sale in the early morning, cause that is when all the hot action is. After 11am, I put up a sign that said buy any one item, take any one free item.
it really made people look at the box of free stuff and spent more time looking at my tables. At about 1pm, the sign came down and the free box became free to all and anyone.
I just didn't want to take that stuff back home and here were a bunch of car guys that probably could use it.
Like Abe said, you never know what some guy is looking for. And some stuff you think will sell in 15 minutes will sit all day with not a soul picking it up.
Also like Abe mentions, think of the space size in terms of how much layout display room you need and then how much space your truck/trailer takes up including maneuvering room for both buyers and parking your rig.
Tom

 

I'm in Orange County, and used to sell at some of the swaps, but now I just go as a buyer since I've liquidated most of what I wanted to get rid of.
Now this is my experience of the monthly Long Beach one, and the 8-9 time a year Pomona swap.
Pomona in the summer can be hot! Pop up tents are your best friend. If it rains, again, your best friend. Pomona is the largest swap on the West Coast, vendors show up from all over the West Coast and beyond. I went today, bought parts from a guy that came from WY. You can set up the day before, and stay the night in your spot. If you show up the day of, be very early. You can find when they allow vendors in on their site.
As for parts, I see transmissions all the time, don't be afraid of weight. A buyer for a trans will be wagon equipped to haul it away. You can bring generators, but be prepared to only get maybe $5-10 for them. They are not rare, bring few bucks, and many guys dump them for alternators. They may not really be worth bringing. Stock heads and intakes, same thing. Not many guys are searching for those parts, and you may just get peanuts for them.
Honestly, in my experience, be prepared to bring about half of what you take back with you. Unless you are giving really really good prices, you will not sell it all in one shot.
You can bring a small grille to Pomona to make yourself and your crew food, so remember that so you can eat. It's best to have a partner so you can get breaks when nature calls.
Good luck with your sale. If you go to Pomona, I might just see you there.

 

Thanks for all the great info, guys...I do appreciate it. We'll see how things go.

 

I sold at swap meets for 20 years (1966/86), the west coast majors used to be: Long Beach Model T Club, Harrah's in Reno, Turlock and Portland OR ..

Pomona back then was so small, it was held at the parking lot for Building 8 at the LA County Fairgrounds. Today it's fills up the huge parking lot across the street from the Fairgrounds.

Harrah died the day before the car show in 1977, so there were no more meets. Long Beach Model T swap meet died a slow death. Newbies to the hobby thought it was just for Model T parts.

Portland is still very good, but you better make hotel reservations far in advance, otherwise you'll be sleeping in your vehicle. Guess how I know this.

The problem with Turlock is, the tule fog is so thick that when driving there, it's very difficult to see more than a few feet in front of your car.

A friend of mine, on his way to Turlock, was rear ended by a semi traveling about 55 MPH while stopped at a RR crossing.

He was driving a HUGE 1960 Lincoln Continental sedan, the rear bumper ended up about 6" from the front seat.