I had fun and I came home with $600 more than I went with. Woo Hoo! I sold 2 bikes, wheels, pedals, shifters, tools, several cranks, etc. I recorded my sales in my new palm pilot that time stamped the sales. That way I could remember what I sold and for how much. Sold my first bike as the show opened to another seller. Most items sold before noon. Only sold the second bike after noon. Like others we packed up and left by 2:30. This was my second time selling and my 4th or 5th visit to this swap meet.
A few lessons for anyone selling. PUT a price tag on everything! So many people will just hand you the cash for an item. Most won't ask the price and will just walk away. Some are willing to dicker on price. I came down on price for only 3 items I sold because people asked. The others just paid the price on the tag. I was quite willing to negotiate a lower price on all the items because I priced them at what I thought was fair or slightly more. Worried about theft? I don't think I've ever had anything stolen. But you could write down everything you brought, check off sold items and do your own inventory afterwards to see. Some vintage sellers put everything under glass. The swap meet has a bicycle corral where people can sell bikes without renting a table. The corral is watched all day and sellers get a tag to prove the bike is theirs when selling or retrieving. They charge $5 per bike, sold or not. I don't know how sucessfull the corral is. Damage. The swap meet is packed with people in heavy winter coats and it's sure someone is going to knock a frame set over. Many times over. There were a few devices for securing frames to the table tops. I saw cut off broom sticks thru bb shells taped to the table top. I saw boards with front fork dropout clamps that used a standard quick release. Share a table with a friend so you can go shopping yourself while your friend watches the table.
Advice for anyone buying. Take your time and examine the items. There are lots with something wrong. Like stripped threads or a busted off part that makes it useless. A tablemate realized he brought 2 right look pedals to sell instead of a matching pair. I bought a frame/fork and when I got home I discovered the fork needs to be threaded down another inch to work and part of the headset was missing. So who cares, I spent $2 for the frame & fork & partial headset. The sellers won't tell you there is a problem if you don't ask. Lots of sellers cut prices way down later in the day. Many don't want to bring anything back home with them. A ridden-once-24"-gary-fisher-mtb for $50! My nephew is happy. And no shipping fees.
Ask the price. Sometimes you won't believe how cheap it is. I'm still anoyed with myself for not asking about a pair of wheels that I thought were going to be way too much only to find out later they sold for practially nothing. Okay they were the thermoplastic Spins with mtb tires, qrs, cog. Like new. Sold for $20.
Someone mentioned there were too many retail sellers. I disagree. I think the buyers get that impression because they are all bunched up at the front and bring mountains of stuff (clothing shoes helmets) and those are what the buyers see first when they come in the front door. There is a pretty good mix of new, old, vintage, used, beat to death, racing, etc.
All in all, much more fun and lots easier than eBay. A part in the hand is better than any photography on the web. (no comments please) The temptation for impulse buying is what drives the swap meet.
Rick Paulos
Iowa City.