Swap meet etiquette

[ozfast]

bit of a rant i know but after attending a swap meet over the weekend and witnessing some behaviour from grown men rummedging through a sellers trailer as he pulled up and the guys didnt even get a chance too get out of the car ! (admittantly they arrived late and were "new blood" ) and because of the rush of people a couple of boxes of NOS gear were stolen ,the guy was ****** as ever and screamed out and told everyone" to back off for 10 minutes whilst they get there tressle table out and get organized " Do you stand there and wait patiently whilst they unload there gear or are you one of these people mentioned above? I for one do not believe people should act like savages but thats just me

[gcg2503]

Totally unacceptable behaviour

No part or money is worth acting like that. Nothing.

[SSD-85]

Vultures. Reminds me of people who call at 7 in the morning on a Saturday to call about an ad you placed....

[XT302]

You should have assisted them with some crowd control the old fashioned way...

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

I can see both sides.

To start off get to swap meet on time as a seller, makes it easier to set up before the crowds get there.

I can also see the buyer that got out of bed in the middle of the night hopeful of finding that part that he may have been looking for for years to complete his project. And it's first in best dressed.

So standing back and waiting for everyone else might have you searching for a few more years.

[2011G6E]

Vultures. The couple of times I've set up a stall at a swap meet, they don't open the gates to the public until maybe 6am, and you have until then to get your site setup (gates open to entrants from 3 or 4 for those who didn't camp the night before, for example). This means you usually only have to deal with other stall owners who have already setup and are wandering around before the public gets in.

[pottery beige]

wouldve been out the car with dh belting stick straight away..

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

wouldve been out the car with dh belting stick straight away..

Same here, I would have leaped out of my car swinging.

[302 XC]

Vultures like described have been at swap meets since as far back as i remember
Like a feeding frenzy sometimes
Its no different to say a garage sale "Not before 7am " and getting knocks on the door at 4 am,or even worse people turning up the night before
Be a casual at a decent weekend market and you cope this all the time
Swap meets, weekend markets,garage sales are all bad for unsavory antics
No wonder people now resort to online selling

[The Yeti]

Ive never had a problem with theft at a swap, seems to be a code or somthing, as for the otehr Ive always been in the que for the gate to open or camped the night so thats never been a problem either

Ive come acorss some really odd sellers that have boxes of crap out but dont want you to rummage through it, thye expect you to ask and they will either say no or yers and find it, then they get ****** when they find it its not in the condition you accept or they want to much and you say no thanks

[Dauphin]

That's revolting, ozfast! Sounds like some of the stuff you see at the crazy Boxing Day sales here or the Thanksgiving sales in the US. There's probably people who go every time and wait for that rush so they can use it to take stuff without being noticed.

[STINKY NINJA]

Sounds like christmas day,me and the missus went out for chrissy lunch and it was a buffet,omg people just went feral and absolutely desperate like they had never seen food before,almost arguing over food.
I felt embarrassed to be there.
I think starving third world people have more manners than those people...
Worst part was,the food was below even being average..
Most likely the people were relatives of the swap meet ferals.

[ozfast]

i was pretty ****ed to say the least,and yes if you get up there at 6 ,unload and prepare yourself you take the "vulture" aspect out of the equasion ,i went back to the stall about 20 minutes later and it was still three deep with people,when i finally reached the front (after giving a few blokes "the look" ) most of the badges were well picked through but did score a fairmont pillar badge and a grille badge as well for my next project,whilst there the two gents were talking about how they would split the money one guy said " it was your dads stuff god rest his sole we are here just too help you clear it" and he was the guy goin off his tits at the "vultures" probably was a stressful day enough for the bloke selling his deceased fathers parts that was made worse by the certain element that took advantage,very poor indeed

[mik]

looking at peoples behaviour it makes you ashamed to be human sometimes.

[robbyj]

i don't know how people could bring themselves to go through his trailer? I know i couldn't, even if i saw a part i wanted or needed, id wait til he was set up before asking.

My dad has had things stolen from auctions, he has won the items, and the most valuable bit has been stolen before he has gone to pick it up.

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by robbyj

My dad has had things stolen from auctions, he has won the items, and the most valuable bit has been stolen before he has gone to pick it up.

Thats why most decent auction places , you cant remove anything till you show proof of payment , regarding the lot number
Ive heard a disgusting story of a local garage sale
2 ladies running it, some person knocked the rack of clothes over so the 2 ladies flocked to fix it,while the other party helped themselves to other goods

[XBROO]

Have to watch the oxygen thieves in this country, they'll sneak in with the humans.