What is the best/worst you've done when selling at a swap meet?

[Kern Dog]

Like many others here, I often sell stuff of mine to buy stuff for my own projects. We buy parts cars and sell stuff from them, we sometimes buy stashes of parts from some old timer and pack it up to sell at a swap meet.
I love selling stuff.
This guy I know that used to live in a tee pee sometimes sold at swap meets but his grumpy demeanor surely turned off buyers. I tried to show him that smiling, eye contact and saying Hello is better than ignoring people.
I'm not broke but I feel better when I offset the costs of building or upgrading the cars with the sale of stuff that I don't need nor want.
THIS IS NOT A SALES AD. PLEASE DO NOT TURN IT INTO ONE!
I've sold at different car shows and events. Sometimes I've done well, other times it was a waste of time. The worst was when I've sold at the Sacramento Raceway show. People were there primarily to race but they had a swap meet and car show too. I never made more that a couple hundred dollars there.
The best ever was in 2014 at the Mopar Alley show in Fremont Ca. They used to have their show at Ohlone College but had to relocate when the college expanded and built in the spot where they used to hold the show.
I've never had any rare or super valuable stuff. No Hemi or 6 pack stuff, Hardly ever any E body or spare Charger stuff either. I am not the guy that occupies 4 spaces and has a crew of helpers.
I'm just a guy that scoured the junkyards, cleared out garages of former enthusiasts and bought cheap A bodies to strip down.
The best day ever was $2850 and a lot of it was $20-$50 stuff. Emblems, arm rests, gauge clusters, interior stuff as well as K members and a few body parts. Other times I've scored between $500-$800.
No matter what, I'm just out there selling stuff that I don't need or that I already have 2 or 3 more of back at home.
I have stuff that was given to me by members of our local Mopar club. Many times, the haul is 90% worthless but sometimes there are some good things in the mix.
What about you?

[Kern Dog]

.

Christ, the 1970 Charger registry is a SLOW site but this one is heading that way too. How can a forum created for a car so popular be so damned slow?
There are less than 10 members that actually still post here. The site owner doesn't even come around unless there is trouble.

[Old Moparz]

Christ, the 1970 Charger registry is a SLOW site but this one is heading that way too. How can a forum created for a car so popular be so damned slow?
There are less than 10 members that actually still post here. The site owner doesn't even come around unless there is trouble.

Be patient, you only posted your question on the 22nd. Most of the members here are still using dial up. 

[Old Moparz]

I haven't been a vendor at a swap meet since Bush Sr. was in the White House. 

When I did it, it was at the big Mopar show at Englishtown's Raceway Park. This was the biggest show in the northeast for many years & before the Mopar show at Carlisle existed. It had 100's of vendors, even more show cars & also drag racing. They gave away cars at this event & they were nice including a 1969 Super Bee.

I sold stuff 4 or 5 years in a row & always did well. Fenders for $35, hood for $25, seats, bumpers misc. parts from $10 to $50. I met people who needed parts I had but didn't bring like a complete 383 that needed a rebuild for $50. He came to my house the following weekend.

Met another guy selling a complete 1970 Air Grabber hood in mint condition & found out he needed a full quarter panel that I had cut off a parts car. He drove to my house & we traded the parts dead even. I sold my GTX but kept the hood & still have it. 

The stuff I had was just extra stuff I didn't need. Sold $500 or so worth of stuff the first two years & then it dropped off a bit. It was still worth it because the vending space was cheap, like $25 & I had access to a truck from work for free. The last time I did it I broke even selling enough parts to cover the vending space, gas & tolls so I was done.

About three years later a friend was getting a vending space & asked if I wanted to bring stuff to sell. We split the cost, he borrowed a truck from where he worked & we went. He sold an old distributor for $10 & I sold absolutely nothing. The weather sucked, it rained the entire weekend. Not only that, but the track changed the event schedule that year.

The show used to be in late June or early July. We went from typically great weather, to very unpredictable weather in May. I had stopped going for a long time when my kid was born. He was literally born the same weekend as the show. I remember being in the hospital & standing there in the room with my wife when some other family members walked in. I said to my wife, "Oh good, there's some people to keep you company, I still have time to get to the Mopar show!" 

It was years until I went again because of my son's birthday being the same weekend. I wasn't aware of it but that show dwindled & dwindled until it was smaller than a VFW Pancake Breakfast Show. I remember going for the first time in 6 or 8 years & was absolutely shocked. Less than 25 vendors, maybe 50 show cars, & a small number of race cars & no give away prizes. 

As far as selling again, nope. The vending spaces have escalated over the years & over $100 I think. The tax man wants money & you have to fill out tax forms. I could load my truck & trailer with stuff & take a shot at it but I doubt I have the patience to deal with the knuckdraggers offering me $10 for a $100 part & then telling me they can buy it for less online.

[Kern Dog]

I had a space at a show on Saturday her in Northern CA.
Some complained about the heat but it only got to 88. I'm from Sacramento where it was 103 when I got home so 88 was just fine.
I did okay...I sold stuff that I'd never miss from cars I don't care to restore....early A body stuff mostly. I made around $700, subtract $100 for fuel and $50 for the space I still did okay for the day. I like talking to people and swapping stories anyway.

[Kern Dog]

Christ, the 1970 Charger registry is a SLOW site but this one is heading that way too. How can a forum created for a car so popular be so damned slow?
There are less than 10 members that actually still post here. The site owner doesn't even come around unless there is trouble.

Be patient, you only posted your question on the 22nd. Most of the members here are still using dial up. 

I want to see this place stick around. I love these cars and am disappointed to see the site traffic drop off so much.

[John_Kunkel]

One of my better days at a swap meet, I hauled the stuff in my '58 Ford Ranchero. Took a buddy and some Chevy parts of his.  At the end of the day, I'd sold most of my Mopar stuff and we were loading up his stuff to leave when a Ford guy came by and wanted to buy the decorative chrome tubing  rails on the side of the Ranchero bed. The rails weren't stout enough to use as tie-downs so I thought "why not"?  I handed him a Phillips screwdriver, he removed them and paid me a lot more that I thought they were worth.

I called that day a "clean sweep".

[armor64]

i have never really been a seller, but, i was buying from a guy going into a retirement home, had a 440 core (not bored yet), 68 heads, late 70s heads, 2 axles (1 older, 1 from newer trucks) and such.

Then when almost done, his son was there and said "oh and heres the last of it" and wheeled out a 6 pack intake, carbs, aircleaner on a cart. it was never referenced in the ad, and i went "oh, we will put that all inside the truck cab instead..." and got a minty setup.

I had already decided on EFI at the time, so spoke with a vendor buddy to meet up at the WOMO drag event on fathers day weekend for mopars, and he said i could sell it on his tarp space. When we got there, carried it across the fields to his area, a very large man was there sitting on the back of his van, asked to see the parts, cross referenced the numbers, and paid me for it on the spot. the sale of that setup paid for my 440 rebuild completely.

[70 sublime]

Well the title of the thread says swap meet

I usually do not sell much of my car stuff unless a friend asks or I see a wanted ad
If I ever do list anything for sale I usually just post a local classified ad which costs me nothing and if parts sell then fine

My other hobby is model trains and myself and a buddy always have a sales table at the local train show swap meet
We do very well most times ( 9 out of 10 ) but the train show is in Feb and the weather can suck some years

[Kern Dog]

I used to sell at the Sacramento Raceway drag race, car show, swap meet event. I never made much, the best being maybe $300 and a couple times I barely made $100.
In 2014 at a Mopar Alley show at Ohlone College in Fremont, I made almost $3000. That was the pinnacle of my swap history. I haven't come close to that since.

[John_Kunkel]

In 2014 at a Mopar Alley show at Ohlone College in Fremont, I made almost $3000.

Did you "sell" $3000 or "make" $3000? "Make" implies that you made a profit...in most cases, the stuff we sell at swap meets goes for less than we originally paid but not always.

Lots of parts increase in value due to scarcity so one could actually make a profit at the end of the day, that's why there's lots of people making a living off of swap meets.

[Johnnyu]

Not me but I have a friend that used to buy and sell a lot of BBC engine parts.I would help him many times.1 time we went to a swap meet at Great Lakes Drag strip in Union Grove WI.We were the swap meet.Everybody was racing and nobody was buying.Less than $200 that day.A few years later he was selling at the Chevy/Corvette show at McComick Place in Chicago.I sold for him on Saturday because he was testing for his Masters degree,He was a high school teacher.I sold almost $8000 that day.

[Kern Dog]

In 2014 at a Mopar Alley show at Ohlone College in Fremont, I made almost $3000.

Did you "sell" $3000 or "make" $3000? "Make" implies that you made a profit...in most cases, the stuff we sell at swap meets goes for less than we originally paid but not always.

Lots of parts increase in value due to scarcity so one could actually make a profit at the end of the day, that's why there's lots of people making a living off of swap meets.

I left the park after taking in $2850, the parts that I sold were FREE to me so yeah, I "made" a full profit from what I sold.
Semantics anyway. I left the park with a lot more money than I arrived with.

[Kern Dog]

How about success stories with garage sales?
I haven't had one in many years. One time though, I made a couple hundred bucks one weekend. Most of the stuff was dollar items. One time I had a sale on a Sunday and it was terrible....I made a pitiful $13.

[Back N Black]

Ok, I'm here to complain. I'm restoring a 73 challenger. I restored my charger 20 years ago. I cannot believe the price of used parts. We supposed to be a group of car guys helping each other out, until its time to sell parts. I don't have a lot of parts to sell but when I do I pretty much sell it for what I payee for it 15-20 years ago. Trying to help out guys in the hobby. There are parts on E-Bay for sale that I would give away or throw away, but people want a fortune. Forums and groups aren't much better.

[Kern Dog]

Challengers have never been cheap to restore as long as I have been in the hobby. Chargers are even worse!

[Back N Black]

Challengers have never been cheap to restore as long as I have been in the hobby. Chargers are even worse!

The make and model doesn't matter. If I have a part on the shelf for 20 years and paid $200 bucks for it, why would I charged the next guy $800. for it. If you want to help a guy in the hobby, if its a business or you really need the cash I guess that's a different story.

[Kern Dog]

Your mindset is noble but others often sell based on market value. If you find that similar parts are frequently sold for far more than you paid for them 20 years ago, that is inflation and market value at work.
I don't look to scalp people when I sell stuff but I don't give valuable stuff away.

[70 sublime]

I do not sell much of my spare parts just in case I need something in the future
But if there is some stuff I sell I will sell it at the going rate but there is always the buddy price if I know you and you need a part

[INTMD8]

I haven't been a vendor at a swap meet since Bush Sr. was in the White House.

Same.  I arrive, swarmed and sold anything of value at half price to other vendors.

Had a set of taillights I priced at 5 dollars (for the pair).  After the same guy offered me a dollar for them 3 times I got up and stomped both into the ground.  Never went back.

[Kern Dog]

I haven't been a vendor at a swap meet since Bush Sr. was in the White House.

Same.  I arrive, swarmed and sold anything of value at half price to other vendors.

Had a set of taillights I priced at 5 dollars (for the pair).  After the same guy offered me a dollar for them 3 times I got up and stomped both into the ground.  Never went back.

Yeah, that is sensible and reasonable.....

[GreenMachine]

Your mindset is noble but others often sell based on market value. If you find that similar parts are frequently sold for far more than you paid for them 20 years ago, that is inflation and market value at work.
I don't look to scalp people when I sell stuff but I don't give valuable stuff away.

My mindset on selling parts as a car enthusiast rather than a car investor is:
  a.  I usually only sell at or close to market value when I have to ship the part. Because finding a box, packing material, driving a minimum 25 miles round trip to the Post Office, 40 miles to UPS, etc., are not things I enjoy doing.
  b.  If I'm selling 4 door specific parts, they go for dirt cheap or even free to a good home. Because someone restoring a 4 door deserves all the help they can get.
  c.  For all else, I try to price my stuff cheap enough to get it to the end user while simultaneously keeping it out of the hands of flippers/dealers.

[INTMD8]

Yeah, that is sensible and reasonable.....

It was to me.  A dollar offer for something worth more than I'm asking is a f-you so would rather make a point than have a dollar 

[Kern Dog]

People have accused ME of being immature.
Instead of smashing parts, you could have thrown out witty insults if you had the wits to come up with them.

[INTMD8]

People have accused ME of being immature.
Instead of smashing parts, you could have thrown out witty insults if you had the wits to come up with them.

Or I can do whatever I like if I'm being insulted and an entire dollar is on the line.

I don't know why you felt the need to insult me but if you truly feel you are in a position to challenge my intellect please bring your best.

 

[Kern Dog]

Yeah, brilliant minds are common with dudes that smash their parts to annoy someone else.
Great way to conduct yourself....YOU showed him!

[timmycharger]

I haven't been a vendor at a swap meet since Bush Sr. was in the White House.

Same.  I arrive, swarmed and sold anything of value at half price to other vendors.

Had a set of taillights I priced at 5 dollars (for the pair).  After the same guy offered me a dollar for them 3 times I got up and stomped both into the ground.  Never went back.

Yeah, that is sensible and reasonable.....

It was to me.  A dollar offer for something worth more than I'm asking is a f-you so would rather make a point than have a dollar 

Reminds me of that guy who crushed his 1970 Charger and put it on Youtube because the offers he got insulted him. That wouldn't be you by chance?   

 
 

[Kern Dog]

No kidding.
I see this as an irrational and petulant act from a person with poor social skills.
If you had the ability to express yourself better, you could insult the rude people in a manner that leaves them thinking that something just happened but I don't know what it was.

[INTMD8]

Amusing comment for the person that likely has the world record for being banned on forums.

[Kern Dog]

Maybe so.
I've never acted like a spoiled dipshit at any swap meet though. I sure wouldn't have mentioned it on a forum as if others would be impressed by that sort of thing either.
It is easy for an anonymous moderator to shut someone out. It is quite another matter to do that to my face and take the risk of an uncomfortable outcome.

[INTMD8]

I'm trembling with the thought of what uncomfortable outcome someone would face after explaining, to you, in person, the details of how you've improperly conducted yourself and therefore resulted in a ban....once again.

After observing your continual examples of absolute stoic decorum I now see my shortcomings in not only rationality but also social skills.   I will strive to be.....  more like you.

While it pains me to continually explain this in greater detail let me again remind you I was approached 3 times and offered an insulting price for something that was already a give-away.

You assume there was no banter, of course there was.  Still I'm approached and continually annoyed.

So the decision was made to make a point and the result was having my peace for the rest of the day.

Had I accepted his offer after making it clear I was annoyed I'm now enabling his behavior. Meaning instead of him removed from my life he would be back to low ball me on the rest of the parts I have for the rest of the day.

The reason a person would need this explained ad nauseam is they can contemplate no other reaction other than in one way or another to be submissive. 

Or said in another way a perfectly illustrated example of a self proclaimed alpha that is truly beta.


Moving on.  No I would not crush a Charger.


I am very helpful to people that are true enthusiasts (and obviously the opposite to someone just trying to ruin my day)

I've sold many parts of course but also given away multiple thousands in parts while not even accepting funds for shipping.

Also I have done countless hours of metal fabrication, welding, carb and efi calibration, for free. (again for enthusiasts who are actually nice and not annoying the hell out of me).


I've read your posts over the years. I have and haven't agreed with many things you have done or said but always tried to help.  I didn't drop the hammer on you for many things I disagreed with, primarily my feeling that you try to bully people who do not agree with you.

I think the best way forward is to focus on similar interests that brought us all here in the first place but if you prefer to go rounds the floor is yours.

Best regards.






 








 

[Kern Dog]

I have sold at swap meets and been approached with low offers. I handled one guy in a way that made ME laugh.
How much for the intake manifold ?
That is $200.
I'll give you $100
Okay, make it $225.
What? you said..... Okay, I'll go $150
Nah, I'll take $250 though.
$250 ? the sign on it reads $200.
$300, final offer. take it or move on.



If someone is annoying, why let them ruin your good mood? Fuck them...throw it right back at them but don't destroy your own stuff. That just makes you look like a complete asshole. I'd bet that an overwhelming majority of people would agree with me on that.
For years, I have joked that when I get approached at car shows, I half expect them to punch me in the face for the comments that I have made because, yeah...I state my real opinions and don't tip-toe around your tender feelings. Guess what? NOBODY has ever even tried, NOBODY has ever approached me in anger. It isn't because I look like this either:



I actually look like this:



I wish that I looked like this:



I'm just glad that I don't look like this:



I've been to shows in the Bay Area of California, Van Nuys California, Las Vegas and Pennsylvania and have met face to face with numerous friendly dudes from these forums. I have met one moderator at the Carlisle show last year.  He is a great guy that has never had a problem with my comments.

[INTMD8]

Sure, been there a thousand times and have done the same. 

This guy was annoying as hell and the part(s) worth nothing.

I'm 48, 167lbs, can deadlift 425, box jump 50".  Not even impressive. 

Also means nothing in a fight nor does it matter.  Could look like the best photo you posted or Danny DeVito and I could get knocked the phuck out.

I'm not trying to -impress- anyone.  Just shared a story, a memory, jogged by the question.

No surprise you get along well with people in person.   I have no doubt we would as well.

I think things easily conveyed in person can be opposite on a forum.

[Kern Dog]

Despite how I may seem to some people, I aim to laugh and joke most of the time. If I can make a good time out of a shitty situation, I feel pretty good about it.
Why not?
I rarely hold grudges either. You have to really piss me off or hurt someone I care about to be on my radar. I'd rather just laugh it off and get past things than to stay angry.
A guy came up to me at a swap meet in Cupertino, Ca 2 years ago. We had argued online several times but he saw a part I had, he wanted it and my price was fair. He paid up and actually hung around a bit. I wondered if he had forgotten that we were supposed to hate each other.
There were two guys that used to be frequent posting members here...CBRestorations and Lennard. I argued with them back and forth on this forum but....I met them face to face in 2022 at a car show in Van Nuys Ca and BOTH were friendly to me. CB is known as Chris Birdsong, he has a YouTube channel known as Junkerup. Chris complimented me on a 5 speed Tremec conversion thread I wrote on For B Bodies Only forum. Lennard and I actually shook hands and laughed about the arguments online.

[426HemiChick]

20 June 2026 1312 MST

Don't know if this is the appropriate place for this tidbit of info so I'll go ahead.

Yesterday we saw gasoline priced at $3.79 /gal. That's the lowest we've seen in several years. Hope it's a trend.

Best

C

[Kern Dog]

It finally dropped under five bucks here this week.
Summer 2022 it was almost $6.00 at even the discount stations.

[426HemiChick]

20 June 2026 1652 MST

We have a Shell station that remains at $4.79 regardless of what the rest of the world is doing. If I go in to purchase a Lotto ticket they require I present ID to prove I'm at least 21. Last time I looked in the mirror I saw someone that looks almost 120.

The good thing is there is a new Marathon (Where have I seen that Brand before) station finishing construction. Hopefully they will give the Shell station a run for their money.

The Shell has been open almost two years and consistently price higher than any other station in the area; not by a little but a lot.

Regards

C

[426HemiChick]

20 June 2026 1746 MST

In 1987 I decided to buy a backhoe so I could do the in ground plumbing and electrical service. I started checking newspaper ads. Found a nice Case that was almost new. The owner was in a financial bind and needed money. I offered him $50.00 less than he wanted . I got stubborn and wouldn't come up 50.

I saw him about a week later and he managed to sell it for a lot more. Learned my lesson: Don't get Greedy.

I've kicked myself in the ass every time I thought about my greedy stupidity.

Live and learn. I've had to do a lot of that over the years.

Best

C

[Back N Black]

I have sold at swap meets and been approached with low offers. I handled one guy in a way that made ME laugh.
How much for the intake manifold ?
That is $200.
I'll give you $100
Okay, make it $225.
What? you said..... Okay, I'll go $150
Nah, I'll take $250 though.
$250 ? the sign on it reads $200.
$300, final offer. take it or move on.



If someone is annoying, why let them ruin your good mood? Fuck them...throw it right back at them but don't destroy your own stuff. That just makes you look like a complete asshole. I'd bet that an overwhelming majority of people would agree with me on that.
For years, I have joked that when I get approached at car shows, I half expect them to punch me in the face for the comments that I have made because, yeah...I state my real opinions and don't tip-toe around your tender feelings. Guess what? NOBODY has ever even tried, NOBODY has ever approached me in anger. It isn't because I look like this either:



I actually look like this:



I wish that I looked like this:



I'm just glad that I don't look like this:



I've been to shows in the Bay Area of California, Van Nuys California, Las Vegas and Pennsylvania and have met face to face with numerous friendly dudes from these forums. I have met one moderator at the Carlisle show last year.  He is a great guy that has never had a problem with my comments.

So which one are you? the Temu version of the first guy?

[Kern Dog]

The picture with the dogs to my left is the real me. 215 lbs, not 240 and muscular nor 275 and fat.