For sure!  You need to have a love for vending.  I used to do it, but
basically gave up on it, for the same reasons you just mentioned.  This
was before the recent hike in fuel prices.  The high vendor space fees,
was my major reason.
It reminds me of a time about 20 years ago, when the state revenue
agents started targeting casual vendors, thinking they should pay the
state for the honor.  They even sent out official letters, as a fear
factor.  They went so far as to set up decoy agents, to track and
photograph the swap meet area and vendors.  Some even went so far as to
set up a vending booth.  One guy was even a dual agent acting as a
friend and fellow hobbiest.  His day job was with the revenue
department.  Anyway, it didn't take long for these guys to figure out
there was no money to be made.  If a guy actually ran things like a
business, by deducting expenses and the like, they would almost always
be in the hole.
The guys that were just trying to clean out their garage or barn, were
caught in the middle.
As Jeff mentioned a few days earlier, the discretionary spending money
will be used to buy necessities, while the hobby toys take a back seat.
If anyone thinks selling on the internet is the answer to a swap meet,
I have noticed a decline in prices and interest there too.  Things run
in cycles.  It has happened before and will continue to happen, with
subtle differences.  KK

On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 07:11:38 -0400,  you wrote:

substitute vacation destination, for car shows.. above.. same
scenario..
except the layoffs will be worse..

    --Shiva--
   
   

Years ago, when I was morte active, I ised to sell off the odd bits and
pieces I no longer needed,
including magazines. With wqhat you describe, it will knock off the
others lke me as well as those
actually out to make a buck or two.
(I did it mostly to clean out the place and shoot the breeze with the
customers and other vendors.)

This leads into a downward sprial.

Karl