It's hard to say how the met was....  In some ways it was good and in
others not...

You can blame it on $3.09/gallon regular and $3.49 diesel fuel....

You can blame it on 35 degree weather with rain/snow mix and 30 MPH
winds (damn, it was cold)

You can blame it on the Penn State schedule and the meet being the
weekend before Thanksgiving

You can blame it on e-Bay stealing the market

You can blame it on the aging population of the SDC membership.

There were some vendors who did well but, most I talked with did not.
Attendance was down and, for the most part, those there were not
spending much money.

I got a couple good deals (Thanks again Dusty Bob!) and bought a
couple things I really don't need right now but bought anyway.

For the most part, Reedsville was still a great social event and I got
to see some good friends that I won't see agian before York.

Several regular vendors were not in attendance and a few I talked with
this year will not be back next year.  Losing money year after year at
this event makes it hard for them to come back.  

If I go back next year, I'll not be vending like I have in the past
but, take it in as a social event instead...  For me to vend there,
fuel, motels, and meals run me between $650 and $700 for the weekend.
If I drive out the econo-box car for the meet only, I can cut $250 off
the fuel bill and $150 off the lodging bill as I'd only be there one
night instead of three.  I'd also not have to stand out in the cold
and argue with guys that a '55 coupe tail light lens that is not
cracked, scratched or in any way damaged is worth more than $5.

I would say that 70% of the vendors had given up by 2 PM on Saturday
and were packing to go home.

The car corral was virtually non-existant

These are just my opinions on the meet....  I know some got good deals
and had a blast...  I had a GREAT time talking and visiting wtih my
friends and, in the future, that is the only thing that will keep be
coming back.

Lee DeLaBarre
Daytona62

Bob Wilson was there with the same 59 "3/4 ton" pickup, that
was at York 2 years ago, and I should have bought then

It was a poor show. Very low in attendance and a few new vendors who were
convinced or coerced into believing this was the end all show. I really feel
bad for them as they came long distances.

I have digital images taken in 2000 and 2001 that show wall to wall people,
this year youi could see down the aisles without obstruction. We were out of
there by 2:25 on Saturday and we were not the first to bail.

Don't get me wrong, stuff did sell for a few vendors, but it was really bad
timing. Less than a week before Thanksgiving.