Thread: Toowoomba Swap Meet 2020

I stoped going to Toowoomba Swap about 10years ago just too hot that time of te year & there are too many people selling bric -a - brac. & if you don't own a GM or Ford product the only thing you spend money on is food & drink.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

Did any Aulrovians go to the Toowoomba swap this year? Would you care to share your impressions with the rest of us?

I was a professional swap meet vendor for 25 years and a visitor and buyer for years before that.

This year I went as visitor perhaps buyer for the first time since the 1990's. Although my mobility is limited these days I managed to get around most of it. I noticed many vacant sites. This has been the case for some years. The club will tell you the swap is 100% presold and there are no vacancies. If so, where are the vendors who paid what I consider an excessive amount per site? The trend is continuing of vendors packing up and leaving from 10.30 -11.00 Saturday. Sunday there were many sites emptied and the vendors gone. A bit of a disappointment for those who can only visit on Sunday to find the site half deserted.

This was once the biggest and best swap in Queensland for both visitor and vendor numbers but sadly has gone backwards. Gatton/Laidley Motor Cycle swap was always far better in terms of $$$$$$$. Perhaps the Toowoomba organising club should indulge in some heavy promotion and not just assume that "everyone knows it is on and where". To keep vendors there for Sunday the club should not reserve next years sites until after noon Sunday like Bendigo.

yes i was there had a good time had a stand for 25 years sunday was 40 degreese all the usual wanne bees with no money

Originally Posted by russellrovers

yes i was there had a good time had a stand for 25 years sunday was 40 degreese all the usual wanne bees with no money

Maybe prices are too high for both sellers (site costs) and buyers (goods).

We were thinking of going this year and staying onsite with our caravan but the camping fees were very expensive. We stopped going because of the expensive entry fees and HEAT.

I reckon Ebay was the start of the end for swap meets. Getting up at sparrowfart, lugging your wares and spending the day negotiating your way to the bottom as opposed to listing it and letting them fight over it, no need to turn a wheel.

Originally Posted by Stuck

I reckon Ebay was the start of the end for swap meets. Getting up at sparrowfart, lugging your wares and spending the day negotiating your way to the bottom as opposed to listing it and letting them fight over it, no need to turn a wheel.

e-Bay never worried Brian's Retirement Sale. I closed it because of my health. Lot of chancers on e-Bay selling cheap rubbish. I advertised and sold on e-Bay for a while but gave up after poor results and a spat with Paypal who took money out of my account on the say-so of a disgruntled or dishonest customer without referral to me.

I never took $5000 in a day on e-Bay but I did at major swap meets.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

e-Bay never worried Brian's Retirement Sale. I closed it because of my health. Lot of chancers on e-Bay selling cheap rubbish. I advertised and sold on e-Bay for a while but gave up after poor results and a spat with Paypal who took money out of my account on the say-so of a disgruntled or dishonest customer without referral to me.

I never took $5000 in a day on e-Bay but I did at major swap meets.

My Son in Law sold an electronic car part in eBay just recently , still in its original sealed box & sealed packet , the buyer told eBay it was second hand & not as described so eBay also gave him bad feed back , eBay refunded the guy the money with out even contacting my Son in Law for his side of the story & the guy refuses to not send the part back. I still buy on eBay but only from reputable sellers but no longer sell on eBay.