With that being said; the below timeline of a “collection” relationship is meant to be humorous but also to teach what might come to be. You’ll see some references that everyone may not get, and I only use the generic HE and SHE titles to personify the most common relationship in the die-cast collecting world. As I mentioned before, there are many other relationship partners who face the collecting world together and maybe can see themselves in the below situations.

Stage 1: The “No need for concern; we just met” stage.

Reality: You just began to date. SHE already has concerns but SHE doesn’t yet understand you let alone the beauty [and the obsession] that is collecting die-cast. HE is still safe.

Stage 2: Still together; “Getting to know you; getting to know all about you.”

Reality: This is where SHE is beginning to let her guard down and the naïveté begins. SHE thinks its great HE likes to shop! But; SHE is still wondering why HE has to hit the toy department first as soon as you enter the store. “What’s the rush?” SHE thinks. Poor thing!

Stage 3: Die-cast 101

Reality: SHE begins to want to know more…HE to SHE; “Honey when you’re in Target without me just look for the [little green strip, green tires, white tires etc etc]; that would really be great!” SHE actively seeks out die-cast related gifts for HE. HE begins to feel like the master from TV’s KUNG-FU; “Try to snatch the treasure hunt from this rack.”

Stage 4: Understanding the Lingo; “OOH The needle…and the spoon, take a trip…‘round the moon.”

Reality: SHE hunts and picks up this stuff so SHE can have more conversations with HE and HE actually pays attention. SHE may even find her first Chase/Hunt piece, which really seals the deal! HE loves all the attention from SHE regarding his hobby. HE feels the student has graduated to the next level.

Stage 5: Getting to know the Natives!

“There is a red one who wont accept the white one who wont help the blue one.”

Reality: HE introduces SHE to the other “collectors” at a local show or store. SHE notices that once HE and SHE are back in the car HE turns and says “OK, Greg is a scalper, Peter is a runner, and Bobby collects Star Wars so no worries about him.” SHE also learns the nicknames for the others. She also wonders why there aren’t many other women! By now HE and SHE are either engaged or just married. If HE and SHE share a home; a die-cast corner begins to develop.

Stage 6: Active partner; “So Happy Together”

Reality: You continue to attend local shows and maybe your first “AWAY” event together. You both have fun. SHE meets some nice people [the ones HE wants her to meet] and SHE sees that there are actually other women around. SHE thinks “This isn’t so bad!” SHE may even begin to form her own nicknames for people other than yours. The die-cast corner begins to develop into a die-cast room.

Stage 7: Complete immersion/involvement

Reality: You visit more “AWAY” shows together.

GOOD: SHE actually begins to be able to hold her own with other collectors and collecting in general. BAD: She actually gets to see the real scope of who collects this stuff and it’s a bit frightening. SHE also accidentally meets some members of the DWA: DIECAST WIDOW”S ASSOCIATION. This isn’t good; a diversion is needed; “Hey SHE; have you met Hans; he’s from Belgium!” Die-cast room becomes more ornate.

Stage 8: Initial pullback; Separate worlds

Reality: SHE doesn’t go to conventions/shows anymore. SHE shops with HE only when the baby needs diapers or clothes but SHE is still interested in any good finds you get. But SHE is still happy he has something HE likes. HE promises to actually shop for other things when HE hits the stores; thinks that helps his cause. Die-cast room becomes less ornate some cars are put away “so the baby won’t get them.” Yeah, that’s it.

Stage 9: Tensions mount; “PRESSURE…Pushing down on me, pushing down on you”

Reality: Cracks in SHE’s die-cast love begin to show. The kid[s] are now a little older or you’ve been blessed with more. SHE’s interest in your finds lessens to an “UH HUH”. Money spent is all of a sudden is a concern. Plus there’s concern over that the big basket of cars for the kids is growing, even though they are girls or can’t even sit up. Die-cast room becomes a die-cast corner again.

Stage 10: Utter disdain. Cracks in SHE’s diecast love are now Grand Canyon chasms.

“I feel the earth move under my feet; I feel the sky tumbling down”

Reality: HE is losing the battle at this point but doesn’t realize it. HE thinks when SHE leaves the room during a die-cast related phone call at home that she is just giving HE privacy. HE notices SHE’s complete lack of interest in his finds but thinks SHE’s busy with the kids. Die-cast corner becomes a shelf in the garage.

Stage 11: Battle lines are drawn: It’s the cars or ME/US

Reality: What do you think happens? There’s no shame, let it out! Go to your happy place!

“To everything TURN, TURN, TURN, there is a season TURN, TURN, TURN.”

Stage 12: DING! FRIES ARE DONE!

It’s pretty self explanatory. No need to throw salt in anyone’s wound. HE is just happy because HE gets to keep what HE still has. The die-cast shelf is getting really dusty.

But don’t worry, because like the legendary Phoenix, there is…

Stage 13: Collecting 201! “A white lightning amongst the ashes.”

Yes, in this case #13 is lucky because things usually do and will swing back in HE’s favor if both HE and SHE are willing to come to a compromise. It takes a little time so just be patient; good things do come to those who wait. There’s always give and take in every relationship, no matter what the reason; you just have to find the right balance to make things work.

For those of you in a relationship and are/were unaffected by ANY of these tribulations at ANYTIME; good for you and again more power to you! But trust me, you are the minority; whether you believe it or not.

For those of you who recognize if any of these symptoms are happening [or might happen] but thought it was only happening to you; you are not alone; you may still be able to change things for the better. It has been said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

For those of you this has already happened to; all I can say is sorry. There is no judging here; just understanding and realization that #@&% can happen to anyone at anytime for any reason. No one is immune!

I have been lucky to have a very understanding wife. Being out of work for 3 out of the last 8 years had put a strain on my collecting and my wife’s attitude towards it but she still realized what it means to me and has at least encouraged me to keep collecting but modify the way I collect. In that sense I am a realist not an idealist. Some cars are better than none. One or Two “away” trips a year as opposed to none is even better. I still look, I still buy cars and talk about them and she listens and chimes in once in a while. She’s happy to look when I come home with a nice convention piece, RAOK, or a one-off custom. [Shout out to my best bud Bryan Pope!] She even looks for Treasure Hunts if I am not at the store with her. I have never shied away from the fact that I have changed as a collector over the years; and I know it is for the better.

You can take what you want from my relationship versus collecting timeline, ignore it, or just have a laugh. That’s what life should always boil down to: having a good laugh every once in a while. LIVE to COLLECT; COLLECT to LIVE is a motto best served to the insane or very rich. LIVE to LOVE; LOVE to COLLECT is a motto best served to everyone who loves little cars.

As always, let me know what you think. Let it all out, I can take it.

I think doorwarmer is one of the most maligned and misunderstood words in the diecast community.  It inevitably brings with it synonyms of scalper, hoarder, or jerk.  While it’s true there are a few unsavory people who doorwarm in a less than honorable manner, I have found that a great majority of people who doorwarm buy for themselves or their fellow collectors in their circle. 

Whenever I am with a group of friends who don’t collect and the topic of my hobby comes up, I have used the term doorwarmer [just in passing] and the universal reaction to everyone else in the room to this foreign sounding compound word was/is a collective “HUH????” It then took/will take me ten minutes to explain what a doorwarmer is and then explain it again after I get the next universal reaction of “Really, there are people who do that?”  Then I get “the look” from everyone like I am crazy for standing in front of a store before it opens to buy little cars but I explain that its is really no different then when people used to begin to stand in line at 5am to buy concert tickets [is that still done?] or go to Wal-Mart/WM at 4am on Black Friday to but a cheap computer that may or may not be in stock when they eventually get inside. I wouldn’t even do that.

I said before I was/am an off and on doorwarmer. This is because throughout the years there have been times when I have been either very near a store on my morning work commute or out of work and had the ability to hit the stores when they open during the week or weekend. When I had the chance I would go each morning and hunt for the newest cars. I am not ashamed of the fact I was/am a doorwarmer. I was able to find the newest cars fast and I was able to send/sell the extra I found to any of my friends that needed them.  Plus I made some great contacts along the way; and now that I am working again, these people still look out for me and we help each other find new cars. My mini network runs from NH to NJ to MD to NC; we all help each other and sell for retail price.

I didn’t really get into doorwarming until 1995. Until then I went to stores but never really as they opened. In 1995 I moved to Jacksonville FL for my job… [Shout out to anyone in Jax Beach, Ponte Vedra or Southside WOOOO!].

When I initially lived in Ponte Vedra, there was a Target only five minutes from my apartment but I never stopped early even though I had the opportunity to do so.  I just didn’t think it would matter.  But near my job was a Toy R Us/TRU and Target so I would go there at lunch and hunt. I started seeing the same guy almost every time I went. 

After a while of seeing that he was just looking at cars like me and not sneaking around; I started talking hobby with him and he turned out to be a pretty decent guy.  A few days later he told me he found some new cars at Target that morning and wanted to know if I needed anything and lo and behold I bought almost the whole bag and inquired how he could go there so early and still get to work.  He said WM opened at 7am and Target at 8am so he got up early and scooped up all the stuff put out by the night crew.  I was fascinated by this; night crews put stuff out before the store opens!!!  [Okay I was a little naïve]. So the very next morning I got up early to hit the Target right by my house and I found two Duesenberg treasure hunts!  It was like the heavens opened up and I was seeing daylight for the first time! I was hooked! I did this every morning and found some great stuff and soon began to trade with my new collector buddy!  I even sent stuff back to my friends in NJ.

On weekends it was worse, I would get up early to hit WM at 7am, Target at 8am, TRU at 9am, and a second WM after TRU and I was finding great stuff.

My new collector friend would also talk about other people he saw in the mornings and call them by names like “Fleaboy” and “FoMoCo”.  He explained why he called these guys those names, “Fleaboy” because he flipped at the local flea market, “FoMoCo” because he only collected Ford cars etc etc.  I began to find other collectors in the area knew these guys by these names as well.  My friend’s nickname was “Neptune Steve” because he lived in Neptune Beach and my nickname soon became “Hot Wheel Joe” because I had found a HW sticker in an auto parts stores and stuck it to my car’s rear window.  This name has followed me to this day.

After six months in Ponte Vedra, I moved to the Southside section of Jacksonville only five blocks from my job with my lunchtime Target smack in the middle of my short commute.  It was a no brainer. I’d get up early to hit Target at 8am and still make it work for 830am, then hit it again at lunch along with TRU and then again on the way home.  This strategy worked well and I was hitting more and more new stuff.  Soon everywhere I would go that required morning travel I would look to see if a store was on the way and leave early to hit it when it opened.  I kept this pace up until 1997 when I moved back to NJ with the same company.  In NJ it was tougher to do this since we had no Targets or WM in my area at that time and no K-MART/KM along my route to work; TRU opened too late.  So I just hit KM and TRU on weekend mornings.  In 2002 I was laid off from work, my wife had a great job so I was able to take some time off and I began to doorwarm everyday again.  Target and WM had finally come to my area of NJ by this time and I began to hit them every morning with a vengeance along with TRU and KM of course!  I would see them same cast of characters each time. 

Eventually I became friendly with a few and found out they had nicknames for other doorwarmers just like in FL.  One in particular became a great friend; his nickname was “Quaker Oats” because he looked like Wilfred Brimley from the commercials then airing on TV. His real name was Rich Intveld.  Rich was in his late fifties and working disabled due to his health.

He had emphysema and smoked like a chimney but he and I formed a great alliance.  So good was our alliance that eventually we would hit different stores in the morning, call each other on our cell phones and meet up afterwards to trade up.  We would pull along side each in a store lot, driver’s windows facing each other and exchange plastic bags.  We always joked that it looked like a drug deal going down.  He truly became like another Dad to me.

Even when I went back to work a year later, Rich would continue to go to stores every morning and call me at work with what he found for us.  At the very least he would leave one of his to the point messages like; “Joe, Target. Loaded. New stuff. Talk to you later.” Even if others were at the store when he hit, nothing would be traded until I saw it first.  It was like a mini diecast shop in the back of his SUV.  We would still meet up on weekends when I was off and doorwarm together.  By 2005 he couldn’t walk to the back of the store anymore and would have to use the motorized scooter. So if others were there I would huff it to the toy department with them to grab what I could and split it up with Rich later, but if it was just he and I would just walk alongside him.  This went on until Rich passed away in August 2006.  To his day when I see the front handicapped parking spot at our local Target I see Rich’s truck.  But another good friend emerged from my alliance with Rich.  Before he passed away, he became friends with a guy named Jay.  Rich said Jay was like me, very fair and always looked out for him.  I began to see Jay on weekends and it turned out Rich was right, Jay was a very fair and honest collector.  He began to hold cars for me that he found during the week and we would look together on the weekend.  In 2008 I was laid off again, this time it was to last two LONG years but my alliance with Jay grew and now that I am back to work in 2010, he still looks out for me everyday.

Throughout all these years I have met some wonderful people/collectors at the doors of stores [too many in fact to mention here] and some not so nice characters; but my point is that we should stop generalizing collectors who doorwarm. They aren’t all hoarders, flippers, or scalpers. Stop calling them all out on chat rooms, it just makes you look like a crybaby because you don’t get the cars first or shifting focus from yourself; “He doth protest too much” comes to mind.  We all know they exist; we all have them where we live, so stop whining about them.  Just don’t trade with them and eventually they will dry up and move along, they always do no matter how long it takes.  Some of us are so prejudice against doorwarmers maybe we’re not even trying to connect with someone outside our little circle and maybe missing a great opportunity to make a collecting contact. Let me know what you think about doorwarmers and doorwarming in general.  Do you agree with me or have another point of view?

I definitely want to hear from you; good or bad.

While I was in Las Vegas I met with several people who commented that they had read and liked my Convention Do’s and Don’ts article a lot; so it got me wondering, did I follow my own tips? Everything will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 meaning didn’t accomplish at all, 5 meaning accomplished completely and 2,3,4 somewhere in between. Let’s find out!

DO: PLAN, PLAN, and PLAN ahead.

DON’T: Wait until the last minute

SCORE: 5

I have to give myself a 5 here due to the fact of the great prices I paid for transport to LV and while I was there. I monitored airfare very carefully and eventually paid only $228.00 round-trip from NJ to LV!!!! Also I continually monitored rental cars prices eventually paying only $83.00 for five days for a mid-size car!!! Furthermore, I was arriving one day earlier than my package stay covered so I continually monitored the price for a room at the host hotel and settled on $37.00 for the one night when the convention rate was $55.00! I also remembered to print all of my confirmation paperwork to speed me through any bumps!

DO: Every event that interests you or you can afford to do

DON’T: Deny yourself or hesitate.

SCORE: 5

The package I had included pretty much every event at the convention. The only event I didn’t go to was not because I didn’t want to or missed the buy in; it was because I couldn’t afford it.

DO: Bring LOTS of CASH and in various denominations.

DON’T: Rely on an ATM.

SCORE: 4

I brought only the allowance I could afford for food/cars/entertainment and had to hit the ATM only once on the last night to do some gambling. It was a good thing because for such a large hotel [Circus Circus] there weren’t many ATMs inside.

DO: Ask for payment before you leave home from friends for cars you bring back

DON’T: feel bad about it.

SCORE: N/A

I wasn’t bringing anything back for anyone and I only picked up cars for myself.

DO: Be realistic if you’re going to be flipping convention/event cars whether it’s back home or at the event.

DON’T: Think every convention/event car is a money maker.

SCORE: N/A

I’m not planning on flipping any convention cars

DO: Bring a diecast price guide like Tomart’s or the very least Lee’s.

DON’T: Think everyone is honest in their valuations.

SCORE: 5

I brought my Tomart’s, didn’t have to use it, but I brought it. But I know if I forgot it I would need it so I am counting it.

DO: Bring good walking shoes!!!

DON’T: and you’ll be sorry!

SCORE: 5

My sneakers had gel insoles and my Crocs were brand new, so I never had an issue.

DO: Pack accordingly.

DON’T: Overpack; especially if you are flying.

SCORE: 3

He’s where I fell down! I forgot my camera and I was sorry for it! There were many great shots I would have liked to get. I also packed too many socks and T-shirts thinking it would be overly hot outside, it wasn’t. I did have enough everything else without going over and still enough room in my suitcase for other things.

DO: Pack a bag in your bag

DON’T: Bring small suitcases

SCORE: N/A

This doesn’t count because… (see next tip)

DO: Invest in a HOT-CASE.

DON’T: Think it won’t help

SCORE: 5

I brought a HOT-CASE and carry bag as my carry-on luggage and my loose car case in my suitcase. When I came home, my HOT-CASE weighed almost 10 pounds! 10 pounds less than would have been in my suitcase and I didn’t have to pay the airline’s second suitcase charge.

DO: Bring a variety of Protecto Paks.

DON’T: Rely on vendors at the convention

SCORE: N/A

I didn’t bring any thinking my HOT-CASE would be sufficient and it was. I really wasn’t going for many extra cars other than one’s tied to events so I planned accordingly.

DO: Invest in a good, compact, multiple bulb LED flashlight.

DON’T: Think it won’t help.

SCORE: 5

Brought it in my HOT-CASE loose car case and it helped out in several situations.

DO: Create a floor list to write down what rooms you’ve been in or where contacts are staying.

DON’T: Rely on your memory.

SCORE: 5

I brought floor sheets for approximately 5 floors of anticipated room to room trading but didn’t need them since R2R was a bit sparse. But I did bring them!

DO: Always be respectful when walking into someone’s room.

DON’T: be rude.

SCORE: 5

There weren’t many rooms open but the ones that were I was always cordial and when I needed to go back I was greeted warmly by the room’s owner!

DO: Buy it if you like it and the price is good

DON’T: Deny yourself or hesitate and say you’ll think about it or come back…it won’t be there!!!

SCORE: 5

I bought several new variations of the Delivery/Larry’s/Wayne’s/Phil’s Garage series that I hadn’t gotten yet for decent prices and was glad I did since they weren’t there later when I looked again and they weren’t replenished by their sellers.

DO: Zero in on a car you like

DON’T: Hesitate

SCORE: N/A

This really didn’t occur since R2R was sparse.

DO: Try to get a better price

DON’T: be afraid to negotiate

SCORE: 5

I actually negotiated several times for a friend of mine to get him something I know he needed.

DO: Be wary of un-priced cars

DON’T: be afraid to walk away if you don’t like the price.

SCORE: N/A

This wasn’t much of an issue at this convention.

DO: Take full advantage of a hospitality room

DON’T: Think you’re abusing the privilege

SCORE: N/A

There wasn’t any hospitality room at this convention.

DO: Hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign all day/night on your door

DON’T: Take chances if you have any misgivings

SCORE: 5

I followed this rule every night, and was able to keep full account of what I bought without having to put it away every time I expected the hotel staff to come in to clean.

DO: Go up to go down.

DON’T: get locked out of the elevator

SCORE: 5

If I could give myself a 10 for this I would. The convention was on the promenade level [2^nd floor] of the hotel and my hotel room was in the Floors 23-35 elevator bank that also went to floors 2 and 1. Many times during the week when I wanted to go to my room on the 35^th floor from the 2^nd floor, the elevator was going down to 1 first so I hopped on and rode it down then back up, usually stopping again at 2. Several times the car was already full from 1 to 2 so that the same people who didn’t jump on when I did still had to wait for another car!

DO: Expect to be on lines

DON’T: get exasperated.

SCORE: 2

I didn’t get exasperated when I was on a line but only when I was trying to control a line. I let the people on line get the best of me so I failed this one. I didn’t give myself a 1 because some of the people later apologized to me for what had earlier transpired.

DO: Expect people to be holding places in line for their friends and letting said friends in the line when they show up!

DON’T: Get annoyed at this.

SCORE: 5

Every line I was on for an event, this happened to me and by me. Everyone handled it with great spirit.

DO: Talk to people you don’t know and get to know a little about them

DON’T: Be a stick in the mud.

SCORE: 5

I met a good number of new friends; Rand and Brandon father and son team and of course Henry/Jean Ann from Canada plus several other people who were nice friendly folks with great stories of collecting!

DO: Be a little wary of convention T-shirt sizes

DON’T: Feel the squeeze.

SCORE: 5

I made sure I called my wife to see if she wanted her usual shirt size or one bigger for comfort before I forged ahead and bought one. I also bought a shirt for my six year old son at the Hard Rock and heeded the salesperson’s advice to buy one size larger!

So what is my overall score for the tips that applied to me at this convention?

An 84 out of a possible 90 points [16 tips]! That 93% or an A-! Not too bad but I can do better!

I want to hear from anyone who went the DiecastSpace Super Convention in Las Vegas and find out your score. Don’t forget that something that didn’t apply to me may apply to you and vice versa. Leave your results in the comments section below. There are a possible 120 [5 points x 14 tips] applicable points so GOOD LUCK!

AFTER YOU GET THERE TIPS

DO: Always be respectful when walking into someone’s room.

DON’T: be rude.

Even though people open their rooms up for room to room shopping; you are still entering someone else’s private space. Always say “Hi” or “How’s it going?” even if you don’t know the seller. It sets the mood right off that you are going to be respectful of the cars in the room. When leaving always give them a friendly parting phrase like “Take it easy.” Or “Have a good one”; even if you didn’t buy anything; because you never know if you may need to go back to get a car from that room. A little goodbye gesture may go a long way the next time you come around.

DO: Buy it if you like it and the price is good

DON’T: Deny yourself or hesitate and say you’ll think about it or come back…it won’t be there!!!

This is probably my first and foremost tip for anyone, newbie or experienced conventioneer, that is you see a car you want, like, and the price is good, don’t hesitate to buy it because if you hold off, someone else will grab it! Think about it; at any given event there are anywhere from 250 to 1000 people attending, don’t think no one else may want that car no matter how offbeat it may be and especially if you have been looking for it for a long time. Don’t use the excuse that “I just got here and want to look around” or “I need to get money, I’ll be back”.

If you are with a buddy, have him hold onto it while you get your cash or bum it from him if he can afford it. Then go back to your room and quickly settle up. That one find may make your whole trip do let it slip away!

DO: Zero in on a car you like

DON’T: Hesitate

This is a tip I have used for a long while and it works well. If you are room to rooming and you see a car your may like but aren’t sure and there are still other things you want to see in the room, just pick up the car and either a] walk around with it in your hand while you shop, or b] tell the room’s owner that you are interested in that car and put in sight of him saying you want to look around more. Even if you don’t eventually buy the car it won’t go anywhere while you’re in the room. Don’t feel bad about this, you got there first. It sounds silly to have to tell a collector this but you’d be surprised how many people wouldn’t think about doing this.

DO: Try to get a better price

DON’T: be afraid to negotiate

Plain and simple, when room to rooming during the convention; no matter what time of day/point in the week of the convention it is; it can’t hurt to ask for a better price. What’s the worse a seller can do; say no? If you really have to have it you are going to buy it anyway but just ask; you may be surprised. But if you don’t want to buy it, don’t flip out if the seller doesn’t meet your price!!! Just say “OK, thanks”, put it down and leave. You may need to go back later. But….

DO: Be wary of un-priced cars

DON’T: be afraid to walk away if you don’t like the price.

If a seller hesitates too long on giving you a price on an un-priced car and you think they’re jerking you around, don’t buy it. You can always go back. A lot of times the seller isn’t in the room and their spouse, buddy, significant other is watching over, you probably won’t get the answer you are looking for on an un-priced car or offer. If the person in the room can’t contact the seller, ask when you can go back. Don’t get angry you can’t get what you want right then. Trust me, if you anger the seller’s wife, he won’t be selling you anything when you come back. I’ve seen it happen.

DO: Take full advantage of a hospitality room

DON’T: Think you’re abusing the privilege.

Some events like Summer Smash have a club sponsored hospitality room that is a great place to grab a soda, snack, food, coffee, or just to talk to people. The whole reason for the hospitality room is to make people feel welcome so don’t be afraid to go. This isn’t to say you should start making long distance phone calls from the room phone or air out your tired, yellow crusted toe-nailed feet; no one wants to see that no matter how friendly the group running the room.

This next tip may only apply to me and usually my roommates; you may feel differently.

DO: Hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign all day/night on your door

DON’T: Take chances if you have any misgivings

At a convention I don’t like the hotel staff coming into the room when I’m not there; especially after I have just spent a good deal of money on something. I don’t care that my room isn’t straightened up everyday so much as I do care something being taken or worse yet scratched or broken! Even if something is put in a drawer or piled in a corner I don’t need anyone thumbing through my stuff. I am sure most hotel staff don’t steal or aren’t reckless….BLAH, BLAH, BLAH…I don’t care. I always put the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door all day and just ask for towels and other items when I see the staff or put the towels out in hall when I leave in the morning.

I have heard and worse yet SEEN experiences where hotel staff innocently moved things off the bed in someone’s room to change the linens or pick up trash and didn’t realize something valuable was in the bag/box they just moved and PLOP out it came and smashed onto the floor. Nuff said!

DO: Go up to go down.

DON’T: get locked out of the elevator.

What the heck does “GO UP TO GO DOWN MEAN”? It’s simple! There are times at the convention when it seems everyone needs the elevator; after the dinner when everyone wants to change clothes, afternoons when the hustle around the hotel is at its peak, or check in/check out day. “GO UP TO GO DOWN” simply means that if you are on a lower floor [from LOBBY all the way up to 2nd floor [could be mezzanines or ballroom floors in between], or the parking garage elevator, and you need to go up to higher floors and there are big crowds all vying for an elevator ride, sometimes it pays to take the down-going elevator 2 floors and then ride back up headed to your floor. You will be guaranteed a spot and won’t have to stand shoulder to shoulder in the elevator vestibule for a long time.

DO: Expect to be on lines

DON’T: get exasperated.

Lines are part of any convention. There are lines to get into most any event. If you PLAN ahead, they won’t be so much of a headache. There are events like BINGO, POKER, or UNO that is a required ticket event. If you have a ticket to this event at a set time, there is really no need to be first on line unless you are with a large group and want to sit together. Usually at a Poker game you are assigned a seat anyway. You won’t have to rush down to get on line first.

I would suggest you do get down early for a space at the front of the line for DINNER so you can find a good seat or enough seats for your group. AUTOGRAPH sessions are very popular and the line could be cut off before you get there. Even though it says autographs will be from 1:30pm to 2:30pm that is for the convention’s and signer’s benefit not yours. The convention wants to get the signers out by 2:30pm so the line may be cut at 2:10pm to insure the signers are done by 2:30pm. There may be another event happening in that room that needs to be set up or the signer has to be somewhere else.

You should get on line early to any MEET & GREET events because tables fill up quickly as do bar/food lines and because the best snacks are usually gone first and you will have to wait longer with no seat. This includes an RLC party especially! A 45 minute wait at the front of the line is better than being stuck 45 minutes in the back of the line. Additionally, if someone is giving a demonstration or lecture about something you paid to see, best seats go fast. As for the vending machine; there are proponents who say the best stuff is in the front, middle, or end of the machine. I usually see the best stuff mid-session thru the end.

The Sunday show is a tricky one to decide if you should go down early. There is no way to tell if any specific convention car will be sold out or limited to buy by the Sunday show. The staff usually doesn’t let on anything throughout the convention so if there is something you really need to get, I would get there early. I usually get up early on Sunday morning to be near the front of the line to insure I will get the extra cars I need for my buddies back home. I am leaving anyway that day and it doesn’t bother me to be up early, especially if the extra casting I need is a HW Drag Bus!

This by no means states you should get to an event after its scheduled start time. No one likes lateness and you may miss out on something good.

DO: Expect people to be holding places in line for their friends and letting said friends in the line when they show up!

DON’T: get annoyed at this.

I’ll let you know straight up that this happens all the time! I have done it and it has been done to me. You can’t be angry about it, it’s not worth it. Usually people ahead of you on a line with give you the courtesy of saying, “I’m holding a place for my buddy, wife, kid, etc. etc.” so when someone shows up you are not upset. This may not always be the case but if you are at an event where you have a ticket already; don’t sweat it.

The only time this becomes an issue is when the line if for a car that is limited in quantity; then the line is usually controlled by the even staff or even the people on line themselves and is monitored for cutters. Most regular convention goers understand these differences about line cutting as well.

If you are on a line by yourself and need to leave to go to the restroom, your room for forgotten cash, or get a drink/smoke just be honest and tell the person behind you that this is the case, they wont mind you coming back into line at all. If you don’t say anything they won’t know to let you back in line; they aren’t mind readers. Just don’t be gone too long; try to get back quickly.

DO: Talk to people you don’t know and get to know a little about them

DON’T: Be a stick in the mud.

When I went to the CA. Strauss convention in October 2001 I didn’t know a soul.

I didn’t know what to expect and I was a little intimidated. Now if you have ever met me you wouldn’t think I’d be saying that; people have told me I can make friends with a tree and the tree would talk back. So the first night I was in CA. there was a meet & greet with snacks and drinks etc. but I had gotten there a little late. It was outside around a small pool area and there didn’t appear to be anyplace to sit. But I noticed a guy sitting by himself on a table and asked if I could sit with him. Needless to say eight years later that guy is still one of my best collecting and real world friends. This has happened to me many times over. At the very least you can make a friend to hang out with at the convention or sit with at dinner or room to room together. No matter what size the convention it can seem like a big place if you just hang out by yourself. This person may not become your bosom buddy and lifelong chum but he may trade/sell you a great car. Sometimes that can make your whole trip!

Ask people you meet if they are on RLC, DCS, MCCH etc. etc. and what their handle is. You may find out you already know them without ever having met them.

DO: Be a little wary of convention t-shirt sizes

DON’T: Feel the squeeze.

Most convention t-shirts will shrink some. Check out the size before you buy, don’t wait until you get home or already rip it out of the bag, you make not be able to exchange. If you take an L, get an XL, if you’re an XL, get a 2x. Most convention t-shirts are pretty high quality and will last a long time if properly washed; you’ll want to wear it again and again so buy a bigger size. You’ll be happier in the long run. Plus most women’s-only convention shirt sizes will probably be too small for the woman in your life; trust me on this one! Just because it’s pink or yellow; it may not fit.

I am sure there are many others who have gone to conventions longer than me or just have some great tips I may have missed. I would love to hear from you via the comments below so I can add them to my list!! Knowledge is power!

Now go get registered for one of the many excellent conventions happening this year, and I hope to see you there!

And yet I am sure it is may be an intimidating task to actually go to one of these small, medium, or especially large events without trepidation or fear of not knowing how to plan ahead or what to do while you’re there. With that in mind, I wanted to share with you my DO’s and DON’Ts list of convention happenings based upon my 8 years of convention going experience. Some of these may seem simple enough that you would think everyone should know it already; but it can take just one thing that you didn’t think of to affect your good time.

There’s a lot to digest, so I’ll be breaking up this advice into a multi-part series. I hope there is something on this list will make even the seasoned convention-goer go “HMMMM” I never thought of that!

BEFORE YOU GET THERE TIPS

DO: PLAN, PLAN, and PLAN ahead.

DON’T: Wait until the last minute.

This applies not only to the individual events at a convention but to any outside events you may want to attend or transportation needed to get to those events. Popular convention events or even popular event times sell out quickly; you may be left out in the cold. This is especially true if you are going with others; it’s great to be at the same event together and not get split up. Also, if you are flying seriously consider renting a car if the venue the convention is at is off the beaten track like an airport hotel If you are going to travel or room with others, the cost will be greatly be deferred. Plus you may want to look up what restaurants/bars may be in the area, most hotels don’t have a great variety of cuisine or price ranges you may like. Once you get to the hotel, the front desk can tell you areas to avoid. I didn’t head the desk clerk’s warning once in Ohio and almost got mugged!

DO: Every event that interests you or you can afford to do

DON’T: Deny yourself or hesitate.

If it’s your first time going to any convention; events are a great way to meet people and feel part of the collective festive atmosphere. Don’t let anyone talk you out of something; see for yourself. Plus don’t forget the price to an event where the event is run for a charitable organization or usually the convention auction bids can be tax deductible!

If it’s not your first time going to a convention; continue to go to events you like rather than backing off since no two events will ever be alike from convention to convention. You may miss out on a great car you want.

This leads me too….

DO: Bring LOTS of CASH and in various denominations.

DON’T: Rely on an ATM.

Even though you more than likely can buy convention cars with a credit/debit card when you register at a convention; 99% of room to room vendors take only cash. Plus any raffles the convention holds; usually for some great stuff; or cars for charity cars are cash only. Going to the hotel ATM [and most hotels don’t have many] can get expensive with fees or quickly runs out of cash. More than likely, your bank is not in the area of the convention and the nearest ATM may be a long walk/drive away with a high fee [especially if the hotel is near the airport; you’re kind of isolated.]

I remember a couple of years ago; the hotel ATM ran out of cash by 1PM on a busy Saturday and the hotel wasn’t prepped to have it refilled until the next day; people were frantic! The hotel was off the beaten path and walking to an ATM wasn’t really an option.

DO: Ask for payment before you leave home from friends for cars you bring back

DON’T: feel bad about it.

Not asking for the cash up front will only cut into your funds while you’re there and make you have to either go to the ATM more often [and we already discussed those pitfalls] or go without. All the prices for the convention cars should be in your pre-received convention packet so you know how much to charge. Whether you add tax or a small profit is up to you. The price of things adds up quickly!

DO: Be realistic if you’re going to be flipping convention/event cars whether it’s back home or at the event.

DON’T: Think every convention/event car is a money maker.

Don’t think that just because a car is from a convention event that it will be a moneymaker if you try to flip it. Some cars aren’t worth the price of admission to an event. If you aren’t a flipper then you’ll be fine and collect the car because of you enjoyed your experience. If you are a flipper be forewarned…you may get burned. Plus there are many more people than just you trying to flip the same car. I don’t flip, I just buy for people back home but I have seen how people have triumphed with flipping and where they have crashed and burned. It’s not pretty.

DO: Bring a diecast price guide like Tomart’s or the very least Lee’s.

DON’T: Think everyone is honest in their valuations.

No matter what anyone selling a car tells you; just have the guide with you to get a good idea of its value. It will give you piece of mind.

DO: Bring good walking shoes!!! Especially the ladies!!!

DON’T: and you’ll be sorry!

You are on you feet from the minute you leave you hotel room in the morning to the minute you head hits the pillow at 1:30am that night, [yes rooms are open that late].

You will be standing in lines for events, walking the floors room to rooming, going to eat either inside/outside the hotel, even sightseeing if you plan to, it all goes back to planning.

DO: Pack accordingly.

DON’T: Overpack; especially if you are flying.

You won’t need to bring a lot of different clothes to a convention. The majority of the time you will see most people in T-Shirts, shorts, and jeans. [Check the future weather cast re jackets/coats]. You may want to bring a polo or buttoned down shirt [especially if it’s a cool diecast or automotive themed one] to wear to the dinner but otherwise don’t load up on clothes. Take it from a confirmed over-packer; you may not use half the stuff you bring. Also, don’t forget to pack your camera/video camera. You won’t regret it later. I’ve forgotten my camera already and I have regretted what I didn’t get a picture of to this day.

Plus, you’ll need the space for cars which brings me to…

DO: Pack a bag in your bag

DON’T: Bring small suitcases

My buddy Mike from NH taught me this trick back in 2001. I went to my first CA Strauss convention and got short on my luggage space. It was just after 9-11 and restriction abounded regarding size/shape of bags and I was scared to bring a really big suitcase, plus I under estimated what I would buy once I was there. If you are a first time conventioneer you will be tempted to buy a lot!!!!! I had to go to Wal-Mart and buy a small suitcase to accommodate what I bought. Most convention cars are in there own protecto paks and are bulky to pack in a suitcase and you don’t want to pack fragile blistercards or loose cars wrapped in toilet paper in a regular case for fear of damage.

Bring one large suitcase with a rolled up duffel bag inside. It won’t take up a lot of space and you won’t be charged for 2 suitcases when you fly out and if you don’t need it, back it goes rolled up. It’ll save you a lot of grief. Now this brings me too…..

DO: Bring a variety of Protecto Paks.

DON’T: Rely on vendors at the convention.

Many of the fragile treasures you buy may not have protectos and can’t be packed by themselves. Some older blisters don’t fit into newer protectos so plan accordingly. I have found that the older full front protectos are great for a carrying a couple of cars in baggies and header cards [like ROAKs]! Protecto pak vendors may not be there or run out of popular sizes early. Most people can sell you a few but its better to prepare beforehand.

Think about bringing a pair of scissors [in your checked bag only please] and a couple of sheets of bubble wrap for cars in acrylic case; DOLLAR TREE stores offer small rolls that work great. My buddy Bryan has shown me that blue painters tape is a better alternative to any other tape in wrapping cars up since it is designed to come off easily from what it is stuck too without damaging the car, plus its strong while its in use. But this brings me too….

DO: Invest in a HOT-CASE.

DON’T: Think it won’t help.

This is not a shameless plug for HOT-CASES but an actual testimonial. They help you out a lot! The 24 cars carry case for loose cars is great to carry around if you plan to buy loose cars for it protects them as you go rooming. Believe me, toilet paper, tissue, or paper towel wrapping quickly shred or unravel and plastic shopping bags get banged up and torn in elevators and doorways faster than you think. The carry case fits into any carry on or checked bag. Invest in an actual HOT CASE box and carry bag for that HOT CASE. It fits into any airplane overhead compartment or under the airline seat in front of you and can hold a lot of convention cars. You can carry it on the plane as a carry-on. I usually have my backpack and the HOT CASE bag as carry-ons or the case will fit flat into most 30-32” suitcases.

DO: Invest in a good, compact, multiple bulb LED flashlight.

DON’T: Think it won’t help.

Again a learned tip from my NJ collector buddies Kenny and Carl. A nice, compact LED flashlight with multiple bulbs can assist greatly in determining the condition of loose cars especially REDLINES!!! Hotel room lighting is awful and don’t rely on vendors to bring a good light either. First ask permission to examine the car you are looking at, find a shadowed part of the room [or even hunch over with the car in you palm], and shine the flashlight over every nook and cranny of that car because every flaw, toning, chip, etc., etc., will immediately pop out. It can save you the annoyance of realizing later you bought a dud.

DO: Create a floor list to write down what rooms you’ve been in or where contacts are staying.

DON’T: Rely on your memory.

Simply put; it gets overwhelming. Even in a small convention, you will never remember all the rooms you have been in, want to go back to, or have no need to see again.

I’ll give a great example. Three years ago the Strauss west coast convention was held in Garden Grove CA in a hotel that had two towers. The North tower was where the official convention room block [cheaper rooms] were which stretched from between floors 4 thru 8. There were a lot of seller’s rooms on floors 3 and 9 as well as a smattering of rooms on higher floors. So you figure 7 floors [3 thru 9] with approximately 20 [conservatively] rooms open on each floor; that makes 140 rooms just in the North Tower. Plus the South towers had at least 60 rooms open as well so add those together you get 200 rooms of Hot Wheels. Unless you have a documented photographic memory; you won’t remember everything/everyone you saw/met and where it/they were! Some conventions now give you a small pad with your welcome package to help you navigate the hotel; but I have attached a floor sheet spreadsheet [at the end of this article] that really works. My wife came up with it in 2002 in Irvine CA after she couldn’t stand walking into the same room over and over again and hear me and my buddy say “Oh we’ve seen this before, nothing here”. Plus I have tinkered with it over the years. Use it, learn it, live it, know it, it works! It’s best to 3-hole punch the floor sheets I have provided and put them in a binder. The binder will give you a strong base to write on, those little pads won’t.

Well, that’s it for now. Like I said, its a lot to digest, but I hope you’ve enjoyed them so far. Join me next time in Part 2 where I’ll reveal all my DO and DON’T tips for after you arrive at the convention.

Got a tip of your own to add? I encourage you to share them wit the rest of the readers via the comments section below.

Download the Floor Sheet file here [Microsoft Excel Format]

In recent years I’ve noticed something interesting happening to me every time I attend a die-cast show or convention; I am approached by a fellow collectors [whether I know actually know them or they are brought over to me by a friend] to either take me over to a vendor’s table or room to get my opinion on an impending sale, to show me a just purchased treasure to get my opinion on the condition or price paid, or to ask a question about products from any of the many 1:64 scale manufacturers of die-cast. I have been frequently told that I was the deciding factor either for or against a particular purchase. I am not trying to “toot my own horn” or boast about what I do or do not know about die-cast, but it always gets me thinking about how and what I collect now as opposed to when I began collecting and throughout the interim years.

It has been almost 26 years since I began collecting die-cast and over 19 years since I truly caught the die-cast collecting “bug” and met my first Hot Wheels collecting comrade, my great friend Bill, who was and is my mentor of all things Hot Wheels. So I guess I have seen a lot of collectors, trends, and die-cast companies come and go, wither and resurrect, or completely change themselves altogether. I have always been a history buff; whether it’s the real life history of the world around us or the history of the cars I love to collect. I love to absorb this knowledge as much as I can, but find myself having to omit a lot of information for lack of brain space or for want on that knowledge.

I can’t be a variation almanac like so many of today’s collectors are [God bless your memories] with all the wheels changes, window colors changes, body color changes chassis color/material changes and point of origin as I would like to be.

I don’t seek out variations for my collection unless they are physically pointed out to me while standing at the rack or at a show, and I can’t rattle off things like “the Muscle Madness ’68 Nova comes in all small wheels, all big wheels, and large front wheels/small rear wheels” or vice versa. But, I can pretty much rattle off every ’57 Chevy variation since 1977 or what each Dream Halloween or Toy Fair car has been or how much I did or didn’t pay for a particular car.

I’ve come through a succession of models that I’ve focused all of my attention on as well. First, it was old and new Matchbox. Then I added old and new Hot Wheels and new Johnny Lightnings when they were reintroduced in the 1990’s. All the while I kept up with new and old Majorette and Tomica models thrown in for good measure. It all became maddening! Yet, I would still buy any model, old or new, from any manufacturer that caught my eye. I was a full “completist” and had to have every model I could afford from those aforementioned manufacturers. During that time I was able to keep every model I had in my head as well as on ancient Apple computer spreadsheet. At times I thought my head would explode or at the very least brain matter would start to ooze from my ears!

In 2001 I attended my first Hot Wheels convention – the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 2 in Connecticut – and my mind was blown wide open!  There were so many people collecting what I did all together in the same place, with special events and best of all; the room to room trading!!!  That was something I had never experienced before. I was then completely hooked on conventions from that point forward.

While at WWHW2 I heard about larger convention that meets every year in California run buy a guy named Mike Strauss. I got some info while in CT and hurriedly sent in my application to the event as soon as I got home. Unfortunately 9/11 happened that September, and I thought I may never be able to go to this Hot Wheels Mecca I had begun to believe in. Fortunately, the restrictions were lifted and off I flew to Irvine California, all by myself; intimidated, but ready to learn!  During the convention I was lucky enough to meet my buddy Mike from NH – someone who is still one of my best friends in the Hot Wheel and real world.

Mike had been going to Strauss conventions since 1998 and knew all the in, outs, and quirks associated with them. We became fast friends and my feet were set upon the path of convention knowledge. Needless to say, the rest is history for I have attended every east and west coast Strauss event since Irvine 2001 (save for Dallas 2004 when my son had just been born). After Irvine 2001 I attended the Wild Weekend of Hot wheels 3 in 2002 where I got to know another best friend of mine, Bryan from NC. I have also attended the Wicked Weekend of Hot Wheels 1 and 2, the annual Macungie PA outdoor toy event, as well as more recently introduced conventions like Summer Smash in Rhode Island, the Mexico City Hot Wheelers convention, and the DiecastSpace.com Super Convention in Las Vegas and Atlanta.

When I was still a completist, conventions were all about “the hunt” for everything I didn’t have.  But since having divested myself of over 3000+ pieces of Matchbox and over 1000+ pieces of Johnny Lightning I have been able to enjoy collecting even more. I no longer need to have every mainline Hot Wheels. I now prefer nice redlines or special limited cars like convention and toy fair pieces. I also have grown very fond of collecting discontinued “orphan makes.” Those include the cars I had as a kid like Playart, Zylmex, and Corgi Junior, as well as makes with limited availability in the U.S. like Tomica, Majorette, and Siku. Likewise, convention-going has changed from hunting for everything I can get my hands on, to meeting up with old and new friends and talking about the state of collecting, about other collectors who have come and gone or just sitting around eating, drinking and making each other laugh!

Many things affect the way we collect. The economy, die-cast companies’ fortunes and product decisions, to the size of our own wallets change the way we collect; and that’s not a bad thing. Any changes should be accepted and embraced if you want to keep on doing and collecting whatever you love.

So have I changed as collector? That answer would have to be a resounding YES!  I’m glad I have changed, evolved, backed off or whatever you want to call it. Its made me a happier collector and a more grateful one at that.

How have/haven’t you changed as collector since you started out in this great hobby? Let’s hear you story via the comments section below.

Joe has collected a wide variety of die-cast for the last 29 years. His collection includes Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Johnny Lightning, Corgi Jr., Tomica, GreenLight, Playart, Impy and everything else in-between. In addition to die-cast, his near 3 decades of collecting, conventions, club meetings and meeting new collectors have allowed him to gather a great number of stories to share with fellow collectors. Those adventures will be shared through “Diecast Stories from The Average Joe Collector.”

What excites me the most about Joe’s new column is that its the first on the site to focus on “collecting” instead of the cars. Collectors will clearly identify with Joe’s stories, and my hope is that his posts will inspire readers to leave comments and share their own experiences with the rest of the community.

I also need to send out a special thanks to Bryan Pope who managed to pull off a fantastic cartoon likeness of Joe for the logo. It rocks!

Thanks and enjoy the first installment of the column.

Keep on collecting!

-Jeff

This time around we were able to take advantage of the good internet connection and did a show from the Wild Weekend of Hot Wheels 6! Over the course of the show I managed to persuade Jimmy “The Boxman” Chavez, collector Joe Altieri, Mike Zarnock, Bob Parker and CJ Cramer from DiecastSpace to sit down and chat about their thoughts on the Wild Weekend’s events and “come-back” as an annual die-cast event here in New England. Enjoy!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.

This time we have a special round-table style, two-hour re-cap of the DiecastSpace.com Hotlanta Collector Experience with special guests Joe Altieri, Lou Tanahara, Eric Tscherne and Joe Kelly Jr. Each guest brings a unique perspective to their experiences at the convention. We even devote some time talking about the potential the next Collector Experience will have in 2010 at Walt Disney World, Florida. Enjoy!

Listen to the recorded show from the audio widget on this page or check out the catalog of previous shows on the Saturday Nitro page.