They sold the property but kept both flea markets, Spring and Fall. Couple of small changes planned and I heard they only have a 2 year deal so Sept 2016 could be the last kick at the cat....
My own thought is they have collected the money for 2015 so just letting it run its coarse rather than cash returns. See if they register venders for 2016.
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Yes they are all crazzzy but me and you........... and I am not sure about you!!!!
that place is probably one of the reason target.closed up shop before swap season they knew they could not compete either in price or variety of clothing cheap tools they offer at bury(intentional spelling)it died in the early 80s
Glad you said variety & not quality!!! Yep, should have pulled the plug yrs ago!!! Greedy Hainey & his parking charge was the last straw, know a lot of venders that said the same & not going back, BUT there are the die hards that still think it's the "Kats A$$"
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I can only please one person a day, Today is not your day!!Tomorrow doesn't look good either !!!!
Glad you said variety & not quality!!! Yep, should have pulled the plug yrs ago!!! Greedy Hainey & his parking charge was the last straw, know a lot of venders that said the same & not going back, BUT there are the die hards that still think it's the "Kats A$$"
I forgot about the parking I had not been since 1980ish was up that way on a mission.I thought what the h-ll been long time maybe it hag changed WRONG even more non auto related junk big big waste glad I had been only 10 minutes away. and the parking charge just added to the insult their calling it in auto swap it should be retitled to meet that swapped.(auto parts to clothing and related junk)as far as diehards they should have been when it was the meet in its day.now it reminds me of detroit the mecca of car manufacturing now almost a ghetto
I have been vending at Barrie since before it left Molson Park. Of course it was better back then there was a lot more parts available before guys started buying up all the good sheet metal, etc and hording it at home in their own shops. Then as their shops got full they had to make room so of course you sell off the less desirable items (read junk) at the next flea market and after awhile all that is left is junk. I can't say I agree with everything Haney and his crew do to run the place but you are not going to find a better facility for running a flea market. Good example is the rain which happened at Lindsay and fall Barrie last year. Didn't see any tractors having to pull trucks out o the mud at Barrie. If you don't like the clothes or cheap tools then you walk on past. It won't take you as long to go thru the meet but somebody is buying clothing and cheap tools or those guys wouldn't be able to afford their $175 sites. All the meets are changing. It is so much easier to google the lens or grille or what ever piece you need and it will show up somewhere. Just pay the shipping and hope the guy isn't lieing about the condition. I still enjoy vending and talking to car guys but I am a little different as I can only sell a couple hundred bucks on a weekend and be happy with the meet where a lot of other guys need a few thousand to make it a good weekend for them....
Just my opinion and don't want to get into a big heated debate on the forum..
Your theory is only partly correct. Those hoarders are slowly coming to surface as they are sold off at auction after they can no longer look after them selves. The main reason that the good sheet metal is not around there are companies that reproduce from bumper to bumper most body parts or what ever part you need. People would rather buy a reproduction part and just bolt it on than find an original part to restore. This has killed the source of original parts as it is not worth driving to Texas New Mexico or California to haul this stuff up here. Bills Truck Shop for example is a great source for original parts but now his main sales is reproduction and that is driving the price of original parts down. 10 years ago I would have a couple of 67 to 72 short fleet boxes on my load when pulling into Barrie. Guys would follow me to my spot trying to get me to stop. But if I did that today most would turn the other way while reading their program looking for the repop stuff from China. Now take a well respected auction house and I am not referring to BJ but R&M as you will never hear them say this car or truck was restored to show quality with Chinese parts. As for EBay yes I do but only small parts because of shipping costs.
Yes I also started at Molson Park on the Annex and we had many many great times over the years. Then after the public went home the rye would come out and the steaks would go over the coals and we would have a blast until the wee hours of the night. Until Don relocated the four of us to different locations of the field. I still vend but I moved to Lindsay from Barrie and we still have a great weekend flogging rusty old car parts. As for the mud you must have forgotten the early years at the new location for Barrie or even Hershey where I seen a 59 Caddy with water up to the rocker panels.
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Yes they are all crazzzy but me and you........... and I am not sure about you!!!!
Yes you are correct. I agree with the night time fun at the early meets and you are soooo right with the Chinese parts. And there was a lot of mud at first in Oro..were you vending the weekend the tornado went thru ? Lost a few items then including the awning on the motorhome. I am booked for Lindsay but unfortunately we are doing a bucket list item (driving Route 66 from beginning to end. Leaving end of April) so my buddy will use both spots. Good luck at Lindsay as it is growing to be one of the better markets in Ontario.
No I missed all the fun that year as I was on a road trip to New Mexico and a friend had my spot. I believe also that Lindsay is going to be one of the better swap meets in the area. You have to give AACA credit they said it was going to be an automotive swap meet and they have kept their word on that. It will take a few years for Lindsay to get established and people to realise what it is all about and get on board. With three events on the same weekend I hear the major venders have not bailed for Toronto so that alone tells you something. Then the new Stirling with the fair board at the helm taking a different approach to their event after the first year. They should do well but in a few more years I think it will be more of a different crowd moving in. I say that seeing they are advertising crafts and antiques and everything in-between in some of their adds. All in all it should be a good weekend where ever you wind up. Have fun on your bucket list.
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Yes they are all crazzzy but me and you........... and I am not sure about you!!!!
Hmm, I must jump in here too and agree with Joe on a couple things ,like the reason that Haney owned his own tow trucks in the beginning at the Oro/Medonte location, not only was he watching folks get stuck on his property,he was charging them to get out...not cool Don,not cool at all... I was in Hershey a couple times during floods where we had old photos of a friend diving in the water to find some of his parts and completely disappearing just by bending over.. The Unites States Military was there with Deuce and a Half's, tanks etc.. pulling campers out that weekend with no bills following... We were in the Tornado headed to Barrie , I had a 67 Camaro convertible that we ended up selling to Rob Meyers ( RM Auto) ,had a friend who lost a subdivision of homes that weekend up on the hills in Barrie on the west side of 400, doesn't matter where you go for a flea market,if it's outdoors there is a chance of weather, had a pretty good storm in Stirling one year where one of the close vendors was in his camper shaving and had the shaver knocked out of his hand when the awning pole came through the camper roof.. We are all very fortunate to have multiple events to choose from here in Ontario, we have seemingly been to them all and we have all chosen favourites,lets leave it at that and silently know in our minds that the one we chose to attend is of coarse the best! Cheers fellas, Chris.
-- Edited by Chris Stapley on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 12:10:30 PM
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Buying selling and trading garage toys and big kid stuff.
For sure...if we all wanted to vend at the same meet we couldn't afford the spots. Will be back at Lindsay next year. Was there the first year and enjoyed the format. Sure to be a success just hate driving thru Toronto to get to it...lol. Maybe met up with some of you guys at Woodstock this Sun. I will have an Amsoil booth setup. Drop by and introduce yourself.
Got a call from the flea market confirming my 2 spots. They have built a open theater where the blue and red fields were so blue has moved back to gold and gold behind tree line and same with the red into the green. So I am still in the first field with same spots just a few hundred feet further away from the road. They are planning on continuing to run the meet for many more years to come so no real big changes.
I go to BAFM just to get my fix. There's a guy not wanting to sell an old gas station bell. Last year and the year before he wasn't trying to sell it either, but its for sale for the same price and he keeps firm on it. Who knows maybe this year we might make a deal....but I'm not holding my breath. If anything its great exercise. HRD
My crew and I have 4 sites in the GOLD where ever it might be. I still manage to find great deals on parts when walking around taking a break from vending! To each his own...
If the blue and red field are now gone I wonder how many vending sites are now being used compared to 10 years ago. Before the orange field was closed and the brown field was half emptied . They never say how many vending sites there are being used. I just got tired of all the extra charges they had. The last year there, I was charged the full price as a new vender for three sites for moving me to a new location seeing it was vacant all around me. I got tired of paying into his retirement fund.
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Yes they are all crazzzy but me and you........... and I am not sure about you!!!!
It sounds like they eliminated the Brown field and shifted the other 4 fields back as I am still registered for Blue field and Mike you will still be in the GOLD field which will start at the tree line I presume. Time will tell. Hard to see it as an improvement but stranger things have happened. Will depend what all the new owners do to the premises for their concerts. I haven't found it to be that bad so will stay with it till it does and then move on. SJ I think I would be pi$$ed off as well in your situation and leave. Everybody seems to get treated differently with these folks.
I still love barrie. Been going as a shopper for almost 30 years. Sure there's not a lot of great parts anymore. They only made so many and they're all gone. But I still manage to find a wagon full of stuff every year. Might be a home made bird house or a transmission. Its a great adventure and a nice day out.
Countdown on bafm barrie auto car show flea market will be there june 4 5 6 custom stainless exhaust , custom tuners programmers / green field row A / remember no one is forcing you to attend
HOTRODFORD8 tell that to my wife as she is forcing me to attend. She heard something about Target having a final closeout sale at the BFM and wants to go. Actually I will be at the Gilmore Museum Experience.
It looks as though it has really down sized as there is only 11 isles in the red and blue field. Any word on the number of vender spots? Would have liked to have gone just to see the changes.
-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Tuesday 26th of May 2015 11:11:10 PM
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Yes they are all crazzzy but me and you........... and I am not sure about you!!!!
The last thing I bought at BFM was in 1993, then I didn't need it so I painted it and the same guy I bought it from re-purchased it at Stirling. A coat of paint does wonders for the profits. The good days of the BFM are long gone.
Anybody else get up to Barrie? We were vending in the blue field. Sure is different. Mega bucks being spent on the facility. Will reserve judgement on the whole situation until after we vend in Sept. Lots more changes to be made. Has the possibility of being a real nice facility but time will tell..
i went friday with a buddy of mine. the weather cooperated, it was a great day for walkin. complete different layout from before. 5 for parking, 10 to get in the gate. lots of non auto related stuff for sale. i bought nothing and my buddy bought 2 pairs of shorts. i probably wont be back.
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There are 106 miles to Chicago. We have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
My son and I went yesterday.
As for the postives:
1.) the weather was fantastic
2.) had a some great father/son bonding time
3.) got some needed exercise (long over due according to my doc)
4.) picked up a nice Performer RPM intake for $40 and a few more signs for the shop
5.) the isles were much improved for walking...didn't roll an ankle this year
As for the challenges:
1.) had to park at the old speedway (8th line) and walk half way to the 7th line only to find we are starting at the end of the fleamarket - not sure if my positive point #3 counters this or not...
2.) way too many empty spots in between vendors
3.) way too much non-auto related stuff
4.) way too much junk allowed in the car corral - 6 mid-90's buick more doors either for sale or on display (just as an example)
I guess it is a matter of perspective...
I will likely continue to go as long as the weather cooperates on the day of and I have good company with me.
First thing I'll say is that our sites were fantastic. The GOLD and GREEN were far more vendor filled than the RED and BLUE. The red and blue fields need to be more organized or moved into the new fields. I felt sorry for some vendors stuck out in butt **** nowhere. We did manage to walk it several times in the early evening. The staff need more training,the garbage needed to be picked up more often,they need to listen to vendor input.... Great thing was a travelling ice wagon. I only bought a few things as I didn't need anything. Sold lots of stuff I didn't need to make room for more in the future. Will I go back? Yes,yes I will. Its always great to see old friends and drink a few beers with my feet up relaxing. Hopefully in September they will have realized their **** ups and will address them.
I was in the blue field and yes the gold and green were much better but a good hike up to the front. One rumor has the red and blue field moving up beside the gold in that newly sodded field....did you hear about the hassle Dave's Liquidation had? He set up last Sat on the other side of the tree line which is zoned agriculture..spent Mon and Tues taking it all down and moving back 100 ft to this side of the tree line or the city was going to take it down. Apparently can't have more than a 600 sq ft canopy on agriculture..
The City …………. I have to wonder if the flea markets will die because of Rules and Regulations? Next it will be sales tax just like some Staes in the USA.
-- Edited by RWW on Sunday 7th of June 2015 08:52:27 PM
Seeing where you are from was that Noles coat??????????? He was a great guy and Haney even put the screws to him when he left Barrie I heard. Always wore his straw hat.
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Yes they are all crazzzy but me and you........... and I am not sure about you!!!!
Hey Smokin Joe, be a pleasure to meet your wife, subject to your approval , of course hope to be back at barrie in sptember, heard the deal is a 5 year plan
Crazy what you hear. I heard Haney had to sign a 99 year lease for the flea market......nobody knows for sure until we arrive at the gate one weekend and nobody there...lol
