"US gaming swap meets--Stealing a good idea?" Topic

I've seen notices and inquiries in the British threads about wargaming boot sales--basically a sell-it-out-of-your-car-trunk swap meet for wargamers.
Has anyone here in the states done this?
More importantly, anyone in the Northeast, preferably the Mid-Atlantic, want to do one?
And, being ignorant of the details, how would one do this without incurring the wrath of authorities, property owners, etc?

A local gaming store is hosting a garage sale in his games room. You rent table space from him and any items sold have to be a) gaming related and b) USED (so no unloading at a steep discount some still shrink wrapped 40K figures that he is trying to sell on his shelves)

I have run one for my buddies at mu house (yes, I have a VERY understanding wife) and Michigan Toy Soldier runs one in their parking lot a couple of times a year, I think it is a great idea!

Let's see according to my lawyer (Mr. Google):
No capital gains = no tax filing. You are selling at a loss.

Selling for a gain, means you technically have to do a Schedule C for US tax laws. But for a one time or infrequent sale at a gain (c'mon everybody brags they made a killing on something at sometime) I think we all ignore the law and the IRS doesn't seem interested.

When the "garage sale" hobby becomes a profit making business, like the auction sites for comic books, well, then you better get Uncle Sam his cut.

For the art or craft angle where you paint minis for sale or craft terrain for sale, if you start handling it like a business (tracking expenses, depending on income, making a profit, acting like a business, advertising) you can run afoul of tax laws if you are too successful. Better do those taxes. But if selling occasionally at flea markets with slave wages factored in, then you are likely ok.

Again, all this legal advice from Google. Want better? Better call Saul.

I was mainly thinking of liabilities in the sense of somebody's liability insurance, local zoning laws--how does one avoid such entanglements without Officer Obie taking 27 8x10 color glossy pictures with a paragraph on the back of each one telling what each one was to be used in evidence against us? <please forgive the inevitable "Alice's Restaurant" quote>
Or do these things spring forth from the ground like flash mobs, vanishing as quickly back into the sordid underworld of <gasp> miniatures wargaming???

To avoid the entanglements check with;

Whoever controls the location. If it is a parking lot serving more than one store then none of the stores likely have the power to grant permission and you will need to contact the landlord.

Next zoning. They tend not to be creative, ask about a group yard sale so they can pigeon hole you as something innocuous. Get their response as an email if you can and have it printed out. Also ask about signs.

Liability insurance is a must, the landlord should require it and zoning may require it as well. Not too expensive, just ask a local agent.

Most of this assumes you are a not for profit. If you don't have a group form one. Your accountant can usually help.

??? I have yet to attend a convention that didnt have one of these. (we call them flea markets)

The OP was aimed at Car Boot sales meaning selling from the trunk of your car and not inside a show somewhere.

If you have a local game store ask if they would host it for a cut of the sale. Unless you are really successful I don't think you will have trouble with the law EXCEPT if they think you are dealing drugs from the boot of the car. (My wife was recently on Grand Jury duty in NJ, eye opening civic duty that is)

What he said… just give a small cut of all sales to the store?

@cory: thanks for the details. Accountant? _MY_ accountant??? That's way above my current level. I'm talking cheap and simple, two terms often used to describe me.

My club has done this very thing amongst our member (6-8 people at most). Here is what we did: link

Despite the prospects for short-term gain, stealing is NEVER a good idea.

We did this once, a few years back, in the parking lot of the local hobby store that advertised the event to its customers.

Got some nice stuff at very good prices.

Wish I'd bought more, but funds were tight.

Sad thing is, the closest FLGS doesn' have a parking lot, and it is located along a small town main thoroughfare.

Our local club, The SWA, does a swap meet three times a yaer. $4 USD for a table, sell whatever you want at that monthly games day. plus the big auction at the yearly con.

You can run them pretty much anywhere, by mutual agreement, I suspect.

I believe The Whiz in Massachusetts has hosted sales. I think buyers pay the store, and sellers get store credit.

andy

Stealing is never a good idea.

"Stealing is never a good idea."
Unless the infielders are sloppy players.