Mego Meet 2015 Announced

[hedrap]

Look, I can sense you are upset and I'm sorry about that, as it wasn't our goal to offend anybody. However, you can't honestly speak to our costs or success factors. A "modest increase" in Pittsburgh as you suggest, would result in no further Mego Meets.

This change is the result of years of feedback from those who did attend, not enough family stuff, too expensive to fly and rent a car, not enough vintage goodies etc et all. I won't even get into the dealers who came once. It was not done lightly and to be frank, we did our homework.

We've worked hard with the Skokie hotel to get the same day rate as the Wheeling Hampton Inn.

Chicago is one of the easiest places in the US to find a cheap flight to, I will pay less than the gas to drive to Wheeling this past year. That's good because as a long timer, it doubles my drive. Over all my costs will likely be a little less.

In terms of Mego not saturating the market in greater Chicago, that's just not accurate. I'm well educated on that subject, from interviews to trade publications to contacts I've made over the years. Not to mention i've been there a dozen or so times for toy and comic shows.

It's also the headquarters of Sears, one of the biggest customers Mego ever had, I've discussed Mego with the former buyer on a couple of occasions. Not to mention many memorable toy chains. Mego WGSH was also in every Western Auto and True Value up to the ceiling etc et all.

But moreover, where the warehouses were is kind of meaningless when you're trying to attract a modern collector base and I assure you, Chicago has been an incredibly strong network of Vintage Toy collecting since the 80s.

Again, We certainly didn't want to upset anybody and I don't want to fuel flames here but I also can't abide some of these statements.

Honestly, I'm not personally upset by the move or anything said here, for that matter. If it reads that's way, then it's my poor choice of words.

As I said, I honestly feel bad for the East Coast crew. I've only been going since '09, and like Brue, it's something I could plan in the last days. That was a luxury. A lot of you guys didn't have that luxury and I've always been appreciative of that. Now, the convenience trade-off for me is weighed against the chance to see Austin's full collection in person. That's incredibly tempting, and IIRC, isn't Matt J in Chicago? I'd love to see that custom collection, also.

I don't question you've done your diligence and as previous "Move The Meet" threads will show, I've been a proponent. As for Sears, that's a valid point. You know the company history better than I and I'm fully aware of Chicago's collector history from a few fronts. But every answer raises another question that I can't square. I shouldn't have said anything because I recognize it is none of my business. So I'll rescind from commenting further.

[TrekStar]

How about a future mego meet in Las Vegas?? Megos, casinos, shows, a trifector of fabulous fun
and a trip to the pawn shop store to see Rick, Hoss, Chumly and the old man, now that's a fun time.

Well maybe not, but still fun to imagine.

[pmwasson]

Well, I think it will be a lot cheaper for me. I thinking I may not even need to rent a car.

I'm working on a few special things to bring to my table as well as pieces for others. If everything lines right, and from what I'm hearing from others, there may be some amazing things offered this year. I'm predicting this will be one of the best meets ever!

[ubermanx]

I am a very sentimental fella. So I fully understand the nostalgia some long attending members have for the Train Museum. Ten years of memories are nothing to sneeze about. I am sympathetic.

The venue has been set. Chicago. Lots of great reasons for it to be there. It does mean my trip from Canada has different issues with flying, luggage limitations, car rentals, etc. So much so that it is not a slam dunk that I will be able to attend. But I am excited for the possibilities in Skokie. Kudos to the Meet organizers.

- Marty

[palitoy]

I'm not trying to tick you or anyone else off, but IL is an insanely expensive state compared to West Virginia. Otherwise you could have gone to Pittsburgh and had similar benefits, a modest increase in costs and made it easier on some of the long-timers.

Look, I can sense you are upset and I'm sorry about that, as it wasn't our goal to offend anybody. However, you can't honestly speak to our costs or success factors. A "modest increase" in Pittsburgh as you suggest, would result in no further Mego Meets.

This change is the result of years of feedback from those who did attend, not enough family stuff, too expensive to fly and rent a car, not enough vintage goodies etc et all. I won't even get into the dealers who came once. It was not done lightly and to be frank, we did our homework.

We've worked hard with the Skokie hotel to get the same day rate as the Wheeling Hampton Inn.

Chicago is one of the easiest places in the US to find a cheap flight to, I will pay less than the gas to drive to Wheeling this past year. That's good because as a long timer, it doubles my drive. Over all my costs will likely be a little less.

In terms of Mego not saturating the market in greater Chicago, that's just not accurate. I'm well educated on that subject, from interviews to trade publications to contacts I've made over the years. Not to mention i've been there a dozen or so times for toy and comic shows.

It's also the headquarters of Sears, one of the biggest customers Mego ever had, I've discussed Mego with the former buyer on a couple of occasions. Not to mention many memorable toy chains. Mego WGSH was also in every Western Auto and True Value up to the ceiling etc et all.

But moreover, where the warehouses were is kind of meaningless when you're trying to attract a modern collector base and I assure you, Chicago has been an incredibly strong network of Vintage Toy collecting since the 80s.

Again, We certainly didn't want to upset anybody and I don't want to fuel flames here but I also can't abide some of these statements.

[Iron Mego]

Megos were everywhere in Fresno, CA as well. And Fresno is nothing like SF or LA, especially back in the 1970s. Total ag town, not a major hub by any means. But Megos were in drugstores, toy stores, hardware stores, mom and pop shops, etc. I saw them nearly everywhere I went back in the day.

[Bronxboykev]

I am a MEGO Meeter that came late to the Party, I missed the first 6 but have been to the last 4. I think it is safe to say that Distance, Cost, Travel Time, have been the issue since the Meets existence... Canada, Chicago, Texas, LA, NY, Wheeling... It doesn't make a difference it is always going to be undo-able for someone... Most people who account for the Event who Travel LONGER distances make it their Vacation, others closer, like myself made it long weekends... If you are planning far enough in advance it can be done by all, for myself flying would be the fastest form of transportation currently $217 pp, it adds 3 costs to my trip, airfare, added luggage and or shipping of my Mego haul, and rental car... Train although a cheaper fare currently $105 pp still adds 3 factors, the longest travel time of my 3 options, added luggage and or shipping of my Mego haul, and rental car... The best option for myself is still the drive, yes its added almost double the mileage and travel time but an added gas cost still makes it doable, especially if you have someone to split the drive time with.

Even If Chicago is a resounding success, maybe just maybe and Naturally it would all hing on the event moderators so I don't know how much of an option it is, to think about maybe having 2 MEGO events...
Mego Meet at the Toy and Train Museum in Wheeling at the beginning of Spring... and
Mego Con in Skoki Ill at the end of the summer...

Being that these are Extremely time consuming planning events it is a STRETCH so I wouldn't suggest anyone hold their breath... but just throwing it out there for the ones who would like to stay in Wheeling...

With that being said I hope I see all of the Faces that I have come accustomed to seeing every June... See you in Chi Town all.

[boss]

I'm not sure any of your argument holds water hedrap. I started going to megomeet in 2009. There has been a noticeably steady decline in the amount of vintage mego offerings there each year. Interestingly enough, some of the larger dealers of vintage megos who no longer attend the Wheeling show are from the Chicago area. So, if you're implying that by remaining on the west coast, there is going to be a flood of vintage mego on dealer tables, that ship has sailed. I would argue that there is now a higher probability of those folks returning because it's closer to their back yard.

Also, we are far enough removed from mego's heyday that choosing a venue based on where the company's headquarters/distribution centers were 35 years ago seems like a stretch. From my own personal experience growing up as a military brat, I can guarantee you that megos were everywhere.

I understand that the trip to Chicago is more inconvenient for some than it is to others. I also know that this move will inject a lot of new blood into the process. And I think that's a good thing.

[hedrap]

I don't get this statement, Art's accolades have never been a driving factor in anything on our end, other than we were happy for him. We're not that calculating, we're a bunch of collectors who think we can do something special together.

As for Chicago not being a Mego town, tell that to anyone who has been to Kane County.

I'm not trying to tick you or anyone else off, but IL is an insanely expensive state compared to West Virginia. I wasn't trying to imply you split from Wheeling to exploit Art as leaving has been on the table for at least two years, as far as I can remember, and Art has volunteered to host in the past. But what he brings, even if it's just the store, has to be part of the calculus, otherwise you could have gone to Pittsburgh and had similar benefits, a modest increase in costs and made it easier on some of the long-timers.

As for Chicago, you're right. I don't know about the Mego collector base. I'm guessing that's another factor.

But Mego is an Eastern Seaboard company and had it's biggest impact there. More raw lots come from the basements of this area than anywhere else in the US because, as a kid who grew up there in the 70's, Mego was sold at every store that had even one toy lane. Goblin and Arrow could be found in rinkydink stores in Hoboken without having to go near Paramus Mall. Bagged WGSH for 40-70 cents flooded Christmas Tree Shoppes around the year.

But out West, Mego was more relegated to the giant toy stores like Kiddie City/Children's then just TRU at the very end. It's like Kenner to Ohio or Mattel to Cali as Regional distribution was easier to lock down. Late wave Super Powers could be found in Mid-West feed & supply stores when they were non-existent in parts out west. A more modern example is Kaiju Bandai which was a Cali product that people in the East had to buy from speciality dealer mailing lists or cons like Chiller. eBay changed that, but only in the past decade.

[Bronxboykev]

I am looking forward to seeing the new dealers room and how many new dealers we get in the move. Not happy about loosing anyone mind you. I hope to be there with 2 tables full.

Just a side note: the Mego Meet exclusive is coming along just fine. I hope to have the prototype finished pretty quick here and will show it off in the next month or so. Will probably do pre-orders again like last time.

And a SPECIAL Exclusive Variation for the Auction as well

[ScottA]

I am looking forward to seeing the new dealers room and how many new dealers we get in the move. Not happy about loosing anyone mind you. I hope to be there with 2 tables full.

Just a side note: the Mego Meet exclusive is coming along just fine. I hope to have the prototype finished pretty quick here and will show it off in the next month or so. Will probably do pre-orders again like last time.

[dumbldor]

!!!!!!!

This!!

[VintageMike]

As for Chicago not being a Mego town, tell that to anyone who has been to Kane County.

I've never been to Kane County but for any of our members who may not know this, several very big collectors/dealers live in the Chicago area. As a vintage collector, I am very excited about the possible selection and the prospect my months of savings/sacrifice will pay off. If I had a complaint about Wheeling that would be it: the vintage choices outside of loose figures was somewhat limited. The last two years, I brought home at least half of my Meet budget which would be unthinkable for many. I don't expect that to be the case this year.

[Johnny]

Great choice Mego Museum Overlords. Although Wheeling was an interesting and quaint town to visit, Skokie seems much easier to get to.

I've always wanted to check out Chicago as well so maybe I can work that into the trip.

Not committing 100% yet but I may have to make the pilgrimage again in 2015.

[palitoy]

Connecting with the Milk Man is something I've been expecting, especially after the Eisner nods.

I don't get this statement, Art's accolades have never been a driving factor in anything on our end, other than we were happy for him. We're not that calculating, we're a bunch of collectors who think we can do something special together.

As for Chicago not being a Mego town, tell that to anyone who has been to Kane County.