Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
Went today - here's a bit of a write-up.
First off: I wanted to like Earls Court - not because of any nostalgia (never been before) but because I always side with the underdog. Anything to give those arrogant, self-serving BMF b*st*rds a bloody nose.
I had planned to go Saturday, but didn't. I was afraid it would be too crowded and the WE is my time. I had to be in London today anyway, so I went on the taxpayers time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Last time I went to Excell it took me just over an hour to get there from St Albans. Travelling time to Earls Court was similar.
To me Excell seems to have been designed by Hitler's or Stalin's architect (pick your own favourite dictator). Without soul or inspiration. Probably the same people who did Brighton Marina. This is where Earls Court wins hands down - the place has an almost welcoming feel to it. You almost feel glad you made the effort to turn up.
I turned up at 10H30 - the place was hardly crowded. It was decidedly uncrowded (if there is such a word).
What/who's there? Very little /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif . Lots if dinghy's - if that's your thing. A couple of swindleries (I make no apologies for using this term! - more on this below), the pool, some waterskiing blokes full of themselves, a very nice Hans Christiansen, a restored Contessa32 and a couple of very beautiful classic yachts. All of these will hold your attention for, well maybe, 15 minutes.
I did not have a concrete shopping list, but I had a list of 'nice to have' things and as always I was on the look-out for a bargain.
So, I started to inspect the swindlery offerings up close. Well, what there was of it. And again the boat show bargains were a smoke and mirrors job.
Two concrete examples: one swindlery had Dubarry Ultima boots "on offer". I have such a pair and would not be without them. The wife had also expressed in interest. OK, why not? That's one to cross of the X-Mas shopping list. Well, no. I've been looking for a well priced pair for some time. The price is usually around the £160-170 mark. Boat Show bargain!! £160 was £180. Don't bullshit a bullshitter.
Another swindlery had halyards on offer. Our traveller could use a new one. Big box full of them. Price list on top of the box. Not great, but not exactly rip-off. So I started to rummage through the box and look at the labels attached. Salesperson notices me and informs me that the correct price is the one on the list - the attached labels are boat jumble prices. "But the boat jumble prices are cheaper" says I. Dumb look followed by "No no, that must be some mistake". I left him to it.
Then I bumped into a bloke of whom I have bought stuff before. A nicer bloke you could not hope to meet. Hungarian-Australian mongrel (us mongrels have got to stick together) chatting to everyone. Last time we met (SIBS 2 years ago) we got plastered and had a fair shot a putting the world of boating to rights. Anyway, he still remembered me. "Will, Will, my friend - have a drink." 11H30 - my kind of person /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif He was very unimpressed with the organisation, amount of customers and turnover. And, he said, "They (the organisers) are already starting to spin a totally different story." He had paid £3K for the week plus £1K for the hotel. Last Saturday he took £120. "It's not worth my time or money being here."
Next, I met up with our very own Al Jones (stand H30) - pictured here below (on the right) as we were having breakfast at the Whyte & Makay bar.
He seemed to be doing rather better (not well enough to pay a round though - tight git /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ). Plenty of interest and as it was not that crowded he actually had to time to talk to customers in a civilised way. A seemingly very satisfied exhibitor.
So, a mixed picture painted by the exhibitors. Though at certain stands you could smell the desperation and fear. Salespeople literally flung themselves at me. Or maybe that's just my devilish good looks. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
If you go towards the end of the week, I'm sure there will be bargains to be had as some exhibitors will be struggling to break even.
The upstairs bit of the show is a waste of space. Some pictures & inflatable whales /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
And I did not spend any time in Hall 2 (MOBO & luxury boats). There's nothing of interest to me there and I wouldn't have anything sensible to say about it anyway.
The biggest disappointment there was the YBW stand. The YBW marketing bloke had been on here and mentioned FREE BEER. Two words that always get my attention. I found the YBW stand hidden away all the way on the right in Hall 1. Not even the usual blond bimbos thrusting subscriptions at you, but one twenty-something, bambi-eyed bored housewife doing her fingernails. No fridge, Richard or free beer anywhere. It's not just marketing - at some point you have to deliver! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
So, what do I think? Dunno - I'm rather underwhelmed by the whole thing. Thank God for the cheap ticket otherwise I would have felt ripped off (still do - a bit).
They have tried, but they need to try harder. And succeed!
As it is: "Close - but no cigar"
First off: I wanted to like Earls Court - not because of any nostalgia (never been before) but because I always side with the underdog. Anything to give those arrogant, self-serving BMF b*st*rds a bloody nose.
I had planned to go Saturday, but didn't. I was afraid it would be too crowded and the WE is my time. I had to be in London today anyway, so I went on the taxpayers time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Last time I went to Excell it took me just over an hour to get there from St Albans. Travelling time to Earls Court was similar.
To me Excell seems to have been designed by Hitler's or Stalin's architect (pick your own favourite dictator). Without soul or inspiration. Probably the same people who did Brighton Marina. This is where Earls Court wins hands down - the place has an almost welcoming feel to it. You almost feel glad you made the effort to turn up.
I turned up at 10H30 - the place was hardly crowded. It was decidedly uncrowded (if there is such a word).
What/who's there? Very little /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif . Lots if dinghy's - if that's your thing. A couple of swindleries (I make no apologies for using this term! - more on this below), the pool, some waterskiing blokes full of themselves, a very nice Hans Christiansen, a restored Contessa32 and a couple of very beautiful classic yachts. All of these will hold your attention for, well maybe, 15 minutes.
I did not have a concrete shopping list, but I had a list of 'nice to have' things and as always I was on the look-out for a bargain.
So, I started to inspect the swindlery offerings up close. Well, what there was of it. And again the boat show bargains were a smoke and mirrors job.
Two concrete examples: one swindlery had Dubarry Ultima boots "on offer". I have such a pair and would not be without them. The wife had also expressed in interest. OK, why not? That's one to cross of the X-Mas shopping list. Well, no. I've been looking for a well priced pair for some time. The price is usually around the £160-170 mark. Boat Show bargain!! £160 was £180. Don't bullshit a bullshitter.
Another swindlery had halyards on offer. Our traveller could use a new one. Big box full of them. Price list on top of the box. Not great, but not exactly rip-off. So I started to rummage through the box and look at the labels attached. Salesperson notices me and informs me that the correct price is the one on the list - the attached labels are boat jumble prices. "But the boat jumble prices are cheaper" says I. Dumb look followed by "No no, that must be some mistake". I left him to it.
Then I bumped into a bloke of whom I have bought stuff before. A nicer bloke you could not hope to meet. Hungarian-Australian mongrel (us mongrels have got to stick together) chatting to everyone. Last time we met (SIBS 2 years ago) we got plastered and had a fair shot a putting the world of boating to rights. Anyway, he still remembered me. "Will, Will, my friend - have a drink." 11H30 - my kind of person /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif He was very unimpressed with the organisation, amount of customers and turnover. And, he said, "They (the organisers) are already starting to spin a totally different story." He had paid £3K for the week plus £1K for the hotel. Last Saturday he took £120. "It's not worth my time or money being here."
Next, I met up with our very own Al Jones (stand H30) - pictured here below (on the right) as we were having breakfast at the Whyte & Makay bar.
He seemed to be doing rather better (not well enough to pay a round though - tight git /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ). Plenty of interest and as it was not that crowded he actually had to time to talk to customers in a civilised way. A seemingly very satisfied exhibitor.
So, a mixed picture painted by the exhibitors. Though at certain stands you could smell the desperation and fear. Salespeople literally flung themselves at me. Or maybe that's just my devilish good looks. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
If you go towards the end of the week, I'm sure there will be bargains to be had as some exhibitors will be struggling to break even.
The upstairs bit of the show is a waste of space. Some pictures & inflatable whales /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
And I did not spend any time in Hall 2 (MOBO & luxury boats). There's nothing of interest to me there and I wouldn't have anything sensible to say about it anyway.
The biggest disappointment there was the YBW stand. The YBW marketing bloke had been on here and mentioned FREE BEER. Two words that always get my attention. I found the YBW stand hidden away all the way on the right in Hall 1. Not even the usual blond bimbos thrusting subscriptions at you, but one twenty-something, bambi-eyed bored housewife doing her fingernails. No fridge, Richard or free beer anywhere. It's not just marketing - at some point you have to deliver! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
So, what do I think? Dunno - I'm rather underwhelmed by the whole thing. Thank God for the cheap ticket otherwise I would have felt ripped off (still do - a bit).
They have tried, but they need to try harder. And succeed!
As it is: "Close - but no cigar"
