Excel boat show tickets - war has been declared

I don't think Lemain is being duped at all. I go for the fun of it too AND for a bit of market research AND to have a good look at things I am nerver ever gonig to buy, but still ike to to look at.
I don't want to claim I have made any special big deals, but it is nice to pick up things and touch them, especially in a world where most of the stuff gets dealt with over the internet ("virtual reality").

Having written this, I have just realised that last year I saved myself a significant amount of dosh picking up Tigger's new rocna at LBS: you should have seen the face of my teen-age boys when they realised we were going to cart back the anchor on the tube and train! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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.......... Yes it can be fun but if I go, its to research or buy something. ..................

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We seem to be at odds with the majority, Lemain and I.
I manage to have a good day out, I always learn something about what's on offer, but if I don't buy anything, well I've still got the money in my pocket. Perhaps the difference is that I'm retired, I've got nothing to prove, and I've got the time to go..........
 
In a previous thread, someone asked why we cannot have a show a bit nearer the north sometimes. I have never managed to get to any of the southern shows, partly because of cost and partly because of the time off work needed.

There is a rather poor show in Glasgow, but I only go there if I can get free tickets. Anyway the local chandler usually has a discount weekend for those not attending that show. He says that he sees no reason to pay (as an exhibitor) to show some selected items when he has a perfectly good shop a few miles away carrying his full range.
 
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Sorry don't agree at all. I think you're being duped.

[/ QUOTE ]Duped? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I've been going to the EC Boat Show since around 1963/4 and there isn't much anyone can tell me about them. We all enjoy different things, I suppose. What I don't like is the high price for revolting food, nowhere to sit, smoke (that should no longer be a problem), and crowds of non-boaty people stopping me from getting attention on stands but then again, if they have paid to get in then they have a perfect right, and I respect that even if it is a pain.

I wouldn't go if I didn't enjoy it.
 
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Why should boat people feel they should be treated differently from any other special interest group?

Punters have always paid to enter the Motor Show, Garden Shows etc, most of which are trade shows hoping to attract buyers.


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I don't think we expect to be treated differently - if my interest was motoring I would moan about having to pay to get into the motorshow, etc...

Like I said - You don't have to pay to walk down the High Street.
 
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Like I said - You don't have to pay to walk down the High Street.

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I am afraid the High Streets I have been down don't have the sort of stuff I find at the boat shows. All in all, getting it under cover at a venue that is close to my workplace makes it an attractive afternoon "out" (in actually). Of course I'd rather be sailing, but as the Forum conspired to whip up some dogdy weather this weekend and noone wants to come crewing with me (see one of my previous posts!) I think I'll go to EC instead.
 
Capt Goode indeed. Perhaps when we have one boat alternating between EC and Excel at a less wintry time of year we will get in free but for the meantime it is a day out for me - look at the gadgets (they convinced me to buy a Yeoman so I have a second hand one lined up /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif) - meet a few peeps for a drink. 40 mins down the road. £7.50 in the scheme of things is neither here nor there thankfully.
 
Well there you are. It will be hard to find better evidence of the nonsense of it all than your post. So you are paying a not insignificant sum to go and see products for sale in uncomfortable surroundings with poor facilities. We are being taken for mugs. If it was shopping centre, there would be no customers.

One year I was seriously thinking about buying an AWB. Once I asked about a trial sail, all interest in me evaporated. At every stand i visited. Not one company followed me up after the show even though I was seriously interested.
 
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Well there you are. It will be hard to find better evidence of the nonsense of it all than your post. So you are paying a not insignificant sum <span style="color:red"> [to go and see products for sale]</span> <span style="color:blue"> [to spend your leisure time] </span> in uncomfortable surroundings with poor facilities.

[/ QUOTE ] Sounds like going to sea in a typical yacht to me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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We are being taken for mugs.

[/ QUOTE ] Speak for yourself!
 
No plans for going anywhere this year but I would like to go to EC if I could get the time.In the past I've spent a lot more than was good for my card and my loving wife has trapsed along beside me only complaning now and again about the food, lack of nice boaty things for women and how the entertainment is geared for men.
The cost of entry is incidental as I have to fly from Ireland and take a hotel room for the night but I do feel that it is a bit much to pay a lot to visit a trade show. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I have a different reason for going to the big boat shows: it is the one place where you will be sure to find all the suppliers of marine equipment in one place. So it is extremely practical if you are looking for information or a certain type of equipment; it will all be there in one place in one day. Much better than trying to troll through all those tedious web pages that are not really informational. And much nicer to be 'hands on'.

However, this recent development of splitting the UK show between two locations threathens to take that away; how many suppliers can afford to be at both places? So you potentionally end up with two half-a***d shows. I already thought that last years Excel show was a disappoinment. This year could be even worse.

I will now go to the Dusseldorf Boat Show January 2008 instead. It has been the largest show for many years, and the recent mess in London has made it even more so.

Pitty, because I love coming to London and do all the other nice London activities at the same time. Now I will give it a pass.
 
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The WOA has to be the best of all owners' associations. Tremendous support. Shame you don't support Nauticats /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

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Point of Order !!! There are quite a few of us on here who belong to the really best Owners Association - MoodySabre being a good example!!
 
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The WOA has to be the best of all owners' associations. Tremendous support. Shame you don't support Nauticats /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

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Point of Order !!! There are quite a few of us on here who belong to the really best Owners Association - MoodySabre being a good example!!

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Surely not the good ol' MOA?
 
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What I don't like is the high price for revolting food, nowhere to sit, smoke

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And don't forget that horrible bottleneck right in the middle- the escalators...
Nope, it's ExCel for me, any day! (with Düsseldorf a close 2nd!)
 
Johhy H, Check out the travel agents, British rail, National coaches for travel and hotel inclusive deals. I visited the Boat Show many years ago on a BR deal and the train fare part was almost nill, they also included an Underground rail 3 day pass.
 
So what are the good deals to be had? I notice that Mailspeedmarine are selling tickets at £10.

And the one at Earls Court?

I always have a good time at the boat show with my daughter. I think the visit to the warship is worth the entry fee in itself. Bu then I'm moored only a couple of miles away and it costs me nothing to get there.
 
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So you are paying a not insignificant sum to go and see products for sale in uncomfortable surroundings with poor facilities. We are being taken for mugs. If it was shopping centre, there would be no customers.


[/ QUOTE ] So, you've decided the show is not for you, that you were taken for a mug. Fine. No one is forcing you to attend.

The show is a commercial product which can be used in many ways. As entertainment, as a source of information, as a means of obtaining discounts, as a place for like minded people to meet up, as a place for selling products . . . this product is offered at varying prices by a commercial organisation which aims to make money out of the activity.

Of course, other organisations will muscle into the market if they think the prodcut/price has weaknesses.

I can't see what anyone can criticise about this arrangement. No-one has to attend. If the price is too high, don't go. If the results disappoint you, don't return. Moan on a web site. If you thnk it can be improved, speak to the organisers, or set up in competition. If you enjoy it, come back. Praise it on a web site. Simple really.
 
Part of the reason that Excel turned into a colourless hanger with no atmosphere was that exhibitor charges were too high to attract the smaller and sometimes more interesting or innovative exhibitors. Money taken at the door SHOULD alleviate this problem but if greedy organisers think they have a monopoly they maximise revenue without considering the punters. The competition this year is great for us since both organisers are fighting for the maximum number of turnstile clicks which is what will determine their survival.

As part of their fight back against Earls Court, not only are Excel offering 1/2 price tickets through clubs this year they are also offering free stand space to selected clubs - big enough to show a boat. Should bring a little of the 'Boat' back into a Boat Show that was turning into a Yacht show. It will be interesting to see if this and all their other plans succeed.

Free tickets for Earls Court eh - I will have to investigate. Selfishly I hope that Earls Court does well as it is much easier to get to for me (sorry East Londoners) even if it is impossibly congested for exhibitors.

But what is really needed is a London exhibition centre that is on the M25, has massive car parks and a direct connection to the main underground network and or mainline trains.
 
Re: Earls court - it is a show.

Just come back from the show.

Impressed with the feel, interesting shows with royal marines abseiling into the pool. More mobos than yachts but still worth going to see. Quite a few swindleries, very good j-boats stand, Select/Hunters look good on the pool. Food at reasonable prices.

I think as long as the numbers are OK there will be a lot more exhibitors next year and the cat has been thrown amongst the pigeons.
 
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