ExCeL rip off!

[oldbilbo]

As did most on the first Monday........but as you well know we hit our targets and I can only go what my till tells me....

Its like being in the x files on here....

Well, I can only go ( by ) what my frend Richard Shead tells me.... about hitting targets, etc., and other stuff.

Meanwhile, listening to one of the specialist exhibitors showing a comprehensive range of batteries and solar panels, I was amused to hear that the nice ExCel people were so stingy about 'lecky distribution that said specialist battery/solar panel co. were unable to run their 'chi-chi' coffee machine on the stand, and had to endure a week of flabby stuff in plastic mugs, purchased at 'Olympian' prices from the food hall. So I took pity, and offered him my own s/s vacuum flask full of GOOD hot coffee.

That's another reason for going somewhere else next January.

BTW, for any yottie journalists short of a little news story.... One of the well-known chandlers was exhibiting a new two-piece dry suit - with all the bells and whistles. In discussion of its many merits, it emerged that they'd just about finalised a contract to supply ALL the French national 'Sauvetage' crews with this superb kit.

That would be an excellent little story for PBO or YM's news columns, once it is 'dis-embargoed' for publication, doncha think?

 

[seacock]

I haven't taken much notice of Richard Sheads comments since he obviously has a conflict of interest in fear of upsetting National Boats Shows and ipc's favourable terms and location at these Boat Shows, but I welcome the BMF in making some response.

Having spoken to the NCC Events Manager and from the evidence provided by ALL the comments to this thread, it appears to me that the BMF has simply failed to negotiate terms with ExCeL.

Regarding the parking and recouping the costs - where's the NCC recouping costs if gate entry is £10 and everything else is FREE!

One other observation, come February, ExCeL will be FULL of motorhomes and caravans, far more than the BMF could achieve with the feeble selection yachts (Gin palaces exempt)

 

[Richard Shead]

I haven't taken much notice of Richard Sheads comments since he obviously has a conflict of interest in fear of upsetting National Boats Shows and ipc's favourable terms and location at these Boat Shows, but I welcome the BMF in making some response.

Having spoken to the NCC Events Manager and from the evidence provided by ALL the comments to this thread, it appears to me that the BMF has simply failed to negotiate terms with ExCeL.

Regarding the parking and recouping the costs - where's the NCC recouping costs if gate entry is £10 and everything else is FREE!

One other observation, come February, ExCeL will be FULL of motorhomes and caravans, far more than the BMF could achieve with the feeble selection yachts (Gin palaces exempt)

Utter nonsense......

I speak the truth and have upset NBS on more than one occasion....and continue to do so on a weekly basis...did you not see the leader in Yachting World Jan? I can assure you my name is dirt in that place...

It frustrates me when folk simply don't speak the truth or look at the facts when making huge sweeping statements..

Yes Excel will be full of Motor homes and Caravans in Feb however the NEC will not...

Oh hold on, ExCel is a stupid place to hold a show is it not.... I thought the general opinion was to move it all to the NEC, oh but hold on again the caravan show is now at ExCel? well who would have thought....

 

[dylanwinter]

Blimey Seacock

I haven't taken much notice of Richard Sheads comments since he obviously has a conflict of interest in fear of upsetting National Boats Shows and ipc's favourable terms and location at these Boat Shows, but I welcome the BMF in making some response.

)

Blimey Seacock,

I am sure you will dismiss my comments as hacks closing ranks but blimey you really should read some of what Richard has written before putting such stuff on this forum

He has been incredibly outspoken about boat shows

As a former IPC hack on three of their magazines none of my editors there would have had the guts to say what he has said about the yachting industry

he says what needs to be said.

This is a great place for comment and opinion

opi nions formed without the benefit of facts makes me feel slightly nervous

opinions and comment that is contrary to the facts makes me feel quesy

Dylan

 

[capnsensible]

Utter nonsense......

I speak the truth and have upset NBS on more than one occasion....and continue to do so on a weekly basis...did you not see the leader in Yachting World Jan? I can assure you my name is dirt in that place...

It frustrates me when folk simply don't speak the truth or look at the facts when making huge sweeping statements..

Yes Excel will be full of Motor homes and Caravans in Feb however the NEC will not...

Oh hold on, ExCel is a stupid place to hold a show is it not.... I thought the general opinion was to move it all to the NEC, oh but hold on again the caravan show is now at ExCel? well who would have thought....

Hiya Richard. It was me posting the figures each day as supplied in the daily news letter to the stands. I missed Sat and Sunday figures.

All week, averages down as posted. Dont know Saturday figures.....Sunday we left to go home. On that Saturday, we saw a lot of people drifting across from the Outdoor Show, can tell by the bags.

Personal view. Not many sailing schools find it worth doing the show anymore. All you are really doing is showing your face to other schools! We shared a stand and neither of us will bother again. Little interest, virtually no sales....at any school. Hours spent with no one walking around the pink carpet end, just time and money wasted.

Interesting experience (not my first time, done Excel 3 times, Earls Court twice), but never again!!!

 

[maxi77]

Also, I have known a few caravan types; it's actually quite a snobby activity with distinct factions such as manufacturers and towed versus motorcaravan ( amazingly to me, the tow-ers think themselves superior even though their kit costs a lot less ), and a lot of the people involved have plenty of money - a great many managed to retire on very good terms when such things were possible.

Whereas I have found it the exact opposite, yes on some sites there are cliques who drink together but in general they are a pretty egalitarian mob. One suspects Seajets snobs were just that, snobs in general. We even towed our last van with a camper van.

I do understand that in some parts of southern England certain van brands are not accepted on some sites as they tend to be the brands favoured by travellers, (those brands are German, better equipped and finished than most British vans).

Need help or advice on a caravan site just knock on a door and ask, you will get help and a beer too most of the time.

 

[maxi77]

Utter nonsense......

I speak the truth and have upset NBS on more than one occasion....and continue to do so on a weekly basis...did you not see the leader in Yachting World Jan? I can assure you my name is dirt in that place...

It frustrates me when folk simply don't speak the truth or look at the facts when making huge sweeping statements..

Yes Excel will be full of Motor homes and Caravans in Feb however the NEC will not...

Oh hold on, ExCel is a stupid place to hold a show is it not.... I thought the general opinion was to move it all to the NEC, oh but hold on again the caravan show is now at ExCel? well who would have thought....

Could that just be that the vanners did an astoundingly good deal to get their show at Excel, and the BMF has failed to do the same, for years.

I must admit I rarely go to the LBS these days because the boat exhibitors tend to rope of their stands and only allow you on after checking your bank balance and credit rating. The same people welcome you with open arms at Southampton.

 

[Richard Shead]

They're here on the MCC website.

Rough and crude calculations....

My space is approx 117 pounds per square meter....discounted with my BMF membership

MCC is approx 65 pounds per square meter.....discounted with their membership

MCC is on for 6 days and at a guess 2-3 days build either side, similar to bham as most are shell schemes and open space...lets call it 14 days absolute max which is wont be..

Boat show from memory is nearly a four week tenancy of the venue, it does include Christmas but its open in between xmas and new year....long build up and over a week to break down, large complex stands with very little shell schemes.

Logistically its a totally different animal...

But I agree the car park is a shocker and as I used to work closely with all those involved in the MCC both at Excel and Bham I know how much it hurts them to absorb the car par costs...it will hurt even more at Excel as the NEC runs at about 6 quid a day....

 

[Twister_Ken]

Still rankles with me to have to spend money in order to spend money.

 

[Richard Shead]

Still rankles with me to have to spend money in order to spend money.

Agreed....but that's the nature of exhibitions, you get to see everything under one roof (in an ideal world) and that alone holds value.

The internet is partly to blame but not totally on equipment and clothing deals.

I visited the ski show in Oct, paid my money which incidentally was the same as the boat show for a show that took up the ground floor only of Earls Court 1 and found not one deal to be had.

It was simply all the high street brands in there with large stand. However it did offer the opportunity to go from stand to stand and comparing equipment and I found tremendous value in that.

All in all it probably cost me about £100 quid when you add in the crafty pizza on the way home but it was a good evening (yes less than three hours) entertainment that the current Mrs S and I enjoyed greatly. Oh and guess what? it got us in the mood......(for skiing that is...)

One thing I have said before is that nearly all the major clothing manufactures at LBS are now high street brands and therefore cannot offer the deals they perhaps once did.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

On that Saturday, we saw a lot of people drifting across from the Outdoor Show, can tell by the bags.
!

I heard a tale from a colleague who was on the DLR going back into London. A couple obviously been to the Outdoor show (can tell by the bags AND the attire), one said to the other "There were a lot of big boats at the show - i dont know why they were there. " !

 

[Cookee]

Suspect BMF.
It's been stated in another thread that the boatshows are the BMFs only source of revenue.

According to the stubs in my cheque book the BMF also receive subscriptions from all of the members!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

According to the stubs in my cheque book the BMF also receive subscriptions from all of the members!

Of course they do - dont spoil a good argument with salient facts !!!

 

[FishyInverness]

Regarding the entry price to the Show, £20 was the walk up on the door price. Simply logging onto our website would have given you a £16 advance price, and there were numerous other deals promoted in the run up to the Show with even more discounts.

Is that as a response to the theme of the CCS being cheaper? Because it's not much of an argument when - so do they!

On the CCS website - an advance ticket costs £7. So that little nugget is immediately mooted.

 

[Richard Shead]

According to the stubs in my cheque book the BMF also receive subscriptions from all of the members!

You are indeed correct! That and boat show revenues as you know but that is as Nick says a totally different argument!

I value our BMF membership and not just for the boat show discount, its one of the most pro active federations I know of, however you have to be proactive in obtaining the benefits applicable to you, they wont come to you (not should they) anyhow, slight fred drift..

 

[Koeketiene]

Suspect BMF.
It's been stated in another thread that the boatshows are the BMFs only source of revenue.

According to the stubs in my cheque book the BMF also receive subscriptions from all of the members!

Of course they do - dont spoil a good argument with salient facts !!!

I was not saying it was a fact - merely repeating what had been argued elsewhere.

 

[Twister_Ken]

One thing I have said before is that nearly all the major clothing manufactures at LBS are now high street brands and therefore cannot offer the deals they perhaps once did.

Some of them, though, have shops in outlet villages. If you want cheaper branded clothing, a day spent a Bicester (or similar) might be more profitable than a day at LIBS. The Guinness is probably cheaper too. And it's nearer NEC!

 

[fireball]

Some of them, though, have shops in outlet villages. If you want cheaper branded clothing, a day spent a Bicester (or similar) might be more profitable than a day at LIBS. The Guinness is probably cheaper too. And it's nearer NEC!

And entry is ... the cost of the car park - for however many you can get into your car (or know where the free parking is)

the downside is that Bicester gets a little crowded so you can waste 1/2 your life just trying to get in and out!

 

[pathfinderstu]

I suspect the exhibitors pay to get their boats there, not the organisers who set the entry fee. So the ticket price has nothing to do with boat transport costs.

yes and they are selling the things after all!

 

[windpipe]

As i understand it the BMF is a non profit organisation!