Admission to shows--RIPOFF

[logdog]

BTW, I don't consider attending these shows to be "entertainment" as 99% of the crap they have on display is stuff I don't need or want. $8 admission, $5 parking, $5 gasoline...waste of money, IMO. BIG WASTE.

Unless I am missing something.... Then why would you go? There are lots of things I think are a waste that I dont go to that lots of other people do.

 

[dmccarty]

Our local Farm Show did not charge an entry fee to attend. I certainly would not go if it did.

I have been to a couple Home Shows years ago but I don't think we paid.

Seems like I might have had to pay to get into a gun show but that was decades ago too and I sure can't remember.

These have all been at the NC Fairgrounds.

It is kind of a rip off now that you bring it up.

Later,
Dan

 

[Western]

One of the reasons I usually wont go to a hunting expo or gun show anymore. I will go to a gun show if I'm looking for a particular deal, which isn't very often.

I have had buddies over the years that aren't safe in a gun/ hunting show, they'll impulse buy big time.

 

[aczlan]

Have never been to a car show, waste of time and money. The local university hosts an "Agricultural Expo" every year. Many events, including the chance to drive compact tractors and ATV's, and tractor pulls. FREE PARKING, FREE ADMISSION, the exhibitors pick up the entire cost of everything and that is the correct way to do it. In all my years of attending I have NEVER seen any homeless or bums there.
BTW, what are you referring to: "go after mooching the free stuff....?" Brochures, handouts, yardsticks, pens and pencils, etc?

We try to visit Empire Farm Days every year. $10/car to get in... Has been worth that (for me) to walk through the show with my wife and our daughter, plenty of "ride and drive" stuff and info to learn from.
Besides, that is where I asked her to marry me (with a bedsheet hung on the cab of a swather at the Deere booth). Always nice to stop in and say hi to the rep who oked me putting it up.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

The local nursery always has a booth at the Garden show... they give me a free pass every time I ask.

The local boat show was similar... they ran out of passes and gave me a temp employee badge...

Parking is the big expense... some of the shows charge as much as $20 for parking in San Francisco... and $15 in Oakland.

 

[Sigarms]

When is the last time a gun show had free admission:laughing:

Cost money to rent space, and for the minimal fee, as mentioned, worth the entertainment.

Look at it this way, how much would it cost you in gas to drive to all of the vendors if they weren't in one place at the same time? Probably more than the admission.

 

[MasseyWV]

looky-loos who would never be there to do anything but gaze and go after mooching the free stuff

Isn't the whole point of these shows to attract lookie-loos, with the hope that they will become paying cutomers? How exactly does one tell the difference? Charging an entrance fee may seem like a good idea, but all it really does is limit attendance of potential paying customers.

 

[JDgreen227]

Isn't the whole point of these shows to attract lookie-loos, with the hope that they will become paying cutomers? How exactly does one tell the difference? Charging an entrance fee may seem like a good idea, but all it really does is limit attendance of potential paying customers.

My point EXACTLY !! No doubt there are many families locally who would want to attend the local home show, but for Mom and Dad and three kids they are looking at $28 to $40 just to get admitted, plus the fuel to get there and back.

 

[powerpace]

I don't mind paying an entrance fee for something I'm interested in and possibly helping me learn something.

What I don't like is paying for a cap with a Logo on it and paying 30% more than a plain one. If a company wants me to wear their advertisement they ought to pay me or reward me for buying their product. If I buy a $24,000 item at least throw a hat in. Same with shirts and jackets. OLD NAVY, FOX (whatever that is), JOHN DEERE and Cabela's are all guilty. You are what you wear. I don't wear HEAVY METAL T-Shirts.

 

[RoyJackson]

Look at the good point...an entrance fee keeps all the riff-raff...like me, for example...out of these shows.