RVIA Pomona too expensive

I just wish we had a decent RV show somewhere in Central Texas. I'd pay a reasonable price to window shop and maybe look at the newer doo-dads they offer for our recreational pleasure.

Baloney! I refuse to pay to see a thousand MH's and TTs and I'm not so sure about the "DEAL! My wife was a negotiator at one time and drives them crazy. We alwyas go into a dealer at dinner time,the last day of the worst sales month, carrying a chicken dinner and eat in the showroom. They will wipe sweat with their ties. Then we say, We want to talk to the top salesman for this month. He has the incentive to sell just one more RV and will do about anything to get it sold include working til midnite. I don't care. I've walked away with new cars, trucks and RVs like this since I married her and will keep doing it her way. I am not afraid to walk out either.

DSDP Don wrote:
I agree with the point that it can save you some driving time, but I still disagree with charging. Especially $16.00 a person and at least $10.00 for parking. So for the privilege of seeing THEIR RV's I'm going to pay $42.00 for two of us plus gas.

So, I'm going to open a car delearship. I'm going sell, Honda's, Chevrolets, Subarus, Fords, Lexus and Hyundai. You can look at all six brands at one spot. I'll have a nice $10.00 self park parking lot and the entrance fee will be $10.00 per adult and $5.00 for kids.

Hmmmm.......Sounds ridiculous when you look at it this way??

Not really there are car shows held at convention centers all over the country that charge admission.

DSDP Don wrote:
I agree with the point that it can save you some driving time, but I still disagree with charging. Especially $16.00 a person and at least $10.00 for parking. So for the privilege of seeing THEIR RV's I'm going to pay $42.00 for two of us plus gas.

So, I'm going to open a car delearship. I'm going sell, Honda's, Chevrolets, Subarus, Fords, Lexus and Hyundai. You can look at all six brands at one spot. I'll have a nice $10.00 self park parking lot and the entrance fee will be $10.00 per adult and $5.00 for kids.

Hmmmm.......Sounds ridiculous when you look at it this way??

It does, because nobody would pay to go to that. But each year when the new models come out there are car shows all over the Country where dealers from all the brands show the newest models and they are usually held at convention centers and I'll bet most all, if not all, charge admission. I've been to the one at Mosconi Center in San Francisco a couple of times, and there was always and admission charge.

If you want to go see all the 2018 cars in one spot here you go, but the admission is $10: San Francisco Car Show

So, $40 per couple is a little steep, and please remember to bring cash since they don't take any plastic! But consider a few facts:

1) The fairgrounds are charging dealers and you. Is it really that awful to contribute a few bucks to the fairgrounds? After all, they teach inner-city kids where milk comes from.

2) It is nice to be able to wander from 5ver to 45' DP to pop-up camper to conversion van and not have to explain your intentions to a sales person. If a sales person is annoying, you just ditch them and move on.

3) There are good deals to be had. When else can you bounce back a forth between dealers (multiple times) to find the best price? Plus, the factories sometimes add extra incentives.

Its usually hot, they don't always have the units you want to see, and the food sucks. But, the RV lifestyle is not about minimizing costs. If you live within a drive-able distance, why not go?

For us, we have been to the Pomona show several times and it gets old. We are curious about the Quartsite show. Its free, larger, and maybe some better deals?

I agree with the point that it can save you some driving time, but I still disagree with charging. Especially $16.00 a person and at least $10.00 for parking. So for the privilege of seeing THEIR RV's I'm going to pay $42.00 for two of us plus gas.

So, I'm going to open a car delearship. I'm going sell, Honda's, Chevrolets, Subarus, Fords, Lexus and Hyundai. You can look at all six brands at one spot. I'll have a nice $10.00 self park parking lot and the entrance fee will be $10.00 per adult and $5.00 for kids.

Hmmmm.......Sounds ridiculous when you look at it this way??

Lantley wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Tntman wrote:
This guy is venting. So all you who critisize him are accomplishing another blow to membership here. Personally I feel he is right, but if I thought he was not correct, I would NOT denagrate him. We don't have enough people on here as it is. But then again, the chosen few feel they own this site. Really getting tired of the people who sit on their backside and become Superman because they are incognito to the poster. Some of you need to really get a life.

I agree he is venting however not everyone agrees with his point.
I enjoy going to RV show and don't mind paying for the enjoyment.
If I am not buying why should I be allowed to roam the place for free.
If I were buying than maybe I would want my fees refunded.

The best point made was back on page 1 where it was pointed out that if you actually want to buy a motorhome you save money by paying admission and going to an RV show because the RV's are all in one place. Think of the time and gas savings of having to drive all over the place to get a look at what's available out there. Although I did not buy my RV at a show, I went to several for buying and saw everything that was available. And I paid admission and saved a lot of time from having to drive all over.

Even if you are just window shopping you could ride all over town and see all the various units and pay the gas and other cost. Or you could just do the one stop browse and see it all method at the show.
Either way there are cost.

You could ride "all over town" and see them all? I live in California near the SF bay area, and I would bet I could drive and see every motorhome brand that would be at any big RV show, but it would NOT be all over "town." It would be all over the SF bay area and would likely entail hundreds of miles of driving over multiple days. The point that was being made, is the admission price to the RV show is by far cheaper by many multiples of driving all over half a state to see everything that would be at the show.

Best place I have ever been to show is at the Cardinals Stadium just outside of Phoenix AZ. Inside the stadium, the entire playing field was moved outside on tracks. All A/C, motor homes cool, trailers cool. Could really take your time and look them over without everyone sweating like at Pomona. We were visiting the grand kids and took them as well, they loved it. Yes, it was free.

Jeff

So I was just beginning to think this was going to go on forever and then I ran out of popcorn and beer, so for what it's worth at this late date, the Los Angeles Basin does not include the San Fernando Valley nor does it extend to Orange County or San Bernardino County. If you want to include Long Beach, there are only two Dealers in the Basin and neither have free shows. The Rose Bowl shows have dried up and that leaves Angel Stadium (Orange County) and a couple in the Inland Empire. and they are usually ONE BRAND shows.

At Pomona you can wander in and out and through the dealers without an escort. Try that at the FREE shows. You get the next salesman up when you walk in the entrance and that salesman will high pressure you even if you excuse yourself and try to go to the bathroom alone.

The free shows don't have any vendors, oh yeah, the Dealer is a parts and accessory vendor, so there is one.

The vendor tent is useless at Pomona but once in a while I find something I want.

Some of the seminars at Pomona are good but they too are a sales pitch or given by someone who is in love with their own expertise.

And yet it can be a lot of fun if you take your own lunch and drinks. Last year they did have a big shade tent, seating and free ice water.

My DW learned a lot about why we have a 32 foot RV with slides and not a Leisure Van, that was worth all I'll be paying for admission this year and paid last year.

msmith1199 wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Tntman wrote:
This guy is venting. So all you who critisize him are accomplishing another blow to membership here. Personally I feel he is right, but if I thought he was not correct, I would NOT denagrate him. We don't have enough people on here as it is. But then again, the chosen few feel they own this site. Really getting tired of the people who sit on their backside and become Superman because they are incognito to the poster. Some of you need to really get a life.

I agree he is venting however not everyone agrees with his point.
I enjoy going to RV show and don't mind paying for the enjoyment.
If I am not buying why should I be allowed to roam the place for free.
If I were buying than maybe I would want my fees refunded.

The best point made was back on page 1 where it was pointed out that if you actually want to buy a motorhome you save money by paying admission and going to an RV show because the RV's are all in one place. Think of the time and gas savings of having to drive all over the place to get a look at what's available out there. Although I did not buy my RV at a show, I went to several for buying and saw everything that was available. And I paid admission and saved a lot of time from having to drive all over.

Even if you are just window shopping you could ride all over town and see all the various units and pay the gas and other cost. Or you could just do the one stop browse and see it all method at the show.
Either way there are cost.