Pay for RV Show?

[dcmac214]

Is paying to get into an RV show a common thing now?
Been several years since we've even thought about going to an RV show. Thought we'd go to the trailer-oriented show up in OKC mid-February. The couple years before we got our RV (09) we went to several shows and only remember having to pay for one of them (think it was Ft Worth). What I find especially "interesting" in having to pay is that this OKC show is a few local dealers only (plus all the flea market type vendors that always show up at any show).

[doxiemom11]

Some of the ones we have gone to in the past charged canned goods to be donated to the local food bank or something else like that. If we want to look at rv's , we would use the internet and then visit dealers lots that had something we were interested in. The crowded shows aren't our thing.

[azdryheat]

I work for an RV dealer and we have shows at the fair grounds every month. The sale of a few rv's covers the cost of the fairgrounds so we don't have to charge admission.

[Rangerider]

We've always had to pay to get in to local shows, but usually had free parking and a 50% Good Sam ticket discount. This year the discount was only 20% so we just stayed home.

[T18skyguy]

bpounds wrote:
I've always paid admission and parking.

But that is for a real, multi-vendor, show. Around here they have many of what they call "show", but really is just a certain dealer setting up a lot for only their brands. Sometimes on their own property, sometimes renting a venue like Angel Stadium. Those are free, although you may still pay for parking in some instances. I don't bother going to any of these, and I consider it scam marketing.

We have the same here in Eugene, Oregon. There is one hugh dealer that has a "show" at the local fairgrounds. There was no entry fee. RV's sales are way down, so they need as many as possible to come. I had fun, so I can't complain. I enjoy looking a what's new in the A's and C's. It's an education.

[bpounds]

I don't mind paying a reasonable entry fee. For the most part we are just making a fun day out of it. Admission is cheap compared to the cost and the heartburn of getting a show hotdog and coke.

If you are actually shopping, I'm sure most dealers would throw in the cost of your tickets. I've had them offer me tickets to return on another day to complete an order. I didn't take them up on it, because I preferred to finalize a deal at their store office. But they do have comp tickets to use as they please.

I bought the trailer we have now at a show, sort of. We chose what we liked on the show floor near the end of October, agreed on price and details, and then I told them I didn't want last years show model that a thousand people had tracked through, I wanted the new models that were being delivered. They didn't balk at it. There was some risk involved on our part, since we didn't really know what model changes there might have been, but it worked out okay. We hadn't exchanged any money yet anyway.

[routeforty]

Cleveland RV show at the IX center this Jan.-$14 each & $10 to park. Decided I didn't really want to look at rv's that badly-although it was indoors.

[Jim2007]

Hi... Yes, all the show that I have been to charge. Sometimes Good Sam has a coupon that can be used to save a couple dollars . ...jim2007

[Ralph_Cramden]

BB_TX wrote:
Someone has to pay for the property rental, paying for workers, (cleanup, maintenance, security), etc. Vendors would probably be less likely to show if they had to foot the full costs.

Dealers and vendors do foot the full cost in the form of rental fees charged by the sq ft of space leased. The entry fee goes to the show operator. They pay the facility owner and pocket the rest. The dealer tacks what they pay into the special show price on units they sell at the show. You can get the same unit cheaper than the show price at the dealers lot.

[ScottG]

Yes, we always pay and that's fair to me because most of the time we are not in the market and are just there for the basic entertainment of looking at the new RV's.

[Walaby]

Yes

[Iraqvet05]

The big RV show in Kansas City was last weekend at Bartle Hall. Bartle Hall charges all those dealers to use the facility based on how much of the hall they use then that cost is passed on to the attendees. This year's ticket prices was $12 per person for ages 12 and up plus parking.

I did not attend the show this year as we just bought a new TT in November. The last time we attend a show, I did get a bit irritated with all the Good Sam literature and advertising bombardment (the major sponsor of the show) and booths set up that didn't have anything to do with RVing. If I needed home window and gutters info, I'd attend the home improvement show later in the spring.

[fj12ryder]

I've never seen an RV show at an exhibition center that had free admission. We've been going for over 10 years, so you've been away for quite a long time.

[goducks10]

I have two shows near me. Ones in town and is sorta Podunk. Almost as many used as new for sale. It's free if you print out an online get in free coupon. Good for two people. Parking is free as well.
The other is 50 miles away. Way more dealers and almost zero used RV's for sale. You can get a 2 for 1 coupon online for it as well. Parking is $10.
A good deal IMO.

[bpounds]

I've always paid admission and parking.

But that is for a real, multi-vendor, show. Around here they have many of what they call "show", but really is just a certain dealer setting up a lot for only their brands. Sometimes on their own property, sometimes renting a venue like Angel Stadium. Those are free, although you may still pay for parking in some instances. I don't bother going to any of these, and I consider it scam marketing.

[gbopp]

If they didn't charge an admittance fee some people would use the show as a free baby sitting service.