Am I just a grumpy old man?
Discussion
Am I just getting old or do people agree with me that show organisers are really taking the P*** these days?
£29 for a ticket is a lot of money for attending an exhibition. Then they have the bloddy cheek to ask for an extra £2 booking fee - why FFS? It's cheaper to supply tickets online so what do they have the audacity to charge extra?
The when we get there we'd be ripped off for £8 parking fee - which again is a bloddy liberty, especially as it takes about an hour to get out of the car park because the organisers can't design the thing properly to facilitate a swift exit and even underman the gates.
If people think this is good value I wonder what sort of planet they come from? We're not all made of money.
£29 for a ticket is a lot of money for attending an exhibition. Then they have the bloddy cheek to ask for an extra £2 booking fee - why FFS? It's cheaper to supply tickets online so what do they have the audacity to charge extra?
The when we get there we'd be ripped off for £8 parking fee - which again is a bloddy liberty, especially as it takes about an hour to get out of the car park because the organisers can't design the thing properly to facilitate a swift exit and even underman the gates.
If people think this is good value I wonder what sort of planet they come from? We're not all made of money.
To Haymarket it's just business.
When people stop attending due to high cost, exhibitors will also stop attending = show finished.
I imagine that the NEC is quite an expensive venue. We can only guess at the break even point for the show, plus it's only fair that Haymarket make a (reasonable) profit, but I think you're right; the cost of attending and exhibiting does seem extraordiarily high, especially in the current economic climate.
If you attending the next show, come and have a chat!
When people stop attending due to high cost, exhibitors will also stop attending = show finished.
I imagine that the NEC is quite an expensive venue. We can only guess at the break even point for the show, plus it's only fair that Haymarket make a (reasonable) profit, but I think you're right; the cost of attending and exhibiting does seem extraordiarily high, especially in the current economic climate.
If you attending the next show, come and have a chat!
We do get a few people with concerns over the cost of attending (either visitor or exhibitor) but then I am sure every business gets told it's prices are too high.
Our ticket price is higher than some shows, but it is lower than others. It really does come down to the point that was made previously, we need to make sure that visitors feel they get value for money or we won't survive.
We are working very hard at this. We will not charge you to come into a show to see stands filled with garden furniture, or aftershave, or fish tanks, or massage chairs. We have cut this out in order to give a better time to those paying to attend.
Our entry ticket went up by 50p this year... our overheads went up significantly more. Another show running at the same venue as ours increased it's ticket price by over 50%, to give you an idea.
Our ticket sales are up 107% on last year right now, and our floorplan has 6 stands still to sell. I think this is refelction that we are offering value from both points of view.
Our ticket price is higher than some shows, but it is lower than others. It really does come down to the point that was made previously, we need to make sure that visitors feel they get value for money or we won't survive.
We are working very hard at this. We will not charge you to come into a show to see stands filled with garden furniture, or aftershave, or fish tanks, or massage chairs. We have cut this out in order to give a better time to those paying to attend.
Our entry ticket went up by 50p this year... our overheads went up significantly more. Another show running at the same venue as ours increased it's ticket price by over 50%, to give you an idea.
Our ticket sales are up 107% on last year right now, and our floorplan has 6 stands still to sell. I think this is refelction that we are offering value from both points of view.
Irrespective of the ticket cost I found last years show to be poor. I wouldnt want ot attend again which is a shame because I love cars and love pistonheads as a portal. Not sure I could offer any suggestions to improve though, I kinda think car shows rely on invention, and in the absence of any signifiacant manufacturers, this simpy isnt possible. Im afraid this renders the pistonheads show as same ol same ol.
It is very expensive for what it is IMO.
I've been 3 times over the past numerous years, but started to notice it was just the same thing year in year out.
The show really does need some proper originality each year....and I don't mean just one little thing here and there. I mean the whole theme or hate to say it 'x' factor(s)of the show really need to be brought through.
But then reading previous post the ticket sales are already 107% from last year, so maybe newcomers/oldcomers like the same format that has been there for years on end.
I've been 3 times over the past numerous years, but started to notice it was just the same thing year in year out.
The show really does need some proper originality each year....and I don't mean just one little thing here and there. I mean the whole theme or hate to say it 'x' factor(s)of the show really need to be brought through.
But then reading previous post the ticket sales are already 107% from last year, so maybe newcomers/oldcomers like the same format that has been there for years on end.
b8ste said:
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GM10MSA will get £5 off the basic £29.00 tickets. . you will have to ring up and quote the code
Apparently not any more,,message on phone saying " not accepting any discount codes" GM10MSA will get £5 off the basic £29.00 tickets. . you will have to ring up and quote the code
Edited by b8ste on Thursday 31st December 19:25
This thread and the following comment has made my mind up -
"as we walked into the PH area my mate casually said "Oh dear it's all gone a bit max-power" as we passed the first of many scantily clad, but almost definitely cheaper end of the market, "hospitality""
I will now be giving it a miss this year and put the money that it would have cost me (fuel,parking,food etc etc) towards a better camera for use at proper motoring events like the LM Classic , if I want to pay for that sort of "hospitality" then I can always go into Spearmint Rhinos
or attend a Lax Power event (and I would have to be put under sedation for that).
ps excellent grumpy thread !
"as we walked into the PH area my mate casually said "Oh dear it's all gone a bit max-power" as we passed the first of many scantily clad, but almost definitely cheaper end of the market, "hospitality""
I will now be giving it a miss this year and put the money that it would have cost me (fuel,parking,food etc etc) towards a better camera for use at proper motoring events like the LM Classic , if I want to pay for that sort of "hospitality" then I can always go into Spearmint Rhinos
or attend a Lax Power event (and I would have to be put under sedation for that).ps excellent grumpy thread !
Well, I'm glad I went along this year, a lot of nice metal I haven't had a chance of seeing previously. (K1 Attack in particular! 
) however I can't see me returning any time soon. For what it is it is a reasonable amount of cash, and I can't see there being enough of a difference to make it a yearly 'must see' event TBH. Much better to get along to some runs and track days and see the machines being used properly!
) however I can't see me returning any time soon. For what it is it is a reasonable amount of cash, and I can't see there being enough of a difference to make it a yearly 'must see' event TBH. Much better to get along to some runs and track days and see the machines being used properly!well been trying to sell my tickets but nobody wanted them and was willing to sell them for 20quic for 2 paddock prices, saving 50 quid, but nobody wants them, and i dont want to go either, but now i have to go , and i am pist off.
I know this place will be full of dorks and geeks, and boring people talking about engines, so thus, the organisers insist of putting scantily clad women there to show off the products, well- if anyone here has a girlfriend, or a wife, how can they go to the show? i will be taking my gf, and i will have to avoid all the max power girls otherwise my gf will go mental, 35 quid for a ticket is a joke, i have been to tunnel runs, runs to the coast, and supercar sundays, and they were all free, AND saw people raicng AND got to go in lambos/masers- all for free
I know this place will be full of dorks and geeks, and boring people talking about engines, so thus, the organisers insist of putting scantily clad women there to show off the products, well- if anyone here has a girlfriend, or a wife, how can they go to the show? i will be taking my gf, and i will have to avoid all the max power girls otherwise my gf will go mental, 35 quid for a ticket is a joke, i have been to tunnel runs, runs to the coast, and supercar sundays, and they were all free, AND saw people raicng AND got to go in lambos/masers- all for free
K321 said:
well been trying to sell my tickets but nobody wanted them and was willing to sell them for 20quic for 2 paddock prices, saving 50 quid, but nobody wants them, and i dont want to go either, but now i have to go , and i am pist off.
I know this place will be full of dorks and geeks, and boring people talking about engines, so thus, the organisers insist of putting scantily clad women there to show off the products, well- if anyone here has a girlfriend, or a wife, how can they go to the show? i will be taking my gf, and i will have to avoid all the max power girls otherwise my gf will go mental, 35 quid for a ticket is a joke, i have been to tunnel runs, runs to the coast, and supercar sundays, and they were all free, AND saw people raicng AND got to go in lambos/masers- all for free
I will take them if u dont.I know this place will be full of dorks and geeks, and boring people talking about engines, so thus, the organisers insist of putting scantily clad women there to show off the products, well- if anyone here has a girlfriend, or a wife, how can they go to the show? i will be taking my gf, and i will have to avoid all the max power girls otherwise my gf will go mental, 35 quid for a ticket is a joke, i have been to tunnel runs, runs to the coast, and supercar sundays, and they were all free, AND saw people raicng AND got to go in lambos/masers- all for free
I have to be honest here
The ticket prices are a little high this is true and car parking does sound like quite the racket, but when you consider the free shuttle bus service tht runs day and night to and from the carparks, suddenly it doesn't look that bad.
Of course, if you're going on your own it certaily does make it a little more expensive (as does the burger, chips and drink my mate bought which set him back £7.80!) but it aint all that bad
The ticket prices are a little high this is true and car parking does sound like quite the racket, but when you consider the free shuttle bus service tht runs day and night to and from the carparks, suddenly it doesn't look that bad.
Of course, if you're going on your own it certaily does make it a little more expensive (as does the burger, chips and drink my mate bought which set him back £7.80!) but it aint all that bad
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