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 Topic: Motorhome and caravan show worth going?
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22/9/2024 at 11:33am
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Been to a couple of the big shows at NEC, one before, one after I bought my caravan. Certainly worth a visit when doing your pre-purchase 'homework' on layouts and features, and perhaps getting a general 'feel' of options and accessories.
As to buying items at the show, with no specific purchases in mind, I was only really window shopping, but may have purchased something if it appealed and at a good price, but nothing much struck me as being bargain prices! In fact thought some of the accessory retailers were rather pricy!
Trade stands at shows are VERY expensive for the retailer to purchase space on, so that rather undermines their opportunity to sell at discount without making overall show sale losses, and no business wants that! I've manned trade stands for employers and helped friends with their stands, so have some insight into how expensive it is to take a trade stand, they may also have hotel and meal costs for staff to cover on top of stand costs, it can add up to a LOT of expenses to recoup!
New product launches will sometimes be sold at cost or even a slight loss to establish a 'loss leader' foothold in a new to them market, I was tempted by a new off grid charging system being offered way below their RRP, but the company and technologies were an unknown to me, so caution prevailed and I didn't buy (not sure I've ever heard of them since the show!!!), but established products can probably be sourced at a better price if you shop around the internet. Where you may gain an advantage is avoiding P&P costs, which for bulky/heavy items can be significant, but remember you may have to carry it around the large show, AND a long way back to your car in the carpark - and your car can be 1/2 mile or so from exhibition halls, so unless you can get (and get on with your purchase!) a shuttle bus, you've got a trek!
If your sole purpose of visiting the show is to purchase a specific item (maybe caravan/MH scale purchase aside!), then you have to factor in travel and entrance ticket costs, and add them to your purchase costs, TBH, don't see that working out as money saving on many accessories!
To some extent, it's Crystal Ball Gazing to be on the outside speculating about what you may find actually visiting a show, but personally I wouldn't expect bargains galore. It wouldn't stop me visiting the show though, can be a good experience where you see things you were previously unaware of, and stimulate ideas, maybe for the future. Hint - take a well charged phone, with plenty of data capacity, and do some Googling to see if an offered 'bargain' really is all it's hyped to be!
Bit off topic, but if new to caravanning, if they are doing them this time, there are usually free 'towing experiences' and 'reversing experiences' run by one or other club. You'll be tutored/critiqued by an instructor, that can be worthwhile to boost confidence, or suggest you may need some towing lessons. They are booked in advance, and you need to prove your driving license status, so worth investigating/booking ASAP if of interest.
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via mobile 22/9/2024 at 5:56pm
