4wd shows are they worth it?

[wazza77 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wazza77]

Just curious to see what people's opinions are on 4WD/Camping/Fishing shows around Australia. It was my opinion that these shows would expose you to new and innovative technology whilst also being able to save money and grab bargains that don't usually appear in normal retail stores (as you have to pay to enter).

Over the last few months over here in WA we have had a few shows and they are great if you are new to the sport/hobby and want to see what is available but they seem to always show the same products and don't offer any bargains that you can't already get at their stores. A great deal of stores seem to be in cohorts with each other and it sometimes appears that they may have agreements between each other on prices for certain items. They are informative if you speak to the right people and you occasionally get to see a good show which is often better than walking through the retail stores.

[berniebgf Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close berniebgf]

Welcome to the forum Wazza77,

For me with respect to the Melbourne shows, I enjoy going to them as they present a large mix or product categories.... From Caravans to Camper trailers, tents and swag and all the accessories you can think of for each type of camper.

For me it is like going to bunnings, when I go I don't necessarily need anything but once I'm there I enjoy walking the aisle.

However I generally stay clear of the "budget / clearance" stands, and the dude with the tire pliers... he's always at the shows....

Bernie.

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

I went to the WA camping and caravan show 2 years ago saved around $1000 on a rear wheel carrier and a genny was $799 down to $700 it's still going strong . Plus it's good to see what's new.

[wazza77 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wazza77]

Welcome to the forum Wazza77,

For me with respect to the Melbourne shows, I enjoy going to them as they present a large mix or product categories.... From Caravans to Camper trailers, tents and swag and all the accessories you can think of for each type of camper.

For me it is like going to bunnings, when I go I don't necessarily need anything but once I'm there I enjoy walking the aisle.

However I generally stay clear of the "budget / clearance" stands, and the dude with the tire pliers... he's always at the shows....

Bernie.

I agree 100% with what your saying and I'm similar in respect to quality products but I've seen little change in products and little new products. even bunnings has new and interesting gear each week.

[wazza77 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wazza77]

That's great and well done. It's funny though I was looking at a particular roof rack this year and it so happens that the price of it went up a week before the show and then they offered a 10% discount which made it almost the same price as it was before the show dodgy?? And in terms of new products it was extremely limiting the best part was the motorbike and 4wd demo

[pete8205 Member Find all posts View Profile Close pete8205]

I've found it depends what your after
For me while trying to find a camper trailer to purchase they were brilliant being able to compare products side by side was great
With 4wd accessories I haven't found any benefit products no cheaper then making a few phone calls however you do get the promo bag with a stubby cooler.
After being to few over the last couple of years I no longer go as they seem all the same to me.

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

Yes you have to know your prices. When I got the 6th tyre at the show they gave me a $9 discount plus fitting, got it from local dealer same price included fitting its a bit stink that they try and rip you but you can still get a deal at times.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

With the prices exhibitors pay for their plot of golden earth how do you expect them to offer discounts? I noticed this year some of the usual vendors were absent from the shows however they ran email campaigns offering % off in their stores the same time the show was on...

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I've always found them good, gives you an opportunity to compare a lot of things without running around all over the place, especially good for someone like me from the country who doesn't have everything on display locally.

As for discounts, well that is becoming one of my pet peeves with the world. If someone can offer you a discount for no good reason then doesn't that just mean they were too expensive to start with? Everyone seems to want to haggle or bargain or wait for a special. If a product is good I am happy to pay a fair price but expect that what I am paying is already a good price, not one that will be discounted just after I buy something.

As for not much in the way of new products, well another pet peeve, what do people expect when a company spends a small fortune developing a product, marketing and then manufacturing only to have some one else steal the idea, get a rip off product made in China and sell it on Ebay for half the price with half the quality. Then people all over look at the original and complain that its a rip off! Sorry but this is happening all the time and the customer only has themselves to blame if new products aren't being developed at a rate you would like.

Cheers Andrew

[wazza77 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wazza77]

It's good to see different peoples opinions. I myself have worked in retail previously running small businesses and know all about mark ups, inferior copies, customers haggling etc. as shows only come around once a year, usually, it would make more sense to me to use shows to promote their business offering one off discounts in order to get a bigger and better client base at their store. I know they are charged high amounts to have a booth but I can tell you from experience that if you look after your customers for just those two or three days then they will look after you.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

... but I can tell you from experience that if you look after your customers for just those two or three days then they will look after you.

I don't think that is true in retail anymore. We are in the age where in most cases the customer knows more about the product they're purchasing than the sales guy. Customer's used to come into a store for advice, now they come in armed with knowledge and just want the cheapest price. We're all trained to ask or wait for a discount, how many of us shop at Ray's only when they have a discount weekend.

[chappy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chappy]

I believe they are worth having a look at as like AJ I'm country based and the local store is limited in what they can display or sell, that and the fact I would have to drive to Karratha (about 3.5hrs away) or to Port Hedland ( about 4-5hrs away) just to checkout what they have on offer and hope what they have
is what I'm after.

Also it gives a good chance to actually have good look at the accessories advertised in various magazines and do a comparision between different manufacturers all in one place.

cheers,
chappy.

[shodown Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shodown]

I think it depends on what you are going there for - I got offered a 10% discount off retail for a rhino pioneer platform. No one ever pays retail, so 10% of that is 3/5's of FA. Could easily get the same deal just ringing around.

It seemed like there were some good deals on fridges (discount + bags).

Apart from that, the fishing and modified rock hoppers where worth a watch.

[SuperDavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close SuperDavid]

I found the show in perth yesterday to be good value!
I got the 47ltr ARB fridge for $1000 with the free transit bag.
In the shop a while ago, the best I could do was $1270 with a free transit bag. He said if I have the bag free he isn't flexible on the price.
But at the show the asking price for the fridge was $1150, with free bag and camping chair.
I asked him what price he could do if he left the chair out and he knocked the price straight down to $1000 with the free bag. I couldn't get near that in the shop!
Turns out that chair is worth $150!!!