Vegas Done, bittersweet, A rant.

Well boys and girls, I am here sitting at the Maccaran Airport in Vegas getting *ready* for my red eye flight.

My experience this year was Good. Not great, but good.

I will say that Ryan worked his *** off! I've never in my years see a person not walking to get things done, but brisk walking and sometimes running..Dude is a machine. Huge props. :sqwink:

The Riviera needs a personel makeover. Need I say more?

One thing that really pissed me off and I'm not going to sugar coat this, the man running the SKB post wasn't pleasant with me. I had been looking for the Bose L1 gun cases for a long time. I priced them out and they run $250 a pop. At the show they are usually less expensive.

I went to his booth first. Knowing he had them, well ok. 1!!!! HELLO??? THIS IS A TRADE SHOW, THERE ARE OVER 1000 DJs HERE!!! They carried ONE!!!!!!!!

Another gentleman ahead of me got it. I asked this person and he literally gave me the run around. They only carried one of each product!!!!! How do you carry ONE product to a show!!!???? This guy told me that they are selling these at a huge discount....Ok, I'm practically throwing $$ at him. He didn't want MY business.

I went back today and he told me*the boss told me we can't sell anymore than what we have here!!* - They had ONE!!

I literally laughed and left. PISSED. Thanks!

I did join the ADJA !!

Thanks.

How many different cases does SKB make? Should they bring 20 of each to the show so they can transport 18 of each back?

While I don't condone his attitude, did you try any of the other folks there to try and secure a show deal? Have you contacted our vendors who sponser this site?

Thanks for the post.

Yes, Ryan & the MB crew do run their butts off during the show, that's for sure.

As for the SKB case rep....yup, I feel your pain.

I was in the same boat last year - Only had ONE CASE - WTF?

So was he taking orders for them? Last year he wasn't. But like you, wanted to sell the one case at the end of the show... C'mon. They do the same thing in AC for the DJ Times Expo.

Why bother to show up at all? I guess he didn't have covers for the 8x4 or 10x6 Shuttle / DJ consoles? LOL.

Thanks for the post.

Cheers,

Joe

I purchased the original SKB 5009 cases for my L1's a few years ago. I paid $186.00 each. SKB since then have taken the same case, changed the hinges a bit, and added some custom padding. They now charge $250? OK, but why not just purchase the simple gun case and pad them yourself? Here's an example of the pricing for the 5009 (same case as the Bose L1). http://www.talonarms.com/talonarms/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=180&products_id=126
Look around, you just might find them a bit cheaper. And these places will be happy to sell them to you.

as with almost everything else at the shows, I've always found that you could still get a way better price online than you could get at the shows...

Bass Pro Shop sells those cases for $199. I've bought 8 of them.

the alleged "show specials" are usually not very special at all.

I know last year I was on the fence about buying a certain piece of gear from a certain vendor who looked me in the eye and told me that the price he was going to give me was $10 over cost. no one else could possible even match him.

I went to the room, googled the product, and immediately found 6 or 7 dealers selling it for over $100 less...

ouch!

please realize though that the exhibitors have to pay for every box that enters that room. a booth can start off costing say $1200, but by the time you're done, it can cost an arm and a leg. most of the vendors are not there to move product as much as take orders, and demo products. the deals usually come at the end when you pick up the demo products at a bargain, because the vendor doesn't want to pay to ship it home.

and as an aside, you don't need custom padding in the gun cases... the radiators don't move once you close the top... mine are still pristine 4 years later....

also, not getting the ones made specifically for the bose allows you to also house your power cables, remotes, and bass bin cables with plenty of room to spare.

In these economic times do you really expect the dealers to stock large quantities when they are unsure they will even sell them. Do you even know the cost to exhibit. Let's just say that the cost of the booth, cost to ship product in, staff the booth, hotel and food, airline costs all add up to quite a large chunk of change. I agree he should have at least taken an order at the "show price" as a sign of good faith, but each Company has its own set of rules. To start to rant on then relent shows something about how you deal with people. Life is too short to worry about little things.

Another gentleman ahead of me got it. I asked this person and he literally gave me the run around. They only carried one of each product!!!!! How do you carry ONE product to a show!!!???? This guy told me that they are selling these at a huge discount....Ok, I'm practically throwing $$ at him. He didn't want MY business.

I went back today and he told me*the boss told me we can't sell anymore than what we have here!!* - They had ONE!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So why didnt you order one at the show, and have it delivered to your home address? It looks like you were ready to buy it, and as you say, throwing money at them. I find it hard to believe that they wouldnt take an order for a case.

Is that what happened? they wouldnt take an order?? (Then you have a real problem)

Lets say that they had "one" for you. You buy it. then you have to ship it home or go through the airport. These guys would have probably given you free shippingfor buying at the show.

I'd call your experience awesome if thats the only thing you can find fault with.

Ryan cannot control how the riviera looks of course. I have heard he's working on the weather thingy though. More as I get it.

Sorry I couldn't resist

(and neither could I. I had thought that you were above childish things, but perhaps I overestimate your maturity level ).

I'm not sure if he meant personal or personnel as in the staff.

I have read reviews before going that the staff were rude, etc. etc.; while I found it to be the complete opposite; at least for me.

The renovated rooms in the Monaco tower were great.

As for the show, I'm not big on the evening events, but will usually pop my head in for a bit anyway.

Seminars and the sound for each were excellent, good variety of presenters and I liked the layout of the trade show floor with the separate rooms for some of the vendors. Again not everything I wanted was in stock, but I have one item being shipped to me.

Not everything was a deal. I bought an iKey plus that was listed at $139.00 but almost everywhere on the net it listed at $119.00. The show price was $120.00 and the average net price was $110. I told him what the online price was and he provided that price to me. I treated him with respect and he did the same; I'm finding I get better results that way and for an old guy, that's progress.

Ryan's staff DO pay attention to what they see and hear about what people think at the show. Again, if it is done as a suggestion rather than a complaint it does not put the person in defensive mode.

I've always been a complainer rather than a suggester. When I joined Toastmasters last year and started to learn how to evaluate and give constructive feedback, it changed how I deal with people outside of that group as well. Not always, but I'm more conscious of it when I don't.

I enjoyed the show. It re-energized me and gave me some new ideas. I caught up with friends. We all get something different from the show, but to me it had value and I benefited from being there.

Cudo's to Ryan, Mike and the crew!

TriceraSoft said:

In these economic times do you really expect the dealers to stock large quantities when they are unsure they will even sell them. Do you even know the cost to exhibit. Let's just say that the cost of the booth, cost to ship product in, staff the booth, hotel and food, airline costs all add up to quite a large chunk of change. I agree he should have at least taken an order at the "show price" as a sign of good faith, but each Company has its own set of rules. To start to rant on then relent shows something about how you deal with people. Life is too short to worry about little things.

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Yes, I do!! Not lkarge quanties, but damn it, not just ONE!!! I tried to order and was denied. When you do a large trade show, it is expected to bring some equipment and or materials to sell. If I am wrong, please let me know and tell me why I am wrong.

There were quite few companies that came prepared. Others, well...


**To start to rant on then relent shows something about how you deal with people**..I've been in the people business since I was 12! Do you really want to go there?

Then that is a problem. I'll report this to Ryan for followup.

I don't understand why they wouldn't come up with a price, and offer to ship it to you, since you didn't DRIVE to Vegas from Albany, and would have to have it shipped, no matter what... wouldn't you?

I could be wrong here but I didn't think SKB sells direct anyway. You need to go through a dealer in order to purchase products. I'm not making excuses for them, I would have chewed him a new one right then and there. Not that it would have made a difference.

Just buy online and make things easier.

The SKB guy there didn't offer me because he told me they weren't taking any orders. His words. He *apparently* called his boss and was told no. This is what I was told.

As far as getting it online, I'll check.

I'm no longer harping on this. What's done is done.

Tim: I think there may be a little hidden thing here not initially obvious but perhaps worthy of note.

They are manufacturers, supply a product, and service dealers within the DJ industry who do carry the SKB line. Does a manufacturer really wish to compete and price cut/compete with their own dealers? The only way to keep faith would be to stick with top price. Folks would order...Google... then cancel. That wouldn't be wise.

The custom BOSE SKB cases are nice, really nice, and ideal for someone like me whose hand bleeds just looking at a power tool let alone using one. However for the craftier types from Home Improvement, use the padding and the foam from the radiator shipping box to custom craft a super duper "Look what I did, honey!" .

Some folks have mentioned other less expensive cases. Don't do it. They are cheap crap.

How many different cases does SKB make?

Bob, call them and ask!

Cap said:

They are manufacturers

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DJ Ron Auger said:

I didn't think SKB sells direct anyway. You need to go through a dealer in order to purchase products.

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Excellent point, and I had thought about bringing that up, but I simply don't understand why the SKB rep didn't explain this to Tim, if that's their situation. I do rep work for Hercules, but Hercules doesn't sell direct. To purchase the products I'm showing, you have to go to one of our dealers. At MBLV09, as in previous years, our dealer has been Six Star D.J., also an exhibitor at the same show. This year, our presence was within the Six Star booth. In previous years, we had our own booth, and I would direct those interested in buying to the Six Star booth. SKB could have "partnered" with a retailer at the show, or have "show specials" pre-arranged with an online dealer (perhaps), and direct customers to them, for orders, instead of saying "tough nuts, we only have one item (each) to sell"

Manufacturers have the option to represent themselves or through a dealer. What individual impression the person manning the booth may give is just that person's style of delivery.

For example, does anyone realize when you make a purchase at the American DJ booth you are actually buying from Limelite DJ Supply?

And although they had a large display, you could purchase nothing at the Pioneer booth. They also would refer you to a dealer.

Or it could work a third way: Looking for QSC? See Ben at NLFX.

You see, a user end show is a difficult choice for the manufacturer.
Do you buy your car directly from Detroit (or Tokyo)? Would you expect to?

As a result, over the years, a weird mix of relationships with the brands has resulted. We just thank all the dealers and manufacturers for their continued support.

And for those of you who have a serious question and prefer to hear a serious answer instead of chatboard 'theories', drop me a line at mb@mobilebeat.com and I'll be happy to reply to you. I just prefer to do it that way then here, I've been down this slippery slope too many times.

I've always found that you could still get a way better price online than you could get at the shows

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I disagree with that statement STRONGLY. And if it's the same price, why not support the people that are supporting the national DJ industry and trying to help everyone.

I went to the room, googled the product, and immediately found 6 or 7 dealers selling it for over $100 less...

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That is the exact problem that we talked about many times on the microphone in front of people, often non-authorized dealers that don't support the industry, and people looking for better deals than the people that support the industry.

And concerning the floor being smaller, it actually wasn't. More new exhibitors than ever, more space used on the floor and demo rooms than EVER! CES and NAMM were around 25-40% off on attendance and exhibitorship, we will end up at the same as last year. Not bad for a down ecomony. Thank you everyone attendees and exhibitors for supporting a great show!

Ryan