The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Chapuis wrote:No disrespect to the traders but the trade show is no longer the best, certainly nothing like in the days of the pistol meetings. If we were expected to pay to enter the pavilion for what's nothing more than a crowded bazaar in pretty grotty surroundings I for one would probably not be attending. What's really needed is a serious effort to make the trade fair similar to what it was in the good old days of the pistol meetings. How that can be achieved I don't know but making it more cost effective for the traders has to be a start.

Please let me make a distinction - I'm not suggesting that people pay to enter the pavilion, I'm suggesting that people pay to enter Bisley (other museums charge an entry fee razz )...then it is up to the NRA, the Pavilion and the traders to put their thinking caps together and find the best way to invest the extra revenue into making the event the best it can be...

Are you saying, that you are prepared to visit the trade fair as it is now, but wouldn't be prepared to pay 2 or 3 quid entry fee to improve it in the future?

...and before you answer that, remember I'll be buying some raffle tickets from you

IainWR wrote:I walk round the show most years. I buy the odd bit. Charge to get in, forget it.

Why?

99% is junk. 1% I might be interested. £3 x 1/1% = big risk of not saving much if any money.

Fortunately I haven't had my joy of guns spoiled by having already seen it all like yourself - I like to get my paws on some of the stuff, and find the sellers often happy to talk about the guns, even when they know I have no intention of buying...for me, someone who has shot a long time but only recently got into the full diversity of different rifles and pistols out there; I find the trade fairs an education...

Dougan wrote:

Chapuis wrote:No disrespect to the traders but the trade show is no longer the best, certainly nothing like in the days of the pistol meetings. If we were expected to pay to enter the pavilion for what's nothing more than a crowded bazaar in pretty grotty surroundings I for one would probably not be attending. What's really needed is a serious effort to make the trade fair similar to what it was in the good old days of the pistol meetings. How that can be achieved I don't know but making it more cost effective for the traders has to be a start.

Please let me make a distinction - I'm not suggesting that people pay to enter the pavilion, I'm suggesting that people pay to enter Bisley (other museums charge an entry fee razz )...then it is up to the NRA, the Pavilion and the traders to put their thinking caps together and find the best way to invest the extra revenue into making the event the best it can be...

Are you saying, that you are prepared to visit the trade fair as it is now, but wouldn't be prepared to pay 2 or 3 quid entry fee to improve it in the future?

...and before you answer that, remember I'll be buying some raffle tickets from you

I know that you are only joking Dougan but whether you buy raffle tickets or not has no effect on me as all proceeds go direct into the H4H charity. The only expenses that are incurred are a license fee to the local authority and printing costs of the tickets, and unfortunately that’s costs that we can’t avoid. The fact that up until this year, and those costs, the event has never incurred any expenses is something that we are quite proud of. Unfortunately the local authority wouldn’t waive its licence fee so it is an unavoidable cost, but I did try.

Getting back to charging to get into the Phoenix. I am sorry to say this but quite frankly I just don’t think it would be worth the money.

Well it was just a suggestion - but as it's clearly not a popular one, I'll not persist.

I hope the weather isn't too bad for those going tomorrow, but the rest of the weekend is looking OK weather-wise

Hope to see many of you there :cheers:

Dougan said "I find the trade fairs an education"...................

Me too.............in the past, I've picked up quite a few bits and pieces, including bullets, brass, a Lynx rearsight for my Swing, I've met "Joe West" (?) who will be making me a stock at some future time, and Robert Chombart, (lovely old geezer), who walked me around his CG Inch action (drool), and told me how to make my Swing more user friendly, plus many others, all willing to talk and impart wisdom and advice. On one occasion, I even got to hold a Browning 9mm HP..............which brought back fond memories of the one I used to shoot in the '70's...........all priceless.

Hauptman

Hauptman, I am with you on this as I also enjoy looking and touching and talking at the Phoenix and we will have some of Roberts latest designs with us this year.

See you tomorrow...............

H/man

Well the cars are packed, the rifles are built and checked so all that remains now is some sleep and an early start.