Toledo, so congested, not enjoyable anymore

[AltecareRC]

Went to Toledo on Saturday and spent the day battling between isles.
This show is so popular, and as such is so congested. You really do not enjoy walking it anymore.
I stopped at many booths only not to be able to see anything because there were so many people.

There were many Giant Scale suppliers including Desert Aircraft, Cactus Aviation, JTec, Hangar 9 (Horizon) and Somenzini who was more interested to find out if you had a hobby shop since he was looking for distributors. Schulman was there promoting his electric motor company Hacker.

There were a few turbine model suppliers like Planes Plus, Yellow Aircraft, Jet Hangar Hobbies showing a few Wrens.

Lots of park flier suppliers, some good quality and some poor quality.
It seems every manufacturer is getting into them, at extremely high profit margins.

A few pictures of some good quality work below.

[AltecareRC]

Pictures

[AltecareRC]

Pictures

[AltecareRC]

Pictures

[AltecareRC]

Pictures

[Jabba]

Well I went on Friday... and it was not a busy as what people said Sat. was.

I went again on Sunday... and it was not busy at all.

[AltecareRC]

I think you are correct, Saturday was not a good day.
I think I will take a day off and plan a Friday visit next time.

[Gary Maker]

Actually I thought Friday was very busy, more so than the last few years I have been to the show. I think the best day to go if your concerned about seeing the show without rubbing elbows and everything else with people is Sunday. I could actually stroll quite freely down every isle and check out all the goodies. I did most of my buying today as that is when you can also make some of the best deals and the vendors want to get in those last possible sales so they don't have to lug stuff back home!

[AJCoholic]

I was there all day Sat and Fri. Friday was fine, I was walking around unimpeded but I have to agree Saturday was NUTS! Reminded me of shopping Chritsmas eve in the Eaton Centre down town Toronto... :)

But it is neat to run into so many people who you know and who know you, in a mass of thousands from all over North America!

[ratherbflyin]

I also was there Fri.&Sat. as a first timer. Fri. was busy and it was hard
to get near some booths so you gave up and tried later, Sat. was far worse. When you have customers lined up at booths on both sides of the aisle and 2 directions of traffic and the stop and talk types, man it doesn't
leave any room. This event is so big perhaps they should consider making
some changes such as 1. Wider aisles (with traffic lights lol)
2. Longer show hrs on Fri.&Sat. maybe 9am-8pm and Sun. 9am-5pm
3. Or add a few more days to spread out the crowd
I guess the reason most don't go Sunday is that a lot of items are
sold out already, some even late Friday. Maybe adding even one day to
the show say Thurs. will help by allowing those who can go on weekdays to spend enough time there and be gone before the weekend allowing
those who must go then more freedom of movement. Also the suppliers would have to bring a better supply of some goods, if they are running
out after the first day then they didn't bring near enough unless supply
was not available. IMO But l had a great time! :D 8)

[Gary Maker]

Helping out a vendor at the show I can tell you that its hard to judge what people are interested in from year to year. Last year some items sold out by Saturday at noon so this year we stocked up with twice as much. But this year we only sold about 25% of the same items that went like hotcakes last year and ended up trucking it all back home. Other vendors I talked to had the same problem. You can see the difficulty here!

As for adding an additional day, let me tell you this. After being there for 4 days as it is ( we got there Thursday to setup ) I was exhausted by Sunday and couldn't wait to pack up and get home! An extra day would be very difficult all around considering the cost of rooms, meals and the additional cost of the booth for a 4th day as well as the physical cost and loss of shop time back home! Others may differ with me but this is how I see it!

As for venders selling out, most that I know of will take orders and give show prices on their good for after the show. It does increase cost somewhat though because of shipping having to be added. I don't know how they would increase faciltiy size so maybe increased hours to extend the show into the evening might be the way to go.

Anyway, for me its still the best show of its kind and I wouldn't miss it! This was year 13 for me and I even got to celebrate my birthday there on Friday April 2. I hope cercumstances will allow at least that many more years!

[Frenchman]

Gary My Friend

Are you sure your birthday was April 2nd?, not April 1st :lol: :wink: :wink: :shock:

[Gary Maker]

Oh very good Rene. Do me a favour would you? Go look in the mirror and stick your tongue out and pretend that your looking at me! LOL.

[Frenchman]

:yikes: :oha: :censored:

[ratherbflyin]

Hi Gary,
It was nice to see you at the show although only briefly as you
were busy. I can appreciate your comment about the length of the
stay and hours worked at the show, but the fact remains that growth
dictates change and suppliers would do better if the customers had an
easier access to them. I know l gave up on a couple of items never
mind the ones l didn't see because l couldn't get served so moved on.
I didn't want to waste time waiting getting pushed and stepped on :(
With the show open only 9am-5pm you really need two days to do any
serious searching and dealing. A drive of 5 hours one way means
staying overnite for me, so many, many people go on the same two
days Fri.&Sat. where one more day would help tons. Either increasing
the size of the venue or adding at least one day and show time hours
are two alternatives that would help disperse the crowds which will
be better for everyone. But as l said l had a great time,
spent too much though. :shock: :shock: :yikes: :shock: :shock:

[ratherbflyin]

Oh, forgot-HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY GARY! 35 eh :twisted:

[AJCoholic]

I have a good friend, Don Belote, who lives in Toledo and ran the show in the 70's and 80's for 19 years. He is the fellow I go down to see mainly and I have made a lot of wonderfull friends through him.

Anyway, this year he said they had to turn away about 100 companies that wanted in the show, due to lack of space! The problem is, they cannot go to a larger place, since the Seagate center IS the largest place in the Toledo area thatr can house the show!

I doubt opening the ailses and losing more revenue (from fewer exhibitors) will be something they will do, I mean people will still attend the show. I had no problem getting to see what I wanted to, allthough I have to say sometimes you have to push your way through the people to get there. But I will be there in 2005 you can count on it! :)

Like I said, its a madhouse, but what a show.... :)

[Gary Maker]

Thanks Dave, I only wish I was 35 ahhhh but alas I am a lot older than that. Turned 39 actually! :wink:

Andrew, as tireing as it was being there for 4 days, I wouldn't miss it for anything. This was the third year Dan has had a booth after waiting for a number of years. I really enjoy talking to the folks who stop by and like you said earlier, with thousands of people passing by I am always amazed at how many people I know who come there. I was pleased to see you there. I know you've been very busy and missed a few of the previous events. Glad you could make this one!

There were so many of the venders selling electric stuff this year. Seems every second booth someone was selling some sort of electric back yard flyer. Its amazing how rapidily things can change from year to year. Miss a year and you really get behind in your RC thinking for sure!

[joey]

Hi Guys, I went on the sunday this year, and it was very nice as there was lots of room to move, but the only dissapointment that I did have, was that the the swap shop upstairs was nearly empty on the sunday, I think I counted only about 9 or 10 vendors left, as most packed up saturday night and left . but all together it was a very good expirience for me. take care guys.....Joey.....

[AJCoholic]

Yes, the swap shop starts Thursday morning (we were there, I got a box full of OS parts.. hee hee :) ) and goes strong Friday untill Saturday. A lot of the vendors have to drive home Sunday to be back for Monday so they dont stick around.

The swap shop has suffered a bit in the past two years as the fire marshals told them that the couldnt have tables along both sides of the hallway as in previous years. 5 or 6 years ago there was twice the stuff up there... but there were still a lot of bargains to be had and I managed to pick up a few things ;)

[Frank Klenk]

I really enjoyed the show this year (I always do). Sure, the place was crowded. The floor was busier Friday than last year, appreciated by all vendors I'm sure. Hey, there not there for the good of their health. The swap shop was thinner than usual, but I still managed a bag full. After I figured out the vendor locations that I was after, shopping was a breeze. We had a good time at the booth, harrassed as many as we could. Toledo always takes so long to get here and then it's gone, hmmm. Well, next is the weather will break and we'll all be flying soon. Won't that be nice. :)

Frank :)

[JimMoss]

Have to agree that Sat. was very tight to get around ..... but I was there Fri. as well and got everything I really wanted then.

I wish they could get the extra vendors in as there were some vendors not there that had been in the last few years that I would have like to have seen ....... needed more supplies .... :wink:

[AltecareRC]

I emailed the organisers and they indicated that they were happy to see it so busy, and yet admitted that Sat. was busy and suggested to come another day as opposed to Sat. which i think is a very banal suggestion.

It is time to have a decent Canadian Hobby show and attract all these vendors.. will never happen i know.

[AJCoholic]

Its a catch 22 - a less busy show with fewer vendors would'nt be as nice (not as many things to see and not financially good for the show organisers) but of course easier to walk around. A busy show means not everyone wanting to exhibit can (like I stated previously close to 100 were turned away) and the crowds can be overwhelming. Maybe they need to build a bigger convention center?! :)

Its not for everyone, and certainly if you dont do well in crowds ( I found myself getting clostrophobic a few times and had to go out for air) it can be a pain...

But man, its still one of the things I look forward to most each year... :)

8)

[AltecareRC]

Indeed, I look forward to it as well.
The good thing is I had a shopping list, picked what I wanted and saved a lot of shipping charges. Besides, the beauty about it is that you get such a huge choice.

[AJCoholic]

The one thing I DIDNT find was some turbine oil! I was looking all over and the jets stuff seemed to be limited.

I was looking at the Yellow Stingray - man that thing is a lot smaller than I imagined and I can see why it is so fast with just 12 pounds thrust...

I went by the Jett booth 3 or 4 times, and was SO close to buying another (I want a BSE .50) but I talked myself out of it as I dont NEED it right now... its easy to get carried away in the place when a visa card is burning a hole in your pocket! :)

[AltecareRC]

Andrew

The Jet scene was not very dominant at all, I expected to see more Jet related booths. A few years ago they had demos outside. I am not sure if you managed to have a look at the MRC booth who have a new Japanese built turbines (cannot remeber the name). These will go to market within the next few weeks. www.modelrectifier.com. No clue about quality.

I am looking forward to receiving the catalogue from jetpower.at

Lots of turbine oil by Pearson Airport. Could by some snd send it to you.

[AJCoholic]

No I missed these new turbines! But I did drool over the Ziroli Panther in the Robart booth.... :)

I will keep trying to get some oil closer to home but if not I will take you up on that. Thanks!

[scaleguy]

It is time to have a decent Canadian Hobby show and attract all these vendors.. will never happen i know.Actually we used to have a really good one held in Burlington every year back in the 70's & 80's.

It was run by Ted Curl - He runs "The Hobby Show" at the International Centre by Pearson. The Burlington Show was great. It was the Real Toledo North. It was held in an arena on Sat & Sun in the spring just like Toledo and it was always packed, just like Toledo. It got so big Ted moved it to where it is now but had to add all the other Hobby type stuff to help with the expenses. since it moved it went way downhill to what it is today.. not much.

Too bad it was a great show.... well times change I guess. if you are reading this Ted, I don't meen to slam you I know you had to add all the other hobby stuff to round out the show for everyone but it's just not the same as it was.

I have only been to Toledo once myself, back in 1985 when it was at the other site, the old arena. It was packed then to on Saturday but Sunday was great!

Hmmm I think i will have to make it in 2005. Hmm once evry 20 years.. should be able toswing that by the Warden! :wink: :wink: :lol: :lol: