Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike P
It's a very nice, prestigious venue. But there are negatives associated with it, for both vendors and patrons. I forgot how much I was told it cost for a fax or internet hookup for vendors to take credit cards, but it was substantial. Very few vendors were accepting credit cards. For better or for worse, people expect to be able to use them. Plus, the main hallway is dark, and I was told there was also an additional cost for the Stadium staff to hook up auxiliary lighting.
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Pretty much all retail shows like this operate the same way. Complete robbery and it's part of the reason dealers eventually get fed up and decide it's just not worth it. Costs are simply obscene. You have to have epic sales to cover all the costs associated with the weekend. This is partly a function of the scale and location of these shows; those who organize them (RISAA and MSBA) really have no control over it other then the choice of venue.
We didn't go to MSBA, but here's some utilities/set up numbers for RISAA. Right off the bat, you've got to cover your booth cost. Electricity is approx. $90 or more for the weekend. Internet access? Only option is a T1. For $500 the first day, $250 each additional. (For other vendors who read this, I've found I can generally catch Wi-Fi in some parts of the Convention Center floor). Telephone? $165 or more... No wonder vendors don't offer credit card. Between that and cc processing fees you're generally out 4% or more on every transaction.