Shooting show 2013

[8x57]

Glad that overcrowding wasn’t a problem today, should have made it a much pleasanter experience.

I wonder what the occupancy figures were on their on their fire risk assessment and the premises licence (if there were any numbers on the licence) and how the premises managers ensured that these numbers weren’t exceeded. I didn’t see any tickets being given out on payment at the entrance point nor did I see anyone counting numbers in and out of the premises. I think a call to the local licensing authority would be in order.

 

[000bullet000]

Just got back from the show, drove straight in and parked this morn then queued for a couple of mins to get in the halls! It was busy inside but traffic was no problem, it was the same coming out, 3 mins and was on the bypass! Thought £17 was a bit steep though!! ?

Bullet

 

[newsatten]

Went on Saturday, took 2 hours to get in!!! Jam packed till 2-30 pm, then not to bad, took a wad of cash and brought it all home!!!
Everything was over priced ! bargains my arse!

The only good thing was custom rifle parts made in the UK and as good or better than any thing any where in the world!!! Bravo AI , Dolphin Arms, Valkyrie Rifles and the rest, some of the best Actions ive seen,

Pete

 

[MARKG]

glad I did't bother from the reports

 

[Sako 3006]

What really p****d me off was people who brought their dogs to an indoor show,there was a chap there with 4 labs on leads a young lady with two lurchers and a lady with a cocker pup that had **** itself (prob from fright )and people were walking through it before she had chance to clean it up, I think common sense would have come through as we were shoulder to shoulder on Sat, I had enough and left at 12.30.

 

[Taff]

Just got back, a really good show, what got me was I bought a ticket in advance and my mates got in free as no one asked us to pay.

 

[mak]

As an exhibitor thought the show was really good and we were only demonstrating, what was disappointing was the number of thefts that we heard about on Saturday. A S&B PMII scope complete with demo stock, Swarovski compact binoculars, air pistols, a number of accessories. The show was certainly better attended than last year and maybe this was one of the causes of the traffic congestion. We arrived at 07:30 on Saturday, straight in, no problems, bit a que at the entrance to get in.

 

[patjack]

Well was good to catch up with friends today
Was pleasantly surprised after reading all the negative reports from saturday and the associated problems with car parking traffic problems etc well it took just 10 mins to get parked and 10 minutes to gain entry and even though it was quite busy could get to all the trade stands that we wanted to so a good day all and all.

 

[BunnyDoom]

I had an awesome time today, dunno what everyone's bitching about!

 

[BunnyDoom]

Just got back, a really good show, what got me was I bought a ticket in advance and my mates got in free as no one asked us to pay.

Didn't bother me mate

 

[Peter Eaton]

Re the safety post....You noticed too eh, I noticed the fire exits covered by curtains and the odd dead end the was....well a dead end....try finding your way out from that in a fire. I have to say I didnt have too bad a day...but I will also admit I have never been charged to look around an indoor market before as that was all it was. A couple of eye openers for me were. The 'custom rifles' ....well I saw two that were, the others...well they were just components put together that looked nice. Another eye opener was the airsoft demo....Surely a shooting show would want to portray and image of people with guns being calm and reserved? But at the same show we had folk dressed like they were in the special forces with realistic looking airsoft guns throwing flash bangs demonstrating close quarter combat....is that good for shooting? Join the forces if you want to do that....like the rest of us who did.

 

[Safari Hunter]

Arrived at 10 am today and drove straight in. Field was muddy as hell so just parked on the road near the entrance. 5 min queue to get in the hall, also think £17.50 was a bit steep. Drove straight out aswell no problems. Slightly amused at the tractors pulling the cars off the mud though!!

 

[8x57]

Re the safety post....You noticed too eh, I noticed the fire exits covered by curtains and the odd dead end the was....well a dead end....try finding your way out from that in a fire. I have to say I didnt have too bad a day...but I will also admit I have never been charged to look around an indoor market before as that was all it was. A couple of eye openers for me were. The 'custom rifles' ....well I saw two that were, the others...well they were just components put together that looked nice. Another eye opener was the airsoft demo....Surely a shooting show would want to portray and image of people with guns being calm and reserved? But at the same show we had folk dressed like they were in the special forces with realistic looking airsoft guns throwing flash bangs demonstrating close quarter combat....is that good for shooting? Join the forces if you want to do that....like the rest of us who did.

Safety was a bit worrying at this event wasn’t it. Certainly not I would call a well managed event.

The traders should be concerned also because research in the retail trade has shown that with certain exceptions that crowded stores actually sell less than those where people don’t feel cramped or rushed. Ikea actually limit the number of persons in their stores at any one time not purely on safety grounds but because after a certain number sales actually diminish.
We are supposed to be in a recession yet I’ve read several reports of people attending the show with money in their pockets eager to buy and going home having spent nothing. In fact I had several things on my shopping list and bought none of them. Reports suggest that Sunday may have been less well attended perhaps due to bad press or perhaps due to the weather if so I wonder in what way were actual sales reflected.
If there is another show next year for the sake of the shooting public and the traders the organisers had better get their act together because unless there are assurances that it won’t be like this year’s event I won’t be looking to attend.

 

[JasonH]

Hi All

I've just sent the last 2 days at the show supporting my father who was exhibiting.

It's a real shame to hear about all the traffic and parking issues. From speaking to the organisers on Saturday afternoon it was under the responsibility of the Stoneleigh ground owners who had assured the organisers that they had past experience and could deal with the forseen level of traffic. After the Saturdays nightmare they took control for Sunday and got the traffic Police directly involved.

I thought there were sufficent opportunities for some good deals to be had but thought the catering was extremely poor and expensive especially if you wanted a burger and chips (cost me £9.50 with a bottle of coke!). Again I think this was down to the deal made with Stoneleigh as external catering was limited.

The show seems to be getting better year by year and I can remeber visiting the first one in newark which was very basic.

I had general concerns though over the show, too many people in Camo, why do people insist on bringing there dogs etc and from an exhibitors perspective the level of theft was very high which is really disappointing (Stalking UK's till was even stolen!).

As for Airsoft guys they should go and experience the real thing and spend 6 months in Afganistan then they may know better.

 

[Taff]

I think there is one thing the traders could do, and that is stay open, if the show is due to close at 4.30, then stay open till then, after all people have paid to come in, a lot were packing up by 3.

 

[patjack]

Was rumoured that a stall was ? £600 per square metre that might explain why the food was so expensive but that was no excuse for how poor it was, free tea well contributions accepted on the BASC stall so that was a nice idea thanks BASC

Security that was present was very thin on the ground but surely there would of been CCTV? to watch the thiefs?

Did notice that some dealers had put their prices up by a massive amount on reloading supplies because of the shortages of primers especially but they were not selling much, Hats of to Brian Fox (FOX FIREARMS) who had some good deals on stuff and did not put his prices up to try and cash in on the shortages.

No Comment on the AIRSOFT brigade.

 

[paultap]

It should be Held at the NEC which is more central and where there is a proper setup to deal a high volume of traffic and vast numbers of people. Many years ago there used to be a joint fishing and shooting show at the NEC in march and it was great!

I went on Sunday morning and to be fair got in pretty quickly with traffic getting in, in about 10 mins. Car parking was on a sodden muddy gravel car park.The car looked like I had been rallying in it!

It Rained most of the Day and small indoor "cafes " apart the burger vans etc were outside where it was chucking it down!

I enjoyed the show but I found it difficult to walk around at times with the sheer volume of people,apparently the saturday was a lot busier!

ORGANISERS ..... STOP TREATING PEOPLE LIKE CATTLE!!!! ..... NEC NEXT TIME PLEASE !

 

[para7]

Went on saturday,parking was crap and un organised and the venue was crap,will stick to the game fairs in future

 

[243varmint]

Three of us made the trip up on Sunday and after reading all the bad press Sat evening we had our doubts BUT we drove straight in and were parked on the roads around the showground.
No queing going in (we were early). Had a good look around before the crowds turned up. I was after some reloading gear and came away vertually emptyhanded.
One of our group was after a 20bore and we had a good time looking and handling some very nice and expensive guns.

It was nice to look around a show that you didn't have to tread through inches of mud.

As for wearing camo to an indoor event????????????????


AIRSOFT.......................................what the F**K are they on. Go and do it for real as others have said and then they might have a better idea.



Jonathon

 

[Roedinator]

Three of us made the trip up on Sunday and after reading all the bad press Sat evening we had our doubts BUT we drove straight in and were parked on the roads around the showground.
No queing going in (we were early). Had a good look around before the crowds turned up. I was after some reloading gear and came away vertually emptyhanded.
One of our group was after a 20bore and we had a good time looking and handling some very nice and expensive guns.

It was nice to look around a show that you didn't have to tread through inches of mud.

As for wearing camo to an indoor event????????????????


AIRSOFT.......................................what the F**K are they on. Go and do it for real as others have said and then they might have a better idea.



Jonathon

jon PMSL
i didnt attend but enjoyed your summing up .
glad i stayed at home mate and saved my hard earned for a brand new DT 10 i bought today
regards pete