Bike Show

[Lamble]

Enjoyed meeting some of you folk in the flesh as it were. Some for the first time, some as second timers, mostly as faces to web acquaintances. Thought you seemed quite nice people considering the battering we'd been lead to expect. Then again, my in-person experiences have always proven this to be the case, much better face-to-face.

From a business point of view, it was a break even show for us on the financials, but worth every penny as far as coming somewhere new, to test the water and meet a new range of people and talk adventure riding with them.

Plus, Nick has all the routes and a couple of riders that will enable him and two of his mates, for whom this is their biggest riding adventure ever and to see their enthusiasm is fantastic, to get out and see some of Scotland.

You guys came through and have done us and Scotland proud. A truly great big thank you.

 

[MorayGSer]

Dissapointed same old same old every year.

 

[hank]

Glad I didn't go to the show, had thought about it. Decided a trip up to Inveraray and a wee detour down to Lochgoilhead on the way home would be a much better option, had a great afternoon out.

 

[wully]

I'd have liked to have gone but the thought of trailing round that shit hole farm yard they have it at puts me right off.

Nice to see Nick and his pals are getting the best of Scottish weather for their ride

 

[MorayGSer]

The gate Staff were useless there were no signs stating which gate accepted a Debit card, then I was charged £1.50 for pleasure of using my card. and then inside there was not one ATM now for a place whose Main Sponsor is the RBS thats appalling won't be back till they move completely crap Venue.

 

[columbus]

The gate Staff were useless there were no signs stating which gate accepted a Debit card, then I was charged £1.50 for pleasure of using my card. and then inside there was not one ATM now for a place whose Main Sponsor is the RBS thats appalling won't be back till they move completely crap Venue.

Don't know which gate you went in from but the main one just down from the main hall entrance was marked as to which gate accepted cash/credit card/mcn vouchers.

The info on the website stated that there was no atm in the showground.

 

[MorayGSer]

In my opinion it is a crap venue. I wasn't at Main gate. The Staff were really unhelpful and had little knowledge I didn't look at website as I'm sure many others didn't. I was sent to RBS building by showground staff and told there was ATM. I also think it was a poor show inside compared to shows down South. I don't think MCN make the effort also while I'm on a RANT Kevin Carmichael I have seen him 3 times every time he's fallen off, once he got injured in Warm Up and didn't even make show. He always blames cold weather. Now he is from kilmarnock and should know what to expect in Edinburgh in March? Sorry to RANT but I feel the Bike Show gets Worse year on year.

 

[EmmettC]

From a business point of view, it was a break even show for us on the financials, but worth every penny as far as coming somewhere new, to test the water and meet a new range of people and talk adventure riding with them.

I don't want to appear rude, but if you spent less time talking to people about adventure riding and bmws, and more time discussing your own products you might have had a more successful weekend, from a business point of view.

I came to your stand 3 seperate times to find out about stuff for my F800gs, but even when I sat up on your 800 and (loudly) discussed buying the seat with my friend. i didn't even get an acknowledgement, or a quick hello. In the end I spent almost £200 with metal mule, and I'm waiting to hear back on some of their other products, all because they were available to talk to.

I know you may have been trying to recruit potential new customers, but you certainly lost 1 definite sale on Saturday.

 

[wully]

but even when I sat up on your 800 and (loudly) discussed buying the seat with my friend. i didn't even get an acknowledgement,

Errrmm. Why did you no ask him about the seat instead of talking to yer pal

 

[ThreeDawg]

Belting run down on the 1100 from Inverness through Speyside, Tomintoul, Braemar, Glen Shee and Blaigowrie to the show. Caught up with my mates on the Laverda stand and several others that I knew elsewhere. Dry run back up the A9, home by 8.30. Nice little show, although I don't think it merits an annual visit. Guess you make it what you make it.

Three Dawg

 

[judge]

Well as someone who has now done most of the shows several times I can perhaps offer a perspective (albeit from a traders viewpoint ), the show put on this year was a decent show in comparison to previous years, Live Promotions who took on the management of the show for the first time this year have made some improvements and I say it was better than both of London's shows at Excel and Ally Pally.

The NEC remains the premier show in terms of size and all the other shows charge only a slightly reduced admission fee against the NEC's charge for a much smaller show but it has lost 18-20,000 visitors year on year for a couple of years so people are voting with their feet.

The people attended especially on the Saturday, the traders were there albeit some of the main manufacturers weren't (in keeping with all the UK shows this year), the Royal Highland Centre isn't a great venue the hall layout is poor, the main hall is too small and its too disjointed. It is very convenient for those of us who fly in and out though

I wouldn't have known it was an MCN main sponsored show

Not being an expert on venues in Scotland where do people think would be better as it seems well connected for road traffic and we saw plenty of people who had travelled some distance to the show

From talking to many of those who came this weekend there was a real sense of relief that the winter is over and people can ride again, you've had it would seem a bastid of a Winter even by your hardy standards.

Was good to see a few faces of those I knew; Rev Chuck, Stumpy, Den, Straypuss, Andy Cam; even managed to take some money off one of them

 

[MorayGSer]

SECC would be my choice.

 

[EmmettC]

Errrmm. Why did you no ask him about the seat instead of talking to yer pal

I tried 3 times, but the 2 staff were too busy socisalising with people, I knowthey were busy, and I don't mind waiting to be seen when customers are ahead of me, but I don't feel the need to wait for them to finish a chat. There are lots of other places far mor eager to take my money.

 

[EmmettC]

Errrmm. Why did you no ask him about the seat instead of talking to yer pal

I tried 3 times, but the 2 staff were too busy socisalising with people, I knowthey were busy, and I don't mind waiting to be seen when customers are ahead of me, but I don't feel the need to wait for them to finish a chat. There are lots of other places far mor eager to take my money.

 

[Deleted account 210516001]

SECC would be my choice.

+1 but I suspect the venue would cost a lot more than Ingliston and hit the admission price accordingly.

I missed last year but thought this year was a bit of an improvement on what was becoming a pretty tired format. Not sure I would have bothered however if the weather had not been so pleasant.

 

[AndyT]

Was there a ban on cameras at the show or just not worth taking any pics

 

[skyenet]

Was there a ban on cameras at the show or just not worth taking any pics

Only thing I saw that was out of the ordinary

 

[Lamble]

Emmett C.

Sorry we missed you. Although we had four folk on the stand on Sunday, only two were TT staff, the other two guys were just there to help us pack and unload, so perhaps they didn't pick up on your comments about the 800 seat.

There's also a very fine line between socialising and talking about what potential customers do and are looking for or thinking about bike wise.

But as I said, sorry we missed out on speaking to you and your business.

I suppose we could have been more sales focused and risked coming across as money grabbers instead?

Give me a call and I'll happily extend the free post and packaging from the show to you.

Also, did anyone try to guess the mileage we did from Ystradgynlais to the show?

There's a prize of some description knocking about for the nearest. Clue Over 400 less than 500, happy to take decimal points into account.

Now I have to go and suck a throat lozenge, all the people we did get to speak with has left me with a sore throat.

Catch you next time Emmett, I hope.