SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW-FOOD RUBBISH

**theguvnor** · 24-09-07, 14:43

Always strikes me as odd that as all stands are trying to sell you something why do we pay £15 to get in. If Brent Cross or Bluewater tried that nobody would go

**mikef** · 24-09-07, 14:54

If the total cost of the exhibition fell on the exhibitors, as you are advocating, there would be fewer exhibitors especially smaller companies with limited budgets. I think £15 is a fair entry price but you don't have to pay it anyway. Phone a dealer before the show, express an interest in their latest Whizzbang 46 and they'll doubtless send you some complimentary tickets [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

**Major Catastrophe** · 24-09-07, 15:00

[ QUOTE ]
Phone a dealer before the show, express an interest in their latest Whizzbang 46 and they'll doubtless send you some complimentary tickets

[/ QUOTE ] Or they tell you to wait at the entrance and they will send someone over the two bridges to fetch you as and when they can find someone.

Dickies tried that one on me, but I was too cunning for them and paid the fifteen squids, rather than stand outside for half the morning waiting for them to send someone who has never met me to pick me out from the crowd.

**Magnum** · 24-09-07, 15:08

Regarding free entry and parking Sunseeker pulled out all the stops.

Drive to Sunseeker's valet parking stand at show side gate.
Pass keys to suited chap who parks car in a secure compound less than 25 yards away.
Get escorted in by nice bit of Sunseeker totty. "Do you have tickets sir". "No I don't". "No problem" tells show official she owes him 2.
When we left escorted back again by different totty.
Car was waiting AND pointing in the right direction.

That is how to treat your customers.

**maybh1** · 24-09-07, 15:09

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]I always get two complimentary tickets from my Bank Manager who gets them from Lombards [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] .

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] : also got two free tickets from Trader this year [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

**mikef** · 24-09-07, 15:16

Did it work?

**maybh1** · 24-09-07, 15:19

They worked Brilliantly. I spent all day looking at the Marlow [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

**Magnum** · 24-09-07, 15:20

Well, we made our decision that day and it had nothing to do with valet parking, but we did feel looked after and it's an encouraging sign of good customer service.

**Major Catastrophe** · 24-09-07, 15:53

[ QUOTE ]
Regarding free entry and parking Sunseeker pulled out all the stops.

Drive to Sunseeker's valet parking stand at show side gate.
Pass keys to suited chap who parks car in a secure compound less than 25 yards away.
Get escorted in by nice bit of Sunseeker totty. "Do you have tickets sir". "No I don't". "No problem" tells show official she owes him 2.
When we left escorted back again by different totty.
Car was waiting AND pointing in the right direction.

That is how to treat your customers.

[/ QUOTE ]

I looked everywhere for the Mirror Dinghy valet parking. In the end I had to park my Leyland Marina myself.

**gonfishing** · 24-09-07, 17:13

Coincidence, or are you holding back on us? The 37metre Sunseeker model at the show is named M4, yours perchance? Bloody lovely boat I was well impressed with her, but for 11 million what do you expect!!!!.