Bad Guy Repticon EXTREEMELY BAD FOR THE REPTILE INDUSTRY

[coldblooded_novelties]

I am really not sure if this is the place to post this so if not Moderators please move it to the appropriate location. Well here goes:
Repticon EXTREEMELY BAD FOR THE REPTILE INDUSTRY

Is it just me or dose anyone else see a problem here
Repticon up coming shows
Raleigh NC today
3 weeks later Winston NC
3 weeks later Charlotte NC
the very next week Atlanta GA
then the next weekend back to Raleigh

On top of this all two day shows what is the promoter thinking. Oh I know screw the vendors and customers as long as I can make money sitting on my couch in Fla its all good.

AND NEVER FORGETTING EXCLUSIVE DEALS MADE BETWEEN CERTAIN VENDORS AND REPTICON.

I would love to be able to choose who to buy my rodents from but I can not since there is one vendor with an exclusive deal.

I would love to be able to choose who to buy my crickets from but I can not since there is one vendor with an exclusive deal.

I would love to be able to choose who to buy all feeder incests from but I can not since there is one vendor with an exclusive deal.

I would even love to chooses how I display my sand boas for sale BUT YET AGAIN I CAN NOT since yet another exclusive deal has been made.

This is the mentality us vendors face. I challenge any one vendor or customer in the entire state of Florida who will dispute the fact that the state is dead for reptile shows. ( perfect example why is it the bigger vendors do not attend any Florida Repticon shows but yet Daytona still at its worst attendance still attracts vendors form all over the country )
So after destroying Florida Repticon has it sights on the entire country starting with the east coast. This is such an easy issues to fix stop doing their shows.
More is not better its worse. Vendors need to stick together and not worry about causing waves. If this is your lively hood then be prepared to do something else at this rate the market will be as dead on the east coast as it is in Florida
IMHO
CBN

 

[chris l]

I support this as well to many shows is flooding the market.

 

[hhmoore]

I'm going to jump in here, and hopefully prevent this from becoming a problem.
Please remember that this thread is about Repticon; not reptile shows, in general.

 

[Lucille]

I am really not sure if this is the place to post this so if not Moderators please move it to the appropriate location. Well here goes:
Repticon EXTREEMELY BAD FOR THE REPTILE INDUSTRY

Is it just me or dose anyone else see a problem here
Repticon up coming shows
Raleigh NC today
3 weeks later Winston NC
3 weeks later Charlotte NC
the very next week Atlanta GA
then the next weekend back to Raleigh

On top of this all two day shows what is the promoter thinking. Oh I know screw the vendors and customers as long as I can make money sitting on my couch in Fla its all good.

AND NEVER FORGETTING EXCLUSIVE DEALS MADE BETWEEN CERTAIN VENDORS AND REPTICON.

I would love to be able to choose who to buy my rodents from but I can not since there is one vendor with an exclusive deal.

I would love to be able to choose who to buy my crickets from but I can not since there is one vendor with an exclusive deal.

I would love to be able to choose who to buy all feeder incests from but I can not since there is one vendor with an exclusive deal.

I would even love to chooses how I display my sand boas for sale BUT YET AGAIN I CAN NOT since yet another exclusive deal has been made.

This is the mentality us vendors face. I challenge any one vendor or customer in the entire state of Florida who will dispute the fact that the state is dead for reptile shows. ( perfect example why is it the bigger vendors do not attend any Florida Repticon shows but yet Daytona still at its worst attendance still attracts vendors form all over the country )
So after destroying Florida Repticon has it sights on the entire country starting with the east coast. This is such an easy issues to fix stop doing their shows.
More is not better its worse. Vendors need to stick together and not worry about causing waves. If this is your lively hood then be prepared to do something else at this rate the market will be as dead on the east coast as it is in Florida
IMHO
CBN

If Repticon is putting on multiple shows, and vendors are still signing up, there must be customers, or they wouldn't buy space.
If you think a wider selection of vendors rather than exclusive deals is better, why not do some work and put on your own show?

 

[chris l]

Sorry let me correct my self.. While I do see that there is way to many shows I do not find it right that they give sole rights to a vendor. It's a trade show everyone in the trade should be able to bring what they want with in state laws.

 

[JCCS]

While I agree with Frank about this subject, I'm not sure if this is an appropriate venue for his frustrations.

Lucille, if he were to start up his own show, it would only increase the level of saturation, compounding the largest problem that he has with shows in the region. I think that the Carolinas had it going best about 7-8 yrs ago when Raleigh happened twice a year, Columbia happened twice, and maybe a Greenville/Spartanburg show thrown in. Hell, I think they could even put one in Charlotte with that schedule and it would be fine.

The market just doesn't support this level of saturation. I've seen this from both the vendor and the customer.

Chris

 

[Lucille]

The market just doesn't support this level of saturation.

Then one need do nothing, the market will correct itself. Repticon is not going to put on numerous shows if it cannot sell vending space and there are no customers.

As far as it having sole vendors, I'd be willing to bet that the contract that vendor signs in return has many specifications favorable to Repticon possibly including a requirement of showing up with merchandise for every show.

 

[Omega Corns]

But the problem is that it's not supporting itself. I've been going to shows for the past 6 years, except for recently. Because there isn't a reason to go. The number of vendors is shrinking as well as the number and quality of animals available. I went to the first Winston show last year or the year before. It was in a room the size of most gas stations and the majority of the people there were not even selling reptiles. Which is really the point of the expos unless I'm terribly mistaken. Not to mention that if you look around at the customers very few people are buying anything.

 

[SIGNATURE DESIGN EXOTICS]

I have to agree white plains is doing same thing 6 shows a year. I remember when u would save up to go to a show cause you didn't want to miss it. Now its just I'll wait two months for the next one. As long as people will pay 10 bucks to come and see reptiles promoters don't care if they are there,to buy or not. PS sorry for any mistakes type on phone.
!

 

[Lucille]

But the problem is that it's not supporting itself. I've been going to shows for the past 6 years, except for recently. Because there isn't a reason to go. The number of vendors is shrinking as well as the number and quality of animals available. I went to the first Winston show last year or the year before. It was in a room the size of most gas stations and the majority of the people there were not even selling reptiles. Which is really the point of the expos unless I'm terribly mistaken. Not to mention that if you look around at the customers very few people are buying anything.

Heather, Repticon is not going to put these shows on if they do not make money for him. He has to pay expenses, and if the expenses exceed his financial intake from the show he isn't going to keep on scheduling additional shows, that is not rational.

Has anyone actually talked about these issues with the Repticon promoters?

 

[hypocamaro]

LMMFAO!
Cold-blooded you obviously have sides with the Dixie reptile show! You talk about saturation?! The Dixie show is every month in the same city! WTF? Really? You talk about it being saturated and you go and vend at the most saturated show in the South. Grow up and stop crying. You sound like a little child. I checked your site. Its painfully obvious that your failure is strickly due to your overpriced ball pythons. 699.99 for a 2013 clown male. You can go to kingsnake right now and buy them for 450 shipped!

I cant be the only one here who thinks he has a personal vendetta against REPTICON

 

[JCCS]

Lucille, the issue is that a very large part of the people coming through the doors of these shows are parents looking for a cheap trip to the zoo. So, the promoters are generally making enough money to keep expanding. I went to a show in Bristol 6 months ago that had 9 vendors set up, half of which had animals. They should have been ashamed of themselves for not shutting that show down when they saw what it was going to look like.

It will eventually work itself out, but they are going to lose a lot of quality vendors in the process as the people working the shows will eventually lose interest. I'm with the guy several posts up. I used to get excited to go to Raleigh or Columbia, breeders were bringing their best stuff. Going to shows now is just waiting to pick over the scraps from the last show. Also, a lot of irresponsible vendors are working everyone one of these shows. It's not hard to figure out that the animals aren't receiving the best care possible when they're being drug around three days a week.

 

[SIGNATURE DESIGN EXOTICS]

Lucille, the issue is that a very large part of the people coming through the doors of these shows are parents looking for a cheap trip to the zoo. So, the promoters are generally making enough money to keep expanding. I went to a show in Bristol 6 months ago that had 9 vendors set up, half of which had animals. They should have been ashamed of themselves for not shutting that show down when they saw what it was going to look like.

It will eventually work itself out, but they are going to lose a lot of quality vendors in the process as the people working the shows will eventually lose interest. I'm with the guy several posts up. I used to get excited to go to Raleigh or Columbia, breeders were bringing their best stuff. Going to shows now is just waiting to pick over the scraps from the last show. Also, a lot of irresponsible vendors are working everyone one of these shows. It's not hard to figure out that the animals aren't receiving the best care possible when they're being drug around three days a week.

that's what I was trying to say.

 

[bluesbayou]

I used to go to every show. It was my Christmas. I lived in Wilmington, NC and the drive to each north or south was part of the fun. I move to CA and then back to NC, went to one show. It's just not worth going to shows any more. I don't need ball pythons. I can find what I need on the net, and if I plan correctly, I can minamize shipping costs.
I would like to see if there are any differences in sales between the shows. Any body who vends want to put up numbers?

 

[Redfeet]

Since you mentioned the feeder vendors are basically monopolizing these shows are there prices too high also?

 

[JCCS]

The prices on mice at the shows are very high, yes.

 

[Lucille]

Lucille, the issue is that a very large part of the people coming through the doors of these shows are parents looking for a cheap trip to the zoo.So, the promoters are generally making enough money to keep expanding.

So kids had a nice day looking at the critters. They look at the reptiles, go out to lunch with Mom and Dad, have a great day. If anything. that's good for the industry.

went to a show in Bristol 6 months ago that had 9 vendors set up, half of which had animals. They should have been ashamed of themselves for not shutting that show down when they saw what it was going to look like.

I think you are looking at it through your expectations. But as I said some posts up, if numbers get too low and the shows are not paying for themselves, Repticon will shut them down. It hasn't happened yet.

will eventually work itself out, but they are going to lose a lot of quality vendors in the process as the people working the shows will eventually lose interest.

I agree, if it is not their cup of tea, they should go elsewhere.

with the guy several posts up. I used to get excited to go to Raleigh or Columbia, breeders were bringing their best stuff. Going to shows now is just waiting to pick over the scraps from the last show.

Maybe so. But apparently there are still enough vendors and buyers to make the show happen, so some people must be OK with this.

, a lot of irresponsible vendors are working everyone one of these shows. It's not hard to figure out that the animals aren't receiving the best care possible when they're being drug around three days a week.

Bad critter care is a concern, but you correctly attributed this to irresponsible vendors, not to Repticon.


Look, I see a lot of show dissatisfaction. Again, have any of you spoken with the show promoters to convey your feelings?
Apparently the shows are bringing in enough money to make them worthwhile. I hear some disappointment that maybe things aren't the way they used to be, (nothing is) but that just doesn't seem worthy of a big red X. Especially since there is no post so far describing any meetings or requests for any sort of desired change with the Repticon management.

 

[CarolinaClassicDragons]

JCCS makes plenty of great points here. Lucille...not. Yes, there have been plenty of conversations with management. Nothing changed. No, you can't just sit back and think things will work themselves out. I vended Raleigh today...worst Saturday I have ever seen at a show. This post isn't against any of the local Repticon staff. This isn't personal as I like all of the local Repticon folks. This is business. This post is made because I do hold out hope that someone will come to their senses and see how these shows can be better. It can be brought back to the days where people lined up outside Dorton Arena (Raleigh show) and waited a lengthy time to get in. It was worth it to many. Better business decisions need to be made.

You simply do not have the demographics in this area to do the number of shows that Repticon is doing. It is quantifiable and it isn't rocket science. Less is more. They have saturated the marketplace and shows aren't what they used to be. You used to go to shows to load up on feeders at great prices. People took their coolers with some dry ice and loaded up. No longer...Repticon has created little monopolies at every show. No bargains to be found. A cool variety of high quality reptiles?...LMAO...garbage for the most part.

Yes, Repticon will still make their money. Unqualified foot traffic (JJCS's Zoo trippers) will still come through the door and vendors will still buy enough tables as they will hold out hope that the "next one will be better." Me, I think it is time we all speak up and all work together to make these shows awesome again. I will be sitting some out until then.

I know the next one I decide to do will find my table in the far back corner since I decided to chime in. I am okay with that. Can't do worse than I did today front and center.

 

[Lucille]

Yes, there have been plenty of conversations with management.

Specifics? What did you ask for, what did they say?

 

[hhmoore]

Repticon has had the big red X before....

I've never been to a Repticon show; so I can't offer much comment (without delving too far into generic discussion); but the fact that they offer certain vendors exclusivity doesn't sit well with many. I can understand Repticon wanting to ensure that every show has a vendor to meet the customers' rodent, feeder bug, chameleon, and other specialty needs; but it isn't necessarily the best option for anybody other than the chosen few.