Cheaper Trade stands?

[pipingwidow]

I'm going to the Dublin Horse Show at the weekend. Yay! After a fall I need to buy a new hat. Is it cheaper to buy from a trade stand or should I just go to a tack shop? I was all set to get one tomorrow when I wondered if I could get a better deal at the show.

 

[cobgoblin]

OH bought a hat at hickstead last week. We went into the Charles Owen fitting stand (they don't sell) then went around the stands to find the best price. Prices did vary quite a bit but the best thing is the amount of choice of hat styles at a show. You can always go to the tack shop afterwards.

 

[ZondaR]

I would suggest you look up some prices in on line shops to use that as a comparison. There is a hugh choice at the Dublin Horse Show and you may get a good deal on a discontinued style or last years design. I have found that the price of a lot of things is not any cheaper at the RDS than in a shop for the current range of products. But you can haggle which is something you can't do at a shop!

 

[merlinsquest]

I would suggest you look up some prices in on line shops to use that as a comparison. There is a hugh choice at the Dublin Horse Show and you may get a good deal on a discontinued style or last years design. I have found that the price of a lot of things is not any cheaper at the RDS than in a shop for the current range of products. But you can haggle which is something you can't do at a shop!

I run a retail business which also includes a trade stand & am always amazed that people consider that it is acceptable to haggle with me but not in a shop, I often point out that they don't get to the till at Tesco & say "I'll give you £50 for that" or whatever, the majority of other tradestand holders feel the same, its a pet peeve sorry to say. I run a business which pays my mortgage, not a charity. If I decide to offer a discount based on someones chosen purchases then that is my perogative, but some people are honestly rude & expect a discount as their right. We pay to be at events, its not free, so our first sales have to cover the cost of the pitch before we even begin to make a profit, then take out our time, fuel, money put back in to the business to buy more stock, replace vehicle, show unit etc etc & I seriously doubt that anyone is making a fortune which of course is our choice to run the business in the first place, but it is still a shop & I really can't understand why just because I'm at a show that I should be giving my money away...

 

[Kat]

We have a tradestand too and while I would second much of what merlinsquest says I would prefer someone to ask politely for a discount than walk away having said nothing. I can always polietly refuse but often have scope to do something on a larger purchase.

 

[pipingwidow]

Thanks for all the responses. It was especially good to hear from the trade stands. I'm an awful haggler as I feel cheeky doing it so it's nice to know it is not appreciated. I think I'll give the stands a go.