Woodworkers Show

[L. D. Jeffries]

Just got back from Woodworking Show in Hamburg, NY (which is just south of Buffalo, NY). What a rip-off! Only about 12 venders all in all...no big machinery venders, three tables of what you might find at a flea market (example: router bits, 3 for $5.00 which probably would be ok for fishing sinkers). Anyway to make a long story short...if we hadn't booked a motel room for last night we probably would have come home then! Last years show was great...but don't know what happened this year. Do know this was the last one I will go to; word going around was that WoodLine Tools bought out most of the spaces and wouldn't let other vender in??? Only good thing was Ridgid had a booth selling factory reconditioned tools with a one year guarentee. Got an ossilating (sp) spindle/belt sander for $135. Did anyone else go to this show?

[kmk]

Thats too bad! How much did you pay for the admission? I'm looking forward to WW show here on 19th. I hope it will be a good one...

[LinuxRandal]

It has been changing here for a number of years. Was great, then they moved it to a new location (brand new building) that the parking was WAY too small for the event (probably 1/3 of the other location). They had to resod the next week, then move it back..
Thewoodworkerschoice dot com, had been a big draw, then started looking like a cross between HF and Homier, then finally went out of business. That was the major vendor for our location.
Lot's of vendors have booths, where they advertise (come see xyz at the show), only to NOT have it in stock for buying. ARGH
Last year, only went because we needed some consumables, that you can get in greater quantities then most stores stock around here. (particularly Kreg screws that my father buys by the boxes)
They had more demo's this year.
Because of the more demo's, the show was more crowded, so they are going to have to have more space next year (had cut down the area of the show, do to the forementioned loss).
Prices I can beat online, with the consumables exception (not always needed), so I am not sure we wil be going this year. But I do hope it changes around as it used to be quite an enjoyable weekend event.

[L. D. Jeffries]

Fortunately the admission was only $7, but the time/money spent getting there is what p----d me off. As I said, first class rip-off! Next year am going to the Northeast Woodworkers Association show in Saratoga Springs, NY. People I have talked to say it is the BEST. We'll see.

[kirkroy]

So, are the woodworking shows stinking (http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/) in general or do they differ from location to location?

[sweensdv]

So, are the woodworking shows stinking (http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/) in general or do they differ from location to location?

I think they vary from city to city as far as exhibitors are concerned. I went to the Milwaukee show earlier this year after hearing about people getting the recon Ridgid spindle sander for a good price at their shows in other cities. I was going to pick one up but when I got there, Ridgid didn't even have a booth at the show. A few of the other big names didn't have representation there either.