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Author Topic: Early Birds  (Read 5588 times)

N9AVY

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Early Birds
« on: January 06, 2004, 01:25:45 PM »

At a recent hamfest a friend and I got in before it opened at 8 am, but we were caught by someone who knew my friend and asked to wait outside until the fest opened. I was okay with that UNTIL I saw people walking out with antennas and gear they had just purchased ! Seems that it's okay for certain people to buy things before the hamfest starts while others are shut out. This sort of thing probably happens all the time. No wonder hamfests are dying out.

It's bad enough we have to put up with the "junk dealers" and folks who peddle beanie babies and porno videos. Perhaps some group should hold a hamfest where they kick out anyone not selling ham equipment or ham-related parts.
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KG4RUL

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Early Birds
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2004, 06:01:24 PM »

If I see this happening, I turn around and walk away.  At one Hamfest in California, I had pre-purchased the ticket and they were reluctant to refund my money.  Talking really loudly about the 'Club Members' getting in early and getting 'all the good stuff', in earshot of those waiting to buy tickets at the gate, caused a number of people to also walk away.  Now that I had the hamfest organizer's attention, the refund was quickly made.

Dennis - KG4RUL
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K1ERP

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Early Birds
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2004, 02:06:59 PM »

    It's real simple, guys. Go as a vendor, get there when it opens & have at it!

73,
bob
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OBSERVER11

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Early Birds
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2004, 08:52:40 PM »

PORN VIDEOS?? were they any good?

Guys, go as VENDORS, you get in to set up, you find your treasures that you cannot live another day without, and you do not have to compete with the "great unwashed".

Dennis just showed me an angle I never tought of... trouble makers... give them the money back, then call the cops - they are TRESPASSING!

Do you NEW GUYS think for one second, that if a hamfest was limited to AMATEUR gear, or even ELECTRONIC gear ONLY, that the flea market would survive more than ONE TIME? Hams are people (shockin ain't it) and hams go to flea markets to buy junk/stuff. That stuff is not always ham related. Most married guys have the wife in-tow, add the kids too. If it were ham related items only, no need for the wife or kids to pay to get in, there go that ticket revenue, add that the ham may not go since the wife may have other plans for that day... more tickets not sold.

So, if you want to see a "no early bird rule" or a "radio gear only rule" - put on your own show. All it takes is money.
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K4CMD

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Early Birds
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2004, 10:03:18 AM »

My local hamfest (Richmond Frostfest, February 22) offers "early bird" ticket purchasers first dibs at entrance, a half-hour before the gates open to the general admission folks. All you have to do is purchase your ticket a few weeks ahead of time. I don't know if other hamfests operate like this, but I'd suspect some do. Of course, the other guy's post is also a tried-and-true method, and every ham must have SOMETHING he can sell. Find a couple of ham friends and split a table -- then you can REALLY be an early bird. Take a quick browse while you're setting up and you'll know exactly where to go once the starting gun's fired!
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