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I noticed that ETemplate is having a class at the Quality Inn Plaza.
They are asking $15.00 for the priveledge of showing you their system, with the new one click CAD feature.
question 1:
Is this smart? To charge people to see a demo on a system you are trying to sell them?
Question 2:
Is this the next step in our ongoing discussion about private parties at the expo versus being involved on the floor, and financially supporting the show?
I think they have a booth anyway, so that is kind of moot regarding ETemplate, but it does speak to the earlier topic of supporting the show. I want to be clear – I don’t have a problem with ETemplate on this. I am wondering if outside classes are the next step in our discussion about the viability of the show concerning costs and participation.
Tom
I personally would not pay to see a product. Just me. I think it should be worked into the price of the product.
How would you like to go to car dealer and have to pay to test drive? Maybe just $10 or so. I wouldn’t. I would go to the dealer that includes it into the cost of doing business.
Would you NOT pay $15 if you were interested in this system? I doubt they are doing it to make money, I agree with Jon. It weeds out the tire kickers and gets them buyers. Hi macs is basically doing the same thing, have a small booth, hand out invites to their party and spend the $ on the party, where you can also show product.
Wags,
Sorry to disagree, but Hi-Macs is not charging to go to the party.
It is vastly different.
I’m going to go to Fla. for two reasons (now three, since I’m assisting in a class).
I want to see the FabNutters (dang you FedSawDave!), and,
I’m looking into a templating system. It was down to ETemplate, LT-55, and Photo top (fab choice).
It may be down to two.
Also – their ad said that they are the only sytem that can convert to .dxf with a click. I thought the photo top system did that for awhile now.
Tom
No of course Hi Macs isn’t . I mean they were not really showing at the show, but putting on an offsite show/party there.
How many paid for certification from a solid surface company? Isn’t that the same thing? Charging you to learn how I want my product fabricated? Some distributors even charge for samples? Charge for a sample to show your customer so you can buy my product? Sounds crazy to me.. but.. if you can do it, whose the fool?
And I bet, if you purchase a templating system they will refund the $15.00.
Guys, I think 15 bucks for their time is more than reasonable. You DON’T have to go. What is your time worth? A lot of us never give that consideration as it relates to advice. Forget man hours.. Life aint free…neither is my time although I seem to be doing a lot of pro bono work. And so it goes…
BTW Tom, don’t blame me for you having to show up in Orlando…hehehehehehehe
Wags,
I don’t think I’ve paid for certification in any brand. I can’t be sure what you mean, but why would anyone pay for that?
Hotel, travel expenses and other costs aren’t paying, are they?
Some distributors even charge for samples? Charge for a sample to show your customer so you can buy my product?
Absolutely 100% percent behind you. It’s petty, and it’s obvious. Same thing with delivery charges. Seems like everyone is falling all over themselves telling us how cheap they are, then they add to the cost with delivery dimes and fuel surcharge nickles. Tell me how much I’m gonna pay to get that material to my door, and make it mine, so I can can make it my customers. Do it all together, for that is indeed what it costs.
And I bet, if you purchase a templating system they will refund the $15.00.
Heh. How much you wanna bet they actually say that?
Dave, don’t you be making me have to search and find that thread, where you met the sloven conditions I set forth. Free drinks, my freind. All. Night. Long. More than anyone else on this forum it is you, sir, yes you who bears responsibility for the foolish act of getting me to the land of SS Expos and well organized supply companies.
My Dad does all our measuring and templates. He would never pay 15 to see the system but he is interested in electronic templating. So sure it weeds out the tire kickers, but you loose people like my Dad that may buy a system.
Now what?
Are they not only showing the system but possibly doing some good training on it as well. Maybe show some tricks that would really make you want to buy it. If I was looking at digital templating it would be worth the money to really see it at work. I use the LT-55 now so I am not looking, love what I got.
Andy how about this for an example. How many times have you had customers come into your showroom with no intentions of buying any thing? Maybe it’s some retired guy that wants a scrap piece of corian to make pens but than he shoots the breeze about the good old days. In the mean time your work is following behind. You have to take the time because when that potential customer came in you didn’t know at the time what his intentions where. If you knew that every one that walked thru your doors where going to buy your product it would make things easier you would spend all the time they needed to make the sale.
I have seen guys at shows waste a vendor’s time. One time there was a guy that already owned the product but just wanted to hang around the booth and chat with the sales people. In the mean time they saw potential customers leave there booth for another. (P.S. Dave that’s going to be a challenge for you. You have too many friends hopefully they let you sell your products)
So if you can find a way to capture an audience why not? Many will travel a little of a distance to check out a product or a machine. That cost more that $15.00
So sure it weeds out the tire kickers, but you loose people like my Dad that may buy a system.
Count me in with your Dad.
John, are you going to Florida? I’d like to talk to you about the LT-55.
Tom
Jon,
Ever had a tire kicker come in and you end up selling them a counter.
Ever had a customer come in for a scrap piece cause he wanted to make Christmas toys…you give him 5 sink cutouts and talk for 10 minutes about his kids you never met? The two years later he buys a counter. You please the crap out of him with a great coutertop and he tell the world?
“PAY IT FORWARD” and you will reap the benefits.
I buy stuff from Dave. If he ever even suggested I pay to see some of the stuff he sells, that would be the last time I buy from him. I personally find it insulting. Are you not confident enough with your product not to make a demonstration pay off?
This doesn’t seem odd?
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