URGENT-Pasadena Knife Expo....

There did seem to be less energy in the room. But that's also because I was low on cash. Every year before the show I start researching knives. When I start too early I end up buying something before the show. This yeas was a small Sebenza 21 with Devin Thomas Damascus and ebony inlays. I only had $200 to play with today.

Maybe I'll learn next year.
 
IamMatt said:
There is an update on the backpack issue here.
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I explained to the lady inspecting bags that I wanted the ability to trade with DEALERS WHO HAD TABLES and she still wouldn't let me bring my bag in. What have you done to address that issue, Matt?

As I read the rules of the show, they are arbitrary and "Show Management decisions are final"....I wish you luck in putting on your show, I'll save on gas and frustration and stay home that weekend, maybe buy a new knife on the internet or something.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Steven, it seems that every year there is a knife show somewhere that
issues these absurd regulations.

I wonder, do such people issue the same limitations at their next year's show?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
Kohai999 said:
3. "Someone had some knives stolen off his table, and we want to prevent that"
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At the Carthage gun show a couple of weeks back I was leaving with my just purchased Ruger Charger. The woman at a table near the door called out and said, "Sir, I need to see your dot!" I had no idea what she was talking about or to whom she was talking so I kept walking. She yelled again and my wife and daughter stopped me and said, "I think she is talking to you." I went back to the table and woman gave a stern, "Dot?!" I said, "What?" She said, "Your dot. Your orange dot. IF you paid for that gun, there should be an orange dot on the case." I had to idea there was an orange dot rule in place but as I turned the case around, sure enough there was an orange dot on the case. She saw it and said, "Ok, never mind." I said, "Never mind what? You practically accused me of stealing!" She said, "No, it's ok. Go ahead." I said, "It's NOT ok! If I were going to steal a gun, I wouldn't carry it out where you can see it. I would have stuck it down my pants! You want to check in there too?" My wife dragged me out at that point.

Not meant to hijack, I just hate BS rules like that.
 
the4th said:
...... I said, "Never mind what? You practically accused me of stealing!" She said, "No, it's ok. Go ahead." I said, "It's NOT ok! If I were going to steal a gun, I wouldn't carry it out where you can see it. I would have stuck it down my pants! You want to check in there too?" My wife dragged me out at that point.

Not meant to hijack, I just hate BS rules like that.
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No hijack, a funny story about an unfunny issue. 98%+ of the people who attend knife and gun shows are good people paying hard earned money to look at same and maybe purchase. You PURCHASED a gun at the show, that makes you a patron or a customer, not a criminal. Time for show management personnel to learn the difference and use the Golden Rule.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I bought a few items at Bass Pro Shop a few days ago. The nice lady put everything in a bag, then wrapped their logoed tape around the handle so that the bag was closed. She also put a sticker on the soft drink I purchased. Lowes, Home Depot, and a myriad of other retailers do similar. The local grocery store puts stickers on anything not bagged. And all of this occurs within a few feet of the exit. It's called "loss prevention."

Now you are carrying an expensive piece of merchandise from some booth hidden within the bowels of a gun show, well outside of where anyone monitoring the door can witness your purchase, and you are bent out because she wanted to see proof you bought it? She may have exercised poor tact, but she didn't call you a thief. But, if you could not produce a dot she probably would have requested to see a receipt you had crammed down into a pocket. It is easier for you to show a dot on the item. It keeps the exit clear if she doesn't have to stop everyone to check receipts. So the dot policy is better for everyone. Of course, if you couldn't produce a receipt you would probably get to meet the security detail...

Then again, whining generally is the path of least (personal) resistance.
 
hlee said:
Then again, whining generally is the path of least (personal) resistance.
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Well, since this thread is about the Pasadena, California show, I'll whine about the "unpleasant experience" of attending it and never go again.
 
hlee said:
I bought a few items at Bass Pro Shop a few days ago. The nice lady put everything in a bag, then wrapped their logoed tape around the handle so that the bag was closed. She also put a sticker on the soft drink I purchased. Lowes, Home Depot, and a myriad of other retailers do similar. The local grocery store puts stickers on anything not bagged. And all of this occurs within a few feet of the exit. It's called "loss prevention."

Now you are carrying an expensive piece of merchandise from some booth hidden within the bowels of a gun show, well outside of where anyone monitoring the door can witness your purchase, and you are bent out because she wanted to see proof you bought it? She may have exercised poor tact, but she didn't call you a thief. But, if you could not produce a dot she probably would have requested to see a receipt you had crammed down into a pocket. It is easier for you to show a dot on the item. It keeps the exit clear if she doesn't have to stop everyone to check receipts. So the dot policy is better for everyone. Of course, if you couldn't produce a receipt you would probably get to meet the security detail...

Then again, whining generally is the path of least (personal) resistance.
Click to expand...

When I was on the police reserves, I did LP at a major retailer for 2 years. You can't "just stop" someone and ask for a receipt. I had to watch them take the merchandise, watch them conceal it, never lose track of them, and wait until they exited the store. I had a lower "catch" rate than other LPAs, but a higher prosecution rate, and I never, NEVER had a "bad stop" that resulted in my firing or a lawsuit against the company.

The older I get, the less tolerance I have for erosion of liberties. Stopping me to ask for a receipt or demanding to check my bags is a de facto accusation and in some jurisdictions it is unlawful detainment. Club stores can get away with it because you agree to it in your membership.

I do far more than whine about it. I refuse to show my receipt at Fry's, Best Buy, and wherever else I'm asked unless it's part of a membership agreement and I write letters to corporate offices letting them know that there are other retailers I will visit. Does it help? It hasn't yet but I imagine if enough people join in, things will change. Just like our current political issues, one person's voice doesn't count for much. However, the combined weight of the voices, votes, and money being turned elsewhere tends to get people's attention. I like to think that is what it happening here. A group of people is letting those in charge of a knife show know that they are uncomfortable enough with a set of "rules" to just go elsewhere and not be subjected to them.

I would love to go on, but this would need to be moved to the political forum.

To keep this on topic - I AM NEVER GOING IF THEY KEEP UP THESE PRACTICES! ;)
 
betzner said:
Well, since this thread is about the Pasadena, California show, I'll whine about the "unpleasant experience" of attending it and never go again.
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Lol! Bob, if your sig line weren't already so perfect, that would be a pretty good candidate! Sorry guys, just had to throw that out there...
 
I would ask that post #30 please be removed and that any and all political discussion occur somewhere outside of this forum.
This is not the place for discussions of this nature.
 
Lorien said:
I would ask that post #30 please be removed and that any and all political discussion occur somewhere outside of this forum.
This is not the place for discussions of this nature.
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Go back and read post #10...especially point #3

In STeven's words...

I'll let you all discuss those reasons, my feelings on the issue are already apparent.
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Good Stuff- Thanks for keeping me informed.

Obviously a consideration since I hope to get to a Show soon.
 
Lorien said:
I would ask that post #30 please be removed and that any and all political discussion occur somewhere outside of this forum.
This is not the place for discussions of this nature.
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I agree. This topic discussed is knife-show specific, not of a broad political environment..
David
 
It's pretty sad to hear that so many people will be discouraged from going to this show due to this thread. I was an exhibitor last year and will be again this year. The complaints that were brought up were not the fault of the exhibitors but we are the ones who will suffer when people talk negatively about the show. Anyway I think the issues have been resolved pretty reasonably for this year.
 
Exactly. I've always been impressed with the quality of the knives I've seen at the Pasadena Knife Expo. And come on, guys. What else have we got in Southern California? If knifemakers like Ray and D'Holder are going to exhibit there, I'm damn well going to be there.
 
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I understand the need to prevent brown bagging, and to make sure that folks do not steal knives. But if I cannot bring a small briefcase or travel bag into the show with me (they can inspect it of they want to assure themselves that there are no knives inside), and if the show management does not provide me with any secure place to check my bag, then I will probably not be attending that show.
 
The Virginian said:
I understand the need to prevent brown bagging, and to make sure that folks do not steal knives. But if I cannot bring a small briefcase or travel bag into the show with me (they can inspect it of they want to assure themselves that there are no knives inside), and if the show management does not provide me with any secure place to check my bag, then I will probably not be attending that show.
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But you CAN bring small bags to the show.
 
Kohai999 said:
If you bring a bag, shopping bag, backpack, rolling suitcase, you will be denied admission until you dump it, either in your car or a friends car.....it cannot go into the show.

Either don't go to the show or don't bring a bag......the show sucked....worst show in my 25 years, sorry for the delay, hope this saves someone the effort.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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raylaconico said:
But you CAN bring small bags to the show.
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These two posts do not jibe to my small brain.
 
raylaconico said:
It's pretty sad to hear that so many people will be discouraged from going to this show due to this thread. I was an exhibitor last year and will be again this year. The complaints that were brought up were not the fault of the exhibitors but we are the ones who will suffer when people talk negatively about the show. Anyway I think the issues have been resolved pretty reasonably for this year.
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Ray,

Matt Cook kicked this back up to the top, it wasn't me that did......when show management(volunteers or not) don't do a great job executing advertising, organization, and operations, you can be damned sure that the exhibitors are the people who suffer. Going to the Pasadena show takes a full day of my time, an $80.00 tank of gas, food expenses and a number of other intangibles, and even a slight repeat of the inhospitable environment created last year is simply not worth it at this point in life. I've been going to knife shows for possibly longer than you have been alive and know what a good knife show is and what a bad knife show is.....Pasadena sucked eggs last year....good luck this year!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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