Agree with your commentary Rob.
Another issue to contend with for many dealers is the actual cost of the show itself. Depending on who the dealer is, they may have to pay travel, hourly wages, meals, hotels etc and this gets expensive. Add in shipping costs for display or product plus the actual table fees or trade show fees and it becomes understandable.
Not sure what the MVPA charges dealers to set up as I have never looked into it but many larger industry shows are very expensive, dealers need to contemplate where the best bang for the buck is.
I know of a local truck show here in Ontario that has gone from a high of 2000 displayed vehicles to less than 400 in the past 10 years. The same goes for the dealers and vendors, I am talking big names here who cetainly have the money (Shell, Valvolene, Western star etc etc) The complaint at this particular show is that the venue organizers have gotten greedy and priced their sponsors right out. Sponsors make a show and bring in people so this is backwards thinking in my mind.
