Manassas, Va Hamfest June 8th, 2008

[KI4POT]

The Manassas Hamfest is presented by the Ole Virginia Hams Amateur Radio Club, Inc. Note that the Hamfest is "Now the Second Sunday in June". The date was changed to accomodate more vendors to attend, making it a better Hamfest experience for all.

http://www.w4ovh.net/hamfest.htm provides complete information about the Hamfest; dates and times, location and maps, local hotel/motel information, and general information for vendors and visitors. If additional information is needed contact Chris Allen, KI4POT@gmail.com

Thanks,
Chris
KI4POT

[KI4POT]

BTTT

Spaces are filling up quickly. This is shaping up to be a fantastic even this year.

Chris

[KI4POT]

BTTT, One more week to go...

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at KI4POT@gmail.com

See you guys there!

Chris

[KJ4CNN]

I went to the fest with $400 in cash in my wallet and my credit card ready for some serious swiping. I spent $19!

If any vendors are reading this, please take note ... it might help your sales if you kept your comments about "cheap" buyers down to a mild roar. I walked away from one table when I heard the proprietor badmouth buyers to another vendor in the most unkind words. It didn't look like he gave a damn that I was in earshout. This guy did not want my money so I didn't spend it with him.

Also, if you want to sell your wares, clean them up for Christ's sakes, especially if you're asking good money for them. If I root around a box of dusty stuff then I'm looking for bargains.

And where were the commercial dealers (other than the two or three that looked professional)? I expected the tailgaiters to try to sell their unused junk, but on the inside, I thought there would be more commercial dealers. I was ready to buy a new hf radio but all I saw was old, old crap (sorry old timers ... no disrespect for the vintage stuff, but really ...)

If attendees were into serious homebrewing with vintage parts, then this might have been the correct venue, but for a relatively new ham like me who was looking to spend bucks on a radio and on ancillary equipment, this was a big disappointment.

One dealer with whom I spoke told me that he was going to pack his stuff up, leave it on his pickup truck and unload it again next week in Fredericksburg.

Before I end my rant, I do want to thank the vendors with whom I did spend my few bucks. You had the connectors, the torroids and the cabling that I wanted. I didn't get a new radio today, but the other items on my shopping list were filled at a local Radio Shack. I would have preferred spending my money with ham people.

Finally, at 58 years of age, I think I might have been one of the youngest folks around when I was there. I didn't see anything to entice our young people to attend. Again, no disrespect to my elders but I thought that we'd at least try to get the younger crowd there.

73

Ray, KJ4CNN

[KI4POT]

Finally, at 58 years of age, I think I might have been one of the youngest folks around when I was there. I didn't see anything to entice our young people to attend. Again, no disrespect to my elders but I thought that we'd at least try to get the younger crowd there.

No, you're my dad's age. ;) I'm only 35.

Attracting younger folks to our hamfest is something I've been thinking about. I don't yet know how, but it's part of my long-term plans.

FWIW, a guy in our club had his son take the exam and pass. He's 16 I believe and doesn't fit the "stereotypical ham profile".

I also want to find a way to entice more radio vendors. KJI was there and had radios, but they put all the boxed radios well behind their tables and had lots of Heil and MFJ gear and boooks up front.

I saw your comments on eham and will be taking action on them in the future. I also talked to some other vendors (inside and out) and came away with a lot of good ideas for next year's event. Will I be able to implement them all? Who knows, but I'm hoping to make some positive changes.

Chris