Yes and then the punter will go home and buy from a bedroom dealer or from USA to save a few quid.
That is not my point Ben, and that is why I said retailers should be limited.
If a manufacturer is at the game fair, and someone buys a rod direct from them, they make a profit.
If that person buys from a retailer at the game fair, the manufacturer will still have made money as the retailer whould have bought stock from them.
If that person buys from the internet/US, the manufacturer still makes money as again, the stockist must have bought from the manufacturer.
If the manufacturer was not at the game fair and someone wanted to try a rod, but saw a rivals rod elsewhere, the manufacturer as lost out totally.
If I were parting with £500, I would rather visit the manufacturer and have a play with a rod and speak to the designers/makers rather than buy unseen from an online dealer.
Local retailers are not a viable option in many cases. You do not sell Hardy, Somers does not sell Orvis, Bains does not sell either..so how do I compare them?
I find it interesting that you say Orvis does not think it profitable. I would never have bought an Access or a Helios without trying. I may not have bought at the gamefair, but I did buy eventually. I know others have not spent their money until they have tried a rod from a manufacturer, so is it not a little short sighted to say that because the manufacturer did not make the sale at the Gamefair, then its not profitable?
Just a thought
