Hey Everyone,

Today was the opening of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Trappers Convention 2024. For a late Friday morning I was pleased to see so many people already there -- and on a workday none-the-less. From walking through the gate, one could already tell the event was well organized. Although this was not my first UP Convention, this one seemed the biggest I had attended.

I married a girl from Denmark years ago and one of my grown stepsons moved to the states a few years back. Last year I introduced him to the trapline, and he loved it. He accompanied me to the convention today and was immediately taken by a few of the demonstrations going on there. We agreed to meet back up while I strolled around. See I had a few things I wanted to accomplish at the convention today. Purchasing the young man a few dozen traps of his own for the upcoming season was on the list.

This brings me to my observation. Years ago, whether it be a computer show; gun show; or trapping convention, people always looked forward to some of the convention deals to be had. Now there aren't too many computer shows around anymore and I took to my last gun show last year when I finally realized that the "deals" of the past were indeed in the past. This year's trapping convention was the first I've been to in a decade. I was left scratching my head today when looking at some of the convention prices. I know some of you will say inflation; the cost of travel for some of the vendors; etc. is what's driving those prices. I would not argue with you. However, when I'm looking at new coyote traps and seeing that they are $3.00 more expensive (per trap) than I can get online -- I'm simply buying them online. I will not promote, nor will I criticize any vendor on this forum, but I get a pretty good deal on shipping from the vendor I use online (depending on how many you purchase of course). Personally, I will continue to attend as I enjoy supporting the associations and the comradery you typically find there -- I doubt, if today was any indication, I will ever purchase anything from the vendors there again.

I'm wondering if others are seeing this trend at other conventions.


Cheers,

Robert

by the time you add shipping and taxes its probably about a wash if you bought them online.

The big online dealers are some of the same people selling at the shows. If I’m in the market for new traps I line up the sale prior to convention. I find convention prices more reasonable overall.

With the $9.95 flat rate shipping on 2 dozen traps I ended up saving almost $49 overall on just the traps.

Although this guy wasn't at this convention maybe the trick is lining up the sale beforehand like roztocki stated.

Interesting...

Robert

how do you get get 2 dozen traps in a sub 10 dollar flat rate box without "some assembly required?
hmm I thought you were talking about a vendors price at convention vs their online price.

No no, was talking general terms. I order from this well known vendor online few times a year. $9.95 flat rate after you spend x amount is what he normally charges. I was just comparing prices on his site to the convention prices I saw today is all.

$12.59 each through the online vendor x 24 plus $9.95 flat rate shipping vs. $14.99 each today at convention. $47.65 savings ordering online delivered to my door.

In any case, wasn't attempting to make a big issue out of it was just wondering if it was a one off thing at this convention or a trend of some sort. The old days of "wait and get it at the convention" deals seem to be gone.

Robert

What trap did you buy? that was 3.00 more at the convention?

If you're ordering from where I am now thinking your ordering, just look at the rest of the prices for the traps on that site that arent on sale and compare them to your convention prices.
Great that that vendor can get sales doing the "loss leader" thing, but blackballing other dealers because they dont want to discount 20-30% percent and eat the shipping costs is a bit much.

I buy about all the stuff I need at our state convention, and plenty that I don't really need. The main reason being most of the vendors I consider friends and I want to support them.

I haven't blackballed any dealer. The original topic of this thread was about discussing convention prices and the fact that it does not appear on the surface that the "deals" one used to find at the conventions appear to no longer exist.

Now a google search of this same trap results in many vendors selling it for less than $14.99 each. Of course, many of them offer discounts if you purchase more than X amount worth (OR) if you purchase six/twelve or more. Following your rationale, they would be utilizing a loss leader? My friend, in this day's economy everyone is going to look for a deal. I could care less if a vendor is using a "loss leader thing" or not. I saved nearly $50 (and could have through a variety of vendors online) -- that's what I care about. After all, everyone takes up trapping to get rich, correct?

Assuming an online vendor is utilizing "loss leaders" and eating shipping costs to drive sales? Just because a vendor is able to put a product on sale from time to time does not mean that they are taking a loss on the product. Most of the time they are just temporarily reducing the profit margin on said product to entice customers to shop there.

Said vendor does charge for shipping, assuming he eats all shipping costs -- possibly flawed.

Thank you for your input though, sniperbbb. Moving on...

Robert

Consider this.

When a vendor goes to a convention they have multiple expenses to pay. They go to conventions for the camaraderie also but they have to do set up and break down.

Think about how heavy that truck and/or trailer are that crate those trapping supplies from place to place. Gas mileage decreases with weight. Add in wear and tear.

The vendor has to buy a hotel room and pay for the vendor slot for multiple days. They also have to pay the employees not to mention donating things for the kids and the end of show auctions and raffles.

Then they have to pay the taxes on what they sell.

All of these things are higher than "the good ole days". Everything costs more.

If you want to keep shows going, my advice is to purchase traps at the show as a sign of support of the business/sport you love. I always buy something and bid a stupid price on something at the auction. I watched one guy bid $100 on a t shirt.

Remember, trappers are an extreme minority in the outdoorsman world. We need money to fight the antis. If trapping gets banned in your state, it won't matter how much money you saved on those traps online. Then you will wonder if you should have contributed more.

I love trapping and it sucks giving more money out to yet another more expensive endeavor. But if we as trappers don't help ourselves, we will be the first ones on the chopping block.

Well said bowhunter -- thank you. Very good points.

Robert

I’ve only been to Minnesotas 2 years ago and Escanaba last year. There’s so much stuff it’s hard to catch everything, but I load up like crazy cuz the prices are hard to beat. I keep a list of stuff I want with a price from a dealer beside it for comparison. Cutting out the shipping saves a lot. I think there’s a dealer in Quebec that ships free if over $100 for Canadian orders. We’ll find out more in a couple weeks!

When I go its mostly to hang out with like minded people. a vacation. If I can't make what I feel is a deal that benefits me I bring my money home.

You obviously do care that someone is taking a loss because you said you wouldnt buy from any vendor at the convention selling traps. I have never seen anyone at convention selling a product at a price point higher than what they have offered online. They'd get hammered online.

Discount for bulk purchases isnt being a loss leader. Sending stuff from alabama to michigan should probably cost at least triple what they are charging is being a loss leader.

National conventions you do see more deals than at state conventions because theres so much competition

Shakeyjake, our Mn Trappers Convention is in Little Falls, Mn this year Aug 1,2,3. Come on down and enjoy another good time.
Gary J

I absolutely would but I’m on call that weekend. My shift starts right after Sioux Falls. When the other big conventions are too far away, it sure is nice with Minnesota only an hour away. And it’s close enough that when the wife gets tiered of walking around she goes garage sailing and checks out the pawnshops. She feels “safer” being in a familiar state. Last year we stayed one night in Duluth. She didn’t enjoy that evening and stayed in the room…lol

Everyone has the right to buy or not. If it is too high go else where. But at the same time as a vendor. You don’t stay in business selling at a loss or breaking even.

Every vendor welcomes a customer. You can always haggle over prices. Especially buying quantity. 2 dozen traps especially high dollar traps. There is wiggle room.
The worse any one could say is no!

Great to hear a lot of attendance at the convention. Good Luck!!!!! Find your deal!!!!!

If dealers don't sell products or make money at conventions, pretty soon they won't show up. From there, if the same thing happens to multiple dealers, then it's all downhill until nobody shows up.

A few of the many benefits of conventions are being among like-minded people and attending demonstrations, as well as getting to handle and look at products. That's something that can't be done via a catalog. 

Did you have any expenses to get to the convention, i.e., fuel, food, and (if charged) admission costs? The dealers have those expenses, plus many others.

Vendors are a big part of trapping convention both large and small. And many of those vendors are not just there to make retail sales. There is a lot of wholesale business among vendors in the trapping trade. For example, just look at all of the various vendors that carry Paul Dobbins products or vendors that sell Duke or MB or other brand traps. A lot of this wholesale inventory changes hands at convention because both parties are there and shipping is expensive.

Sure, vendors want to make retail sales as well but there is more to it than just the retail sales. A vendor that travels several hundred miles to a typical state convention is probably not covering his expenses with retail sales. But if he is selling or picking up wholesale inventory and expanding his customer base by exposing his products to new customers, he may still be coming out ahead of the game in the long run.

Pricing I have observed at conventions is typically equal to or lower than online pricing and that does not even consider the saving of the shipping charges. And any vendor that is shipping 2 dozen traps (anything bigger than a mouse trap) for a flat rate of less than $10 is eating into his profit margin with cheap shipping.

Support the vendors that support your conventions so they can continue to be there. Pre order from them and pick up at the convention and save the shipping. Especially bulky items like cage traps or things that the vendor might not bring otherwise due to size or weight.

We had a vendor at our state convention about 10 years ago that had more pre orders than he could haul in his large convention trailer with his typical convention inventory. He had several pallets of goods shipped to the convention grounds by common carrier. Happy vendor, happy trappers!