Decided to go to the Into craft show in Brisbane yesterday. Was so disappointed. First off looked up the entrance price before leaving home them find it is $2 dearer to pay at the door.

What a shame. It is the same over here in the west although i do usually find the big one in june july cost a fortune to get in and park but there are lots of workshops. There have been fewer amd fewer vendors each year but as the stalls are around $5000 ish for the week i can understand. They need to cover all their costs to make it worthwhile. The year before last my dd and i were allowed to test out a $20000 bernina. That was a blast and they kept boasting how my dd was the youngest at 16 to be allowed try it out. Would have loved to bring that one home!

2 comments

by babash 24 Mar 2017

I think by squashing the stalls in a lot would have missed out on sales as you couldn't even wait your turn as you were blocking people from walking past.
The catering people were the ones making the money and had lots of space.
I was hoping to find vendors I didn't know about selling lines we just don't see here.
I asked at the Janome stall about the large hoop for the 500E did they have any to sell? Was told they come with the machine. When I said yes I know but would like a second one was told go to a shop and buy one.

by sewist1 24 Mar 2017

That is the silly part you would expect the machine companies to have some accessories for sale but they don't.
We don't have any decent dealers down where I live so it would be good to be able to buy extras at the shows.

I don't know if this show ,is put on by the same people who run The Rosehill Craft show in NSW that was on a few weeks ago or not.I didn't go ,but I was sent the program & what really annoyed me,was if you purchased your tickets early & paid by credit card there was a small charge.There has never been a charge for this before & they did not mention how much the charge was,anywhere in the program.

2 comments

by babash 24 Mar 2017

I am thinking most of these shows are run by the same people.

by marianb 24 Mar 2017

The Rosehill show has become a joke it is nothing like it use to be, a shame really. As babash said the food vendors are the winners not the stall holders and certainly not us.

Glad you posted this Barb now I don't feel I am missing out on anything. I haven't been to this one for years but was tempted by the blurb about it being bigger and better.
Last time I went it only took up about half the hall so we were out of there in a very short time.
The booklet which comes in the mail had the prices . Online bookings are listed $2 cheaper but with a booking fee of $1 plus a credit card fee of 1% of the ticket price. Smoke and mirrors!

2 comments

by babash 24 Mar 2017

I am still getting Emails telling me it is on and I can book online or buy ticket at the door but no mention of price.
Cost $17 for a Pension ticket at door.

by sewist1 24 Mar 2017

Yes and the one about free transport tomorrow because of the women's football final.

Hello babash, A couple of years ago I decided I would go to this Fair, I was disappointed too, my story is the same as yours. I only go to the October Stitches & Craft show now and purchase tickets online before I go. I joined the newsletter signup and close to the time you receive offers, updates x ticket prices. Janette

1 comment

by babash 24 Mar 2017

I may think about the October one haven't been to any for a few years now so it was going to be a treat.
Caught the train and took hubby out for the day even though he just sat while I looked. To top it off air con on train didn't work on the way home.

You sound as disappointed as I was when I went over to Melbourne from Tassie year before last. At least you had chairs and tables to sit at. there was no where to sit and relax at the Melbourne one, only outside where it was so windy and the music was so loud it was so annoying. Every open doorway in the hall you could hear the loud music blasting in. I was so disappointed as I had made a special trip to go. This year there was one in our Capital city Hobart which is about a 3 1/2 hour drive each way. I declined to go after the Melbourne experience. Yes you expect to be able to buy things you can't get online. Hugs

1 comment

by babash 24 Mar 2017

I figure with the $17 entrance fee it would have covered some freight cost.
Glad I didn't have to travel as far as you did for a bad day out.

Sorry to hear this. Last week I went to what is called Sewing for Pleasure in the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. It is always cheaper to buy tickets in advance. I had a good day out, sadly Spendlove didn't go but as its good to meet for a natter. I had gone with a friend and she bought loads. When we left we got onto a empty train and it took us back home. Three hours later my friend did have to change to the front of the train to find that her friends had been squashed all the way. The last show I went to was a bit like your sad experience. Maybe the machine brands weren't there as they hadn't been asked. Better luck next time

2 comments

by sewmadau 24 Mar 2017

I use to go to the Craft and Stitches show here in Perth but since they combined Wood Show the space for us ladies is now less than half the space. Like your experience it is cramped and little or no sitting room other than outside in the wet. Well it was raining the day I went. The only good thing about this show now is the parking there is lots of it and it use to be free but seeing how I have not been for ages one may have to pay. Also we get very few people from the East which is a shame.

sewmadau

by babash 24 Mar 2017

Not much is free these days bet the parking isn't anymore.
I wouldn't mind if there Wood being shown as well as long as heaps to see and room to move. With Hubby using a walking stick it was safer to park him at a table than see him fall.