Reef-A-Palooza a big disappointment

[Tropical Joe]

Joe Franke Sorry to say the show was a disappointment. I thought is was going to be much bigger. After paying 20 bucks to enter and sitting in lots of Jersey traffic, many top manufactures were not there. ATM,EcoTech Marine,Hikari,Bulk reef supply etc. plus many others were not there. Mostly just Frag companies. There was really no show specials to save money on products. I can only think MACNA would be much better. I don't like to say negative things about the hobby. I really like this hobby however I need to be truthful for those who are traveling to attend this event.

 

[Tropical Joe]

They keep advertising Reef-a -Palooza New York. It is not New York it is New Jersey. The person who put this together obviously does not live in the area. There is a big difference between New York and New Jersey. 15 bucks for the George Washington Bridge and 8 bucks for the Whitestone Bridge each way. Total of 31 plus 20 to get in. Don't forget over 1 hour of traffic each way. Reef to Reef was giving away prizes in there raffle so a crowed gathered by there table. I like the way they took pictures buy this one table to make this event look great. However, Reef to Reef did do a good job. Fluval was there but they were not even selling filters. I was just surprised that MarineLand, Aqueon,Hikari,Red Sea,Eheim,etc. where not there. Nano Tanks were for sale and lots and lots of Coral Frags. My favorite table was Neptune Systems. They were very polite showing there new tank controller. But again no deals. 800 bucks for there new system and many accessaries you sill have to buy for a extra cost. I am just trying to give you all a description of this event. After all it was a Marine show but I expected a lot more. So to wine this all off --- If you like nano tanks and coral frags this show is for you. I still have to expect the MACNA event on the west coast is much bigger with many more top manufactures there. See you guys at the next one----

 

[Woefulrelic]

Thanks for the heads up, definitely not a good show for strictly freshwater keepers then.

 

[thomeski]

LMAO

Thanks for the heads up, definitely not a good show for strictly freshwater keepers then.

LMAO

 

[Woefulrelic]

LMAO
LMAO

It's like going to a hunting show when you like guns, or vice versa. Just because your interests aren't the targeted audience doesn't mean you can't find things that appeal to you. I could see many of the big brands offering products helpful in both salt and fresh, but it doesn't appear to be that way. Even the apex systems can be highly useful to freshwater systems, but they didn't offer any incentives to purchase at the show. Either way someone spending the time and money to review these things are something I appreciate.

 

[thomeski]

It's like going to a hunting show when you like guns, or vice versa. Just because your interests aren't the targeted audience doesn't mean you can't find things that appeal to you. I could see many of the big brands offering products helpful in both salt and fresh, but it doesn't appear to be that way. Even the apex systems can be highly useful to freshwater systems, but they didn't offer any incentives to purchase at the show. Either way someone spending the time and money to review these things are something I appreciate.

I agree, no offense i just thought your post was funny. That's all. I was about to go myself but just couldn't make it. So far i heard most of a bad stuff about it.

 

[Frank Castle]

I thought the whole point of an Expo was to sell stuff at discounted prices to help other people in the hobby and introduce new people to the hobby? i'm confused. As far as certain companies and vendors not showing up, it generally revolves around whether they think it's going to be worth making the trip in profit or not. A lot of times they want too much for a table/vendor booth and there's not enough traffic to be promising to them

 

[Tropical Joe]

Thats the way I see it. Discounted prices to help new people into the hobby. Instead they draw people in by having a raffle and saying how much merchandise they are giving away. Two good prizes were given away a LED light and a Skimmer. All the rest were small items that most could not even use. So I say again- Between the tolls and admission fees with no deals at the event why go. Its a shame because a event that brings many fish heads together could be cool. K2 had the right idea by having it at a nice hotel. People were selling fish out of there rooms. So you got some deals and there auction was huge. Lots of fish for great prices. But again not many dealers showed up so it was a bomb. In result there was no K3.

 

[Pharaoh]

Thats the way I see it. Discounted prices to help new people into the hobby. Instead they draw people in by having a raffle and saying how much merchandise they are giving away. Two good prizes were given away a LED light and a Skimmer. All the rest were small items that most could not even use. So I say again- Between the tolls and admission fees with no deals at the event why go. Its a shame because a event that brings many fish heads together could be cool. K2 had the right idea by having it at a nice hotel. People were selling fish out of there rooms. So you got some deals and there auction was huge. Lots of fish for great prices. But again not many dealers showed up so it was a bomb. In result there was no K3.

Many of the big name vendors in the aquarium hobby never sell items. Look at Ray Kingfish Lucas; he represented big names, but never sold a thing. They do, however, donate lots of items to the auctions and the raffles. They show up to be a presence and advertise.

That's not why there wasn't another K3. I won't go into the details, but don't make suppositions.

 

[Tropical Joe]

For example-- Fluval was there showing 3 nano tanks. I think it is pretty ridiculous that they did not bring there latest canister filter. They could have demonstrated the FX6 and offered a discount even if they weren't selling it. How do you not show your latest filter ? At least have catalogs,fliers,brochures to show to the public. You and I might know what these products are but maybe not the new person getting in to the hobby. I feel you don't attract a new hobbies by giving then a sample pack of food. Maybe there are other reasons why they did not have K3. However, if the dealers and manufactures don't show up neither will the public. Some people traveled far to attend. They will not just show up for the Taco Truck.