Linux World / Network World 2006

[Christopher Browne]

On 10/22/05, James Knott <james.knott-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> John Macdonald wrote:
>
> > Will there be computers for sale on the floor?  That would tie
> > in well with an installfest - especially if people could check
> > in advance to ensure that the hardware was compatible.
>
> Those shows tend not to have anything for sale, beyond food & drink.
> Even books tend to be sold off the show floor.

It's expensive to bring in inventory, particularly if there's any need
to restock.  Furthermore, credit card validation will require phone
lines, adding to the costs.

And there's certainly not enough overhead on PCs these days to make it
sensible to hold inventory on site.

Furthermore, if someone *were* to buy product, they are then left with
the challenge of carrying it around and then getting it shipped out of
the conference centre.  Traffic's already bad enough...

I'd not be surprised if there were a problem with zoning and/or
taxation in that the area would have to have appropriate retailing
licenses.

The vendors that come in aren't generally store front retailers,
anyways.  Whether it's IBM, HP, or APC, sales tend to involve meetings
with sales reps.
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