Due to increased competition and the internet, prices on portable trade show displays have fallen 50% and more in the last ten years. While trade mxl tv exhibitors can save a bundle when buying trade show displays today, it is more important than ever to be aware of and avoid the hidden costs associated with buying and using a trade show display. There is no point in paying more than you should or have to, either now or down the road. You can put the savings toward other aspects of promoting your trade show booth, such as pre-show mailers or trade show giveways that are customized with your company name on them. Or you can just put the savings in your pocket. Whatever you do, watch for the hidden costs involved in buying a trade show display and save yourself some money!
Hidden costs show up in three general areas – one upfront and two long term. They are (1) the initial purchase, (2) long term shipping costs, and (3) maintenance and updating costs. Understanding these hidden costs is critical to avoiding them when you purchase your next trade show display.
In the past, your local display dealer had a monopoly on selling trade show displays, and one could see this in the price. If your town only had one dealer, prices would be even higher. But now with the internet and on-line shopping, one can buy trade show displays off the web, often directly from the manufacturer, and bypass the local dealer and his markup. Even better, multiple trade show display companies are selling on the internet, and the resulting competition has driven prices down even more. Trade show display prices have dropped over 50% in the last ten years. Due to the internet, there is now an even wider selection of types of trade show displays to select from. Your local trade show display dealer showroom is still a good place to see the various styles of displays and get ideas, but unless your dealer will negotiate and offer a fair and reasonable price, I suggest purchasing your next trade show display on-line.
Search Google for the the phrase “trade show displays”. You may be surprised at the number of trade show display companies you see (6,170,000 listings at last count, but fortunately not all of them are trade show display companies!). The resulting fierce competition is a good thing for you. Some of the trade show display companies you will find on the internet also offer easy on-line ordering for their displays – no calling a sales person – just point, click, and purchase. When you buy a trade show display on the internet (or locally for that matter), it’s important to determine the true cost of the display. The following are some points to to consider.
CHEAP DISPLAYS – There are some downright cheap displays available, but the sayings “if it sounds too good to be true…” and “you get what you pay for” are just as true today as ever. Cheap displays tend to be low quality imported displays, and should be avoided. Your trade show display is a critical tool for your trade show exhibiting success, and you don’t want to be dealing with a broken or non-functional display at your show. You also don’t want fraying or wobbling display in the background of your trade show booth creating the image of your company (first impressions do matter!). Don’t buy cheap displays!
OVERPRICED DISPLAYS – There are also some companies out there selling the exact same specifications and quality of trade show displays for more than others. The great thing about the internet is that you can determine the display you want to get, check the specifications and features, and then comparison shop to find the best price.
PRODUCT QUALITY – You need to make sure that you are getting a trade show display that will get the job done. You need a display that will set you apart at the trade show, insuring more booth traffic and more business for your company. You also want a display that will be reliable. Several trade show display companies now offer lifetime warranties on their display frames.
COMPANY RELIABLITY – It’s important to buy from a reliable trade show display company that can back up their product. Many companies now post customer testimonials and reviews on their website, which are a must-read to judge the company. Many companies also offer toll-free 800 numbers, indicating that you’ll be able to get in touch with them if you have a problem. You will probably want to update your display down the road, and you’ll certainly want a reliable company if you need to get your trade show display fixed, so be sure to select a trade show display company that provides excellent customer service (again, read their customer testimonials).
ORDER SHIPPING – One of the biggest hidden costs when buying on-line can be “shipping and handling”. Some internet companies are notorious for gouging on shipping costs. You think you’re getting a good deal until you check out and see the “Shipping and Handling” charge. Yikes! Some companies won’t even show you the shipping cost until you’ve set up an account with them and given them your personal information. Fortunately, a few on-line companies selling trade show displays today take the hidden cost of shipping your order completely out of the equation. They provide free ground shipping. It’s hard to hide any cost when it’s free. Because of this, if all the other considerations are basically equal, one should go with the company that offers free shipping.
