No GRE at Stone Mountain hamfest 2012

[lep]

In 2011 GRE scanners had a factory display, staffed with several representatives including W6GRE an amatuer who seemed 'in charge' of the booth and the large PC displaying some local Fire services from the area. He also answered Questions and provided "coupons" to purchase GRE products from the HRO store at a reduced price. They had several models in stock for sale and immediate delivery.

Last weekend, at the annual show in Lawrenceville there was NO sign of GRE and/or their companion companies.

Kenwood, MFJ, HRO, the Wireman, WB0W and many usual exhibitors were present but there was nothing from GRE at all. Doesn't seem like a positive sign.

LEP

 

[gmclam]

G r e

You would think that if their only problem was a "manufacturing glitch" that they would indeed be in full force at such a show.

 

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

well, a "manufacturing issue" indicating that your revenues are going to be, at best, stagnant until one can get manufacturing ramped up again, would be a motivator for ME to limit company spending for a while.

Anyone working for a medium to large company knows that the LOWEST hanging fruit is travel expenditures. Easiest thing to cut, control and measure.

Assuming that their (GRE's) press release is true, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, it doesn't shock me that they may not show up for venues such as that for a while or--- until things are back on track.

At the end of the day, I think someone would have a very difficult time convincing me that these things have a HUGE impact on sales of a well established product line. A "new to market" product --- different story. That crosses the line between advertising and new product introduction.

It's more advertising for them right now --- another controllable expense that looks more like a luxury when things are uncertain and the company is in flux.

Just my $0.05

 

[MTS2000des]

Larry, I've been a ham as long as you have, and I remember back in the late 1980's and early 1990s, EVERY ham gear manufacturer had booths at every major hamfest. I remember going to the Lawrenceville show in 1991 and Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, and even Alinco were all there with factory reps like they only do at Dayton nowadays.

Everyone has cut back. I'm not surprised about GRE not being there. But no less than the lack of presence by Icom and Yaesu not showing up either. Kenwood's presence is no doubt due to their US Communications HQ being only about 10 miles away.

Ahhh...the golden years of VHF/UHF ham radio and scanning, the 1980s. Glad I was alive to be a part of it, only wish I was about 10 years older with a paycheck to have enjoyed it. I envy those of you who did.

 

[lep]

Larry, I've been a ham as long as you have, and I remember back in the late 1980's and early 1990s
.

Really?. In the 1970s I was already a QCWA member and held an EXTRA license when the requirement still included 25 wpm cw testing.

I started in radio in high school and I am now Old!

 

[aggie72]

The GRE website shows their plans to be at the Orlando Ham Fest in Feb 2013 and the Las Vegas Expo in Mar 2013 so maybe it's not that bad!

 

[KD2DLL]

The GRE website shows their plans to be at the Orlando Ham Fest in Feb 2013 and the Las Vegas Expo in Mar 2013 so maybe it's not that bad!

Hopefully it isn't that bad but that could change when times come closer, you know what I mean? That could have been published before everything started to happen. Hopefully they will be at both, but its always subject to change, just like anything else.

 

[MTS2000des]

Really?. In the 1970s I was already a QCWA member and held an EXTRA license when the requirement still included 25 wpm cw testing.

I started in radio in high school and I am now Old!

This was actually directed at N8IAA, I got my novice when Ronny Raygun was serving term two in office (January 1986). Didn't actually RECEIVE my novice until July of 1986. SIX MONTHS! And to think some people complain they take their test and have to wait a three whole days before their license shows up on the ULS. Back in those days, there was no ULS.

 

[N8IAA]

This was actually directed at N8IAA, I got my novice when Ronny Raygun was serving term two in office (January 1986). Didn't actually RECEIVE my novice until July of 1986. SIX MONTHS! And to think some people complain they take their test and have to wait a three whole days before their license shows up on the ULS. Back in those days, there was no ULS.

Must be because you were too far south Took my novice test in May, 1985. Upgraded to Tech/General in Jan, 1986. Had my novice ticket before field day, 1985.
Larry

 

[thedogfood]

AMRC has known since last year that Icom and Yaesu would not be there this year. Budget cutbacks for travel and tradeshows were what I heard, and their products are represented well by other dealers. They can afford to cut back.

Even if everything was going great for GRE America, I could expect them to say the same things. Everybody is cutting back. The Yen-Dollar ratio does not help sell radios right now.