WHY CHARGE KIDS INTO ANTIQUE FAIRS?

bookerboy

Myself and my ten year old paid a visit to the Antiques fair in the Glenview Hotel,Wicklow today.
I was pretty sure these fairs advertise Adults €3.50 kids free.
The lady at the door asked for €3.50 for my ten year old.
When i challanged her about this she admitted that kids are admission free"providing that they are under five years old"
We diden't go in and instead had a great walk up the Sugar Loaf(free of charge)
My question to you is.....Should kids have to pay into an event that they really don't want to go to in the first place?
Will this practice of charging kids affect the Traders business as Parents may tend not to go ?

Judgement Day

The Glenview Fair was slightly unusual in that it was run to raise funds for a local charity, Bray Lakers http://www.braylakers.ie/ , but in general I would agree with you. Most Antiques Fair don't charge for accompanied children. It's hard enough for parents to enjoy a visit to an Antiques Fair with bored children in tow without being out of pocket too.

dmcronin

In case they break stuff?

Gun_money

Charging kids is just down right wrong. These kids going to the fair either by choice or not are the next generation of collectors. It is more important that they are encouraged to have a hobby now than trying to make €3.50 off them.:mad:

bookerboy

I have to agree with you Gun_Money.We were really knocked back by the attitude from the cashier. ie "Yeah kids are free,but they have to be under five years of age"
This approach will affect traders business and increase profits for the Organisers.
As i said earlier,we discovered the Sugar Loaf and had the best afternoon ever.
Mabey we should ask the question When is a kid a kid ?

Fighting Irish

bookerboy wrote: »

I have to agree with you Gun_Money.We were really knocked back by the attitude from the cashier. ie "Yeah kids are free,but they have to be under five years of age"
This approach will affect traders business and increase profits for the Organisers.
As i said earlier,we discovered the Sugar Loaf and had the best afternoon ever.
Mabey we should ask the question When is a kid a kid ?

so what should the age limit be?

Anthony O Brien

I can see the point in charging kids
The majority grab and pull at the stock, upsetting the stands and start making noise when they get bored which is usually very quickly
An antiques fair is really not a place for kids and most traders would be happy to do without the business in exchange for doing without the hassle of a bored kid trying to have fun around alot of easily broken stock

The majority of stall holders think that anyone coming in with a child is only going in there to pass the day and from my own experiance very few parents spend decent money when they have their kids with them as they cant stop to look at a thing without the kid distracting them

There are some very well behaved children that you do see at antiques fairs, but they are few and far between

Another fair point to make is that with very few items prices at under €50 and even fewer priced at under €20 if a parent is going in the door to buy something for the average price of say €100 or €150 I dont think the admission for their child is going to bother them

Greaney

It was advertised as 'children free, adults €3.50' no? well I'm sorry but a ten year old is not an adult!! That should be 16.... or at the very least 12.  Other than that it was false advertising.

I hold charity events (car boot sales etc.), and in truth, if you don't get the buyers (for your sellers) your event won't make it past year 1!! So, If you're charging for sellers, for crying out loud, give them their moneis worth and don't charge the buyers entrance fee (or parking!!):(

Anthony O Brien

There is a big difference between running a car boot sale and running an antiques fair in terms of viability

With the high costs of the hotel room, advertising etc unless there are a large number of sellers attending you could not organise a fair and not charge the public admission if you want to turn a profit

Szarik102

Children should get in free imo.
18 ought to be the cut-off age for kids being free. Once children are over the age of about 12, they are likely to be future potential collectors (and are possibly attending by choice) and should be encouraged to attend. They are also likely to be on a low budget if under 18, so cut the parents some slack and encourage the younger generation.
Younger collectors are the future of any hobby, and may grow up to be serious punters.

mitosis

bookerboy wrote: »

I have to agree with you Gun_Money.We were really knocked back by the attitude from the cashier. ie "Yeah kids are free,but they have to be under five years of age"
This approach will affect traders business and increase profits for the Organisers.
As i said earlier,we discovered the Sugar Loaf and had the best afternoon ever.
Mabey we should ask the question When is a kid a kid ?

Why bring kids to an antiques fair anyway? Glad you had fun on the mountain. as it was a fund raiser I'd support the charge for entry including children.

Addendum: I've looked at the adverts over the last few years for this fair. It never mentions kids free anywhere, just admission €3.50 proceeds to special needs people

http://www.braypeople.ie/news/lakers-fund-raiser-3128944.html

bookerboy

My son has a great interest in Antiques even though he is only ten.
Probably got it from all the TV programes that are on at the moment.
He has bought small items at Fairs (ie Model cars and a pen)
Most traders were very encouraging towards him,normally offered a discount because he is so young.
I think somebody should do a little survey with dealers to see if they object to kids at fairs.I would be shocked if they did.
My original question was...."Why advertise kids go free and then charge them because they are over five?"
My next question is"Should kids be banned from Antique Fairs ?"

brian_t

bookerboy wrote: »

Should kids have to pay into an event that they really don't want to go to in the first place?

bookerboy wrote: »

My son has a great interest in Antiques even though he is only ten.

You seem to be contradicting yourself a little bit.

Maybe Antique Fairs should be like Auctions. You buy a Catalogue and it admits two.

bookerboy

My son has a great interest in Antique fairs and loves going to them.
In general,and i'm only guessing here........i'd guess most ten year olds would not enjoy them.