questions regarding vendors and venues

[scarlet_woman156k]

I've been to numerous NACs, but never really pay all that much attention to the vendors, but since I'm on a limited schedule and have some things I need to take care w/them, I have a few questions:

1. when do they pack up and leave the venue? Literally the last day...the day before last...?
2. what are their operating hours during the day...how early, how late?

[oiuyt]

Depends a lot of the vendor in question and the location of the NAC relative to their normal physical location. There will be some vendors there (generally partially packed) on the last day, but it's not uncommon for a couple to already have taken off by the morning of that final Sunday of Nationals.

The vendors will have someone there when the building opens in most cases (presumably something about the idea of leaving thousands of dollars worth of equipment unattended is less than appealing I suspect :) ). They generally have someone there until fencing is finishing up in the evening.

-B :)

[demon_fencer]

...and don't bother looking for the Leon Paul stand this year in Charlotte - I emailed them and they said they weren't coming.

If you happen to see something that is in limited quantities (i.e. that rolling gear bag in your favorite color scheme) grab it early because it probably won't be there when your event is over.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

On the other hand...some of the vendors run "show specials" towards the end of the Summer Nationals.

These reduced rates for big ticket items like shoes/masks/lames can be substantial, but it's a risk waiting until too late in the event, because the more poular sizes can sometimes be shopped out.

At most NACs, the vendors are usually there by 8 or so, and hang around until most of the fencing is over at night. Many of them are set up the evening before competition starts, so you can buy a replacement for the mask cord that somehow levitated itself out of your bag, even though you know you checked it twice before leaving.