Spend a little time before
conventions and save a lot during!
The excitement of attending a convention, kicking those tires and looking over all that interesting stuff can be a real problem if you do not prepare. Here's a strategy to make more time for purchasing.
You probably already do this before going to the grocery store, so use that same advice I have heard from many of you rental "old timers" - make a list! Not any old list, but a list of your needs by priority. The list may in-clude three columns: (1) items that will pay for themselves in less than a year (you also may wish to include disposable/sale items here); (2) items that will pay for themselves in two to three years, and (3) items that will pay for themselves beyond three years. This section also may have items that could enhance the return on accessories and related rental items, which on their own may not produce a great return. Any criteria that make sense can be used.
As you prepare this list, keep a tally of the costs involved, by column, so you have a good idea of what fits in your budget. Look at the supplier list in this issue and mark the booth numbers of the vendors you need to visit alongside each item on your list. Before entering the exhibit floor, prepare your shopping list by priority and location of the vendors. This will pay big dividends and reduce that end-of-the-show frustration caused by lack of time.
If a vendor looks busy most of the time, stop by at the opening or closing of the exhibit hall or go to another vendor nearby and cycle back. As a last resort, contact the vendor after the show and explain your situation.
Before leaving for the convention, many rental owners sit down with their staff to plan their purchases. They also visit with vendors who stop by and get future purchases firmed up. Some even have their purchase order completed and just drop it off at the vendor's booth at the show.
Some rental people list by booth number the order of their planned visits or go one step further by marking these booths on the exhibit floor map (also in this issue) with a highlighter. If you don't plan ahead, you will be frustrated when the pain in your legs, feet and back tells you it has been quite a day and yet you still did not get to as many vendors as you wished. A systematic approach to the exhibits is important if you want some time to discover new items or review others from a previous visit.
This may sound elementary to some, but even the most experienced make extra trips around the floor and get those end-of-day aches and pains. The idea here is to minimize the extra steps and become more productive with the time allotted. The ultimate strategy is to purchase new or replacement rental/sale items that will earn a significant rate of return and not miss out because of lack of time.
Break a toe in a dark hotel
room or light your way!
I bet we all have had the experience of trying to find our way around a dark area after coming from a lighted room because our eyes don't ad-just fast enough. This could be dangerous to your well-being - especially if you run into something more solid than you. When you are in Orlando, for example, you may have a problem with dark objects in your hotel room.
Here is a tip that may save you or your family from pain. The other day I was in a hardware store and I noticed packages of flat nightlights, about 2 by 2 inches, which plug into a standard 120-volt outlet and emit a low-intensity green light. These lights are small, provide enough light to navigate a dark room and do not blind you with from the rapid transition of light to darkness - the green light does not seem to affect night vision unless you must turn on a regular light. Also, you won't disturb others when moving about the room. Remember to take it with you on your next trip and remove it before checking out. Or you can rent some crutches until that toe heals!
Visit the Web and who knows who you have been talking with?
General searches of sites on the World Wide Web via your Macintosh or PC may leave a trail that you might not want available to others. Here are some ideas to consider if you search for Web sites (this may be old news to experienced Web surfers):
There is a history of your Web visits by name and date. In the Netscape browser's location field, type <about:global.> - just like you enter the Web name: <ararental.org> - and your history pops up.
Web sites tag visitors with "magic" cookies. Visit <
Use your computer's find command to get any file with the word "cookie" in its name. Figure out by its title which is your magic cookie. Use the word processing program to find out who is stashing cookies in your browser. Browsers usually give an option of being warned whenever a Web site asks for your cookie. You might also try in the Netscape directory a file called <cookies.txt>.
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