Tucson

Is anyone here going to be in Tucson for ther show(s)???
Ringold’s Jewelers since 1908 9865 Bustleton Ave/ Phila, PA 19115
215-671-8190 Fax: 215-969-1803 Ringold@IX.netcom.com
Http://home.aol.com/REGALITE Manufacturing / Mining / Product
Development

Is anyone here going to be in Tucson for ther show(s)???
Ringold’s Jewelers

Yep, there are a few of us and we’re going to try to get
together for dinner sometime during the shows. Candy, if you’re
out there, I just confirmed my plane reservations for 27 Jan - 5
Feb; if possible, could we avoid the date of 4 Feb for the
get-together? It’s my mom’s birthday (I’ll be staying with her
out there) and I’d rather not have to miss the gathering!

Susan

C Gems
Original Designs and Period Jewelry
cgems@pipeline.com

Keep us posted as to where and when! Thanks, rob
Ringold’s Jewelers since 1908 9865 Bustleton Ave/ Phila, PA 19115
215-671-8190 Fax: 215-969-1803 Ringold@IX.netcom.com
Http://home.aol.com/REGALITE Manufacturing / Mining / Product
Development

Bob Ringold said,

Is anyone here going to be in Tucson for ther show(s)?

There’s a bunch form the forum going. Susan C. is keeping track
of who, Dave A. (I’m already here) is going to line up a
resturaunt for us to get together for dinner some evening.

Let Susan know when you’ll be there. I’m not going to reserve
space until we have any idea about how many will attend. We’re
going for a mid priced location.

Dave

In a message dated 96-12-11 22:59:57 EST, you write:

Is anyone here going to be in Tucson for ther show(s)?

There’s a bunch form the forum going. Susan C. is keeping track
of who, Dave A. (I’m already here) is going to line up a
resturaunt for us to get together for dinner some evening.

Let Susan know when you’ll be there. I’m not going to reserve
space until we have any idea about how many will attend. We’re
going for a mid priced location.

Dave >>

Actually, it’s Candy keeping track of who’s going to meet. We still
need to have a date. We’ve had one request for Feb. 1, one for a week
night and one NOT for Feb. 4. I will be there for sure Jan. 30-31 for
the PMC class and then I am flexible after that. I’ll be in
Quartzsite Jan. 27 and possibly 28.

       Candy

Because there are going to be (at least should be) a lot of
postings to this list regarding Tucson, it would be helpful if
people would label their postings with “Tucson: [subject]” for
easier refere Happy New Year and all of that, Wm

Luma Group, Inc. Tel: (212)391.3999
21 W 47th St 6/F Fax: (212)391.0090
New York, NY 10036 Email: @William_Hochstedler

Greetings, I just got off the phone with a couple of hotels in
Tucson and I am really steamed. I checked the prices of these
hotels via the Net before calling, but when I talked to them they
had raised the rents by 35-50 percent because “it’s a very busy
time of the year.” I have grown accustomed to the low regard in
which Tucson as a whole seems to hold the gem shows and the
influx of people they draw, but I don’t remember it being so
blatant in past years. I think it is about time that the Tucson
dealers and their customers get together and boycott the show
next year and perhaps the year after. There seemed to be
something like that afoot last year…it will be interesting to
see just how many people stay away this year. That, at any rate,
is what I am going to do. I can get along without doing the
face=to=face with the dealers, and I surely don’t want to give
any of my hard-earned money to the very busy people of Tucson.

Just my 2 cents worth, Mike

  I checked the prices of these hotels via the Net before
calling, but when I talked to them they had raised the rents by
35-50 percent because "it's a very busy time of the year." 

Mike I would suggest that you check the motels in Benson and
Sierra Vista, benson is about 30 to 45 min east of Tuscon and
Sierra Vista is about 30 min south of Benson. Neather of thest
towns used to draw a big Gem Show croud so rates may be more
reasonable.

Wayne

Wayne,

Thanks for the info, but it isn’t the price itself that has me
steamed, but rather the attitude that it is ok to raise the
prices just because the gem show is in town. This stinks. I did
make reservations at one hotel already just in case I can’t find
another way to get together with the dealers I need to see
face-to-face, but I really don’t want to give these greedy people
any of my money. I would rather spend it in Florida or south
Texas.

Thanks again,
mike

Hi, I don’t know if this will work with Tucson…probably not
but I’ll fill you in on a bargain in CA. I checked out the
California Tourism Board Web Page, they have a full description
along with photos etc…of properties all over the state. The
rate they quoted on-line of a really high end hotel in Monterey
was 50% off and also had availability. I called the hotel
directly and they said “that rate is the best I have ever heard
and you should grab it over the web while you can because I can’t
come close to it here” We have confirmed it and according to
friends the price we are paying for what we are getting is
amazing. A value ONLY available online…just a FYI for the
future.

Karen

Karenworks@mediaone.net

P.S. It took about 45 minutes start to finish to find it, decide etc. made
quicker and easier than I ever would have thought with my new cable modem.
They really take the boredom out of surfing.

   Thanks for the info, but it isn't the price itself that has
me steamed, but rather the attitude that it is ok to raise the
prices just because the gem show is in town. 

Mike,

Before you judge too harshly, consider this: What are all those
hotels supposed to do to stay in business the rest of the year?
Tucson is not exactly Paris – it’s not a big tourist
destination. So, one of two things is going to happen. Either
the hotels, (and ancillary businesses), will raise prices during
the gem show, or everybody will be sleeping in the street,
because most of those businesses have no other way of staying in
business.

Tom

Tom, I see your point, but…1) Tucson actually does enjoy a
significant popularity as a tourist destination, i.e., balmy
weather, dry climate, U.A. campus, etc. draw people, as does the
major PGA tournament held there each year, 2) Tucson is becoming
a major player in the high-tech government contractor
business…they host an amazing number of government visitors
from inside and around the D.C. Beltway, 3) Logic tells me that
the way to entice customers (in this case tourists) is to impress
them with good service, attitude, and pricing when you get the
chance so that they will remember and thus be more prone to
return. Anyway, I am not going to complain about this anymore. It
is actually still about 70/30 that we will be going anyway. My
particular niche requires that I do f2f to get just the unique
stones I need. I just hate to be taken advantage of like this.

mike

You can also check the area north of Nogales- about the same
distance from Tucson as Bensen is. There are several bed and
breakfasts in the area of Sonoita and Patagonia. The Vineyard in
Sonoita is particularly nice, it’s an old hacienda located in a
vineyard,and is reasonably priced. Sorry, I dont have the
phone#, but if you call for Sonoita you should be
able to get it…

Lee

Hi Mike,

FWIW I know a lot of the Tucson Hotels jump their prices for
the show, but they’re still lower than a lot of the rip off
prices charged by ho/motels in large cities.

Dave

I have a question. I am planning on attending the Tucson shows for
the first time this year. I am bringing my daughter along. She is
11. I was wondering if it is appropriate to bring her along (even
though I don’t have much choice) and if there are other kids there or
kid things going on. She is adventuresome. She used to be a
rockhound like me when she was little, but the last few years she has
shied away. “it’s boring, you like it, …” typical preadolescent
nastiness. Anyway, she would miss a few days of school, travel to
places she hasn’t been before, and have an adventure. What does
anyone else think? Thanks. Rhonda McCormick McCormick
Designs

Rhonda, It all depends which shows in Tucson you wish to attend. The
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (TGMS) is an excellent show for families.
Most of the other shows are not good for children. Especially AGTA,
GLDA, GJX, and the shows along the West side of I-10. These shows
are all geared towards wholesale to adults. Most dealers do not want
children handling their goods or taking up space in their rooms.
Unless your child is very well mannered the Tucson experience will be
very frustrating for both the child and the adult. The show I am in
at the Scottish Rites Center is a little more open to children, but
even here they are not allowed to run free. Adults that bring
children are expected to be in control of their child and to be
responsible for any damage caused by the child. Remember that Tucson
is mostly a trade show and not a place for entertainment.

Gerry Galarneau

I am going to treat your question seriously and answer honestly. You
may not like my answer, but here goes.

With all due respect, Tucson gem shows are where adult buyers and
sellers from all over the world meet to conduct business. There are
very few, if any, kids there. There are no events for kids. It is not
a festival for kids. It is for adults to conduct serious business.
Many dealers travel thousands of miles to set-up at the Tucson show
and have to make enough money there to see them through the rest of
the year. They bring several thousands of dollars worth of inventory
and pay very high booth fees and hotel fees for a 2-3 week period in
the hopes of making enough money to make it all worth while. It is
for serious shoppers.

With that being said, you may want to consider attending the show at
the end of the selling period at the Tucson Convention Center which is
open to the general public. The dealers at this show are not supposed
to be set-up at any other shows in town and are not supposed to sell
to dealers, just the general public. It is more of an educational
show and I have seen kids, supervised by their parents, there. I
believe it lasts about 3 days.

Personally, I can’t think of anything more horrible for a kid than to
drag her along, day after day, to a Rock Show to end all rock shows,
when that kid has no interest in rocks. It would kind of be like
dragging your son along with you while shopping for dresses, day after
day, 5 days in a row, 12 hours per day.

Carol
Marathon Tucson Shopper for 10 years

I lived in Tucson for several years and was not in the least
interested in stones. After I moved away I got into making jewelery
and cutting stones and now can’t afford to travel to Tucson, ain’t it
always the way,hahaha. Anyway while it may not be a good idea to drag
your child to the shows, there is a whole raft of other activities she
would be interested in. From sports to just about any other activity
you or she can imagine. Go, and enroll her in things she is interested
in doing, she will have a good time and might end up interested in
rocks just by osmosis.

I’m off to Tucson in the A.M.

If any of your are in the neighborhood, drop by and say “Hi”. I’d
love to meet you, especially since I won’t be able to join you for the
dinner Friday.

I’ll be selling my reusable findings (BEADifferent) and jewelry at
the Best Bead Show. You’ll find me at booth 42 in the main hall.

KINO VETERAN’S MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTER 2805 EAST AJO WAY, TUCSON, AZ

JANUARY 31 4PM-9PM (preview night)$5 FEBRUARY 1, 2, 3 10AM-6PM
free FEBRUARY 4 10AM-3PM free

I’ll really have to do some crafty scheduling if I’m going to visit
the AGTA and GJX during showtime. Hope to see some of you around.

Pam Chott
Song of the Phoenix

Hi All, Just a few day’s ago it was 80 degrees here in Tucson. Right
now I am looking out my back window and it is snowing! Oh well, back
to the show and cold gems. Will E.