The 'E' Type Forum

Just a reminder for the new members.....always a great day to hunt out those difficult to find original parts.....spares day at Stonleigh this Sunday 16th Oct..... Steve http://www.jaguarsparesdays.co.uk/

Hi Steve, any bargains or unobtainable items found? How was the attendance and stalls compared with previous years?

Geoff

Hi Geoff.....yes managed to come away with a few bargains .........very small attendance probably about a quarter of what it used to be.....last time its held at Stonleigh......will be at Malvern next time......Steve

I hadn’t heard of the move, but will it be much closer to you to find more bargains? Which I’m pleased to hear you managed to find. Stoneleigh is a more central location, wonder why the move, unless it’s getting expensive there.

Geoff

Not really bargains by the time i cost in the petrol to get there, the entry fee, coffee, bacon sarni but a good good day to meet up with old faces

Was Richard Smith there? Not heard from him for some time.

Hi David......cant say i noticed him.........it was all inside rather than the cattle shed area.....i was almost looking for another hall thinking that i was missing half of it.....even SNGB only had half a dozen tables just selling their old stock......the whole thing is moveing to Malvern next year......if it dosnt greatly improve i think it will be the end of it....Steve

That's no great surprise to me.

The major retailers have their shops and websites and probably feel obliged to attend these sorts of events. They could probably save themselves a fortune by not attending but, rightly, feel the need to have a presence. The costs for them must be considerable. They might be better placed saving the money and passing this on to their customers by means of lower prices.

On the non-retail side, I have found the spares to be ever harder to find and the asking prices for poor condition used parts to be ridiculous.

I have come away from Stoneleigh so many times without getting the parts I've needed that I can't justify the time and cost of entry anymore.

It's a pity but the enthusiast aspect seems to have given way to greed and cynicism.

Regards

A very poor showing by vendors, and as Steve mentioned taking everything into consideration it was an expensive trip with very little to show for it.
I don’t think these lacking events are confined to the UK. I’ve just returned from Hershey and it was well down on stall holders since I was last there pre- pandemic.

Dont forget this is a two way street......less attendance leads to fewer vendors and suppliers.....i also heard that the organization was very lacking and that the person liaising with vendors went off sick without confirming what was happenig.......lets allbtry to get behind it next year.....the old saying use it or loose it comes to mind.....Steve

Good day,

interesting to read these comments here. And it also tells me how ambiguous things can be.
Where some people find the fuel for 100 miles too expensive to get there, or the event not interesting enough for the parts which are offered, other people like my friends and me do go there for fun. We all do have costs getting there (me and my lady are traveling for 3 days and spending about 1.000 € for fuel, ferry and hotel) but we all feel it is worth it. Some people we only see twice a year and if some other do think it is not worth the fuel to see each other, well ..... what shall I say. It is not all about bargains, savings and costs. It is also to honor and appreciate the work someone has spent to get "our" event running.
IF the attendance has dropped, might that be due to the Brexit voters.
For us foreigners, and I had mentioned it before, it is a real pain getting with second hand parts for and back, passing custom and even UK bases vendors have realized the new challenge (please comment). Europe ist not just Calais or Hook of Holland, it is a lot beyond those ports.
I used to see people from France, Belgium, the dutch XK dealers, Czech republic as well as Germans.
Those people coming over had plenty of parts for sale and also pockets full of money to be spend. I am missing them as much I would dearly miss the event if you all say it is not with going.
I have made a video to encourage people to come, especially from abroad as it is NOT just the Sunday to grab a bargain. But so much more to enjoy in GB.

Maikel wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 04, 2022 12:41 pm

IF the attendance has dropped, might that be due to the Brexit voters.

Hi Maikel.....great little video...i enjoyed it.....Steve

Thank's Maikel for your video ...
Very happy to have now a face in front of some famous persons on this forum

Polse7317 wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 04, 2022 3:00 pm

Thank's Maikel for your video ...
Very happy to have now a face in front of some famous persons on this forum

That is why you need to come to Stoneleigh

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who normally goes to the large AutoJumble at Beaulieu. Covid must have reduced numbers but have all the Continental sellers stopped coming over? They would often have a large number of stall holders, especially the smaller stalls.
Couldn’t go this year, but I’ve bought a few useful items from them in the past so it’ll be a shame if the French, Germans, Swedish, etc. have given up.

Geoff

Have been attending Jaguar Spares Day for about 18+ years and i think it has gone the same way as the Beaulieu Autojumble, nice for a day out if you can afford the fuel and entrance money but the days of finding any NOS treasure at reasonable prices has long since gone.

I’ve been attending Beaulieu for well over 40 years, and this year I feel it was a very poor event. I noticed reduced areas and stall gaps and many of the usual faces missing. Things have changed considerably at these autojumbles where they have been taken over by media groups and their greed of the high prices charged for stall holders and punters. Stafford Classic Bike show, Kempton, Newark, Netley Marsh jumbles etc. were great motorcycle events, run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts until they were bought out. Sadly Beaulieu is going that way as well.

Fuel.inj wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 04, 2022 10:35 pm

I’ve been attending Beaulieu for well over 40 years, and this year I feel it was a very poor event. I noticed reduced areas and stall gaps and many of the usual faces missing. Things have changed considerably at these autojumbles where they have been taken over by media groups and their greed of the high prices charged for stall holders and punters. Stafford Classic Bike show, Kempton, Newark, Netley Marsh jumbles etc. were great motorcycle events, run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts until they were bought out. Sadly Beaulieu is going that way as well.

I think this description is spot on. The same thing happened with the big outside antique fairs, (Newark Ardingly Etc ) . Been to Beaulieu many times but you must have seen some changes over 40+ years.
HAPPY DAYS

Here is the GOOD,BAD and UGLY......
The same here in the States.....BUT, BUT!
Our generation 55, 65 are still going or starting to take vendor spaces.
WHY?
Something to do and get away from the family
The bad, Like Jaguar who has now abandoned the public and owners, anyone under 45 does NOT CARE.
They are the children called the WELFARE SOCIETY.
The ugly ,well,no young woman or men , just old guys.....and I mean ugly
SO WHAT IS THE BRIGHT SPOT?
I have said this many times, we will end up like the POLO PONY crowd, lucky to own, and be in our own little 2 percent world.
'Im tryin g to do GOODWOOD,MONACO,CLASSIC LEMANS and everything in the states over the next 2 years.
I am enjoying NOW.......
Think that way and we have a good long future.
Tuesday elections will hopefully kill the electric car and maybe people in England will have heat for the winter......HA HA HA.
Hey how come 2 years ago everything was fine?
I wonder what changed.....HA HA HA...
LOVE
GTJOEY
LOVE