With so many trade show display companies vying for your business, how do you decide which one to go with? They all seem to offer similar products, so choosing the company with the most affordable trade show displays seems the logical choice, right? Not necessarily.
In the world of trade show displays, you get what you pay for. While well-designed websites give the illusion that every company is selling quality trade show booths, once you look closer you’ll find a wide range of quality from company-to-company. Unfortunately, the uninitiated may not to be able to assess their options without professional advice.
“Buying a trade show display is not an every day occurrence for most people, and they can’t be expected to know what questions to ask,” comments Mat Kelly, owner and founder of exhibitDEAL, a wholesaler of high-end American-made exhibits. “Unfortunately some companies take advantage of that inexperience. That’s why I’m committed to educating consumers. I want to make sure they’re making the best possible decision for their investment.”
In shopping for a trade booth display, asking questions upfront about quality, delivery, customer service and support, and guarantees will quickly separate the cheap from the quality products.
There’s a huge difference between imported and American-made exhibits. Trade show display exhibits imported from China, while affordable, are inferior to American-made exhibits in nearly every way:
Kelly admits, “I, too, considered selling imported trade show displays. But every sample I’ve ever received was so far below my quality standards that I shipped them back. You just can’t beat American-made exhibits.”
Word of advice: It will save you money in the long run to buy an American-made portable display that’s built to last, especially if you will be shipping it.
Don’t be fooled by companies who advertise “same day shipping of frames” for imports. That does not take into account shipping time as well as the time it takes to manufacture and deliver the booth graphics. Imported displays take 2 to 3 weeks. American-made exhibits can be delivered in about 5 days.
Here’s another point to consider: if an imported booth breaks, it will take longer to be fixed or receive replacement parts. That’s food for thought, considering their quality deficits.
Word of advice: Make sure you get a specific delivery date in writing.
Unless you have your own graphic design department, you’ll need to outsource the design for your booth. Companies who sell imported display exhibits do not offer these services. You see, these low-end wholesalers are not the established companies you may think they are. In fact, many of these “companies” are just one or two people working out of their home with limited resources.
On the other hand, quality trade show booth wholesalers, like exhibitDEAL, offer a suite of services. As a full-service company, exhibitDEAL has a staff of professionals specially-trained in exhibit design. Another bonus: even if you provide your own artwork, the exhibitDEAL staff is able to troubleshoot potential problems and make changes for you on the fly.
Word of advice: Go with a company that offers all the services you’ll need.
Low-end wholesalers do not offer a satisfaction guarantee, or if they do, it is chockfull of provisos and there’s usually a “restocking fee” for returned materials. That doesn’t instill a whole lot of confidence, does it?
exhibitDEAL approaches customer relationships differently. They offer a 100% Money-back Guarantee – no questions asked. “We’re the good guys in this business and we’re here to stay,” explains Kelly. “If a customer is unhappy for any reason, we’ll do whatever it takes to please them, even if that means a complete refund.”
exhibitDEAL is also a member of BBBOnline, the foremost best business practices organization that monitors internet commerce. Participation is voluntarily and BBBOnline has rigorous standards that must be met before an e-tailer is approved by them.
Word of advice: Read the fine print.
Everything looks great when you’re ordering from a professional-looking website. Unfortunately, you never really know what you’re getting until it arrives. And by then, it’s too late.
“There are a lot of trade booth importers who put up a great looking website and ‘presto’ they’re in business. What most people don’t realize is that they are inexperienced and poorly funded,” explains Kelly. “We see these guys come and go all the time.”
In the end, it comes down to Customer Service. exhibitDEAL owner Mat Kelly is able to offer top-notch service because he’s been in the business for the past decade, owning his own company for the last 7 years – and he plans to remain in the business for years to come.
Kelly concludes, “Bottom line, I want every customer to make the right choice for their needs, whether that’s exhibitDEAL or another company. I just want to help them ask the right questions when shopping for trade show displays.