NEC shopping

[CAJASAT]

We're off to the NEC next month, mainly for a look around at what's going on but two things potentially on our shopping list:

A new sat-nav as the built in one on our Peugeot Boxer based motorhome keeps trying to take us down narrow lanes and I can't see any way of inputting vehicle dimensions etc. Been looking at the CMC version of the Garmin Avtex Tourer Two. Any comments or alternative suggestions?

A portable, folding solar panel for those rare no EHU times. Probably 100-150w. Again, any recommendations welcome.

Appreciate we may be better off looking at NEC but buying after. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Two on Tour]

Why the same thread two days in a row ?

NEC shopping list

We're off to the NEC next month, mainly for a look around at what's going on but two things potentially on our shopping list: A new sat-nav as the built in one on our Peugeot Boxer based motorhome keeps trying to take us down narrow lanes and I can't see any way of inputting vehicle dimensions...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[CAJASAT]

Because no replies from "Motorhome Accesories" so I thought it may reach a wider audience here. Only looking to tap into the vast amount of knowledge and experience on the forum. Apologies if I've done wrong and happy to delete either or both if necessary.

 

[eddie]

My firm has exhibited at the NEC for years, and we don’t sell either of the items you want.

My advice is to use the internet to research the items your interested in before the show, and have a benchmark at to price and performance.

Check before you buy that a business is ‘real’ does a business clearly have its address and landline phone numbers on all of its flyers and leaflets?

Remember with a solar panel it may be a while before it’s sunny enough to realise that it doesn’t work very well, and having a P.O. address, and an email address may not help you.

Shows are sadly not policed by the organisers! So someone can turn up with a van load of crap, two or three cheap printed banners and a mobile phone and flog cheap knock off crap from eBay at extortionate prices

Open air shows are even worse, hence my advice, have some idea about what you want to buy, what it should do, what is should cost and know exactly who you are buying it from and where there are if you need back up before you hand over your credit card.

 

[Potty]

We have the Avtex Tourer. No major problems but I always have a map open and often ignore her and go a different way.

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[mitzimad]

dont think ive ever been tempted to buy accesories at a show ebay and gumtree would be my first point of call

 

[Nixdorfer]

I've only done the Lincoln and Manchester shows so far but tbh for accessorise found they aren't very good. Prices were more expensive than online and hardly anyone sold what I was looking for.

Good as a day out and a nosey to see whats new but for actual shopping don't get your hopes up.

I was looking for a refillable gas setup at Lincoln and had a pocket full of cash. Only a few sold the bits and prices were full rrp so ordered online before I even got home and saved over £40.. I spent £7 at the Lincoln show and £11 at Manchester. Last of the big spenders I know.

Would still go again but with not with big expectations of any deals.

 

[Speve]

I would look on line by the time you take account of tickets and travel they won’t be cheaper at a show?

 

[CAJASAT]

Thanks all so far for replies. Look but don't necessarily buy at the show. Any recommendations for solar/sat nav wherever sourced?

 

[Speve]

We have a Garmin camper 770 LTM-D and it works well but they all have their problems you need to rely on your own judgement at times?

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[CAJASAT]

Went to the NEC and bought an Avtex Two sat nav. All the dealers were doing a slight reduction on RRP and gave a hard case with it.

Have used it a bit and it seems very good so far.

Didn't get a solar panel - still thinking on whether to or not as most times we will be on sites and will have hook-up.