An open letter to the ABRF board and meeting/exhibition managers:
The pre-conference literature mailed out to the exhibitors said that we had
to have our booth components out of the exhibition hall by 6 PM on the final
day of the exhibition (Tuesday, 2/22/2000). The conference was site-managed
by Brede Exposition Services. Their literature at their desk in the
Meydenbauer Center said that we had until 7 PM to clear out the booth boxes.
Our booth was all boxed up by 4:30 PM. At 5 PM our designated carrier,
Emery, showed up to pick it up but was told that it was too late; the boxes
were being turned over to another carrier of Brede's choice. Emery told us
that they were unable to pick up the booths of 4 other companies in addition
to ours at this time. Brede ended up turning our boxes over to ETS, which
wanted to charge us $ 396 to deliver them via 2nd day air (they actually
showed up at 5:15 PM on the third day). Emery would have charged us $ 288.
We managed to talk ETS into charging somewhat less, but I'm still miffed
about this treatment of our carrier.
Who's responsible for this unannounced change of policy? If it's Brede, then
should ABRF use them to manage exhibitions in the future? If it's the
management of the Meydenbauer Center, then shouldn't this disqualify the
Center as a site for future ABRF meetings? I'd appreciate some feedback from
the Board about this; I'm sure the same is true of the other exhibitors whose
plans were disrupted.
Andy Alpert
President, PolyLC Inc.
Columbia, MD
(410) 992-5400
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