Terminology: Dealers vs Vendors (and hoarding)

[captain-drew.livejournal.com]

This year I never made it to the lower dealer's room... or is that vendor's room? I did however spend a hellish 15 minutes crammed into one of the upper dealer's/vendor's rooms... man did they ever have people packed into that room! A friend explained to me that there actually was a difference between dealers and vendors but I never quite caught what the exact delineation between the two terms was. Can anyone explain it to me?

Happily, the down economy and my ever-increasing age have resulted in me reaching a stage of enlightenment in which I do not need to collect crap anymore (I especially do not need to hoard dragon-themed crap like some of you) but I still love to look at things, particularly action figures.

Just because I've stopped collecting (useless) "collectible" stuff (crap) doesn't necessarily mean that I've gotten old... does it?

Hope not.

Next year I plan to devote a good hour to walking the aisles just to enjoy the marketplace atmosphere.

Comments

[radegund-lj.livejournal.com]

When I was younger, I wanted to buy everything in the dealers' room but didn't have the money. Now that I am older and have more money, I find I am much choosier about what I buy. So you're not the only one!

[fiawol.livejournal.com]

"Dealers" (on the lowest floors) get an 6' (or so) table to display their wares on, with a 4' space behind them. They can buy multiple tables to make their display area larger. "Exhibitors" are on the upper floors, and get a 10' x 10' booth area to set up in. Exhibitor space costs more than the dealer spaces do, both because the area is larger, and the upper rooms are just plain nicer than the cramped quarters in the "basement". Both sections though have interesting "stuff" to buy in them, so both are worth a look. After the art show, and 1 or 2 panels, I spend most of my time in the two vending areas, mostly because that's where the people I know from conventions are. I didn't once go into the "Walk of Fame" area, other than just to see where it was during the evening hours. I never even made it over to the gaming area at the Sheraton, but I like that the convention does provide those multiple areas of fan-interest (dealers, media guests, gaming) for the people who go to the convention specifically for that area. That (and the general party atmosphere) is why I think people keep coming back.

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

First of all, have we differentiated "dealers" and "vendors"? I would hazard a guess that a "vendor" is someone who creates a product to sell on a national basis. White Wolf Games and Utilikilt would be considered vendors.

"Dealers" are middlemen, shop owners, who buy merchandise to sell. This would include speculators in collectibles like comics or cards, guys who sell jewelry and sellers of patches and emblems. They don't make things (or don't make big things) and they either operate out of storefronts or trailers that they drag from con to con.

I never had the need to buy lots of things. I still don't, especially making less money (thanks, George). And, sadly, a lot of people don't have that kind of income any more. That may bode ill for the financial health of conventions.

Many dealers and vendors operate on a big misconception of fandom, that owning stuff makes you the master of stuff. Many believe that owning a Spider-Man maquette means you own Spider-Man. It doesn't. On the other hand, a dealer/vendor that sells something unique and useful (like gaming dice) are more like traditional retailers who don't exploit their customers. (There are damn few traditional retailers, thanks to Wal-Mart, and even fewer that treat their customers fairly.)

[rabidrainbow.livejournal.com]

I think that the dealers are the ones who sell merchandise (like action figures, memorabilia, etc) while vendors sell products that they have created.

But don't quote me on this because I'm still new to the whole convention scene (Dragon*Con was my first ever con!)

And I know what you mean about not buying as much stuff. I spent most of my money on Walk of Fame stuff (because I'm a huge TNG fangirl) and actually spent very little on merchandise. I only got a few Star Wars action figures, some Star Wars and Star Trek insignia pins, and a couple Star Wars magnets. There was a lot more that I wanted to get, but I am a poor college student and I at least had the presence of mind to look at stuff like the Tribbles or the Star Wars metal lunchbox and say "Okay, that looks cool but what are you going to do with it once the novelty wears off?"

[missingvolume.livejournal.com]

Maybe at one point there as a real difference but now it is only how much you want to pay to sell at the show. When I first signed up to sell at the con I went with the Exhibit Hall because I knew I would have authors signings during the event and it is too tight down in the dealer's room for any decent crowd. And some dealer/vendors have spots in every room.

[mirana.livejournal.com]

It's not actually "dealer" vs "vendor" space. As others have pointed out, that's a distinction of product maker and product seller. The rooms are divided as "Exhibitor" and "Dealer". The real difference? Exhibitor space is much more pricey than Dealer space. Back in the day that room was a lot less crowded. Now you as a buyer wouldn't see a difference between them.

In theory, Exhibitor space would be for companies that are advertising themselves--think the BIG companies like film people at Comic Con, or Production companies at anime cons. At other cons, these booths tend to get placed together in the middle of a Dealer's room, but D*C's space is too small for one collective (and they don't have those sorts of exhibitors anyway). In truth, you're going to see any and every sort of booth in the exhibitor section. I know plenty of dealers up there who were not the makers of the merch they sold.

[awillis2.livejournal.com]

I don't always buy anything from the con, I do collect some figurines but I'm choosy about what I buy. This year I didn't buy anything except some books from Rob Thurman, last year the only thing I bought was a shot glass from the GA Aquarium. That is the one thing I try to do where ever I go is to get a glass of some sort as a momento (although I didnt' do that this year) which I display on the bookshelf at work.

[arseaboutface.livejournal.com]

People keep saying that "vendors make stuff, dealers sell stuff someone else made," which a quick jaunt through the Dealers Hall shows is patently untrue. There are plenty of Dealers selling things they made (Aradani Studios, the elf ears guys, comes to mind, but there are definitely others), and plenty of Exhibitors selling stuff they didn't make.

[datavortex.livejournal.com]

I think it's just a difference that has grown between the general terminology versus the DragonCon-specific terminology.

[arseaboutface.livejournal.com]

Perhaps, but the OP was about Dragon*Con specifically.

[boomergoodheart.livejournal.com]

The Southeastern Browncoats booth is a mix of both, sellers & makers. My husband and I, and one or two other fans, make things to sell. Then we also have Tshirts, decals, that sort of thing.

For me, all of the terms are interchangeable. Dealer, vendor, merchant...We've been known as all three, and it all amounts to the same thing. The only thing you really need know is Dealer Room vs. Exhibitor Hall(s). This is how D*C markets it. And they really are becoming more entwined, with what is sold in each space. Some folk hit only one or the other, but all of the spaces are worth at least a quick look around (or not-so-quick, depending on the crowds). ;-)