maybe?
I recently drove 1 hour 1 way to attend "The Granddaddy of them All" *the Shelby NC Hamfest*.
I needed some Anderson Power Poles and a few spare coax connectors. I did the WHOLE Hamfest in 58 min. I then drove 1 hour back home. $10 at the door, and won nothing to boot.
So, I won't be back (lets not get me started about the lack of response to my calls, emails and voice messages trying to purchase booth space at the event this year).
To justify my 'trip' I bought 10 power poles, and 5 or 6 coax ends. Think I was in for about $50 that wouldn't fill a sandwich baggie.
Drove home dejected, knowing I shouldn't have gone up in the first place. Not to mention the funds I'd saved by spending a few min on ebay and waiting 5 days on the mailman.
Not being a downer, but my 'local' hamfest scene is a complete waste of energy. Hamvention has been cool, but I'm stuck in the booth for 2 or 3 days, so my view is a little different from those out walking around enjoying the scenes.
So, if you're looking to buy a nice piece of gear, and plan to get it there...consider the associated cost (trip, food, gate) and you'll prolly do better to order before you leave that morning.
Not trying to be a downer, but the whole hamfest thing is swirling the bowl and I'm not sure it can be resurrected (at least locally)