I went Ceratogyrus...

It was my first expo and had high expectations going in, but once I got there, I was very disappointed. There were a few vendors selling tarantulas, but there was nothing I could not buy off Petbugs or even from members on the forum. I was hoping to see a few of the more rare tarantulas, but there were none. No one was selling any enclosures and there wasn't feeder insects on sale. The only thing worthwhile was a vendor selling pieces of cork bark.

I will try and make arrangements to attend an expo up there in Gauteng next year, but I really hope the Durban expo will be better next year...

I agree with spydaman 100%.

Also my first expo traveld 300km. there and back. Few vendors, many of the same spiderlings, not a great veriaty. Bought a curly for R30 and a suntiger for R80. If I did it mailorder as before the R60 entrence fee I paid for my wife,daughter and myself would have coverd the courier.

I went to see and maybe get a rare T or 2, was dissapointed. Will not attend again.

I think people have too high expectations of these expos.
Since Nat Con starting cracking down on illegal imports, the amount of rare spiders at expos have decreased. There hasn't been much rare stock at these shows for the past 3 years.
Also with the popularity of the online shops/forums over the past few years, people would rather just sell their spiders on there rather than save them up for shows.
Suppose it is just the way that the hobby progresses (and the world). More online, less face to face.

Agreed with Cerat, even the expo's around Joburg is following the same trend.

snarf wrote: Agreed with Cerat, even the expo's around Joburg is following the same trend.

Very true.
Peoples wishlists have also changed a lot.
A few years back when there were A.versicolor, P.regalis or B.smithi for sale at a expo (Even if they were going for R500 as slings) it was seen as super rare and quite a find. People would rave about it.
Now a days, people hope to find metallica's and balfouri's for R300 at an expo and are always disappointed.
Also, when the first expo's hit JHB a few years back, there was pretty much only SA Inverts around and Matt would always save a few rare species for expos. Helped a lot to draw crowds to these events.
Now a days, most of the online dealers don't bother going to display at expo's as they could make the same money sitting at home answering emails without the cost of transporting their spiders to the venue and paying for a stand.
Maybe don't charge sellers and make your bucks off of entrance fees by buyers or selling snacks at the venue as was done at the auction to encourage them to save up for these events?