Parrot Palooza Anyone?

[Buzz2537]

Just wondering if anyone here will be attending the Bird Paradise Parrot Palooza this year? Burlington, NJ. October 11,12and 13. This will be the firsttime going. I plan on bringng my Hahnna. Hahnna and Elaine

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I will not be, I've actually never heard of it until now. It looks pretty interesting, maybe worth going to once. I would be more interested in a attending for a great guest speaker, rather than buying bird stuff lol.

I Googled it, and found some info on trained parrot.com about his experiences there. this particular quote made me not to sure about how worth it it would be to go.

The high prices were not only limited to the bird food. We browsed the shelves and found that perches, toys, carriers, and cages all cost way too much. Then we'd remember to recalculate with 20% off and then the price would just sound about right or slightly discount compared to other places I shop for parrot supplies. Between the fact that employees could never directly answer to the price of items, seeing them anxiously tacking prices on things, and my experience buying parrot supplies elsewhere, I have a strong suspicion that the store jacked up the prices in order to put a discount on them. I am not certain of this but if the ticket price is what they normally sell at, then Bird Paradise is quite overpriced the rest of the year for typical parrot supply shopping. With 20% off, it seemed that items were anywhere from 0-10% cheaper than prices I would expect. So there was a bit of a savings to be had by shopping there but nowhere near an actual 20%.

For example, I checked out the Lixit water bottles. I would have considered picking up an extra one for a genuine 20% off the typical $25 price they run. I was shocked to see them listed at $30. With 20% off from that price it comes out to $24. On the Bird Paradise online store it says they normally sell them for $25. So indeed this does come out slightly cheaper than day to day prices, but $24 is not actually 20% off the normal price but just a mere 4%. And this is what it seemed like to me in general for every item that I looked at including that Roudybush and travel cage I considered.

I do not have hard proof that they purposefully jacked up the prices prior to the "sale" because I do not regularly frequent that store. In fact I've never been there before. However, between my gut feeling, comparison of prices to other stores I normally shop, and a comparison of prices to their online store, it appears that this is indeed the case. Unlike the countless parrot lovers staring starry eyed at the 20% off discount signs, I ended up not buying any of the expensive items I would have considered because the actual savings were unsubstantial.

I've gone to one bird mart, and there were some great toy deals! If the above is true that would be really disappointing.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I wanted to go last year but i believe it was around the same time then too. That is my birthday weekend, so i'm not 100% sure what the plans are. If i can, i will be there!! It is a bit of a ride for me...i'm in Somerset County....so i kind of have to plan the day around that trip.

 

[Buzz2537]

Wow. I bought quite a bit there, and found the prices to be about what everyone charges. Most of my stuff I got great deals on because they have a tent sale. For instance I picked up a swing that is currently and has been selling on ebay for about $69 and I got if for $20. i got Hahnna's play gym for $45 where it would have probably cost $75 to $100. I cannot comment on whether prices are inflatd for the event as this willbe the first time attending. I got Hahnna's cage too for $200 and it was a good deal. Again, though I bought most from under the tent, they have loads of stuffunder there for great deals. I do not have many places by me for food. I am avout an hour from there so do not get there often but I am impressed with the ammount of different foods they carry and toys etc. i guess I will see how the Palooza is, and if what was written is accurate.

 

[triordan]

a friend went up recently for a tent sale and got a nice java tree stand for his macaw for like $40~

 

[JerseyWendy]

I've been to it three times, and will most likely not go again due to the unbelievable crowds of people there.

Yes, they've had some great guest speakers in the past, but when I tell you it gets JAMMED packed, I'm not exaggerating.

I was there when they had the tent sale, and would go to that again any given day, as I picked up some GREAT stuff for my fids at rather awesome prices.

 

[Merlee]

When you go to places like this, do your homework on the items you know you want. I check out Amazon and google them too. If you see that item for less than what you saw previously, then you know you got a deal.

 

[Buzz2537]

I've been to it three times, and will most likely not go again due to the unbelievable crowds of people there.

Yes, they've had some great guest speakers in the past, but when I tell you it gets JAMMED packed, I'm not exaggerating.

I was there when they had the tent sale, and would go to that again any given day, as I picked up some GREAT stuff for my fids at rather awesome prices.

EEK, now I am not sure I even want to go. I thought it would be crowded but too jammed I cannot take. Yeah, I love the tent sale. Hahnna needs a bigger java tree. She was so tiny when I got her and she really grew. She fits in it but not much for her to play on. i think this is better for a Tiel maybe. I really want a big one on wheels.

 

[Buzz2537]

a friend went up recently for a tent sale and got a nice java tree stand for his macaw for like $40~

YES! I picked up a nice table top Java for $45. And like I said a lot of nice toys that would have been much much more even online. I may take a ride out tomorrow, as I have a $200 credit. Was going to do the Paloozza but Jersey Wendy mentioned how jammed it gets and I am not much for big big crowds.

 

[kendrafitz]

I took the kids there last year the last day around 4 in the afternoon. The BBQ was nice and it was nice to catch up with people I knew from when I visited Rosie. I was there daily for a couple months. .

They literally bus people in for the weekend. It gets absolutely insanely crowded. We only went bc I had a bunch of raffle tickets from purchasing Rosie and her supplies the kids wanted to enter. I had asked the staff when the least crowded time would be and that's when we went.

I would say if you are going for the speakers, go for it. Otherwise, any other time is better to visit the store in my opinion. Less crowds and more products. They clear out a lot for the crowds. Also, you can almost always get coupons online anyway.

Although you can't beat the last tent sale they had!!

 

[Buzz2537]

I took the kids there last year the last day around 4 in the afternoon. The BBQ was nice and it was nice to catch up with people I knew from when I visited Rosie. I was there daily for a couple months. .

They literally bus people in for the weekend. It gets absolutely insanely crowded. We only went bc I had a bunch of raffle tickets from purchasing Rosie and her supplies the kids wanted to enter. I had asked the staff when the least crowded time would be and that's when we went.

I would say if you are going for the speakers, go for it. Otherwise, any other time is better to visit the store in my opinion. Less crowds and more products. They clear out a lot for the crowds. Also, you can almost always get coupons online anyway.

Although you can't beat the last tent sale they had!!

Thanks Kendra. Yeah, after reading posts I think I am going to pass. I cannot stand when things get too crowds. The gals are very nice there. Susan was hand feeding Hahnna, until she was about 8 weeks then she let me bring her home and finish. Hahnna is almost 13 weeks now. Elaine and Hahnna