This is an interesting post from Daria over at Mesh Body Addicts.
Some of the pics are NSFW, so be careful before you click over to the full post.
I have to say, as someone who has frequented many of these shopping events, I’ve become much more selective about where I shop.
I do sometimes get early access to events through my blogging group, which is fabulous, because the lag is generally pretty low.
My computer is fairly high-end, however, so I don’t experience many of the issues mentioned here.
I do agree with the issue of people who seem to get into an event and then just ‘park’ there. I’ve also often wondered why most events are ‘full’ at 35-40 avatars, when I’ve been to many shows where there are double that amount of people.
When I shop, I do try to be a polite shopper – I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, I don’t wear a lot of attachments (soo many people walking around with pets attached – very annoying), and I often don’t even wear my mesh body.
I confess, I don’t demo a lot of things. I can’t think of something I’ve bought that I couldn’t make work. I know there have probably been a couple of things, but it’s few and far between for me.
I look at the event catalogues (or on Seraphim) to see what I might want before I go to the event, so I can get in, buy, and leave.
If there’s nothing I really want, then I’ve saved myself a trip, a lot of hassle, and probably a lot of L$. 😛
I haven’t event tried to get into Collabor88 yet, and I’m still seeing notices all over that people can’t get in.
I’d much rather shop an event like Mix, where you get a HUD with LM’s to all the stores and you’re not fighting every fashionista in SL to get in. 
The post is an interesting read – make sure you read through the comments as well. 🙂
A Kat and A Mouse 
Right there with you! I love the posts on Seraphim that let me pick what I want to buy before I go to an event!