Going to FUN, any tips?

Russell12

My wife and I just booked our flight to Orlando. We regularly go to coin shows, but not this large. I do have my hard to find want list ready to show to dealers, but that is a lot of dealers! Anybody have general any tips for the show?

As an aside, we will also visit NASA, Epcot and a few other places.

rte592

Wear comfortable shoes.

Walkerguy21D

@rte592 said:
Wear comfortable shoes.

Yes, plan on a lot of walking, and the better part of two days to see most of the dealers plus some displays, time for submissions, etc.

2ndCharter

By early December, the floor layout and the dealer list with assigned table numbers should be posted on the FUN show website. Print out the map and mark down the location of the dealers you want to see first. It will save a lot of "roaming" time.

BillJones

Come with a list of what you want to buy. If you are looking for inexpensive material, the bargain area might be for you. For the big dealers, space is important, and they frequently don’t bring their cheap stuff.

Get there on Thursday. As the show progresses, more dealers pull up stakes. Sunday will be much more empty than full. It’s better than most any local show, but a far cry from what it was earlier.

You can buy an early bird badge for Wednesday, but I don’t think it’s worth it for most collectors. Dealers mostly trade among themselves and are running boxes. A lot of them won’t have anything on display in their cases. A few dealers don’t set up on Wednesday. You could buy $5,000 worth of stuff from a dealer on Wednesday, and they will be upset that you took their time. I know that from experience.

Take a look at the exhibits. I will have one. Hint: It’s about an important Central American canal. The educational forums might interest you. If nothing else, you can rest your feet.

Have fun! If you have not been to a huge show before, it’s a unique experience.

P0CKETCHANGE

HAVE. A. PLAN.

Write down everything you want to accomplish. Print out a map and circle the tables you intend to visit. Decide the order in which you want to visit the tables. Have not only your want list, but the prices, etc. that you want to pay. Download the PCGS Cert and CoinFacts apps. Figure out what’s for lunch. Bring snacks. Bring your own mustard packets, just in case. Make specific plans if you intend to meet other forum members. Set aside some funds for a spontaneous, unexpected purchase.

The size of the show is overwhelming and (at least for me), it’s easy to get lost without a plan.

Russell12

thanks

alefzero

Set up a dealer target list and perhaps explore their online inventories in advance. If there is a coin of particular potential interest, you might contact them to see if it will go to the show.

In general, unless you find a ridiculously difficult piece or one that fits your set perfectly (others come to pick up the rare stuff too and they can be gone pronto), I always recommend doing the whole bourse before buying. But take notes, especially noting table numbers and quoted prices.

Depending on how narrow your focus, knowing (or adding to your shopping list) the typical prices in various acceptable grades (XF, AU, 60, 63, 65, for instance) will take a lot of back and forth looking at price guides and auction archives. Preparation helps a lot.

FUN is a great show. It and the ANA WFoM in August are huge and totally different than typical regional shows. If you can't find something there, it probably is not on the market.

golden

You will need Thursday and Friday to cover the bourse floor. Wear good shoes and just have FUN.

PerryHall

Watch out for the alligators! Just kidding. There are actually more sharks on the bourse floor that you need to watch out for.

RichieURich

Quite a few good suggestions so far. Mine is that if you see a coin you like at a price you like, buy it right then, rather than walk the rest of the floor, because when you get back to that table, that coin you liked will probably be gone!