DD's Inaugural GACC Tampa Report
PeakRarities
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https://www.peakrarities.com/post/2024-gacc-inaugural-tampa-show-report
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Comments
Nice report.
I love the overall honesty as you didn't flower-up the narrative.
Neat Bust dollar too.
peacockcoins
Thanks for the read
Funny you mentioned “unrealized profits” and I immediately thought of taxes.
The CAC(G) box looks great.
Great report
Poker players are cheaper than coin collectors
Good read. I like the idea of show admission redeemable vouchers.
A PCGS box is sized to fit laterally in a SDB, which allows for 17 boxes in a 10x10 SDB (340 slabs).
A NGC box (and apparently a CACG box) only fits longitudinally, only allowing 14 boxes in a 10x10 SDB (280 slabs).
Clearly PCGS thought this through.
Thanks Dan. Appreciate your writing style and ability to avoid mincing words. I also feel better about my decision to attend the Long Beach show the previous week.
Tim
Dan, your commentary about the admission fee was spot on, in my opinion. I'm a very small fish compared to many collectors, but I had no problem paying the fee, as I wanted to support the show in its infancy. $15 is pretty cheap for a day's entertainment in this day and age but you can't tell that to a lot of the skinflints that populate this hobby.
A couple of decades ago I was the GM of a very small civic center in New York state and so, I have first-hand knowledge of what it costs to put on any sort of trade show. The operating cost of even the smallest convention facility is eye-watering, and I am surprised that any coin or trade show is able to offer free admission.
That's a dang heavy SDB! Better have a cart available to move it to a viewing room.
Interesting report. Thanks for sharing your insights. Looking forward to perusing your new inventory.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Great report. I would have guessed that Tampa has more retired folks/collectors than Orlando but I certainly don’t know Florida demographics that well.
I have always wondered why collectors get worked up about admission fees, which always seem reasonable to me. I have been in line at a local show where a guy in front of me found out there was a 5 dollar admission fee and turned around and headed to the parking lot. Bizarre.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Thanks for sharing!!!
Love the CAC Box!
Dan - well written, enjoyable read with a right on analysis! As a collector, this was a great show for me, not only for acquisitions, but for making new contacts (some of which are forum members). Fun, too, having a rarity “showdown” with you & some of your beauties! Looking forward to hooking up again @ FUN.
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Think I read in someone else’s report about the snowbirds not being in Florida yet, and they created the low attendance.
If anyone thinks this was the cause, you’re either fooling yourself, or you don’t understand the Florida population. That is a cop-out excuse.
Online pre-registration was $10 a day or $25 (I believe that’s what it was) for the whole show. Maybe that’s a lot to most, but for the opportunity to see one of a kind coins, talk to the dealers, make some amazing purchases, and meet new friends in the coin world was well worth it to me. A cup of coffee is literally $5 and gone in 20 minutes….and a beer at the airport or a bar is $6-$10. I guess it’s what is more important to you. I don’t guess I’m getting it. I see so many beautiful coins here ranging from $50 to $100K plus, so the fee can’t be THAT exhorbitant. What’s the cost to go to a ballgame? Add a drink and a burger and you’ve blown quite a bit of money and most likely will leave with exactly what you came with. Great report Dan. See you in FLL! 😉
I enjoyed reading your report and appreciated you passing along some behind the scenes information and some of the expenses that go along with making a show presence as a dealer. I know this show was in its infancy and that due to distance, cost to travel, end of summer wind-up for us, I would likely never attend, but thanks to all the dealers that did show up (even if briefly) to help make it a success.
In regard to an admission fee, "Why don't people just look at this cost as going towards security expenses for keeping them safe?"
If someone won’t attend a coin show because it costs fifteen bucks they’re probably not going to be buying a whole lot. Heck, a movie costs $15-20 nowadays and that’s only two hours of entertainment. I went out for dinner last night at a moderate restaurant and a glass of wine was $16.
Can't agree more. Collectors aren't used to paying admission fees, but the costs of putting on a show, even local shows, is very high and admission fees will probably be increasing in number in the future. Our local club had an annual show which was a decent money-maker for the club until Covid canceled in 2020 and 2021. When we looked at it in 2022, the cost of the building rental, security, insurance, advertising and incidentals were so much that unless we sold all of our tables, we would lose money. In other words, we had to sell all of our tables to break even, with no potential for a profit. Result = no show.
As far as the recent GACC show is concerned, fortunately I am a Coin World subscriber and Coin World, as one of the major sponsors of the show, sent free 4-day admission passes to all of their subscribers. So I didn't have to pay an admission fee. I had a great show, was able to sell a lot of the things I brought, and I was able to buy two coins, one of which I wouldn't have found at a more crowded show.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
If free admission’s necessary to produce a noticeably better attendance, how much extra business is that larger crowd likely to bring to the booth holders? My guess would be very little.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
No one said that it was the only cause, but it certainly could have been one of several contributing factors. I live in south Florida, and I can say with certainty that the snowbird season is mainly October-April. I just walked down Atlantic Ave a couple weeks ago and it was dead. After Halloween, you can barely walk down the sidewalk without bumping shoulders with everyone.
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Very detailed and informative report.
I have not been to any shows since the days we were dealing comics.
I learned that as a dealer I was attending two shows in one.
1)As a seller. You can measure your P&L at the show very quickly.
2)As a Buyer. Can you monetize what you bought? Quite a number of times I lost money at my most successful shows. Future sales of your recent purchases will dictate the result.
Thanks for your great report. I have my doubts about the FLL show if Tampa was such a bomb. How many dealers are going to sign up for another new show?
I appreciate the comments on admission fees. I now realize these shows are put on for everyone's benefit and an admission fee should be expected to participate.
Help them set up 1000 tables and 4000 chairs and you can get in for free.
The ANA convention cost $10 a day, so $15 isn’t much more, at all. So, not sure that the admission fee had anything to do with the low attendance. If I were a seller, I would prefer the admission fee, as it keeps the riffraff and the tire kickers away.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Ummmm, I’d rather pay $20….but thanks for the generous offer….. 😉
Except that a PCGS box holds only PCGS slabs. As soon as someone has anything beyond PCGS in their collection, those boxes become useless. The newer PCGS holders don't fit (well or at all) in NGC boxes so this could be changing, but look at the secondary market for boxes. NGC boxes commanded a notable premium and people bought them up. PCGS boxes are basically given away.
Thanks for the show report DD.
Glad that you had some success in the wheel and deal department.
The lack of attendees seems to be the primary topic for all of the show reports that I have read.
I wish that they had more major shows here in Boston. The Bay State and the Expo in NH are the only ones that I know of.
I hope that your new pickups pay dividends in the future.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
A couple of years ago, NGC redesigned their box, so it only fits NGC slabbed Coins. In order to get an NGC box that fits both old PCGS slabs and all NGC slabs, you must find an older NGC box. It took me a while to tell the difference, but now; I can recognize them, right away, and grab them when I see them.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
*Chiropractic fee not included.
Thanks for your report. Very informative.
This ^^^^. The issues were Tampa, timing so soon after the ANA, and admission fees.
Yes, hardcore collectors will pay a fee to enter a show. Casual collectors and members of the public will not. Certainly not for commercial shows like this.
Giving people a voucher to use with a dealer in return for an admission fee, and then asking dealers to fund them, is not an answer, since the burden would be unevenly split, depending on which dealers end up with the vouchers. The dealers are already paying rent to be at the show. In return for that, show sponsors are responsible for generating retail traffic.
Otherwise, the table fees lose value, and poof, there goes your show. It's unreasonable to expect dealers to pay a fee to set up at a show, and to then pay members of the public to do business with them, while show sponsors just sit back collecting fees from all parties.
We've seen it time and time again, yet show sponsors, even those with experience like Shepherd, need to keep learning it again and again. Build your nut into table fees, be willing to fund early losses to get a show off the ground, or don't bother.
Because, now, after this, Ft. Lauderdale will be a shadow of what it otherwise might have been, no matter what they do.
You get one shot to make a first impression. If you don't believe me, just ask the IMEX folks, who immediately turned their planned annual show into a bi-annual one after what happened in 2023.
And, I'll believe the 2025 show, not when they announce it, but after it has actually taken place. No matter what they do, it is highly unlikely to build on the momentum they established with their first disaster, and will likely be their last, if they even do it in the first place.
The ANA's 2025 dates have been published. Same for FUN, Whitman, even GACC. Where is IMEX? It's already late September 2024.
Nice report. I am glad to be mentioned.
God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.
Thanks for the report.
Philippians 4:4-7
The last show I attended was the 2020 Winter ANA in ATL and the next one I plan to attend is the Winter 2025 ANA also in ATL.
I'm interested in attending FUN, NYINC (or whatever it's called now), and ANA World's Fair of Money but wasn't able to for the last eight years for personal reasons. In the past, WFoM didn't have inventory for what I collect of any substance. I can drive to FUN and I'll make it to NYC once eventually but probably only once, as I doubt either will have much if anything I want to buy either.
As for admission fees, I only plan to attend any show for one day, preferably opening day to get first crack at what's available, so I don't mind paying it. Travel costs are the issue for me. I don't have a fixed coin budget, but I'd rather spend my coin budget on coins and as long as I am working will never use more of my vacation than absolutely necessary to attend any show.
great report, from a collector standpoint, I like high admission and parking fees and other inconveniencies because you have less competition, shoot, even Bill was able to buy coins so something must have been way off
Excellent informative report Dan. I appreciate your time and effort!
I enjoyed reading your show report. Now that you are including food photos you have raised your game. Oh, and the coins were nice too. Your website is top notch. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the report, DD, and for your contributions to numismatics!
I like the website although the logo threw me for a minute until I figured out what it really is 😆
Sadly the CAC box doesn’t fit any of my applications ☹️
Empty Nest Collection
Matt’s Mattes
"Frankly, I couldn’t care any less about an extra $15 charge when I was solely a collector, but I’ve come to the realization that coin collectors are among the cheapest and most frugal class of people. "
I almost didn't open this thread because I had heard of the $15 fee.
I just wasn't sure I could afford it.
I really wanted to attend this show. Just a bad time of year for me. Too damn busy.
I’ll definitely catch the FTL show though. My old stomping grounds, and I’d bet it’ll be a much better show for everyone.
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
Dan needs to beef up his inventory for it because he might be the only dealer lol
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I feel the same way. As much as I would love to attend a show in person, if I want to blow money on coins I can do it from here with dealers websites and auctions and stay closer to my responsibilities at the same time. When I was attending winter FUN it would cost me $2000 in travel and I would be homesick the moment I landed wondering what was wrong with me taking in a 4 day show over hanging with my kids. I imagine the day will come I’m retired empty nester and I’ll likely re enter the show circuit. I’m trying to make a case that the hurtles a show promoter has are not about how tightly they organize them, rather many competing options outside the shows altogether. I would guess shows make more sense for folks who make dealing in coins their day job, a great network opportunity, but not necessarily the first best place for the ones who don’t.
Thanks for the show report.
Got alot getting listed tomorrow, its easy to sell the coins but its a herculean task to keep finding them 😂
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Maybe start playing pickleball with the wealthy widows in palm beach?? Thank me later 😂
Nothing is as expensive as free money.