Is there any competitive advantage to flying to Dallas and viewing the FUN lots early?

Longacre

I got an email yesterday from one of my preferred dealers. In it, he indicated that he is making a special trip to the center of the numismatic universe, Dallas, during mid-December, in order to view the FUN lots. I am not sure how many other dealers do this.

Does anyone think that a dealer can gain a competitive advantage by viewing the FUN lots earlier than any other dealer? I can think of a few. First, in December, you are seated in the plush surroundings of the Heritage Corporate Campus, rather than on some rickety plastic chair at the FUN show at lot viewing. Second, I am sure the finest edible delights are served on a daily basis in the Heritage Executive Dining Room, which dealers are probably invited to. This contrasts with scarfing down a Bourse Dog while trying to view lots at FUN with hundreds of other people. Third, the lighting at the Heritage office is probably better than your typical lot viewing room, and it is probably less crowded at Heritage.

I think that all of these factors add up to a competitive advantage. The dealer can stay focused just on viewing the coins, and then has ample time to speak with his clients, determine reasonable bids, and come up with strategy for the auction. Viewing lots at the FUN show seems too rushed, especially with tons of other dealers in the room and regular collectors who are also looking at coins just for kicks. Couple this with the fact that the dealer is probably trying to work wholesale deals at the same time, and it just get to be too much.

Does anyone here request or insist that their dealer pre-view lots, or does it just make good business sense for dealers to do so?

WTCG

Viewing auction lots in advance saves time. That's the most important reason for me to view lots early.

Coxe

If you need the extra time to digest the findings from lot viewing and strategize for yourself or clients, advance viewing would be helpful. Otherwise, all lot viewing precedes the sales and it pretty much doesn't matter when it's done. Only had one bad lighting situation viewing HNAI lots. I think it actually was at FUN...a dark room with basic task lighting. I like good ambient lighting too if I am judging DMPLs.

BECOKA

Would it be bad if one were to bring their own light to view coins with? Maybe a portable OTT-LITE.

MadMarty

Just hire Laura to take care of it for you!

messydesk

Being able to inform your clients in well in advance of the show seems pretty valuable, especially if we're talking big ticket stuff. You also have a better chance to get all your ducks in a row for the auction at a slower pace and spend non-auction hours during the show conducting other business. One somewhat nefarious advantage I can think of is that someone that wants a coin has a chance to surreptitously apply a scratch or scuff in a strategic location on a slab in order to make viewing more difficult for those that follow. I don't know if this has ever been tried, either by a bidder or consignor, but I wouldn't put it past smoe people.

Cladiator

Skip the flight and add what it would have cost to fly there and back to your max bid.

Coxe

<< <i>One somewhat nefarious advantage I can think of is that someone that wants a coin has a chance to surreptitously apply a scratch or scuff in a strategic location on a slab in order to make viewing more difficult for those that follow. I don't know if this has ever been tried, either by a bidder or consignor, but I wouldn't put it past smoe people. >>



I know there is someone out there intentionally scratches Morgan slabs so they photograph to confuse VAM hunters doing online auctions. I would not be surprised by the opposite, a VAM hunter who smudges a slab in a key spot to hide a detail he doesn't want following viewers to benefit from. There's always a bad apple out there.

RYK

I have discussed this with several dealers, and they feel that this is the most efficient, cost/time effective way to do it. If the dealer is representing clients or him/herself, it is much easier to coordinate bidding a few weeks before FUN than on the ground at FUN, while trying to staff a table and make deals on the floor and outside the bourse. I have never been to Dallas before a big sale, but from what I understand, there are usually plenty of dealers there viewing lots. For the bigger, national dealers, it is probably not optional to view the lots ahead of the show--it's a must.

poorguy

Is there any competitive advantage to flying to Dallas and viewing the FUN lots early?

Definitely, the fact that Anaconda Rare Coins is right here is all the reason you need to come to Dallas.