<< <i>Once you walk in the dealer's shoes, you will have a different perspective. In fact, those who haven't worked a table, volunteer to work with one of the dealers. It will be an eye opener!
In OP's case it might be better to get some first hand experience in trying to run a show...where you have to deal with whiny dealers AND whiny collectors, both of which think that everything should be all about them... then try to come up with solutions to appease both.
Dealers don't like their table placement, there's not enough room behind the table, the electric outlet's too far away, I wanted to be by So-and So, the lighting sucks, the food sucks, the heat/air conditioning sucks, it's too crowded, it's not crowded enough, too many tire kickers, he stole my greysheet, he stole my loupe, he's trying to do deals at my table...
With the collectors it's not much different... I don't wanna pay admission for the privilege of spending my money, the aisles are too narrow, there aren't enough chairs, your hours suck, that guy was rude to me because I wanted to go through his $1000 bag of dimes for rare varieties, I spent 3 hours looking for Peruvian trade tokens and no one had any so I want my admission back, that guy didn't offer enough for my 1958 wheat cent, this guy asked me to leave just because I offered to buy something from a guy at his table who was showing him stuff, that guy doesn't want me to drink soda or eat a sandwich while I look at his coins/paper money, instead of the posted hours, you should be open from X to X (whatever hours are convenient for THEM, with no regard for anyone else), I didn't know the show (which was advertised for the past year) was this weekend, so that's why I'm here late- but it's still YOUR fault no one's here that has what I want...
I could go on but hopefully the point's been made. And in case it hasn't- the point is that you can't please everyone.
A lot of preparation and planning go into putting on a major show, and the promoters have to come up with a schedule that satisfies the most people in the most efficient manner...not a schedule that satisfies EVERYONE regardless of their obligations. There will always be someone with a conflict, a previous engagement, work conflict, whatever...it's called life. Stuff happens. There would never be a show if you tried to cover all contingencies for all people. To think that one can do so is, to be kind, naïve. >>
All good and valid points. I have helped set up a one day show and it was a blast. I guess a weekend or week long show would be a lot more hassle. Your post did make me smile though.
A Thursday-Monday show where the dealers are required to stay until the end on Monday means that the dealer who also has a shop back home has to close his shop for the better part of two weeks in order to attend the show.
<< <i>A Thursday-Monday show where the dealers are required to stay until the end on Monday means that the dealer who also has a shop back home has to close his shop for the better part of two weeks in order to attend the show.
Just sayin... >>
...and then someone would just complain that they had obligations and couldn't get there, and the show should have run through Tuesday or Wednesday because that works better for them... there's always going to be a complainer out there.
<< <i>I have given this example before but no one really seems to think it makes any sense when it comes to coin shows. I am friends with a family that owned a sporting goods store in a tourist town. The parents ALWAYS stayed until closing time at 10:00 pm regardless of how many customers were in the store. Many nights they didn't have a customer come in for hours. They also were ALWAYS open early in the morning just in case someone needed bait or a license at 5:00 am. Rain or shine, sick or healthy, they were always there just in case that one customer needed something. This family built a legend. People would come to shop at this store because of the owners work ethic among other things. New shops would come and go but this one was always the place to go. Well, the mother died first and a few years later the father passed away. None of the kids wanted the store. It was sold on a land contract to a new set of owners. You can guess what happened. They were never there. They closed early and never arrived on time. Within a few years, the store went bankrupt. What is the moral of the story? In my mind, this is how you run a successful business. If you sign up for a coin show that runs till 3:00 pm on Sunday, you should man the store till the end regardless of the number of customers. >>
There are hundred of successful coin dealers who don't work from 5am to 10pm seven days a week and seem to do just fine. There is more than one way to skin a cat - some people work smarter than they do harder.
How about each individual dealer have a large sign stating the hours they will be set up or when they plan on leaving. Maybe have these times listed on the promotional material. Seems like a win-win on both ends.
Also if you don't deal with the general public place a sign stating that so, so us little people don't waste your time.
Anyone ever noticed that it's a fact that more small business fail than become big businesses. Just saying that bending to the wants of a few do not lead to success in most cases.
<< <i>Anyone ever noticed that it's a fact that more small business fail than become big businesses. Just saying that bending to the wants of a few do not lead to success in most cases. >>
Great point - but it could also be the other way, maybe they are failing because they don't bend to the wants of their customers.
That Kyle Dake versus David Taylor matchup was great! Dake now has a record for the ages. Taylor is certainly an elite wrestler, but he's lost out due to the mental edge on a couple of occasions now.
As for coin show dates, I can usually make it happen whatever days they have 'em.
And maybe getting back home to have the customers orders from internet sales over the weekend in the mail Monday morning may make them more money than manning a table at a empty show. Just saying it's a changing world and diminishing sales at a show are not where priorities might need to be.
<< <i>Great point - but it could also be the other way, maybe they are failing because they don't bend to the wants of their customers.
Just saying >>
Could be.... could be.... could be.... just saying
Despite the sharing of many centuries of real world coin business and hobby experience to the contrary, you appear to smugly persist in believing that, functionally, in this particular area, you might NOT be dumber than a box of rocks.
Could be... could be... could be... Just saying
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
<< <i>How about each individual dealer have a large sign stating the hours they will be set up or when they plan on leaving. Maybe have these times listed on the promotional material. Seems like a win-win on both ends......
>>
Also, flight schedules, license plate numbers, home addresses.....
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
<< <i>Great point - but it could also be the other way, maybe they are failing because they don't bend to the wants of their customers.
Just saying >>
Could be.... could be.... could be.... just saying
Despite the sharing of many centuries of real world coin business and hobby experience to the contrary, you appear to smugly persist in believing that, functionally, in this particular area, you might NOT be dumber than a box of rocks.
Could be... could be... could be... Just saying >>
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one Colonel. Not trying to be smug, just trying to get some of you to think outside the box a little bit. I knew it would meet stiff resistance. Most people don't like change until they have to.
Am I the only one who thinks that this thread wouldn't exist if the ANA show times fit in with OP's schedule? But since they don't, the whole coin show schedule paradigm is inherently flawed and now must be changed?
<< <i>Am I the only one who thinks that this thread wouldn't exist if the ANA show times fit in with OP's schedule? But since they don't, the whole coin show schedule paradigm is inherently flawed and now must be changed? >>
<< <i>Most people don't like change until they have to. >>
Like for example if all the good coins were sold on Thursdays, and you only attended on Saturdays, you might have to change your habits in order to get first shot at the good coins
<< <i>How about each individual dealer have a large sign stating the hours they will be set up or when they plan on leaving. Maybe have these times listed on the promotional material. Seems like a win-win on both ends. >>
Seems like a great way to mark yourself to be a victim of a robbery.
Ok the way i look at it is alot of collectors can and do make it. That is why if a small group can't it's not a big deal and if the small group want to go they need to think how they are going to do it.
Comments
<< <i>Once you walk in the dealer's shoes, you will have a different perspective. In fact, those who haven't worked a table, volunteer to work with one of the dealers. It will be an eye opener!
In OP's case it might be better to get some first hand experience in trying to run a show...where you have to deal with whiny dealers AND whiny collectors, both of which think that everything should be all about them... then try to come up with solutions to appease both.
Dealers don't like their table placement, there's not enough room behind the table, the electric outlet's too far away, I wanted to be by So-and So, the lighting sucks, the food sucks, the heat/air conditioning sucks, it's too crowded, it's not crowded enough, too many tire kickers, he stole my greysheet, he stole my loupe, he's trying to do deals at my table...
With the collectors it's not much different... I don't wanna pay admission for the privilege of spending my money, the aisles are too narrow, there aren't enough chairs, your hours suck, that guy was rude to me because I wanted to go through his $1000 bag of dimes for rare varieties, I spent 3 hours looking for Peruvian trade tokens and no one had any so I want my admission back, that guy didn't offer enough for my 1958 wheat cent, this guy asked me to leave just because I offered to buy something from a guy at his table who was showing him stuff, that guy doesn't want me to drink soda or eat a sandwich while I look at his coins/paper money, instead of the posted hours, you should be open from X to X (whatever hours are convenient for THEM, with no regard for anyone else), I didn't know the show (which was advertised for the past year) was this weekend, so that's why I'm here late- but it's still YOUR fault no one's here that has what I want...
I could go on but hopefully the point's been made. And in case it hasn't- the point is that you can't please everyone.
A lot of preparation and planning go into putting on a major show, and the promoters have to come up with a schedule that satisfies the most people in the most efficient manner...not a schedule that satisfies EVERYONE regardless of their obligations. There will always be someone with a conflict, a previous engagement, work conflict, whatever...it's called life. Stuff happens. There would never be a show if you tried to cover all contingencies for all people. To think that one can do so is, to be kind, naïve. >>
All good and valid points. I have helped set up a one day show and it was a blast. I guess a weekend or week long show would be a lot more hassle. Your post did make me smile though.
Just sayin...
<< <i>A Thursday-Monday show where the dealers are required to stay until the end on Monday means that the dealer who also has a shop back home has to close his shop for the better part of two weeks in order to attend the show.
Just sayin... >>
...and then someone would just complain that they had obligations and couldn't get there, and the show should have run through Tuesday or Wednesday because that works better for them...
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
<< <i>I have given this example before but no one really seems to think it makes any sense when it comes to coin shows. I am friends with a family that owned a sporting goods store in a tourist town. The parents ALWAYS stayed until closing time at 10:00 pm regardless of how many customers were in the store. Many nights they didn't have a customer come in for hours. They also were ALWAYS open early in the morning just in case someone needed bait or a license at 5:00 am. Rain or shine, sick or healthy, they were always there just in case that one customer needed something. This family built a legend. People would come to shop at this store because of the owners work ethic among other things. New shops would come and go but this one was always the place to go. Well, the mother died first and a few years later the father passed away. None of the kids wanted the store. It was sold on a land contract to a new set of owners. You can guess what happened. They were never there. They closed early and never arrived on time. Within a few years, the store went bankrupt. What is the moral of the story? In my mind, this is how you run a successful business. If you sign up for a coin show that runs till 3:00 pm on Sunday, you should man the store till the end regardless of the number of customers. >>
There are hundred of successful coin dealers who don't work from 5am to 10pm seven days a week and seem to do just fine. There is more than one way to skin a cat - some people work smarter than they do harder.
Also if you don't deal with the general public place a sign stating that so, so us little people don't waste your time.
<< <i>Anyone ever noticed that it's a fact that more small business fail than become big businesses. Just saying that bending to the wants of a few do not lead to success in most cases. >>
Great point - but it could also be the other way, maybe they are failing because they don't bend to the wants of their customers.
Just saying
As for coin show dates, I can usually make it happen whatever days they have 'em.
Just saying it's a changing world and diminishing sales at a show are not where priorities might need to be.
<< <i>Great point - but it could also be the other way, maybe they are failing because they don't bend to the wants of their customers.
Just saying
Could be.... could be.... could be.... just saying
Despite the sharing of many centuries of real world coin business and hobby experience to the contrary, you appear to smugly persist in believing that, functionally, in this particular area, you might NOT be dumber than a box of rocks.
Could be... could be... could be... Just saying
<< <i>How about each individual dealer have a large sign stating the hours they will be set up or when they plan on leaving. Maybe have these times listed on the promotional material. Seems like a win-win on both ends......
>>
Also, flight schedules, license plate numbers, home addresses.....
<< <i>
<< <i>Great point - but it could also be the other way, maybe they are failing because they don't bend to the wants of their customers.
Just saying
Could be.... could be.... could be.... just saying
Despite the sharing of many centuries of real world coin business and hobby experience to the contrary, you appear to smugly persist in believing that, functionally, in this particular area, you might NOT be dumber than a box of rocks.
Could be... could be... could be... Just saying
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one Colonel. Not trying to be smug, just trying to get some of you to think outside the box a little bit. I knew it would meet stiff resistance. Most people don't like change until they have to.
But since they don't, the whole coin show schedule paradigm is inherently flawed and now must be changed?
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
<< <i>Am I the only one who thinks that this thread wouldn't exist if the ANA show times fit in with OP's schedule?
But since they don't, the whole coin show schedule paradigm is inherently flawed and now must be changed? >>
No, you aren't the only one who is thinking that.
<< <i>Most people don't like change until they have to. >>
It appears you are trying to get most people to change so you don't have to.
<< <i>Most people don't like change until they have to. >>
Like for example if all the good coins were sold on Thursdays, and you only attended on Saturdays, you might have to change your habits in order to get first shot at the good coins
<< <i>How about each individual dealer have a large sign stating the hours they will be set up or when they plan on leaving. Maybe have these times listed on the promotional material. Seems like a win-win on both ends.
>>
Seems like a great way to mark yourself to be a victim of a robbery.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Yeah, the thieves would just LOVE that! Great idea!
Member ANA, SPMC, SCNA, FUN, CONECA
Hoard the keys.