Coin Show Etiquette for Kids
Raptor48
Posts: 60 ✭✭✭
Val and I have plan to attend our local “Colorado Money Show” this weekend. It is an annual local show held at the fair grounds with about 50-70 dealers. Small and friendly.
Val just found out she will be caring for her 5 year old grandson this weekend. He is a well mannered kid.Since Val and I were raised when kids were expected to be seen and not heard, we keep that norm in mind when he is with us. So I don’t think manners will be any issue, never has in the past.
The big problem is Val’s grandson is only about four feet tall and we know that he will definitely want to see the contents of the tables. So we are thinking of bringing a small stool so he can see what is happening. We will avoid the crowded tables and move on to the areas with less traffic. Do you think this approach will work or do you think this would be considered bad manners - on our part?
PS – We buy interesting coins for Val’s grandson regularly and after showing them to him, these get put away in a safe location for the future. We know he just might sell them at that time – but that is not the point.
We appreciate any advice, Phil & Val
Comments
Obviously you can’t have kids banging on cases or mishandling any inventory…..but personally I would strongly hope that any coin dealer setting up at any show is prepared for the presence of children.
Even better if they’re prepared to engage them and impart positive impressions of the hobby.
As long as your stool isn’t preventing dealers from conducting business or other collectors from navigating the bourse you should be good to go imho.
The biggest mistake as a kid I made was insisting to pay red book prices and forgot one price for something I wanted to buy and said "in the neighborhood of" as I forgot and got yelled at for it.
Please have them wash their hands and face after eating a mustard ladened hotdog.
The dealers, the kids, or both?
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Never been a dealer, but never minded kids at coin shows and most that I go to have scavenger hunts or something specifically to get the kids going around and interacting with the dealers. The little stool idea shouldn’t be a problem.
Sometimes theres not much of a difference
I have concerns about anyone asking to see a coin they have NO interest in buying. As an example, a coin over $20,000.00 on more. Most children don't have this kind of funds. Maybe if the dealer has no one around but if he has a number of customers not a great idea!
Many times people will have their kid pick out something. Many dealers have junk box material handy.
I read the OP's comment not as the grandson wanting to handle coins and view them up close, but simply wanting to see into the cases, but being too short to do so without a stool.
A suggestion to help establish expectations might be helpful. If your grandson is coached at the outset and will be satisfied looking at what is in the case through the case glass and without being in the case, it seems a stool might work as long as it is compact. I am not sure that would be a requirement, but then again... I have no idea how crowded the show gets. I do know that certain dealer tables can get crowded and one just needs to be mindful of others... and that goes for others being mindful of your efforts to create a positive experience for your young and impressionable grandson. Hope you all have fun and it turns out to be a positive experience which can become a family tradition. Best of luck.
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Cover their shirts in mustard stains to fit in
I've done this with a 6/7-year old recently - you just need to hammer home the idea of respect for other people's things by asking before they touch something - but encouraging them to ask lots of questions.
Generally, dealers are very welcoming and friendly to the really young kids.
I dont think that i would care to carry around a stool. Most shows that i have been to have chairs at each dealers table that the child could stand on if desired.
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Duct tape.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
When my sons were young they made out like bandits at coin shows. One always had a youth auction, all kids were given play money and could bid on coins donated by dealers. They were always given freebies by dealers, foreign coins, Ike dollars, they had a blast!
The last coin show I went to in Long Beach had a booth with two older salesmen at it. The autistic kid at the booth asked about my BattleTech shirt as I walked by, asking if it was Clan Wolf. It was Clan Coyote. The two salesmen left a bad impression with me by responding to the kids with impatience, they clearly weren't interesting in him chatting up customers. So I took my time to talk about BattleTech with the kid, I showed them my painted models on my phone. Gave him the time and respect he deserved.
Don't let the grumpy oldness win.
Llamas and alpacas are camels. They aren't like camels, or related. They are camels. When was anyone going to tell me this?! How long had Bill Nye been holding out on us?
A bowl of those chocolate coins might offer some contentment as well.
For kids:
I do have junk box material with prices in 2x2 holders for as little as a $ on up you can pick out for them.
If your purchases over $100 might
give them something for free. At one show was a PCGS slabbed 5c worth $25.
He should be tall enough without a stool, but it should be fine if you decide to bring one, though a bit of an inconvenience.
He will have fun for sure! Many dealers are great dealing with kids.