Question for dealers

Steve27 · March 25, 2003 1:14AM

What is the range of table fees you pay at shows, and how does that affect the price/negotiability of your stock?

wayneherndon · March 25, 2003 3:01AM

A small show can be as little as $30 to $40 per table while a major show can be as much as $1000 or more. It basically depends on the cost of the venue and the amount of services included in the table fee (security, etc.). Unless the show is local, travel expenses generally dwarf the table fee anyway.

For us, it does not impact the prices. No matter what venue we sell in or at, there are costs associated with doing business in that manner. Shows are no different. The main downside to shows is the dealer's time committment away from other selling avenues (shop, phone, e-mail, etc.).

WH

gsaguy · March 25, 2003 3:05AM

Steve,

That's a good question. And there's no one answer as the pricing of coins tends to be a complex mix.

Table fees vary widely depending on the size of the show, the location, and who manages the affair. And, of course, table fees aren't the only expenses faced by dealers. There's the cost of air travel, hotels, ground transportation, and meals. They all add up rapidly.

The smallest shows (under 40 tables) often cost something on the order of $100-200 for a table. Medium-sized shows often run several hundred dollars and up. The biggest shows (nationals) can run as high as $1000 or more for a booth. Keep in mind that many of these booths are manned by 3-4 dealers, each with his own inventory, and each sharing expenses.

How does this affect the price/negotiability of our stock? Well, I've always found that I can buy coins at better prices at smaller shows. However, as one might expect, the selection is much more limited. Buying at larger shows is typically more expensive but the selection tends to be much better due to the overall number of dealers.

While this doesn't answer your question precisely, I think that coin prices at the major shows tend to be higher than they are at smaller shows. But I think that's basically a function of preceived demand on the part of the dealer. That same coin at the end of the show may be much better priced than at the beginning of the show.

Hope this helps.

GSAGUY

FinallyHere · March 25, 2003 3:21AM

Steve,

We do only the larger major shows so I can't speak to the cost of the smaller shows. For us, table fees run from $750 on the low side to $1250 or a bit more for others. Then you have to add cases and lights and all the other stuff they used to include but do not anymore.

How does this impact our pricing or how we will negotiate? Not one bit. The table fees are a cost of doing business and not something you pass onto customers in any way shape or form. I would imagine all other dealers would echo this as well.

Mike Printz
My Site

Steve27 · March 25, 2003 4:10AM

Thanks for all the responses, it seems that different dealers have different niches, but most consider the table fee to just be a cost of doing business.

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