Best Times To Go Large Coin Shows

Mikesp1 · May 15, 2004 9:28AM

I was wondering if you all could give me your opinions on when is the best days to go to one of the larger coin shows. The ones where they are beginning Thursday and ending on Saturday or Sunday. What is the best time of day? I have been out of the game awhile, and want to know how things are. I recently went to the show in Milwaukee and was unable to attend until Saturday. I arrived at 10:30 am and by 12:00 many (a large % ) dealers were closing up shop. I found myself running around trying to hit tables before they took there coins away and packed them up. Any advice??

keets · May 15, 2004 9:32AM

hey Mike

my experience has been that the best time to go is at the opening of the first day and the worst is the last day.

al h.

Bear · May 15, 2004 9:32AM

You will not want to visit the last day of the show. Many dealers are gone or mentally going.

Further much of the good stuff is gone by then. Go to the show early on a week day and avoid the rush.

Cameonut · May 15, 2004 9:35AM

I have always, repeat always, had better luck finding coins for my collection by attending as early as possible. IMO, you will have the widest selection at that time. I suppose it is possible that a dealer will buy new stock during the show and display it on Saturday or Sunday, but I think this is the exception.

I no longer go to major shows on Sunday. Too many dealers leave early, I get PO'd when I see so many empty tables.

Cameonut

Russ · May 15, 2004 9:35AM

Pay early bird and get in there the first day before the other collectors arrive. Sometimes, though, because I'm mostly just a coin scrounge I find some stuff cheap on the last day because the dealers just want to get rid of it.

Russ, NCNE

jdimmick · May 15, 2004 9:47AM

If you want the best material, you have to get thier first. (Thats when I like to go)
If your a bargain hunter, then towrds the end of the show

Mikesp1 · May 15, 2004 9:49AM

Thanks for the reply. I would think on the first day..........say a Thursday......that not all the dealers would be there. Is that the case?? Would a Friday be better than a Thursday if the show started on Thursday? Thanks again..............Mike

nwcs · May 15, 2004 10:01AM

The dealers would all be there because Wednesday and before they're all buying and selling amongst themselves. That's why most of the good stuff may be gone before we can get there.

MadMarty · May 15, 2004 10:26AM

<< <i>Many dealers are gone or mentally going. >>

Hell most of them are already gone!!!

rainbowroosie · May 15, 2004 10:28AM

If you want roosie dimes --- go late on Sunday!!!

ms70 · May 15, 2004 10:50AM

I like to be there on the first day when the doors open.

Shamika · May 15, 2004 11:25AM

Don't forget about the buzz in the air on the first day. It definitely isn't there on the days that follow.

Shoedog · May 15, 2004 11:36AM

I hate to say it because I don't have a solution for it but....even if you get there the first day at the opening there will dealers walking out with alot of coins we won't ever see.Where these coins go i'm not sure ebay maybe or maybe clients want lists.Alot of dealer to dealer cherry picking.I see this at our local show-Sunday only.If I was savvy enough I would be in there with them.
Just my observations.

Conder101 · May 15, 2004 6:43PM

<< <i>I no longer go to major shows on Sunday. Too many dealers leave early, I get PO'd when I see so many empty tables. >>

That's why some shows have dropped Sundays. At those shows dealers start leaving Friday night and the show is mostly empty by Noon on Saturday. What's next, drop Saturday too?

BillJones · May 15, 2004 10:50PM

The best time to go is to pay the for the early bird badge and go then.

You won't be able to deal with some of the large wholesaler dealers until they are done dealing with their biggest clients. Don't get mad; just accept the situation. As a small dealer I can't deal with them then either. BUT there are loads of smaller dealers who will work with you. They will have some fresh material that is worthwhile.

If you don't want to pay the $25 to $100 for the early bird badge, get to the first public day of the ASAP. As the show wears on, the number of dealers will become less and less. Saturday afternoon can be too late.

Don't bother with Sunday, unless you can get there on foot or only have to drive a few miles and get free parking. It's a waste of time unless you are willing to treat the few dealers who are there with the respect that they deserve for showing up. Sunday is not "bargain day" when people are desperate to sell. When you run a business, "Tomorrow is always another day."

Don’t get me started when it comes to the subject of dealers leaving on Sunday. Until Sunday because a decent day for business with the public showing up to spend money, I don’t blame dealers for leaving before then. I am only disappointed with dealers who pack up on Friday after the show opened on Thursday.

BillJones · May 15, 2004 11:03PM

<< <i>

<< <i>I no longer go to major shows on Sunday. Too many dealers leave early, I get PO'd when I see so many empty tables. >>

That's why some shows have dropped Sundays. At those shows dealers start leaving Friday night and the show is mostly empty by Noon on Saturday. What's next, drop Saturday too? >>

Perhaps we could have a thread about what the public does at shows that gets under many dealers' skins. It's part of the answer why dealers go home early.

I don't want to lead this off, because I've made enough people angry already with my opinions, but I'd be glad to contribute. Perhaps if some readers took it to heart, it would help the situation.

WaterSport · May 15, 2004 11:31PM

First day is best as long as you do not mind the "dealers" ignoring you while they are still dealing and talking over how the grand babies are doing.

WS

EVillageProwler · May 16, 2004 1:38AM

I agree that going as early as possible -- even if you have to pay for an Early Bird badge -- is best. That is where you'll have the best competitive advantage against other collectors. The last day of the show is the worst, unless you're looking to bargain hunt lower stuff or tired material.

But, oftentimes the best day to go is not to go at all. If you can hook up with a talented and trustworthy dealer, he (or she) can usually use his dealer relationships to get a coin for you at less than retail and sell to you at a fair price. That fair price is frequently not any more than you would have paid to a dealer who has no prior relationship with you. And, since the agent dealer is supposedly talented and trustworthy, you will likely have greater protection from acquiring a lesser coin masquerading as a better piece due to its price.

Some people will go to a show simply for the enjoyment. But, they will frequently use their favorite dealer as agent for any serious potential transactions. Why not pay the agent a couple of % and get the agent to negotiate a lower price *and* use his expertise to insure that the coin is actually all there and worthy of your cabinet?

EVP

coinguy1 · May 16, 2004 2:00AM

I'm obviously in the minority in my thinking here, but....

In many (though not all) cases, I'd recommend the second , rather than the first day of a show.

On the first day, not everyone is set up to do business and most of those who are, are more interested in doing wholesale business and/or buying coins, than they are selling them - they wont want to take the time to show their coins to those they are unfamiliar with and it is unlikely a buyer will receive the attention on day one that he will on day two.

Also, many dealers will hold coins back for established clients, so those pieces wont be available to you on the first day anyway.

stman · May 16, 2004 2:09AM

I don't go to shows. The dealers don't want me there. They go to deal mainly with other dealers, bring their stuff home and put it on their Internet website. They don't want to be bothered with this low-life collector anyway. Geez, I wonder if all this would change if the Internet crashed for about a year or two?

rdunnit · May 16, 2004 10:17AM

quoted by Russ "because I'm mostly just a coin scrounge"

I like that Russ. It sounds like me

Mikesp1 · May 16, 2004 10:31AM

Thank you all for your insight. It looks like I will make the attempt to go on the first or second day..........even if it means using some vacation time from work. After-all, sure is fun seeing all those different type of coins at the shows!!
Again, thank you all!

cladking · May 16, 2004 10:32AM

For good deals and the ripest cherry picking it's probably best to be there early. For scarce
material and the best prices in a hot show the best time is probably early. If a show is not
well attended or the atmosphere is poor than some of the best deals can be late Saturday
as some dealers will sell anything at a profit to try to recover expenses.

scher · May 16, 2004 12:19PM

I like the 2nd day also if i can only get 1 day...i am fairly new at this..about 5yrs and have starting going to many of the big shows just this past yr. and day 2 seems best for me..
bruce scher

Best Times To Go Large Coin Shows

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