What is the breaking point financially that would keep you from attending a coin show?

Michigan · July 27, 2006 10:12PM

A follow up to the who is going to the ANA convention.

Longacre · July 27, 2006 10:22PM

The money isn't an issue. It's the time. I can't justify spending a few days (at least) away from the wife and kiddies.

RYK · July 27, 2006 10:24PM

I was about to post the same thing as Longy. It's hard to ditch the family in the summer...much easier when the kids are in school.

In 2004, I brought my son with me to the ANA in Pittsburgh. That will be my strategy in the future.

ziggy29 · July 27, 2006 10:43PM

Right now I can't because we have moved and still own two homes while we try to sell one. That has pretty much eaten all of our cash flow and discretionary income, and there's a fork stuck in my coin budget until it sells.

RickMilauskas · July 27, 2006 10:49PM

It's definitely a time thing...being away from the family.

I plan to try to turn con convention/shows into "family getaways" where the boys can go with me and the girls can participate in another activity that interests them.

PerryHall · July 27, 2006 10:59PM

If I have to buy plane tickets, hotel room, etc, I'd rather stay home and spend that money on a nice coin. If its within driving distance, no problem.

GaCoinGuy · July 27, 2006 11:11PM

I'm with Perry. Anything witin 3-4 hours drive is okay by me.........anything more is too expensive right now.

ColonialCoinUnion · July 28, 2006 12:18AM

Its hard to imagine that traveling a good distance (i.e. one requiring a flight and a hotel stay) to attend a coin show for any collector can be justified economically.

Its expensive. Add that cost to whatever you buy while at the show and, unless you buy an awful lot, the math doesn't work.

On the other hand, its great fun - and that cannot be measured in $ and cents.

I think its better to think of it as a mini-coin-vacation and to weigh the costs vs the enjoyment derived. Which of course brings in spouse and/or family considerations as noted by others.

Barry · July 28, 2006 12:21AM

<< <i>The money isn't an issue. It's the time. I can't justify spending a few days (at least) away from the wife and kiddies. >>

Same here. Also, I have to keep an eye on my pile of books and make sure nobody reaaranges them

Longacre · July 28, 2006 12:26AM

<< <i>

<< <i>The money isn't an issue. It's the time. I can't justify spending a few days (at least) away from the wife and kiddies. >>

Same here. Also, I have to keep an eye on my pile of books and make sure nobody reaaranges them

>>

Happy #7000!

dizzyfoxx · July 28, 2006 12:33AM

A nuclear catastrophe.

PhillyJoe · July 28, 2006 12:55AM

It was fortunate that the 2003 and 2004 ANA shows were within driving distance. The plane ticket is pretty much the deal breaker. Two days away from home is no big deal, but a week would be tough. You can't attend Denver on a two day trip.

Joe

RYK · July 28, 2006 1:00AM

Its hard to imagine that traveling a good distance (i.e. one requiring a flight and a hotel stay) to attend a coin show for any collector can be justified economically.

Its expensive. Add that cost to whatever you buy while at the show and, unless you buy an awful lot, the math doesn't work.

On the other hand, its great fun - and that cannot be measured in $ and cents.

It's great fun. That's why I travel to coin shows. As for prowling for coins, at least for what I collect, there are more cost-efficient ways to do so.

Also, big shows are very educational. The experience of going through signature auction boxes of coins in your specialty cannot be matched at home.

kiyote · July 28, 2006 1:09AM

Financially, I've been so low, I didn't even know which was was up. I was pinchin' pennies so much that Abe Lincoln cried. I was so poor that once I was kicking a can down the street and someone asked what I was doing and I said "moving." I was so poor once that people broke into my house and LEFT money. I was so broke I couldn't even afford to pay attention.

STILL, I made it to a coin show. I got a $2 off coupon for the Santa Clara and dropped about $20.00 on a few nice Jefferson nickels.

mgoodm3 · July 28, 2006 1:17AM

Financially? If it cost $2,000,000, I would probably wait for a cheaper one.

Say the summer ANA was on the sea of tranquility, I'd wait for it to come earthside.

FatMan · July 28, 2006 1:37AM

It's not about finances, it's about permission.

tmot99 · July 28, 2006 1:39AM

There is more to going to a coin show than buying coins. It provides entertainment and education. The cost of going to a show with travel expenses and hotel cannot be totally connected to the price of a (or many) coin.

I have tried to work my work travel schedule around a couple of shows in the past. I do want to get to a large show like ANA or FUN. Long Beach is the biggest I've been to so far, but now my collecting interests have changed so much sice I was last there.

ttxp · July 28, 2006 2:01AM

<< <i>What is the breaking point financially that would keep you from attending a coin show? >>

If I couldn't afford the entrance fee?

What is the breaking point financially that would keep you from attending a coin show?

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