How come dealers don't do the fishbowl/business card trick at shows?
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
Although I am not in the coin dealing business, I suppose that the more contacts you make the better off your business is. Also, in today's day and age, the best way to reach a lot of customers is to get their email addresses and occasionally send them an email with newps, updates on the market, etc.
I was at a tax conference recently, and about 30 tax service providers set up booths at the conference to describe the services that they offer. At each booth was the requisite propaganda from each firm, as well as a rep to answer questions. Also at each booth, was a fishbowl. You were asked to put your business card in the fishbowl, and each night after the conference meetings, a card was drawn and prizes were given out. These prizes were things like video iPods, electronics, etc. Because tax people are always looking for something for nothing, each of these bowls were filled with business cards. Of course, the real purpose of the contest is to get information on as many people as possible.
Does anyone know why this concept is not used at large coin conventions? It would seem to be a good way to get lots of contact details, email addresses, etc. of potential customers, with very little cost.
I was at a tax conference recently, and about 30 tax service providers set up booths at the conference to describe the services that they offer. At each booth was the requisite propaganda from each firm, as well as a rep to answer questions. Also at each booth, was a fishbowl. You were asked to put your business card in the fishbowl, and each night after the conference meetings, a card was drawn and prizes were given out. These prizes were things like video iPods, electronics, etc. Because tax people are always looking for something for nothing, each of these bowls were filled with business cards. Of course, the real purpose of the contest is to get information on as many people as possible.
Does anyone know why this concept is not used at large coin conventions? It would seem to be a good way to get lots of contact details, email addresses, etc. of potential customers, with very little cost.
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
0
Comments
<< <i>Does anyone know why this concept is not used at large coin conventions? >>
Because its cheesy?
Oh wait, nevermind.
2. Cold call all the guys who leave one.
3. (I presume) go door to door in your neighborhood with a briefcase filled with coins?
All The Way - And Then Some
I collect Modern Commemoratives
and anything Franklin.
Apparently salesmen selling gold equiptment weren't allowed to leave there card unless they first left a few bucks in the save the dogs jug.
A bit different from what you're thinking of
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
Maybe it would be ok at a dealer only show but for the average COLLECTOR, why would they want to do it?
The tax conference is for professionals and I can see them wanting to do something like that. For a HOBBY, especially for a collectible like coins, I just don't see it. Sorry.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Years ago I had a fishbowl on my table at every show. Damn people kept putting their cards in the bowl and the ink killed my pet goldfish.
<< <i>Longacre poses an excellent question - one which I would take even a step further. Why do so few coin dealers (particularly at coin shows) demonstrate so few marketing skills? Coin dealers are there to sell coins, yet most dealers demonstrate some of the worst marketing skills of any sales professionals. At their worst, some dealers will totally ignore you standing at their table attempting to get their attention. They carry on inane conversations with others behind their table, usually on a non-numismatic subject, and act as if they don't want or need your business. Few dealers post signs indicating their company name (unless provided by the show promoter), address or how to contact them in the future. It is rare but enlightening to actually have a dealer speak to you as you approach his table, inquiring what you might be looking for or how he might assist you. How many dealers solicit your want list, or offer to help you search for needed coins? Longacre's question presents just one of many ideas that coin dealers might use to promote future business. Maybe the coin market is so strong right now that dealers feel they do not need to seek out your business, but in any other retail sales business, many different ideas are brought into play to promote sales. Why not in the coin business? >>
Nicely stated.
<< <i>Years ago I had a fishbowl on my table at every show. Damn people kept putting their cards in the bowl and the ink killed my pet goldfish. >>
Ray
"You Suck Award" - February, 2015
Discoverer of 1919 Mercury Dime DDO - FS-101
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>I forgot to add this-- although I've spoken to many dealers at the various shows that I go to, the only dealers who have ever asked me for my card are Julian and Gold Rush Galleries. Pretty amazing when you think about it. >>
And he didn't give it to me, either!!
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
<< <i>
<< <i>I forgot to add this-- although I've spoken to many dealers at the various shows that I go to, the only dealers who have ever asked me for my card are Julian and Gold Rush Galleries. Pretty amazing when you think about it. >>
And he didn't give it to me, either!! >>
I gave it to you during last year's Baltimore show. Do you not have it?
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>I forgot to add this-- although I've spoken to many dealers at the various shows that I go to, the only dealers who have ever asked me for my card are Julian and Gold Rush Galleries. Pretty amazing when you think about it. >>
Can I have your business card? Actually, can you sign the front of 5 business cards and send them to me? I'll donate 4 of them to the Children's Hospital Central California this christmas for my annual Business Cards 4 Kids!
Russell
Treasures of a Lifetime: Something of value from a period of time representing someone's life!
Edited: My URL removed! I don't spam!
TD
1. Probably 95% of dealers are one-man businesses who don't have the time to do a lot of cold-calling.
2. The dealers who do most (or all) of their business at shows don't do much (or any) advertising - they develop their business from the people who see them at the shows. Why should they advertise to people who don't go to shows in the first place?
3. Us corporate employee types have business cards, but I know very few fellow collectors who do. The dealers would end up giving their cards out for their customers to write their addresses on.
4. Security concerns - most collectors I know are fairly private.
5. Privacy concerns - most collectors I know don't want to be marketed to. They don't want calls from Blanchard or anyone else unless the caller is servicing their want list.
6. The big telemarketers don't use card fishbowls because they buy "sucker lists" of proven buyers rather than accumulating random business cards.
Check out the Southern Gold Society