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Anyone going to the Central California Coin Show in Bakersfield this Weekend?
The show will be held this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept 17-19, 2009. There will be about 30-40 dealers and I'll bet set up there since it's only a few hours away. So, anyone else going? By the way, this is the show where I caught that coin thief stealing from me and another dealer earlier this year (he plead guilty, got 3 yrs probation and $500 fine).
RED LION INN
2400 Camino Del Rio Ct.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
[/L]Ckshows.com
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RED LION INN
2400 Camino Del Rio Ct.
Bakersfield, CA 93308
[/L]Ckshows.com
Map
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Not to bash the promoters, but the dealers who attended the last show in Bakersfield weren't exactly impressed with their results. Of course, things can turn out differently this time.
Unbelieveably this show actually conflicts with with another show in Merced, CA. That's actually a tough decision...choosing between Merced and Bakersfield. Sadly both cities are in a heated competition for the titles of highest unemployment rate and highest foreclosure rate in the state.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
The Penny Lady®
TRUTH
<< <i>Thanks Wei, sounds like you're in an anti-coin show mood! Perhaps it won't be a great show, but I don't believe you even attended it last time, and wouldn't it be better to give it a chance before you begin bashing it? It was the first time this show was put on and it was quite well attended in spite of the economy. Also, there were lots of great buys which were most likely due to that high unemployment rate. But there are no other shows in or near that area, and the promoters do a heck of a job advertising in every newspaper around, in addition to posting big freeway banners. So I'm going to set up and see how it goes. >>
Believe me, I'm not in an anti-coin show mood. In fact, in the next 30 days I'm committed to attend six different coin shows...heck, I'll see you at the Buena Park show in a few weeks. I understand that the promoters for the Bakersfield show have worked their rears off doing promotion work, but there are much more ideal locations that could use a well promoted coin show. San Diego could use a good coin show. I just don't see Bakersfield as a smart choice for a coin show.
I was anticipating on attending the inagural show last time, but a scheduling conflict nixed those plans. For Bay Area people, getting to Bakersfield isn't as easy as it is for So Cal folks...it's a six hour drive down SR99 and if there's tule fog along the way it's literally risking life for potentially small gains. Of the dealers who attended the last show with whom I've spoken to, not a single dealer reported having a productive show and most reported few to no retail sales. Those words aren't exactly the words of encouragement.
I really don't like citing the economy as an excuse for a coin show's outcome, but hosting a coin show in a metro area where the unemployment rate is almost 25% and a good chunk of its residents barely have enough cash to buy enough gasoline to fill up their cars all the way just isn't a place to find a sizeable audience to spend disposable income on buying coins. Though the show may have been well attended, it is the volume of sales generated that really counts.
It's not that Bakersfield is a particularly bad choice of a city for a coin show, but rather the fact that there hasn't been a good coin show in any city in California's Central Valley for some time now.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
<< <i>Believe me, I'm not in an anti-coin show mood. In fact, in the next 30 days I'm committed to attend six different coin shows...heck, I'll see you at the Buena Park show in a few weeks. I understand that the promoters for the Bakersfield show have worked their rears off doing promotion work, but there are much more ideal locations that could use a well promoted coin show. San Diego could use a good coin show. I just don't see Bakersfield as a smart choice for a coin show.
I was anticipating on attending the inagural show last time, but a scheduling conflict nixed those plans. For Bay Area people, getting to Bakersfield isn't as easy as it is for So Cal folks...it's a six hour drive down SR99 and if there's tule fog along the way it's literally risking life for potentially small gains. Of the dealers who attended the last show with whom I've spoken to, not a single dealer reported having a productive show and most reported few to no retail sales. Those words aren't exactly the words of encouragement. >>
Again, Wei, wait and see - I don't believe in putting a negative spin on a show until I've tried it, and then it just might not be a good fit for me - so perhaps that is true with you. There is already a great annual show in San Diego each July, and perhaps Bakersfield isn't an ideal location but, as I said earlier, there are NO other shows anywhere near it. Aside from the coin thief experience, I had a lot of fun both inside and outside the show. Sales were decent, there are some great dealers who participate, there's a cute little bar with pool tables in the room right next to the show, and there's a casino just around the corner - what more could I ask for!
The Penny Lady®
<< <i>I was sooo close to getting a table here just because of the quality folks putting it on, as well as the company. Any show with Charmy is a great show, even if sales are slow. It's the comraderie folks
Thanks Jack! And so true about the after hours fun!!!
The Penny Lady®
<< <i>
<< <i>
Again, Wei, wait and see - I don't believe in putting a negative spin on a show until I've tried it, and then it just might not be a good fit for me - so perhaps that is true with you. There is already a great annual show in San Diego each July, and perhaps Bakersfield isn't an ideal location but, as I said earlier, there are NO other shows anywhere near it. Aside from the coin thief experience, I had a lot of fun both inside and outside the show. Sales were decent, there are some great dealers who participate, there's a cute little bar with pool tables in the room right next to the show, and there's a casino just around the corner - what more could I ask for! >>
I understand your argument about not criticising a show until you've actually attended it yourself, but when every single dealer you've talked to expressed negative sentiments about the show it really makes you think your experience there will suffer the same fate. As for there not being another show nearby, Bakersfield is close enough to the Los Angeles area that the serious collectors from Bakersfield can make the trip to L.A. without much trouble.
The July show in San Diego is decent but it is a very small show.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
The Penny Lady®
I did talk to a dealer yesterday that shared more of Wei's sentiments about the show. Wasn't great for him but he also said much of what was going on wasn't what his business was about so I am sure others did well.
<< <i>Charmy: Do the folks in Bakersfield allow nice dealers to bring in their own... er, "grape juice"? >>
Absolutely! What's a coin show without grape juice?
The Penny Lady®
<< <i>
<< <i>Charmy: Do the folks in Bakersfield allow nice dealers to bring in their own... er, "grape juice"? >>
Absolutely! What's a coin show without grape juice? >>
My favorite is still the new show they have in Ontario which had a cash bar
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 700
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Charmy: Do the folks in Bakersfield allow nice dealers to bring in their own... er, "grape juice"? >>
Absolutely! What's a coin show without grape juice? >>
My favorite is still the new show they have in Ontario which had a cash bar
Hey, I'd settle for a nice cold R&C any day! Along those lines, did anyone partake of the nice little full bar set up in the lobby outside the L.A. ANA convention room on set up day? It was expensive, but a welcome site after driving those hateful L.A. freeways, then to the hotel to pick someone up, then trying to navigate all those one-way streets to get back to the convention center! That was the first time I'd seen a bar at any ANA and what a treat that was!
The Penny Lady®
Ontario in Dec is going to be good! I am trying to convince them to let me work with them on promoting it.
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<< <i>Wei, I respectfully still disagree with you - you haven't been to this show so I don't think it is fair that you keep knocking it, no matter where it is located and especially before it even happens. Obviously, it isn't a show for you, but that doesn't mean there are other dealers who will find that it works for them. And again, you know not what you're talking about regarding the San Diego show - it is bigger than Buena Park, almost 80 dealers - that's not small! You are probably thinking about the one at the Elks Lodge in El Cajon they hold a couple times a year, it is very small. >>
I have attended the San Diego show in July several times and while it is a fun show to attend the bourse itself isn't that big. The Buena Park show is marginally smaller with mostly the same dealers. I think San Diego deserves something that is even grander in scale.
Here's a sign a coin show sucks...if the highlight of the show trip is boozing it up after the bourse closes you know you're at a bad coin show.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
By the way, John McIntosh also has not attended this show, and since he puts his own shows on in Sacramento, and no offense to John whatsoever, I am guessing he has his own agenda in not supporting a show in Bakersfield. He must think enough of the Bakersfield show, however, to even send one of his sons to participate, and I doubt it's purely to "take one for the team" since, if there is money to be made, John, his son, or any of us are there to try and make it. Also, having drinks after a show icing, not WHY we do a show - you should try it sometime.
The Penny Lady®
<< <i>Wei, you're wrong again - the San Diego bourse is exactly as big as I said - I checked my floor plan from the last show - you should check your facts. And I don't understand why you continue to beat this Bakersfield show to death? YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ATTENDED IT!!! Why is it so important to you to keep bashing this show, especially with second hand knowledge? Why not just let it go? If you're not interested in it, and you don't think it's worth your while, then go away and leave this post to those who are interested in attending. My question in making this post was who is going, not who hates this show! Wei, you and I are friends, but to me, your despite for this particular show sounds like you have some kind of personal beef about this show. If so, I respectfully ask that you please take it elsewhere.
By the way, John McIntosh also has not attended this show, and since he puts his own shows on in Sacramento, and no offense to John whatsoever, I am guessing he has his own agenda in not supporting a show in Bakersfield. He must think enough of the Bakersfield show, however, to even send one of his sons to participate, and I doubt it's purely to "take one for the team" since, if there is money to be made, John, his son, or any of us are there to try and make it. Also, having drinks after a show icing, not WHY we do a show - you should try it sometime. >>
Charmy, we're friends and I'll always like you but I stand behind my position.
Okay, we've established the fact that the after-show drinking is a delightful time for all, the folks promoting the show at DEI are nice people and the show was well attended in terms of body count last time, but why aren't there oodles of positive reviews pertaining to the blockbuster levels of retail sales? A show like CoinFest had dealers raving, so why is it we're all focusing on extra-cirricular activities that have no relevance to the actual business of the bourse? It's sort of like a story a dealer told me during Long Beach about his daughter visiting a college...the tour guides focused on the campus life, the stadium, the bars nearby but mentioned nothing about the academics. This is the parallel I'm sensing after reading the "positive sentiments" you're citing for this show - there's mention of the casino nearby but nothing regarding actual business activity. I have no personal beef with the show. In fact just like everybody else I like the DEI people. I just believe the choice for host city was a terrible choice.
It would be a great boost to the industry on the West Coast at large if this coming show turns out to be a blockbuster, but my expectations aren't going to be set unrealistically high.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
And where did you get that drinking or going to the casino after the show was the "focus" for attending this show? Pretty selective paraphrasing. To me, these things are icing - of course they're not the main reason for setting up at a show, geese.... But I see you fail to mention the part in my post that there was a lot of BUYING going on at the last show - which, of course, also makes for a good show. Again, selective paraphrasing?
And your comments are making it seem like this is a major show - it is a very small show - I can't even imagine anyone having any expectations of a show of this size being a "blockbuster" show. And to compare it to CoinFest is the apples/oranges thing - CoinFest is on the east coast and probably at least twice the size of this show, though I haven't been to it yet.
Wei, I'm not saying this is the greatest show on earth, with huge retail sales. And I agree there are probably other, better venues to hold a show. But DEI is trying to tap into a community that has not had any shows within a few hours driving distance - so why not let it play out and see if it works? Perhaps it won't, but why do you think you need to be the one to tell them it won't work? They have sunk their money into this show, dealers are responding by setting up there, and they/we think enough of this show to give it a second try, why not just leave it at that? I don't understand why you feel the need to beat a dead horse here. You have overly stated your position, which wasn't necessary in the first place, since you haven't attended and obviously have no plans to attend. All I asked was WHO IS GOING.
The only good thing about your beating this dead horse, is that it keeps the spirit of that dead horse alive, so hopefully one more person will see this post and realize there is a show in Bakersfield and decide to go - so I thank you for that.
The Penny Lady®
<< <i>Wierdest "There's a show in such-and-such a city" thread ever! >>
Someone once said: "There's no such thing as bad publicity."
If I attend & ask you if you have a 1921 cent do you promise to ask "graded or raw?" rather than "what grade?".
I'm still a show newb & you caught me off guard.
In my haste to respond I blurted out a lower grade than I really wanted & was quickly shown where the 'binders' where.
Kinda tainted my experience.
Maybe I can start over at Bakersfield?
<< <i>Charmy,
If I attend & ask you if you have a 1921 cent do you promise to ask "graded or raw?" rather than "what grade?".
I'm still a show newb & you caught me off guard.
In my haste to respond I blurted out a lower grade than I really wanted & was quickly shown where the 'binders' where.
Kinda tainted my experience.
Maybe I can start over at Bakersfield? >>
I remember and I'm very sorry for not making your stop at my table a more positive experience. I usually ask what grade because that will tell me whether I have it in my case or in the books on the other table. And since I don't have a certified 1921 right now, unfortunately, the only question left will still be "what grade are you looking for"? But I will be happy to show you all that I have, and if I don't have the grade you want, I will be more than happy to try and find one for you. I look forward to seeing you in Bakersfield.
The Penny Lady®
I'm still a show newb & you caught me off guard.
In my haste to respond I blurted out a lower grade than I really wanted & was quickly shown where the 'binders' where.
Kinda tainted my experience
I wasn't going to comment on this thread, but I saw the statement above so I just had to...
Is it really THAT big a deal if someone doesn't ask "raw or graded"? Why can't you just ASK "Do you have any graded 19XX Lincolns"? How hard is that? ...and exactly how does it "taint" one's experience?
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
Why can't you just ASK "Do you have any graded 19XX Lincolns"? How hard is that? ...and exactly how does it "taint" one's experience?
Live & learn.
It was tainted because I felt a little dumb not knowing straight away what grade I was looking for.
I have set a goal of having a better list of exactly what I am looking for & what the minimum grade I am looking for.
My problem......make that ONE of my problems is that I'm not real focused on what it is I'm collecting other than U.S. coins.
Though that's not really an excuse when I stop at 'The Penny Lady' booth!
Wait a minute, shouldn't that be 'The Cent Lady'....nah, too close to 'The Scent Lady'
Hey, at least I diverted attention to where this thread was heading before.
The Penny Lady®
The CoinFest comparison is a valid comparison. That show began only a few years ago as a very small show and after the nearly universal positive reviews that followed the first show the demand from other dealers wanting to set up there caused the show to double in size the next year. Is that happening with this show? So far I haven't seen that happen.
Heck, PCGS even sets up at CoinFest. If the Bakersfield show can get PCGS to show up and take a booth at their show I'll shut up and eat crow and be beholden to DEI and you for a while.
Sure most of us like the show promoters, but the desire to give them hugs and kiss 'em all over their bodies just because we love them so much and our hearts jump when they're near doesn't compensate for the show's shortcomings, especially if that means wasting a tank of gas and an entire weekend that could have been put to better use.
Charmy, I have a challenge for you...I'll back off from this subject if you do the same. We'll wait until next week when the show is over and then let's post a thread soliciting show reviews from people who can prove they actually attended the show. If I'm proven wrong, I'll eat my words and I'll make it up to you. Accept?
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 700
Will have to wait for Van Nuys.
Sorry Charmy, I do hope you have a great show.
I can definitively say that I won't be driving over for the show this weekend.
I live in Illinois...
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
Any way, whether this show is a bomb or a blockbuster was NEVER the point of my disagreement with you, and I'm done trying to get you to understand this.
The Penny Lady®
Hope to finally see the CC mint museum and visit Broken CC
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 700
TRUTH
I wont be there and good luck Charmy, I'll miss our dinners together
It's just after noon right now, and there are about 50 retail people in the room. That doesn't seem like a lot but it is for this tiny room, and it's always great when the patrons out-number the dealers! There is only squeezing room in the aisles between the tables and chairs but it all works and everyone has been very pleasant and patient when trying to get by each other. I also bought a great Lincoln penny deal which included 5 sets of nice original low to mid-grade copper from 1909-present, including proofs and most of the early S mints, but excluding main keys - this also helped make my show!
This is definitely not a dealer to dealer type show, mostly retail. But a lot of people are bringing stuff to sell, which of course, is the other reason we're here! The dealers who are willing to bargain and work with the customer are the ones making sales. As far as the after-hours events, we've had a great time going to this one restaurant, Benji's, which serves French Basque food - most excellent! Last night we had about 16 of us in our own banquet room at the restaurant. After dinner, Frank, the show promoter, who brought some fantastic wine was kind enough to share it with those of us who like red wine. We've closed down the hotel lounge both nights just hanging out with a few other dealers and drinking some very yummy French Bordeaux - I love Frank!!!
Jack, I miss our dinners together as well and look forward to getting our poker game going in Ontario - I've managed to hook some new fish - er uh poker players for our next game!
The Penny Lady®
illini420, next time we carpool together!
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