Wishing You Were Here

Really surprized that photos are sllowed. At all the coin shows I go to photos are not allowed of any kind. Way to many crime problems. Such photos capture who is collecting and/or selling. Some photos could be taken over a shoulder at a check or credit card. Really suprized about the ability to take photos there.

I thought about that, too. But I seen other people taking photos, there were no warnings or signs or anything like that (at least that I seen - DOH!).

But, that's also why I took broad photos from a distance and didn't focus on any given table or dealer. I was just trying to capture the magnitude of it all.

BadThad, I am sure it is because they sold out!

Well, it's awesome that you asked for it! I appreciate that! I'll find out the scoop soon enough when I talk to Wayne (the owner). He has some dealers that buy it from him at shows and they may have helped cleaned him out faster.

HAHAHA...yea, I can see their sign in the third pic...cool.

scooby, I saw Verdi-Care there, it was there at the end of the day on Sunday, too, as well as the test cents.

i asked the teen behind the counter with the wizard hat on and showed me to at least a 2 dozen bottles of the stuff.

just carl, Thanks for the explanation. I never thought of it that way but it does make sense.

If you go to coin shows constantly you get to know dealers rather well if the shows are constant and in the same local. I have really struck up some friends of dealers and from what they mostly say is the larger the show, the more higher the prices of everything.
Not sure of rhe FUN or other really big ones with items other than coins but as an example the Red Book at one of our larger shows goes for about $12 compared to one really small show where I get mine for $10 and that is the hard covered one. Small show table rentals are also less in order to attract dealers. Also, I've seen in the real small shows they are usually held in Hotels, Motels or siilar places and some complimentary refreshments are there too.
At some large shows dealers are even charged for electrical usage and that too is normally free at the smaller shows.
One real interesting thing concerning large/small coin shows is at a large show the dealers basically don't care about you since the chances they will ever see you again is dim. At those small shows dealers are local, some have or work in coin stores and really want to get to know you. That too gets you some real good deals.

Great photos and commentary Scooby .... thanks for starting the discussion.

My limited experience with 'large' national shows mirrors yours .... I have attended the previous 3 Baltimore "Whitman" shows ..... perhaps not quite the size of the FUN .... but certainly the same order of magnitude with all the big name dealers.

I have never purchased a coin at this show! I run into my 'local' show dealers and their prices are higher at the "Whitman" then they are at the local hotel shows ...... I ask why .... making a living with the big show expenses.

Anyways .... big shows are fun for the shock and awe value .... and I'm sure there are fair prices for some hard to find things ..... but .... for me ....

I'll stick with my local 30-dealer hotel shows for my main purchasing.

David