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 Replies: 36 / Views: 5,510 |
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Valued Member
United States
198 Posts |
Poll Question
I would like to know your feelings about paying an admission fee to get into a coin show. We are starting to debate the issue and I would like some feed back. Currently, we do not charge, but with the rising costs of advertising, we may need to OR rise the costs of table rent. Thanks, Ragpicker 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
I voted $2.00 but I know there are costs associated with renting the room, paying people to set up the tables and chairs and to man the entrance area, as well as advertising and security. Paying a couple of bucks isn't going to break me and I am glad to do it if it helps to ensure that future shows will be held. The people who run the shows will definitely hear about it from the dealers if the show turn out is weak due to lack of proper advertising.
Edited by CoinHunter53562
06/02/2012 10:41 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I voted $3, but that is the wrong answer. Most major coins shows I go to are sponsored by the major dealers, and they have to pay for the cost of the venue. If that is say the convention hall of a major international hotel, the venue costs can run into tens of thousands of dollars for them. Their position costs for a table at such a show are not cheap, either. Those costs are normally met by the entry fee. Otherwise, their prices at the show would have to be much higher, and they would have far fewer customers. If the cost to get in was say $3, that would be still minuscule for most people, relative to their fuel costs to and from the show, and their parking costs anyway. Typical ticket entry prices for a major show in my experience are in the $10 to $20 range. My advantage is that I have a concession card for public transport, and I can travel 100 kilometres or more, for no more than $2.50, and don't have to worry about parking costs, by virtue of the fact that I have used public transport. Just have to walk much further, which is good for my health anyway. No problem, I walk more than 5 klm every day, not just for coin shows. Considering what I collect and do not use ebay, the major shows are the only ones that really serve my collecting interests. I don't collect NCLT, bullion, or coins less than 50 years old. Edited by sel_69l
06/02/2012 11:47 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4227 Posts |
I've put on shows with and without admission. After gaining some experience, the admission wasn't to add to the coffers, but to deter potential "undesirables" or tire kickers. It ended up being more of a security feature for the dealers. Thus, a small fee of, say, $2 was normally charged.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
For coin shows like at the mall or hotel conference room I would not pay to get in but for a major coin show I would pay up to $3 depending on the size of the show. John1  Edited by John1
06/02/2012 7:22 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
198 Posts |
Chequer... you are right. The fee would not be to add to the coffers, but to help pay for advertising, security and actual show costs.
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Valued Member
United States
198 Posts |
Just a clarification... this is a regional show with dealers from several sounding states.
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Moderator
United States
14463 Posts |
I voted "I wouldn't go to a coin show if the charge to get in", because the coin show local to me takes place in a hotel conference center with no entrance fee. I have gone at least once and didn't find anything I needed/wanted, but if I paid to get in I would only go when I knew I was going to get something. With the no fee, they get browsers that might buy something.
Now if the coin show was in a large convention center or stadium, I would expect to pay a small fee.
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Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
I havent seen any major collectible shows charge only $3 to get in. Most charge more than that so I'm pretty used to it. I also understand that it costs them money to advertise, setup and clean up afterwards.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1817 Posts |
A good coin show with at least 40-50 dealers is worth $2-$3, and is similar to a swap meet or big flea market. The sponsors have overhead: advertising, security, accounting, maintenance, set-up/tear down temporary help, raffle prizes, etc. Putting together a show is major project, IMO, and one should charge an minimal admission fee. A couple of bucks isn't going to break the bank, especially if attendees have cash in hand to spend $500 at a show. It will attract more dealers or a better class of dealers as well, as only serious collectors will attend, not just the public who happen to wander by.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2120 Posts |
Most shows I go to have a $2 per person fee per day. (usually children are free up to like 14 I think?) Bigger shows usually closer to $3-4 dollars per day. I'm ok with this. Something has to pay for door prizes.  Although, my wife has won a door prize (1 silver round) at the PNNA Fall show every year we've gone. So it's been worth it to us.  |
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Pillar of the Community
614 Posts |
Personally, I dont think that it is right to have to pay money to spend money. :P
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
The GSNA lets members attend the yearly show for free. Otherwise it's $3 at the door per day, so about $9 for all 3 days.
However, for just a buck more ($10) you can join the GSNA, which gives you some nice benefits (including the journal and the aforementioned free admission). They snag more members that way. :-)
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
I'm apparently the only person so far to vote for "what's a coin show"  However, I was actually serious with this vote. I've never been to a coin show, nor do I have any idea what one even looks like; the only coin-show-like things I've been to are the Izmailovo Vernisage, which is a general flea market (and has no admission fee), and the Taganka coin market, which is situated outdoors right next to a busy road crossing, so it would be physically impossible to make an admission fee to there On-topic: I don't actually have a serious problem with having an admission fee (i.e. ticket price) for an exhibition, which a coin show presumably is. There's a yearly show out here which has people selling (and showing) books, and the ticket in there costs about $8! With that in mind - as well as the fact that coins are usually more expensive than books - $3 really seems like a nominal fee. I would certainly pay $3, or even $6, to get at the coin equivalent of NonFiction (the book show above) - alas, we don't appear to have any.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
672 Posts |
I would pay, but you could refund the money if you buy somthing. I think its a good idea keeps people out who shouldnt be there.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
I would pay $3,$4, $5 to get into a coin show. I know they dont just fall out of the sky and take some serious thought and effort to get going. Admission fees are totally fair in my opinion.
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Replies: 36 / Views: 5,510 |
Posted 06/02/2012 11:02 am
