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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,584 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
797 Posts |
Overall, assuming that you are not looking for anything specific, is it better to get to a show first thing so you get to be one of the first people to browse the inventories, or is is wise to get there toward the end when some dealers might get you a better deal and want to have less to pack up and make themselves some last minute profits?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
689 Posts |
may depend on if your looking for something that there won't be many of and will sell fast or if your looking for something that a couple dealers may have, but I'm not to sure I've only been to two shows and had never really considered when to show up. good thought!
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Get there early and with a list of what you want and what the really are going for. If your not looking for anything specific you will end up buying something that catches your eye and paying more for it then it's worth,hence the list and values mentioned above. I have done it more then once, and don't forget to bring along your loupe so you can really see what your buying. What I do is get to the show as early as possible and walk the whole show first without buying anything just so I can see what all the dealers are selling. I take note of things I want and which dealer has it and at what price. The same coin can be priced very differently from dealer to dealer so shop around. Hope this helps some. John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Usually at most coin shows the dealers slowly just fade away. There is usually no one big closing time where all run out at once. What I mean is if you wait for near the end, you'll most likely find about one tenth of the dealers left and they are in a hurry to get home, not make one last sale. In many instances you may find if your trying to buy something near the end, you'll just irritate the dealer and not get a decent price.
Always get there early. You may well find a new dealer with low prices. Or a dealer wanting to close out his buisness. Or just a lot of compitition so prices are lower. Early too lets you see the total amount of coins available and if you wait till the end, many are now gone. At some one day coin shows dealers set up and have someone watch their table and then walk around looking for great deals themselves so if you wait till the end, possibly more lost deals for you.
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Moderator
United States
188052 Posts |
I went to a coin show this weekend. Because of problems beyond my control, I got there about two hours before close. I was surprised to see that only two dealers were packing up. I made a couple of loops on the floor before buying some Indian Head cents from a dealer that I have bought from before. That said, I probably would have paid the same had I been there earlier. I do prefer to get there earlier. Because I was late, I did not have the time to look around as much I usually do, but I still managed to walk out with some items on my list.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2541 Posts |
I'm not much of an expert, but at the coin show I attend on a regular basis, everyone says to get there early. There are some guys that will leave after an hour if they have made a few decent sales.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
I'm not much of an expert, but at the coin show I attend on a regular basis, everyone says to get there early. There are some guys that will leave after an hour if they have made a few decent sales.
This is really unfortunately true at many coin shows. Actually around me there are 4 coins shows a Month and many of the dealers are the same ones. They also own and operate a coin store in the general area so staying a long time is really nothing for them. One dealer I know just goes to the shows to advertise his store. He too leaves after a few hours. Another dealer told me since he has 4 kids, there is way to many things to do on a weekend to waste all day at a coin show. I had to laugh at one dealer I know from many of these shows one time when he too got there about a few hours late. Then left after about one hour. Not really enough time to even set up. A freind of mine that also frequents these shows told me he went to one a few months ago and got there about 2 or 3 hours before closing and the place was empty. He said at first he thought it was the wrong date but found out not much buisness so all the dealers left. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2150 Posts |
Quote:
The same coin can be priced very differently from dealer to dealer so shop around.  I went a show a few weeks ago and one of the things on my long lists of things to look for was the last two pieces I needed to complete my Australian Lunar Series 1 set. The first dealer I approached wanted $50 a piece for them. I considered buying them but then told him I would swing back by and get them on the way out. I ended up finding a dealer who was selling them as just another silver round and ended up paying $2 over spot for each. I think I got both for under $40! I'm sure glad I waited it saved me $60! |
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,584 |
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Posted 03/01/2010 08:05 am
