Coin Shows

My .02; depends on the show. Specifically the size. I like larger shows for better selection and competitive pricing but it also depends on what you are looking for. I like the atmosphere at larger shows. Weird I guess.

I like the big shows too. You see a nice variety of coins and meet a wide variety of both dealers and collectors. I always recommend to make your way through once and note any tables that have something youre interested in, but to buy something that is a screaming deal.

For example, at the last coin show I went too I was able to buy a 2 ounce silver round for $45 because the dealer hadnt had time to update his prices with the recent surge in silver. Melt was somewhere around $53 and now is even more. I have done business with this dealer many times over a few years and he was the one to point it out to me and happy to sell it to me well below melt. I had only brought about $150 or so with me that day so that was 1/3 of my spending cash, but the deal was too good to walk away from.

I certainly appreciate the info gents...I will make it a point to get to one nearby. Kinda pumped about going now.

I agree that some great deals can be had at shows. I think you will have a blast! Let us see your wares if you purchase anything. I don't know where you live, but the large shows are the best, but, if it's a smaller show, you'll have a more "one on one" with the dealers.

I dissagree with large coin shows being any good except for the dealers. In my area all the large coin shows have entrance fees, parking for car fees, expensive food and drinks. Most of them are for several days meaning the dealers must have a place to stay, eat and drink food purchased in usually restaurants and many other expenses to even be there. The table rentals for dealers too is usually higher than smaller coin shows. And the dealers usually know that giving you a good deal is rather meaningless since they most likely will never see you again. All of this means higher prices for their coins and coin products to cover all that. By me there are usually 2 or 3 of those a year.
However, we do also have 4 smaller coin shows a Month, every Month, all year long here and all within 15 miles of me. By smaller though I mean from 20 to 100 dealers. No entrance fees, no parking fees, decent prices for food and drinks and much, much cheaper prices for dealer table rentals. Most are one day shows and most dealers come from this area so they can just go home at the end of the show so not much expenses there ether. And you get to know the dealers and usually can get better deals due to that. All this means less expendatures for dealers so they can make prices less of their coins and coin type items.
With so many coin shows here I purchase all coins and coin products at these shows. Example is I can purchase the Red Book, hard cover or ringed for $10 each and no taxes, no postage, no lost in mail, no insurances, no paypal stuff, just that $10 bill. And once you get to know some of the dealers, you can usually get much cheaper prices since they know you may well be back again and again.

Thanks again for the added input. I am excited about going to my first one. Carl....very interesting analysis.

Ive been to a few shows with mostly collector/dealers saw some nice stuff. And alot of grey sheets on quite a few tables.These guys didn't want to haggle much. But the Prices seemed fair and some were willing to trade which was fun.