Best Day To Visit A Coinshow?

Shop prices no matter if you are buying or selling, and don't be scared to negotiate. I have never seen an industry that has been so flexible with the prices.

I'm looking to do some trading/selling more than anything...some buying if the price is right (doubt it).

If I come away with some solid information on my avator (an unregistered hacienda token) then I'd be thrilled.

The last day, a Saturday, is generally the easiest day for me to go. Guess we'll just have to see!

I never go on Saturday or Sunday. If it's a Thurs-Sun show, I go on Fridays almost always. More time with dealers and not all the elbow bumping.

Try not to go the last day unless it is a return visit for a specific reason. Every time I go to a big show on the last day it's like a race. The one in St.Louis was supposed to be from 10-5 but by 1 half the dealers were gone and alot of the rest were already tearing down. When I used to do card shows they told us if we left early we could not come back the next year, I wish they had that rule for coin shows. I know some have a long way to travel but if I drive two hours to the only weekend day of the show I should have time to look. Just sayin.

Lot of truth to this. A lot of dealers want to dump inventory for ANY profit. so many deals can be made.

Use the old, well how about taking another 10% off if I buy all three?

I usually go Saturday morning or early afternoon because that is most convenient. However, I have also gone on Fridays. Either day is about the same in my experience.

Sundays have never been good for me. The times I have gone to a show on Sunday have resulted in disappointment. Many of the dealers had already left or were starting to pack up. A rather depressing sight that I now avoid.

Depends if you're looking for good coins, or deals on common ones.
There's a reason they charge more to get in on the early bird day.
I like to try to get in during dealer set-up, that way you have a chance at what the dealers are scooping.

I have so little experience with them it is hard to give a helpful answer. Most of the shows I've been to are 1-day ones.

Even with that, some dealers leave early so getting there late in the day can mean little selection to look at. My first ever I did get a good deal late in the day as the dealer had sold almost nothing all day and wanted "some business" I think to justify the table-cost!

The only 3-day one I've gone to I went early and was one of the first IN - after the dealer-only period that is. I made two nice gold buys my first trip around the showroom, that might not have been available later.

So there are pluses and minuses to early and late. A lot depends on what you are looking for ( common coins or popular vs more niche and rare ). I'd say niche/rare I'd try to go early in the show as they are more likely to get picked through and bought up if they are bargains. For more common coins then maybe late as some are more willing to unload inventory later in the day or weekend - get tired and easier to haggle with. I wouldn't worry about dealers upping prices late, you should know about what they are going for and not pay inflated prices any time - early or late. LOTS of dealers inflate grades and prices, you either haggle them down to your price or pass!

On a different subject, some of the dealers I see at every local show are quirky. One show they'll be willing to haggle and come down considerably off their "marked prices" or "greysheet" quotes, yet at another show they'll not want to budge at all. Shooting the breeeze with them - and buttering them up even - can pay off later. I had one who wouldn't budge one show, then came down $50 on the same coin "for me" the next. So patience and persistence can pay off sometimes. I bought two coins at fair prices off one dealer one show, then at the next he quoted me $215 on a certified coin that "inflated list" is only $180. I was a little shocked he'd try to gouge so much after being so reasonable the prior show.

I really think "how they are doing" can make a huge difference to their mood and willingness to deal. I often ask them that - and tend to walk away if they say negative things in response. Bad mood usually = bad dealing, as is human nature I think! So getting to know, and read, the dealers is also a good idea for deal making.

JMHO