How do you navigate the bourse?

I have not been to a coin show in a few years so went to a medium size coin show today. It was very busy and tough to gain access to the dealer tables. It seemed like people brought along their friends and extended family and traveled from table to table in packs, but with only one person in these groups really looking like an actual customer. Many just seemed to loiter in front of tables without buying anything. I had money in my pocket but did not spend a cent. This is a first for me at a coin show. I always buy something, in fact many things. I guess it is back to online buying for me. Anyone else have experiences like this? How do you navigate the bourse without hip checking people out of the way? For the dealers out there, how can you make a living when people with money to spend cannot even get to your table at a show? TC

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

You can usually tell which ones in a group are buying and which ones are just making sure that "Pop" doesn't take out a 2nd mortgage on the house. When that is the case, just politely ask the person if you can nudge in to look. Unfortunately, sometimes you run across a rude & inconsiderate person, so you have to fight fire with fire. Edge as close to the person as you can without making contact. Crane your neck over the person's shoulder and breathe heavily. When the person edges away slightly, keep repeating the process until you have enough room to examine the display. However, if the person resents your "advances", just tell them that if they aren't buying anything, they should get out of the way.

Note: I've never had to go as far as "heavy breathing".

Chris

 

you could also simply forget to apply deodorant, the guys will flee, and the pheromones will bring in the ladys

 

Make sure you get a map or, at least a list of dealer tables. That way you can efficiently navigate and make sure to hit what you want to hit. If a table looks incredibly busy with buyers, consider skipping it and coming back (but do come back!). If people are kind of milling about watching Uncle Ed buy coins, I wouldn't be afraid to politely ask people to move aside so you can see the cases.

At any show where there are more tables than you can see at a time, having a plan is essential. The map is just a good way of keeping track of where you've been.

 

I usually approach a table by flailing my arms wildly about, and swinging my backpack in a circular arc. It usually works to clear out any standers-by.

 

Don't ask me, I'm like a chicken with my head cut off on a bourse floor with the same strategical furry of a pinball

Bing.. bing-bing... bing-bing-bing... bing... etc

 

Gets you more prompt attention from the nice customer-service folks with the walkie-talkies, too.

 

I'm tall so I can look over people. But I usually gently insert myself in front of the tables by working and nudging my way in with the occasional excuse me when I bump people. I also try to visit the guys I buy from regular first I'm usually set up as well so I'm there early

 

Raise your hand slightly and then make eye contact with the seller. When he acknowledges, point to the display cases and he will clear a way to the table for you. Works more often than not.

 

I need a new strategy. I start at one end and work my way to the other... hasn't worked too well at the Whitman Show either time I attended...

I'll skip tables that obviously don't have what I'm seeking. Before I go to the show, I'll copy the vendor names to an Excel workbook and highlight the ones that I definitely want to hit.

I usually have a notebook and write down the table number and what I found so I can go back later.

 

I know what you mean bill. I'm 6'5" and it does come in extreemly handy in most aspects of life save low hanging fixtures and most hotel showers. People just don't realize how much we hit our heads on random stuff almost daily lol

 

You must hate flying. I'm only 6' and come very close to hitting my head on the ceiling of the plane! Not to mention the lack of leg room.

 

Yup. And rental cars. Alot of my height is in my legs so most cars and even large suvs or trucks just don't fit right even with the seat all the way back

But all the disadvantages pale in comparison to the many, many advantages of being 6'5"

 

I think I may have been the only one at the show that showered this morning. Not many ladies there unfortunately.

 

Wear a surgical mask and a white lab coat with "EBOLA NURSE" on the front.
No one will get in your way.

 

You might have some problems with the "nice customer-service folks with the walkie-talkies," then.

 

Put a small piece of an Alka-Seltzer tablet in your mouth and as the foam escapes, moan a bit and people will scatter.

 

You ever thrown a Superball into a small, bare room as hard as you could? That's how I navigate a bourse. If the ceiling weren't so far up I'd go there too.

 

6'1" and long legged. And flying sucks. I usually upgrade to business class with extra legroom or first if I can.