First Coin Show (Baltimore) experience

VERY disappointed to say the least. I saw on the Whitman website that this was supposed to be a huge event. I'm sure it was, on the first day or two. I arrived at Saturday around 2pm. I would say 2/3 of the venders had already left AND there was still 4 hours to go on Saturday and All day on Sunday. Are all shows like this? Pretty big bummer honestly. Why does everyone leave so early and honestly, why have the show on Saturday or Sunday if almost everyone is gone anyways? Not impressed and as a new person to all of this it's a big let down. I was looking to spend hours here. I spend 30 minutes at the most.

 

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At least it was free admission. I made the mistake of going on a Sunday one time. Unfortunately, most of the action is between dealers and big players the first two days. I was talking to a dealer at 11 on Saturday who was packing up.

For us regular guys, you'll do better at small, local shows where the dealers don't limit themselves to their high dollar inventory and Saturday is the busy day.

 

One has to realize that the dealers come here from all over the country . What you don't understand is quite a few either have flights to catch,or drive a long distance . That said they need to pack up and get out of town.
Another point is the first day they are buying inventory from wholesalers as well as the auctions . So they are there for a duel reason not just to sell but buy also.
Having been at the Whitman show every day one ,two three and four......you're better off waiting till the end to bottom feed off the smaller dealers who stay .
The big fish aren't going to give you a break to begin with... over head is quite high at a show like Whitman or FUN

 

There have been many threads about times for this show on here. It's basically over by 2pm Saturday. Friday is the day to go. Sunday - don't even bother.

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In a word, no. I've never experienced anything like that, but I have also never been to a huge east coast show either. I try to make it to shows on either the first or second day and as early as possible. Nonetheless, I have seen dealers pack up and go if the action on the bourse isn't happening and they have extensive travel ahead of them. I would say give it another try and hopefully you'll hit a better stride.

 

1) Baltimore is worse than any other show I've been to for people leaving early. I did a WFM and a FUN as a vendor, at a table, and didn't see the place starting to empty until Sunday either time.

2) Many dealers are only at shows to do wholesale. They care not at all about the public.

 

This. Especially #2.

This show is good for dealers to buy and sell wholesale, mostly on Thursday. Most dealers also are there until around 5:30 on Friday, so that's the best day to go for the public. Saturday and Sunday are dead. Whitman is an excellent Thursday-Friday show only.

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Since I'm retired Fridays are wide open for me.
That's when I go.
And since I live close by I go to all 3 Baltimore Whitman shows each year.
In the last 5 years or more I can only recall missing one.

And, yes, Thursday is pretty much dealer-only; they're there but generally NOT at their tables.
And quite a few dealers go ONLY for dealer-to-dealer transactions.
Walk by their tables on Friday and they may have display cases out but with essentially nothing in them.

 

Ok, so what your saying is that although they have a sign up stating what dealer/person they are, they are not necesarily going to have anything out for sale? So in reality I didn't miss a whole lot?

Also, thanks to the other answers. I guess I kind of felt jipped when I went in there and saw nothing but esentially from what everyone is saying, I did go at the best time for a novice such as myself? It would be nice if there was some way to group the people who are going to be staying until the last minute together so you don't have to walk around the empty rows with 1 or two people in them.

 

The early bird...

 

It is VERY expensive to stay in Baltimore. One must be able to turn a pretty large profit to be there at all and the coin market, as far as collector coins go is as slow or slower than I have seen in over twenty years.

 

I forgot about the hotel expense. I live close enough to drive. Lots of things to consider. Thanks guys!!

 

You pretty much got there when the show was already over. Saturday 2PM you're looking at about 20% of the dealers left. If you want to go to Baltimore, go Friday, or get there on Saturday before the doors open and move fast.

 

@Bambam8778
The "big players" better wise up or they will loose the show venue all together. Small local shows are more enjoyable. Parking was 17.00 at a discount rate, prices were not very good, if they have to pack up and travel early, they shouldn't do the show. I doubt that I will go to this show again. Disappointing.

 

I get the whole expense issue. I might see if I could get a day off friday and go just to see what it's like. I'll check out a couple of the other smaller ones in the area. If I like those, I'll stick to the small venues. Even knowing what I know now, it's a bit dissappointing when you walk in and see a handful of people scatter through out this huge building.

 

Bam, you might check out the Timonium show put on by Ralph P. at the Holiday Inn off I-83...next show is sunday 12/18
http://www.coinshows.com/timonium_rp.html
@Paddy54

 

I went Friday and Sunday. What a difference. I had a short list of coins I wanted, all under $500 each. Most of the dealers on Friday seemed like I was a neucence so I only ended up getting two coins. Even though there weren't many dealers there Sunday, I was able to find everything I wanted.

 

I'll be there

 

I might have to do that!!! I'll keep that in mind. Thanks. I don't know how much money I'll have to play with but at the very least it will be nice to see what a smaller show looks like! Thanks.

 

All you have to do is find one dealer that has stuff you want and your show is successful.