Here's a question for all of you multi-day coin show veterans. The Clearwater, Florida Coin Show is being held next weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.) In your opinion, which would be the best day to attend, taking all things into consideration. I would be doing both some buying and some selling, with a little more buying than selling if silver stays at this level or declines further. Thank you in advance.
The earlier the better at a good sized show. Usually some of the bigger guys start taking off Saturday afternoon.
The worst day is the last day because many dealers clear out early. You may be able to make some decent buys the last day of a show if you run into a dealer who would rather discount some coins rather than take them back with him. The first day is a good time for a buyer because the selections are greater. The middle days can also be good. The selection of coins offered changes as dealers buy stock from attendees and other dealers.
Treehugger, is this a different show than this one which you mentioned before: ? July 7th - 9th, 2011 5th Annual Summer F.U.N. Convention Orange County Convention Center 9800 International Dr. You mentioned this one is being held in Orlando. Clearwater seems to be a different location entirely.
Hi Eduard, This is a different show. It is the weekend before the Orlando show. Thursday, June 30 - Sunday, July 3 Coin Show Hilton St. Petersburg 950 Lake Carillon Dr Clearwater, Florida 727-733-3577 clearwatercoinshow@yahoo.com 100 tables, Admission free It would be about 2 hours north of Fort Myers. It will be a good-sized show, but, to my knowledge, not as large as the Orlando show.
The first day is usually the best, right after the dealer-to-dealer sales, so that you will have an opportunity to see whatever they just purchased in addition to whatever they brought to sell. However, the second day is usually a little less crowded and easier to spend more time at a dealer's table. As already mentioned, several dealers leave early on the last day so you won't have as many dealers to choose from.
I agree, Thursday is probably the best day, but Friday is usually good as well. I rarely go on a Saturday and never on Sunday. By the time the weekend rolls around the selection isn't as good and some of the dealers have already left. Bruce
You have to be careful about the first day. Some show charge an early bird fee. For the Whitman shows that amounts to $100. Also on the first day the dealers are not really looking for the normal customers. Lots of dealer-to-dealer business and fat wallet customers. For the average collector day 2 is often the best. And day 4 tends to be a disaster. Your ears hurt from the echoing in the mostly empty room.
Just drove up to Clearwater for the first day of the 4-day coin show. As Kanga had warned, there was an early-bird fee of $50.00 and was told the dealers were not completely set up yet to deal with the general public. Needless to say, I left and am thinking about going back tomorrow. It was a good learning experience and next time, I will get more information beforehand from the venue and organizer. Hoping tomorrow will be better.
