How much do you start off "in the hole" when you go to coin shows?

Whether you're a big time dealer, vest pocket dealer, or collector, you most likely have expenses when you attend a coin show that isn't local (such as the Orlando FUN show).

I'm considering leaving my native VA to attend the Portland ANA, but flight and hotel, meals, and a couple cab rides will put me in the hole around $1100-$1200. I can't figure out if it's worth it.

So how much are you willing to start off "in the hole" money-wise?

 

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FUN was the worst for me, but I brought my wife and kids as well. I try to be cheap going to things like the CICF, taking Megabus, making it a one day thing, etc. I am not a dealer, so I want to keep it as low as possible. Unless I was a big budget collector or a dealer, I don't think I would consider a show that would cost me that much.

 

$20.00 gas $10.00 lunch and a few hours of my time.

 

While there's a price associated with attending shows, it's hard to quantify what you really get out of seeing coins and notes, interacting with them and meeting so many people that deal in them, collect them, make them, research them, etc.

In terms of other things in excess of the material you collect, "educational costs" such as specialty books, membership(s) with organizations related to numismatics (ANA, TPGs, et al.), time spent on forums and the like all have a value too, but they all payback towards the quality of your experience, knowledge and pleasure to enjoy this hobby (or industry for the dealers).

I think it's the same with attending shows. You may not buy every book on every coin out there. You may not buy every Red Book every year. You may not have a membership with all the TPGs and you don't spend the money to attend all the coin shows. You select which ones pertain to you, your budget and your schedule and make the most of it/them.

 

I do baltimore, but im 45 minutes away. Parking is $10, plus maybe $5 gas. Almost all other showes are closer, although I did an eac show in buffalo. Stayed overnight so maybe $300 with gas and lodging, but I also brought my wife/kids and made it a little trip.

 

I went to Chicago ANA with hopes of making money on the gold kennedy. This has been my only trip. 6 hours drive each way, $85 on hotel, stupid road tolls, etc. So between my Dad and I, we probably spent $100-$150 each, including food, etc. Would not have been worth it if we had not gotten the Kennedy and sold for a profit (but I am a tight wad, especially since I went to try and make money). There is no way I would even think about spending over a grand to go to a show. You could buy some really nice coins and have your own mini show for that price.

 

Chicago is much closer, and I hope to go again this year.

 

Maybe you could phone bid some places do that.

 

That's about what I'd spend and that would be the tops!

 

Between airfare, car rentals, hotels, food, etc. I am sometimes out a grand or so, but I turn shows into mini vacations with my wife.

 

I've only gone to local shows so only spent on lunch & bus fare

 

I'm 25 mi. from Rosemont, IL. so The ANA and CPMX shows cost me admission, parking and a little gas. I figure it in on what I can spend. Other local shows only cost me gas. I can't afford any other big shows elsewhere.

 

I figure when I do finally get a chance to go to a major show is likely $1k between fuel hotels etc. there's nothing closer then Baltimore which is 10 hours. And I'd be more likely to go to central states spring or fun in next January. Timing of many shows not good for me but I figure I need at least 10k in spending capital some coins to sell and $1k in expense money. Be nice if diesel would get as cheap as gasoline too

 

Think my expenses to get to Long Beach and back for one day will be about 75.00 to include gas, parking and possibly a 'lunch'. But I should be there most of the day and it's been a long time since I've been to a large show. I am bringing a couple things to sell, hopefully, which should supplement what I will have to buy on things. Not having a lot to spend, but may get a book and a few coins out of it. It will be good if I can find another Frankie for my collection, maybe a really nice Icelandic kingdom coin for my collection, and perhaps something else that catches my eyes. It will be nice to be able to see coins that I don't usually see and also kind of gauge what people are asking for the coins I'm interested in. Meet a couple of CTers and that's about it.

 

I just think about the dealer's there. Tables are $600-$1200, then their $170 a night hotels for 4-5 days, their food (some of them fairly extravagant), airline tickets, etc. They may start off a show in the hole $4k! I know it's all a tax write-off, but geez I can't imagine the pressure to recoup all that AND THEN have to make a profit!

 

Ain't no different then us in the antique business other then cheaper rent fuel and all many of my booth rents $12-2500 plus some shows $1k in diesel plus hotels etc. and you got to haul a bunch of big heavy and often fragile stuff one of the reason I'm thinking serious about getting into coins as a business

 

I start every day of my life in a hole. Just as i'm about to climb out, life comes by as pushes me back in.

 

Well I don't think that you can just count the cost of tuition to the education that you can get by going to major shows. How often do you get to get the insight straight from sources like Steve, Rick or Fred amongst others. I've traveled to shows and purchased nothing and have felt like I got my money's worth.

Having said that, I try to be less than 500 in the hole by the time I get home on travel expenses. I'm a bit lucky in that I usually have plenty of airline miles and frequent stays at hotels to keep my costs down due to my work travel. Usually my bar tab is most of what I spend traveling.

 

This past weekend, I left home, picked up a burrito at Burrito Express ($5 yum), and traveled 10 minutes to my bank. Found 12 - 40% Kennedys in the teller's tray ($30 melt). Traveled 5 minutes to the coin show, traded a few items for a couple of items ($0). Bought a dime and a proof set ($60). Traveled 5 minutes to get home. Gas costs offset by gas from burrito ($0).

My kind of coin show!