New York Show - Big Waste of Time and Big Waste of Money - Never Again

There was a time when I used to look forward to the NY Coin show, practically counting the days when I would be able to see wonderful - but unaffordable - coins up close, talk to the dealers, check out the pick out pots etc. And come home with something nice.

However, as the years have gone by the number of dealers has become smaller and smaller, coins are almost completely individually priced and the prices have become insane - even for worn examples. This year due to some transport issues I got there three hours before the close - this happened last year as well but most of the dealers were still there and I expected the same thing. Instead - empty tables - there were only a handful left, and those that were there had not much. I went downstairs after ten minutes, told the people I bought the ticket from that they should have warned me everyone was gone, they told me that "too bad, we are just temps, you can forget about a refund." So $60 down the drain for me and my mom, who always comes with me since she lives only a short distance away. $30 per person to begin with was outrageous - $30 times two to see empty rooms was insane. And of course, also parking, gas, tolls and the mid-town tax. A lot of money for a lot of nothing.

No way will we be back - the show was a complete waste of time and money - I intend to contact the sponsor about a refund but I know my chances are zero. And yes I should have got there earlier but based on a prior experience - last year - we expected most of the dealers to still be there.

The internet has finally killed the coin show. Next year I will be wiser and stay home.

 

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I'll just say.... I been to a few shows over the last few years. Thursday-Friday is always wide open. The FUN show had 10k people show on opening day. Saturdays tend to feel a bit more laid back. And Sunday is like a ghost town. Of the many hundreds of vendors at FUN, I would bet there weren't thirty vendors in the place on Sunday. Don't know entirely why that is, but it is. That you were charged sixty bucks for an empty house was highway robbery. But I think you will find that shows are still thriving.... Just not on the final day.

 

If you paid for the tickets by credit card, dispute the charges.

 

Every show I've attended has had free admission. I know it's different for some - our local rock and gem shows apparently charge admission. Not thirty bucks, but we aren't NYC, either. (Parking is free here, too. I guess Raleigh is still considered "out in the sticks".)

 

Need to move to the midwest. Shows are $1 to $5 to get in. If you're an ANA member going to an ANA show you get in for free, even the largest shows.

The last day of a show seems like an obligatory fluff day added on the end. Usually it's a Sunday. A lot of dealers need to get back to their shops to open Monday so I think it's a travel day for most unless they're very local. It also tends to be a slower traffic day because of this which makes the exodus of dealers self perpetuating. Some will stay back to take advantage but anybody left is usually considered a bonus. If it was very busy some might have ran out of inventory which is not unheard of these days.

 

Sorry to hear about your experience- that must have been really frustrating. But it’s really all about timing- I was there Thursday and it was quite active and busy and had a great time. (And made a few nice acquisitions..) I always look forward to this show, so many interesting dealers from all over the world and nice to meet other collectors as well. Unfortunately Sunday many dealers have left or are wrapping things up..

 

I was in manufacturing consumer products for over 45 years. Was involved in attending and/or having large booths at upwards of 6-8 different industries Trade shows per year. I would classify FUN, NYC, etc as consumer shows, attended by the public. Our shows were attended by major retailers and wholesalers, and not open to the public. However, same behavior at the Trade Shows: Big opening day and second day, relaxed 3rd and or 4th day, and a DEAD last day of a show.

Many of these industry shows were attended by 20,000 to 100,000 people from their industry. Some good sized shows that the public had no clue about.

Folks are excited and want to see new things the first couple days, then they are toast on the closing days.