What do you all think of the Whitman Show in Baltimore? I usually go once a year. My thoughts: * Overwhelming in the sheer number of tables; can't do them all in one day * Generally overpriced; bargains can be found, but you have to look pretty hard Does it depend on what you're hunting? Ancients Moderns Paper Foreign Tokens/Exonumia Other? I mean no disrespect to members who have tables there. I've heard that it is quite expensive to pay for space there, so that expense is passed on to the consumer. I've also heard that many (most?) dealers go there mostly for the dealer-to-dealer interactions. Thoughts? Please vote. I'm curious. Thanks.
Speaking for myself, I've always been less willing to offer significant discounts there because, yes, it is an expensive show. While I've shared a table there for years, I finally gave it up last year at this time. I still go, but almost exclusively to walk the floor conducting wholesale business. I'll offer up a couple of other relevant thoughts . . . Unlike at the FUN Show, there's no security room for those staying overnight, and the food offered by their concessionaires is both substandard and expensive.
Buyers have to pay premium for the dealers risk. Nothing is free. Finding a value is just an economic preference. If you can afford and want it, buy it or walk away.
I go to the Baltimore Whitman show (almost) every time it comes through town and have for the last several years. I've noticed that it is more expensive there than at the other local smaller shows I've attended. I've looked mostly in the world/ancient and bullion stuff. Most of the modern stuff is slabbed and way out of my price range anyways. Deals can be found though, and I have managed to make inroads with a couple of sellers that are really good and don't seem to gouge like some of the others. All that being said, I'm looking forward to going with my son in a couple of weeks. He is bound a determined to find a hobo nickel. I'm not sure we will be able to find anything in his limited price range though. I'm looking forward to walking the floor and hopefully finding a couple new (to me) ancients I can add to my collection.
I forgot to mention another area where the Baltimore Show is failing me . . . they've moved both the winter and spring show dates deeper into the winter months . . . I don't know if it is to save money by moving to less popular dates at the Convention Center, but it is surely less popular with me. I have not made plans to attend the Spring Show, and don't know if I will.
I've attended every Fall & Winter show for the past 25 years. Great venue that often offers a wide variety of options to pursue. My focus has been early Half Eagles and Charlotte and other branch mint gold, and short of that, a Double Eagle (or two) pick-up -- I've never walked out of there empty handed. I've been to ANAs and FUNs, and the B'more shows are right up there at that level, which compels me to generally forego flights and hotel accommodations in Florida or elsewhere when I can experience the same level of selection & interaction in Charm City, which happens to lie but 20 miles away. Bottom line is that whether via the bourse or the B&M auction that's conducted during the evening hours over the weekend, there's something for everyone there.
I can't blame you for sticking up for a show only 20 miles from home. If I lived only 20 miles from the show, I'd want it to thrive as well. The problem is that, for so many of us, we spend a lot more money to get there and back, and to stay there than you do, and the return on that investment simply isn't sufficient to support the show the way you do.
This was my first show and I was dissapointed in it after my first attendance. I will say, now that I know the goings on with something like this, I really enjoy going to it. I know like @ToughCOINS said, there is a lot of overhead here which causes the pricing but even on a Saturday there is enough vendors to make it a good time! Going to a show is not just about hunting for a coin, it's making connections, talking to people there and having a good time yourself. I am not an avid paper money collector as of yet but I love the variety that shows up down there! I think it is a little costly for some things but well worth it in the end for everything that size of a show brings to the community!
