Summer FUN has been canceled.

This might be a dumb question, but if 80% of the business at FUN is dealer-to-dealer as I've been told here....then might it still have made sense to hold FUN even if the public didn't attend en masse ?

Maybe because the dealer community skews older FUN realized it didn't make sense if they won't come or if there are many dropouts.

Or maybe FUN just thought it was too much work to commit to given all the unknown variables (dealer dropouts, lack of public, fear that OCCC may even close down conventions if cases skyrocket).

FUN Committee may have had a critical threshold of dropouts -- 10%, 25%, whatever -- where they canvassed their dealers and said it's unlikely we'll be above it.

My astronomy club puts on a huge vendor show and we listened to the dealers back in March when we postponed (to September). I suspect FUN did the same thing.

 

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This is the public announcement from the FUN Board of Directors:

2020 SUMMER FUN SHOW CANCELLED
It is with great disappointment that the FUN board of directors is announcing
Summer FUN 2020 is cancelled. The FUN board has worked hard to make this show a
reality, desperately wanting to provide a venue for our dealers to get back to what
they love and have our numismatic community be able to convene again. However, it
has become clear that the “cons” far outweigh the “pros” at this point in time.
First and foremost is the concern for the health and well-being of our dealers, our
service providers, and our public attendees. There are currently many concerns and
also many unknowns about how things will be in early July. The FUN board voted and
approved the purchase of masks and hand sanitizer for our attendees, but there was
still apprehension about being able to keep everyone safe with some level of social
distancing and other safety measures.
“Our auction partner, Heritage Auctions, has endorsed this decision and has
graciously agreed to transfer the Summer FUN auction consignments to their
upcoming official auction of the ANA in Pittsburgh August 3-8,” said FUN President
Bob Hurst. “We understand and fully endorse the decision of the FUN organization,”
remarked Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Auctions Steve Ivy. “The safety and
health of the numismatic community is the first and foremost consideration. Heritage
Auctions and its entire staff look forward to the upcoming FUN Show and auction in
January with even more anticipation than normal.”
Our clubs are unable to get their members to commit to attend the show and are
cancelling their FUN-sponsored club buses. We believe this is a good indicator that
the public is not yet comfortable attending a convention.
If you booked a hotel reservation through FUN’s official housing bureau, your
reservation will automatically be cancelled.
FUN deeply regrets disappointing many people, but we look forward to better days
ahead and a hugely successful show in January 2021. Thank you for your patience and
understanding as we navigate these unprecedented situations.

 

In the end, it's alot of work -- and $$$ -- to put this show on and if you lose 10% ? 25% ? 50% ? of the dealers, it's at best a mediocre event and at worst a disaster.

 

I don't think the Summer FUN is that much of a comercial show. The Winter FUN is another story. Of course the collectors they bus in might fool me and don't buy that much.

 

It all depends upon which dealers you lose. There are few dealers I will never miss is they didn't darken the doors again.

 

I live in Central Florida and have found Summer FUN to be a rewarding show as a collector. It seems to me to be a 50% to 60% version of the larger Winter FUN but still has the Heritage Auction, the club meetings, etc. I meet tons of old acquaintences there and it is the usual mix of high-end, middle and low-end dealers. There seem to me to be proportionately fewer dealers of high-end/genuinely rare coins than at the winter show. I will miss it badly as I find the Internet buying experience less than fulfilling.

 

Oh wow what a surprise, I mean someone should have been able to predict that

 

I agree. Auctions are often the pits. You almost always get driven too high if you win and get tired of losing. I hate buyers' fees. People say, "Just lower your bids to compensate for them," but a lot of bidders just ignore them. That's why you end up paying through the nose in most auctions.

Heritiage changes a 25% buyers fee, which takes them out of running for me most of time. The other politcal items dealers charge 15%. The item has got to be really special for me to get involved in a Heritage political items auction.

Some dealers have decent fixed price lists, but there are no negociations like there are at a shows. You also have to wait forever for the mail. I don't mind buying the shipping and insuracne fees because it usually costs more to go to a show, unless it's local.

AND the really big issue ... You get to see the item IN PERSON before you buy it. Nothing can replace that.

I'm going to miss the shows. It looks like earliest one for me will be Winter FUN, if it is held.

 

Yup, good point...same with our astronomy show...we could lose 10-15 vendors and not miss a beat...we lose 5 key ones......

 

Not really, many people just wish they could get something cheaper and then complain when they’re out bid. If you want something pay up like the winners do, very few are ever actually tricked by the fees on big coins. It’s not hard to figure out how to bid

 

Hmmm, I always thought collectors at Winter Fun bought quite a bit. I usually have about 50 Mr. Franklin's with me when I go, and I almost never have enough for what I WANT to buy. This doesn't even take into account Heritage auctions, which I know I never have enough on me for both the bourse and those.

 

I find that odd because Florida United Numismatists, Inc. web page is showing something different.
http://www.funtopics.com/summer-fun.html

 

Take a look at the front page...
http://www.funtopics.com/index.html

 

Not unusual at all. A lot has been going on at that organization for months! Eventually, they'll get around to correcting the web sight.

Is the show being held or is it cancelled? I think it odd that everyone here does not already know the answer. For those who did not get the message: The Summer FUN Show is cancelled.

 

Strange since someone said it a long time ago but what do I know

 

I'm so sorry for all you excellent members

 

John. I would love to see your coins. Your a 10 member to me. Shout out to @Mainebill. And @JCro57 buffalo. Lollipop farm

 

I enjoy what you type. I believe every work you say. That ain't no bull schlitz

 

I broke in with @baseball21 a few years ago. He spent time to nurture me. I tead alot of baseball books. Reading K.C. Stangel now. Baseball21 is on my like list. Group hug???

 

The only guys that bugs me is @goldcollector.