One Dealer's Comments About the Portland ANA Show

Thought you might be interested in comments about the show from the "other" side of the table.
This is from MFD who is mainly a high-end small cent dealer.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Perhaps more folks are getting into the hobby? The dealer states that he showed a lot of stuff but didn't have many takers. Kanga states that the dealer is "high end" and deals with small cents. Maybe high priced items scared them off?

Wonder how the bullion dealers did....

 

That was my analysis too.
The economy doesn't help, but probably also lots beginning collectors.
His material was just too expensive for most of the attendees.

I'll see him in Baltimore.
Going to be looking to get a 1864 "L" IHC in MS-63; MS-64 will probably be a bit too much for me.
My pockets aren't as deep anymore.

Or whatever else tickles my fancy.

 

Ah, the key to collecting.....

 

Very interested ! Thanks !

 

I think it depends on geography, once again. Portland, Long Beach, Baltimore...all big shows and big attendance, but also big areas effected horribly by a waning economy. But, I think they may be right about a lot of those customers coming back when things improve. If they're interested enough to be there in the first place, I'm willing to bet when they have the extra money to spend, they will indeed spend it. Dealers may just have to contend with a lot of window shoppers in the meantime, and hope to stay afloat.
Guy~

 

maybe it was just a lot of foot traffic, window shoppers, the curious, and such.

 

I recognise the blue clouds

 

Here's another view and DEFINITELY second hand.

We have a regular that does most of the big shows. His take - gold was REAL hot. Nice type coins were going cheap if dealers were willing to sell them.
He's a high end dealer as well.

 

I'll tell you whats NOT hot, from a wannabee coin dealer perspective.

Problems.Period.

Nice coins sell, problems don't. It's that simple.

 

I believe the people being drawn in by our hobby are trying to hedge their bets. In other words they may be interested in the large cents or 1909 vdb or other key date pennies, but they know that their money is safest in silver or gold. Whether a dealer is high end or not really does not make a difference, the walk in traffic is on a mission to protect as much of their money as possible! These people for the most part have no idea if it is a good buy or not, they only understand if their money is spent they can't lose it in the market.

 

Yeh, we've mentioned him before.