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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2331613, member: 19463&quot;]I have not noticed attendance declining at the shows I attend but central Virginia and Baltimore are hardly typical venues.&nbsp; At least half of my yearly expenditure on coins is at coin shows.&nbsp; Last year that was about 50 coins ranging from $7 to $1200.&nbsp; At shows, I see more dealer to dealer dealing than high dollar sales (meaning coins over $1k) to people I do not recognize as dealers.&nbsp;&nbsp; I do see a lot of empty chairs at tables at Baltimore but not at dealers that I know to be competitive or serious.&nbsp; JA mentioned the fun at NYINC of going through boxes and bags of pick-outs.&nbsp; That is what I like best.&nbsp; Shows are a venue where a dealer can sell coins in my lower price brackets and not have to deal with the expenses and troubles of photography or complete ID which costs as much to do for a $5 coin as for a $5000 one.&nbsp; The other thing I like about shows is the chance to meet and greet dealers that I might want to patronize outside the show but prefer to know who they are and what they know about my areas of interest.&nbsp; Other than Baltimore, the shows I attend are small and attract five or so dealers who have ancients.&nbsp; I seriously doubt that those shows would be worthwhile to dealers who buy coins at Triton for resale. </p><p><br /></p><p>At almost every show I sit next to someone who is obviously new to the hobby and probably not on the standard mailing lists.&nbsp; At the last Baltimore show, I saw one of that group buy several $300-500 coins but most are looking through the junk with me.&nbsp; I&#039;m not at all clear on how some dealers profit considering where they choose to stay and eat not to mention flying in from everywhere.&nbsp; I understand why shows are in big cities but I&#039;m less sure why so many pick expensive venues.&nbsp;&nbsp; A well known California dealer was always at Baltimore but rarely had a crowd looking at stock.&nbsp; I never understood the attraction of that trip unless it was to buy/trade with dealers.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The main reason I see for shows is to offer entry to the hobby or a place to sell grandpa&#039;s coins.&nbsp; Many people there know little but a few might become serious collectors.&nbsp; Compared to their other choice (everyone knows about eBay) the shows appeal to the new crowd.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Small shows always seem to have a new dealer who knows little and seems to have bought sock at retail.&nbsp; The Internet and cheap business cards seems to have made dealers out of everyone with ten coins they don&#039;t want.&nbsp; Most will fail and blame the shows for the fact that no one bought their junk.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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