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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Eric Babula, post: 20450525, member: 85976&quot;]It seems that is has been a while since this question has been asked/answered (or I missed more recent threads), so maybe some priorities have changed. I haven&#039;t been to a coin show in over 40 years, and hope to go to some.....eventually. To be honest, it&#039;s kinda intimidating. But, the thought of going to a coin show is also exciting!</p><p><br /></p><p>For my first one, or few, I will probably not bring much of anything - just some cash.......in case I find something I &quot;need&quot;. I plan to use the first one or two as a learning experience, more than anything. I&#039;ll wander, observe, listen, chat and learn.....and look at some coins and just maybe buy myself a present.</p><p><br /></p><p>I had some thoughts on what I might want to bring with me, but then a number of questions also popped into my head:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. <b>Cash / credit card / check book.</b></p><ul> <li>I&#039;m assuming Cash is still king. Yes?</li> <li>Where do you keep your cash? Hidden fanny pack?</li> <li>Do Dealers often take other forms of payment?</li> <li>Are there any unwritten rules regarding payment (e.g. no credit card under $100)?</li> </ul><p>2. <b>Cell phone and charger cable.</b></p><ul> <li>I have apps for PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle, in case I don&#039;t have enough cash and Dealers would take those forms of payment.</li> <li>I could also have my entire coin list and Want List on my phone.</li> <li>Are there usually charging stations or available outlets (for the public to charge a phone)?</li> <li>Do people bring cell phone charging bricks (heavy)?</li> </ul><p>3. <b>Comfortable shoes!</b></p><p>4. <b>Clothes with lots of pockets?</b></p><p>5. <b>Messenger bag (sling over shoulder).</b></p><ul> <li>I&#039;m thinking this would be better/safer than a backpack, where you have to take it off (and could accidentally leave it somewhere), or might not notice someone behind you, unzipping and stealing. Thoughts?</li> </ul><p>6. <b>5x lighted magnifier???</b></p><ul> <li>Do I even need a 5x magnifier (I have a Carson MiniBrite)? Or, do people just use the Magnifier app on their phones, now? Or, just take a quick picture with their cell phone and zoom in?</li> <li>Do Dealers frown upon people taking pics of their coins?</li> </ul><p>7. <b>10x B&amp;L loupe (for details)???</b></p><ul> <li>Again, is this even needed w/ a cell phone?</li> </ul><p>8. <b>My Want List</b> (w/ approx. prices for different grades, price bumps between grades, maybe mintages, key and semi-key dates). I already know this will be a futile exercise for me - see my sig line, below! I&#039;m 90% sure I would go into a show with a nicely thought out Want List, and leave with absolutely NOTHING from that list!!!</p><ul> <li>Anything else you have in your Want List that is crucial?</li> <li>Do people show their Want List to Dealers? (or maybe have a separate list, only indicating the coins they want w/o prices, etc.?)</li> <li>I could just have pics on my cell phone of my Dansco 7070 album showing the empty slots. That would be a Want List of sorts that I could show a Dealer.</li> </ul><p>9. <b>Some coins I&#039;d like to sell/trade?</b></p><ul> <li>How do you carry the coins you&#039;d like to sell/trade? Raw coins? Slabbed coins?</li> <li>Also, how do you carry (and keep separate from sell/trade coins) the coins you&#039;ve purchased?</li> <li>How do you approach the subject of selling/trading with a Dealer? Something I think I&#039;m gonna have to witness a few times before being comfortable with that.</li> </ul><p>10. <b>Greysheet, or other price guide?</b></p><ul> <li>Is it bad form to bring out a Greysheet at a table?</li> </ul><p>11. <b>Book: Redbook, or ANA Grading Standards, or PCGS Grading Standards.</b> Not for pricing - more for grading.</p><ul> <li>Which one? More than one?</li> <li>Seems like this might be a no-no - like Dealers will KNOW you&#039;re a newb to be taken advantage of. Yes? No?</li> <li>I feel that, for the most part, I&#039;m fairly ok at grading, but could always use help if debating a coin&#039;s grade with someone.</li> </ul><p>12. <b>Book: Top 100 VAM Keys.</b> Not sure if this would be worth it.</p><p>13. <b>Books: Cherrypicker&#039;s Guide Vol. 1 and 2.</b></p><ul> <li>Do Dealers get turned off or annoyed if you pull out these books?</li> <li>Kinda heavy to carry around all day.</li> </ul><p>14. <b>Notepad and pens.</b></p><ul> <li>Or, I could just type notes on my phone.</li> </ul><p>15. <b>A couple energy bars and a bottle of water.</b></p><ul> <li>Is this allowed at shows?</li> </ul><p>16. <b>Laptop.</b></p><ul> <li>Do people bring laptops? I&#039;m thinking not necessary. Although, I would have my coin software there, so my Have List and my Want List would be easily accessible. Also, I could just look up grading standards online. Also, could look up VAMs, or other coin varieties/errors. Also, could look up Greysheet and eBay completed auction pricing. Is there WiFi at shows? That would get rid of a number of the above items.</li> </ul><p><br /></p><p>Ok, that&#039;s what I thought of for now. Whew! That list got way longer than I thought it would! As I was typing, I apparently started overthinking this whole thing! LOL!</p><p><br /></p><p>What say you? What do you bring to coin shows?</p><p><br /></p><p>What do you think of my list?</p><p><br /></p><p>What is mandatory, and what is frivolous?</p><p><br /></p><p>What am I missing?</p><p><br /></p><p>Can you come and go during a coin show (e.g. to get something for lunch)? Or, is there always food for sale there?</p><p><br /></p><p>Any unwritten (or written) rules or etiquette protocols I should be aware of?</p><p><br /></p><p>And, yes, I know the #1 piece of advice should be to HAVE FUN!!!</p><p><br /></p><p>TIA for any advice![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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