This Week’s Letters (12/14/07)

From the Dec. 14 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Q. Are Sunday hours important to you at a major multi-day coin convention?

There is a problem getting distant dealers to come to one-day shows, but many other closer dealers like the one-day Saturday shows. In San Antonio, Texas, we have two clubs that sponsor two shows each, for four shows per year, all Saturday-only shows. We have no trouble getting dealers for the 30- and 60- table shows, if there is no other show the same day within 300 miles. Attendance is about 80 percent of what we would get if they were Saturday and Sunday shows. The expense of overnight security would not be paid by the additional 20 percent of business provided on Sunday.

Many collectors attend church on Sunday morning and would get to spend very limited time on Sunday afternoon before dealers start packing up and heading home. Some collectors will not attend a Sunday show, on God?s Day. Others believe Saturday is God?s Day and will not attend a show on Saturday. I guess this is one reason why some shows are three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the really large shows are even longer.

Harold Eiserloh
San Antonio, Texas

Yes. I do not go to many coin shows because on Sundays, most of the dealers have shut down and there is very little left to look at/purchase. This is the only day that I am able to go to these shows.

Carlisle Langley
Hallsville, Texas

Yes, yes, yes. Oftentimes Sunday is the only day I can get to a show and the last thing I want to see are empty tables from early-bird dealers.

Charles K. Miller
Havertown, Pa.

Sunday hours are definitely important.

Eric A. Duhs
Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Many years ago, I proposed that ANA be a 10- or 11-day event that included one full weekend and the following Saturday, with a Tuesday or Wednesday off during the show. It never went anywhere and I still get teased about it from time to time. I am still in favor of the idea.

Julian Leidman
Silver Spring, Md.

Sunday hours are imperative for me to attend a show sometimes.

Doug Jennings
Petersburg, Mich.

I think Sunday of a multi-day coin convention is always going to be treated by dealers as a day to tie up loose ends, pack and hit the road. It?s a double-edged sword. So many dealers will be packed or packing by noon on final day, explaining that they only see browsers and tire-kickers on the final day, with little actual business. On the other hand, if I were confident the vast majority of dealers were still set up at 2 p.m. on the final day, I?d attend more big, multi-day shows that day. Don?t get me wrong, I prefer attending shows the first day and often pay $25-$75 to buy a ?walking dealer? badge at shows, so I don?t consider myself a browser or tire-kicker. But, there are times when other obligations take priority and it?s attend the show on Sunday or miss it entirely. I think many show promoters have tried to improve the situation by altering the listed times on Sunday to, let?s say, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., which is more realistic than the 9 to 4 (or 5) p.m. listed previously.

Jerome Schaeper Jr.
Edgewood, Ky.

Sunday is the day to enjoy a hobby. But as coin collecting is transformed more and more into an investment business, Sunday becomes less important to the mega dealers.
If dealers are going to leave a show early on Sunday, then there is no point in having the show on that day.
Many who work for wages can only attend on Sunday. Are they valued as hobbyists and customers? If not, then close the show on Saturday.
With one less day to attend, long distance travellers may just skip the show altogether.

Bruce Frohman
Modesto, Calif.

Keep shows open at least half a day on Sunday, and require the dealers to be there.

Mike Buckley
Tallahassee, Fla.

I am a collector of many years. I have attended many, many shows. Especially if I travel to a show, I like to attend as many sessions as are available. However, for years I have been very disappointed at Sunday turnouts, both by dealers and collectors.

I cannot blame dealers for leaving prior to Sunday, if collectors/buyers are not going to show. To me it is more disappointing that collectors do not show, rather than dealers having abandoned their tables. The later is simply a ripple effect of the former. With that said, there is little to be done to attract collectors to Sunday and with that, the elimination of Sunday is warranted and likely necessary. For me, if it involves travel, it gets me home a day early, as it does for the dealers. That is not a bad thing.
Thanks for providing a voice on the subject.

Paul Schmolt
Houston, Texas

As a Sabbatarian with a full-time job, Sunday is my only chance to go to a show. My vote: Keep it.

Ben Mauldin
Heidenheimer, Texas

I have mixed feelings. In favor: There are customers who work on Saturdays (e.g., Tuesday to Saturday, off Sunday and Monday), and Sunday is the only day for them. Secondly, dealers need to finish off inter-dealer sales, and a slow Sunday is ideal, whereas a busy Saturday often leaves no time to complete this business.
On the other hand, we dealers on the West Coast can take a late Sunday evening flight, but having to stay at our table until 6 p.m. on Saturday ? and I strongly insist that dealers should remain as close to the ?bitter? end as possible ? means there are no flights back to California except red-eyes, which most of us detest. That does mean one more night in a hotel, but a convenient flight on Sunday, arriving in Sacramento late afternoon rather than close to midnight. But to help us, the show operator should keep Sunday security until at least noon.

Steve Album
Santa Rosa, Calif.

My experience is that Sunday is a short day, dealers pack up early. I like going the first or second day of large shows. More to look at and people seem to have more time to talk with you about what they have.

R. Owens
Atlanta, Ga.

As a dealer, if the show is well advertised and is historically well attended on Sunday, I will stay.
As a collector, if I know that the vast majority of dealers will be there on Sunday, I will attend.
That said we both know that neither scenario happens most of the time. Therefore, having Sunday hours benefits very few. I would end the multiple day show late afternoon on Saturday.
Regional and local weekend shows in addition to national shows share the same experience. The local one day shows that are Sunday only would also benefit if the multiple day shows ended on Saturday.

Dan Rich
Columbus, Ohio

Yes to me personally it?s important because sometimes it?s the only day I could attend. Keep it like it is what I say!

David Miller
Hudson, N.Y.

If they aren?t open on Sunday, I no longer go to the show. The shows that close on Saturday are already well known to not be worth attending on Saturday, so even if I can go to a show on Saturday that doesn?t open on Sunday I don?t waste my time.

Tony Troutman,
Carpinteria, Calif.

The show must go on.
 If we, the workers, were not working on Sunday and could go home on Saturday then change it.
But we the workers and volunteers need to be there anyway so why waste the day and get no revenue from the dealers.

Edward T. Arrich
Coldspring, Texas

Yes, Sunday shows are important as many people can only attend on Sundays.

Col. Steve Ellsworth
Clifton, Va.

Sunday is the day to enjoy a hobby. But as Coin Collecting is transformed more and more into an investment business, Sunday becomes less important to the mega dealers.
If dealers are going to leave a show early on Sunday, then there is no point in having the show on that day.
Many who work for wages can only attend on Sunday. Are they valued as hobbyists and customers? If not, then close the show on Saturday.
With one less day to attend, long distance travellers may just skip the show altogether.

 Bruce Frohman
Modesto, Calif.