Boston 2026 - Any Reports?

Given that all the dealers I spoke with were happy, and they all have varied stocks, money was being spent in a wide range of areas, from low end to high end. And in both stamps and postal history. And even during the week in the later afternoon, many booths had multiple customers at them when I was out on the floor. It was hardly just the discounted postage being sold.

eyeonwall - yeah I know....sigh, I was just throwing ideas out there - I did buy those overpriced inverted Jenny stamp packs as well as the box set and I still love them even though it was contrived.

angore - Your right about the usps marketing skills not being up to par. As far as those postcard packs, I did buy a lot of those packs when they were available and still love them. I guess I'm just a glutten for mass marketing and infomercial type products whether its rip off or not. Oh well. 9 times out of 10 I always love what I buy.

Anyway's, I can't wait for the Great American Stamp Show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I hate flying but I am seriously considering attending this event.

Please give me the mailing address to BOSTON EXPO 2026 . I need to mail them a calculator from the Dollar Store which cost me $1.60

They can't after a week give out their daily total attendance figures ,I know it is like counting ballots in California . May take a few weeks
They need to separate out the flood of school children who got a free day off from school .Those numbers could throw the numbers off ,so better to not include them as visiting philatelist . Better to make their number just a foot note .

Although I saw Boy Scouts, I never saw "a flood" of school children. I saw a number of children with parents, and sometimes teens in small groups. Of course there were two escalators and I was in front of one. I could see the other but I was not watching it most of the time. And as stated before, the center was huge, and could easily swallow a thousand people without seeming the least bit crowded. The one time that I was in the lobby before opening it was full of people waiting to enter.

@RevCollector - you saw Scouts as Bky Scouts no longer exists and we had girls in the Sunday and Saturday sessions.

Whatever they are called, they had scout uniforms on. I don't pay attention to them, so I have no idea what they call themselves. When I was younger I thought them a very narrow minded organization. Like a lot of others.

The other issue with the daily count is, as advertised on the Boston 2026 website, the show had 500 volunteers. Those should not be counted as part of the general daily attendance but held aside as a separate number.

Counting volunteers would be like buying many of your own books to get better placement on a best seller's list.

* * * Additional non-stamp related comments deleted by Moderator * * *

Edit: Sound to should.

There was no turnstile and with all the people waiting to get in first thing each day, they could not possibly manually count them all unless they forced them to go thru one at a time (I got in early and was not there to witness the public opening). I'm guessing all we will get is an estimate, and it might be fudged.

What really matters to the show organizers is the financials. Did they sell enough booths? Was the number of room nights met? (assuming that was part of the contract). Were the dealers happy? (i.e. are they likely to do it again, if they are still around next time). 500 big spenders mean more to a show that 10,000 bottom feeders.

Ya think?




Even that is misleading if not disingenuous. The financial should list as follows:

--Total Cost of Operation including Show Catalog and hosting of FIP folks.
--Total Revenue from selling floor space as
1. Dealers
2. Stamp Agencies
3. Organizations
4. Exhibitors

--Advertising/paid sponsorships.
--Other activities such as awards dinner.

--Lastly full disclosure on the amount of money donated by various organizations and individuals as
1. Cash
2. In kind, stamps and award items.

The APS donated funds and paid for a book, Gems of Boston 2026, priced at $125 or less. How many were left over and what was the break even on that vanity press item?

Bottom line I believe is the show is not and has not been self sustaining for a few cycles if not for the "free money" from donations.

A show like this will take about 90 days to settle all claims and figure out all the money coming in and money going out .