My First Stamp Show

I just found out there is a show near me this weekend.
Any tips for a newbie?

Sure-------get a good night sleep and eat a meal before you go and plan to spend extra time there . Wear comfortable clothes . Bring a note pad with a list of things to see or a list of questions to ask dealers. Have your own pen ,thongs and magnifying glass and a portable light just in case the lighting is poor . Bring something to carry the stuff you pick up . Go with the attitude that you will talk to others ,and please don't just walk by dealers who ask if they can help, reply back to them. When you get there pick up stuff from the literature table and try to talk to people who are serving at the hospitablity table and the different socities . Nobody there knows how advance you are or how much you got to spent .Also please visit the exhibits ,stop and read some of the write-ups and learn something.Don't walk thru the exhibits like you got to find the washroom .Spend some time reading and learning and see if one of the exhibitors is around his/her exhibit and make small talk about it and ask some questions. Don't be negative about their display ,try to learn from it. When you go by the dealers try to spend some money ,buy a book or a catalog and maybe some supplies .If your spending is less than a $25.00 purchase don't haggle over price ,just paid up and know your supporting the show .

floortrader......very well written.
Also....sign up at the registration table.....get on the mailing list, they will send you info
when the next show will be.
Remember....ask questions. Everyone has to start somewhere.
HAVE FUN!

with floortrader. Good advice.

I look to see where the coffee shop is or the soda pop machine!


I do like to sit down and watch the 'show' for a while also.

I do caution you, however, to not come in your thong. Instead, I recommend tongs, as they will do a much better job picking up those pesky stamps.

Tanks for the tongs joke!

Good for security if nothing else at the stamp shows.

Please do not wear your tongs in public!

Also bring cash or checks, some dealers don't accept credit cards if you want to buy from them.

Partime posted ------"much better job picking up those pesky stamps"------true but----the thongs will do a better job picking up the ladies .

Hi,
OK, I confess.......... I have never been to a stamp show. What can one buy there besides stamps (i.e. new/used albums, supplies, etc.)?

Are the prices typically what one would expect from ebay - or Mystic Stamp?

Are the dealers a friendly lot, or ???

Thanks folks,
Mobilman44

I've only been to one show ... and it was a mixed bag of friendly and not so friendly. Same with prices. I found several what I considered to be very good deals on collections, and then spent a frustrating 20 minutes looking through a stock-book at overpriced sets that I really wanted but wasn't willing to pay catalog or in some cases over catalog. That was one of the unfriendly dealers. But overall I had a great time! Enjoyed the exhibits and had several terrific conversations with other collectors and dealers. Definitely take your own light though ... the lighting, at least at this show, was very bad. Many of the dealers had their own lights, but many didn't.

Supplies, albums, mounts, catalogs whatever a collector needs, especially thongs .

The prices are ususlly a lot less than Mystic and usually a lot more than E-Bay.

Me, I haggle on everything, even if its a 50 cent stamp! That's part of the fun and the dealers somewhat expect you to as well. I have only met 1 dealer who was a grouch in the past 30 years and I suspect they are few and far between. Just put on a smile when you offer $10.00 for that $40.00 item and you won't piss them off, much.

Art

Now that there is the best advice !

Actually Floor Traders reply should be a feature post on this site for any beginning (Or advanced) collector attending a show. Very well written and great advice sir !

This may sound obvious, but have a good idea of what you are looking for. Bring your want lists and prepare to sit down for a while. Don't be afraid to ask questions. I once was at a show in Texas chatting with the dealer when he asked what I collected. I told him my main interest was Minnesota Postal History, but I didn't expect to find that down here. He pulled out a book from his table in back and I left his table broke and happy.

mobilman44,
A good show will have something for everyone. You will have dealers with masses of red boxes of stamps, all identified ready to fullfill your want lists. You will find box lots with everything but the kitchen sink. Many cover dealers will have boxes of covers at $1.00 each with good stuff to be found. You can find mint discounted postage, supplies, etc. You will see stuff you can't afford, but it is fun to look at. The larger shows will have exhibits and you may literally see things that you thought would only be in a museum. The best part is if you spend some time there you will meet other collectors........ oh, I almost forgot, if they have food you will have a lousy lunch.

Normally true, but there is another thread discussing the average age of a stamp collector, and the picture in my head right now is going to give me nightmares about what I might see at a stamp show ...

In any case, I do agree with many of the comments that I have seen. On my first visit to a show, I was not aware that Credit Cards were frowned upon, and did not bring my checkbook. I also forgot to bring along a magnifying glass to look at some of the items more closely. It can be overwhelming, at first, so I also recommend at least a list of the most important items to find. Have fun!