Boston 2026 World Expo

USINBRITAIN ---Thanks for that info .
I never heard about this new trend of renting space for half a show . In Chicago we had stamp dealers who shut down at noon on the last day but not for half of a show .

That was not an eight day show. Eight days is a big nut for some dealers, one has to have the stock to support it.

Not really a new trend so far, it is a first time try to adjust to the cost blow back from dealers when booths were first offered. The subject was much discussed when that was occurring back over a year ago. At that time is was also pointed out that folks, if they were wanting to buy, sell or trade needed take into consideration what dealers would be appearing when.

After the dust settled on that dust up, it became information not really publicized. To do so, may reduce visitors, which is the last thing show organizers want. If you planned your trip for the day or days you could attend then found out the dealers of your material would not be there then; oops, you still attended. If you cancelled or realized it was pointless to plan to attend those days, the show loses visitor(s) count.

That decision was the first notification that this show (and perhaps others which follow) had some big cosmetic, if not foundational, issues to quietly spackle over. Holding a trade show without the trade appearing is problematic.

Parcelpostguy ---- No I never heard this being done , sounds like it hurts the buyers,they miss out on certain dealers who are listed on the EXPO website .

Around Chicago years ago we let two dealers share a table ,or a double table . It worked fine as each dealer build their client base . Then many became regular table holders .

Several dealers suggested a 5 day show instead, which would have eliminated the need for this, but it was rejected.

Drkohler, thank you for this good advice.

Now if I can push my luck a little further asking aboutt how to approach the Bourse: Say for example that I'm looking for Washington Franklins. Look for a dealer handling classic US and sniff around there?

I have to mention that I don't buy $1000 stamps. I might spring for a few $50 ones. Is this place going to be over my head?

[q Say for example that I'm looking for Washington Franklins. Look for a dealer handling classic US and sniff around there?][/q]

That's a good start, but any dealer listing US stamps will probably have at least some. And no, you will not be over your head completely. Obviously there will be high end items available, but all price ranges should be there. However, take the time to look and learn from those high end items while you have the opportunity.

Maybe it's me, but to *intentionally* not disclose these details, thus making it the attendees' problem if they show up and the dealer(s) they wanted aren't there, is unethical as Hell IMO. That would piss me off to no end... making me waste my time and expenses at the sake of the show committee? Hell naw.

I wasn't going to go anyway, simply due to the expense load involved (expenses would be 4x to 5x my annual Chicagopex expenses), but this reinforces that I made the right decision.

That mindset is unconscionable IMO.

I don't know why others were not aware of this, I have known for months about it. All anyone had to do was check the website.

The people you would most want to see will not be there anyway. Which is too bad, but.....

John Hotchner wrote an exceptional article in the March "The American Stamp Collector & Dealer, (MHO) on how to 'know the dealer' as it were. It played well into the upcoming bourse experience to be had at the Boston 202t Show. It really has some basic attributes to be aware of when shopping for the best deal at the bourse. Planning & knowledge of what you are looking for, and a strong confidence in your approach to the vendor table.

To the first timers, prepared to be overwhelmed, especially if you did not plan, even minutely. (MAINER, on-line & face to face are SIGNIFICANTLY different methods to buying.)

I've been to the last two Internationals. Washington was an overwhelming disaster for me. The NYC Show was better, as I Knew what to expect, never-the-less, I was still somewhat unprepared. I am hoping to overcome the unpreparedness as I have been planning for the last year.

I go to the Show's WEB site frequently for new information & updates of event schedules. Planning will build confidence, especially during the bourse & the face-to-face dealing.

Plan and your Show Boston 2026 experience will be memorable and highly successful. Good Luck to all. Good Show to both attendees & Vendors.

I have also been aware of the half the show option for months and more to the point, if you bother to go to the Boston2026 website and choose the Bourse page, it not only lists all the dealers, but it notes which ones are only there for the first or 2nd half (at the end of the dealer's listing). It is far less than half of the dealers.

The earliest that the part show signup became obvious was when booths were first put out for purchase for dealer signups. Full show booths and part-show booths needed to be identified and priced. Only as those were confirmed sold could one begin to see who and when the part-show dealers were attending.

As to your comment floortrader, dealers and been doubling up (sharing) tables from many years out in my time zones. It is done as a cost savings but also in recognition that the stock they carry does not need a full booth. From a dealers point of view, what sells and what is newly purchased is what matters, all other stock is just exercise.

Edit: Corrected an "r" to a "t" for English.

Looking at the list of dealers, it is a real letdown to note the absence of A to Z and others in that league where I could sit down and plow through my wantlist.

From: https://www.worldwidestamps.com/shows.php [A to Z Stamps 2026 Show Schedule]