Tips For Buyers

Before You Leave For The Show

Dress for comfort Wear comfortable shoes. Leave your coat in the car, if you can, so you don’t have to carry it around all day. Show halls can get rather hot and stuffy with large crowds, so plan your clothing accordingly. A tee shirt and longsleeved shirt or sweatshirt allows you to adjust layers without the bulk of a coat.

Bring a business card. Some serious collectors have their own business cards! They can hand out their card to any dealers or other show attendees for doing business at a later date. Put your name and what you want to buy (or sell) on the card, along with your contact info. If you are concerned about your collection’s security, then only put an unlisted phone number or email address on the card, not your home address.

Most show halls are poorly lit for reading imprints or examining items for flaws, so consider bringing a lighted magnifying glass.

Get There Early!

Plan to arrive BEFORE the show opens. Some of the better shows will have a long line of people waiting for the show to open.

The best buys will go quickly, so get there before the show opens. Some shows offer an “early bird admission” which may be worth it for you, especially if you are a serious collector.

A great deal of early buying occurs between dealers while they are setting up. If you are a serious collector, consider taking a table at a favorite show as a dealer. This will give you early access to other dealers during set up time. Think of it as the ultimate “early buying pass.”

“Working” The Show

When you first get in the door of the show, consider taking a quick “first pass” through the entire show. This first pass through the show will allow you to quickly purchase anything you want before it gets too crowded or items are sold.

Browse as quickly as you can, looking only for the items you want or need. While most people start at the front of the room closest to the entry door, I’ve found that starting at the back of the room and moving toward the front helps me avoid the crowd and cover more ground quickly.

Then, go back through the show a second time at a slower pace. Take the time to browse and talk with dealers. It would not hurt to have a serious “shopping list” for the most important items that you want or need; these are the things that you will be looking for in your first “fast pass” through a show.

If you find an item that you’re interested in buying, put your hand on it or pick it up (after asking the dealer’s permission and providing the item isn’t too large). Hold onto the item until you have the dealer’s attention. Once you place an item back on the table, it is considered “in play” and is fair game to any other buyer.

If you don’t see the item you want or collect on display, ask the dealer. He might have it packed away or hasn’t completely unpacked by the time you reach his table. Sometimes a dealer might not have the item you want with him, but he might have it at home. Get his card or contact info so you can follow up after the show.

Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate on price. Unless the price is already low, always ask if the dealer can do better. If the price is much higher than you are willing to pay, ask the dealer if he’s open to an offer. Always ask before launching into an offer. Nothing offends a dealer more than a customer coming up to the table, picking up a knife marked $150, and saying, “I’ll give you $60 for it!”

Again, don’t forget to get a dealer’s business card or contact info, especially from dealers who carry items you like and have prices that are right for you.

Go back through the show at the very end. If it’s a two-day show, go back during the last hours on the second day. Or if it’s a one-day show, take one last sweep through the show during the final hours. If a dealer has had a slow show, he may be willing to work a bigger discount near the end of the show.