FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[vic rzonca]

You never know who you'll meet. The exhibitors are Paula and Les Presmyk. West Springfield, MA., August 11 - 13, 2017, The East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show.

[alfredo]

Am looking forward to it. I'll be there this year.

[Jordi Fabre]

The poster of the Show

[Pierre Joubert]

Looking at the picture of Peter, that is one man I would not like to meet on the battle field!

[John Betts]

After years of enduring shoplifters and abuse to my minerals, I decided to stop selling at this show. This is my first August in 27 years that I do not have to spend preparing for, and selling at the Springfield show.

[James Catmur]

John, I am sorry to hear that you have had so many problems at the show. It is a real pain when things are damaged or stolen.

[John Betts]

The booths are very long (40 feet?) and I am there alone. If I was at one end of the booth, there was no way to guard the opposite end.

[Pierre Joubert]

[Peter Megaw]

[Jordi Fabre]

[vic rzonca]

What do you suppose is the difference between a hotel show like the Inn Suites, Tucson and an arena show, like the East Coast in terms of theft? The intimate nature of the hotel room seems like it would make a difference. John's point about 40' to cover and pay attention to customers is spot on. Good help is hard to find. Small digital camera systems would be a deterrent and help identify perpetrators, possibly.

[lluis]

Good afternoon, All

My condolences to John.
It is really annoying to have anything stolen....

But seems that is normal in all fairs... Thieves are in all places, and even in Barcelona fair in November, that is relatively small compared with what you are talking about, thieves are there....(or so said me sellers... I am just a buyer/collector...)

Sad.

With best wishes

Lluís

[Bob Harman]

A couple of pointers.
First, look at the very front and center of the above picture. At least some of the specimens....the better ones??.....are under glass. Lesson to be learned is that each dealer should consider putting his/her better specimens in some type of case or cabinet or behind them on shelves in their booth or table. Any truly interested customer will never be put off by a better quality specimen just a bit out of the main traffic flow.
Also, some dealers that I know ask customer friends to assist them as part time volunteers watching their merchandise on the tables for several hours during the day. Or they partner with another dealer friend to set up adjacent to one another and watch each others merchandise. BOB

[Pierre Joubert]

[lluis]

Hi, Pierre

You do not know what thieves do in Barcelona...
Just they do it well.... (do bad things well sounds odd to my ears.... :-()

It is not a question of force. They could stole your underpants while you wear your pants... Without you feeling the fact... until too late...
Good for magicians, bad persons...

With best wishes

Lluís