Mike McCandless so true!
When i started collecting in 1999/2000 shows were where you bought things for your collection and meet other collectors. I would assume prior to eBay these shows was your "main" source for finding stuff besides beating the bushes or classified ads! In 2000 many guys were still out beating the bushes and took duplicates or upgrades to shows to sell only to buy something else for there collection. This also made it great for auctions prior to the shows or right after the shows as online bidding wasn't really big. It seemed once the American Picker show hit is when you started seeing more guys coming to just buy/sell and not really collecting or putting stuff in there collection. I know eBay made a big effect on hobby and Facebook has really changed the way items are now sold and traded. It seems lots of items are sold between pickers/dealers and sometimes i wonder if it ever ends up in a collection. LOL I hope the shows stick around!!!! The fun for me at shows was to always hang out with guys that collect and have same interest as me.... talk about items found, going to dinner, having some beers and talking about anything. I always said its a hobby for me and fun... once fun stops i would step away.
I have seen guys that were collectors end up doing it for income and not really collecting and the "spark": or "fun" doesn't seem to be there anymore. I know i don't want to go down that road....
