Are programme fairs of any use anymore ?

[goonerboy]

Would be interested to get views on programme fairs. When I started getting into collecting they were great to pick up all sorts of items including rare ones and old ones. However since eBay plus the explosion of auctions, the dealers just bring along their basic items and you can barely see any older or rarer issues anymore.

I then started getting into tickets a few years ago thinking that at least fairs would be a good place to build my collection. So what do I find ? That most dealers just chuck all their tickets in a shoebox with the "you sort through that" mentality. After a few minutes of such randomness one loses the will to live. There have even been occasions that I have asked a dealer if he had any tickets to be told not with him and then next day I see he has listed a stack on eBay.

So with the growth of eBay plus auctions, does any collector get any worthwhile value from fairs anymore ?

[smk06]

I drove from Leeds across the Pennines in a snow blizzard to attend the Altrincham Fair just after Christmas. I collect Derby home and away progammes but after 90 minutes I had only picked up a current season issue for £1 and one from a couple of seasons ago for 60p.

Next year I plan on going to the Sheffield Fair instead as it's geographically closer to Derby so hopefully logic will mean there will be more of interest. Also it is the first of three big fairs in a row (Sheffield, Altrincham and London) so dealers attending all three fairs may take the same stock to all of them meaning the best bargains could be in Sheffield. Can anyone give a bit of inside knowledge here?!

[ToffeeDan]

Tricky one. Obviously those who set up a stall at a fair but some/lot of effort in and sometimes for limited returns. Like anything where people sell stuff if a good punter turns up they will get a few good sales. On a personal note, perhaps because I have much of Everton post war at home and virtually all the aways I want (or can afford) there usually isn't much for me at the fairs. If I spot an oddment then that would be worthwhile but in the past few years I've seen virtually nothing that I wanted - perhaps an odd reserve issue or a Schoolboy game but that's about it. I suspect that those who were well catered for at the fairs I've attended (Southampton, Kidderminster, Widnes) supported other teams - just one of those things

[ForestMick]

I've been collecting for less than ten years, and don't drive, so I've never been to a fair. I would hope that they have a future, as that is where people can meet face to face and talk about the hobby. I do agree that Ebay, auctions, and now this forum have collectively taken the place of fairs to a certain extent. I get all the information, and most of the progs I need off here, if not Ebay or auctions.
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[Tynie Topics]

I definitely think there’s a future for Fairs, just that the more “experienced” collectors have to accept that there may not be much for them to buy on the day (hasn’t that always been the case?), they must however be an Aladdin’s cave for younger or less experienced collectors.

I was at the New Year Fair in London as I happened to be in town, and I enjoyed my 90 minutes of wandering around. There was not much to add to my collection but then again I like programmes and I enjoyed looking at issues that I wouldn’t normally see “in the flesh”. What I did note that there were not too many younger collectors around, how well are these events promoted to a younger audience? It’s all very well advertising in PM, but perhaps expanding that to the likes of 442 magazine, When Saturday Comes and club programmes in the area – as well as a dedicated website – would help spread the word.

I would also observe that dealers need to consider being a bit “keener” priced at Fairs. They should see it as an opportunity to turn over stock and promote the hobby, not squeeze every last penny out of collectors on the day. I saw a couple of programmes that I would have considered buying, but I know if I bide my time I’ll pick up copies from eBay for two-thirds to a half of what’s being asked at the dealers stall, a point to ponder.

Anyway, consider yourselves lucky, the Fair “scene” has died a death north of the border due to apathy amongst the three or four full time dealers up here. You sometimes don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone!
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[Piebald]

I like the Sheffield fair as its convenient for me and its nice to see progs.apart from those you collect from time to time and chat to the dealers.
But theres only about 7 dealers,think some dealers miss Sheffield and go to Altrincham instead so you need to consider this.....