Barry Branvold of Barry's Collectors Corner in Grand Forks, North Dakota feels that a Diamond seminar at locations that allowed more dealers to attend would be helpful:

I have attended numerous Diamond seminars as well as Capital seminars before that and even Glenwood seminars many years ago.  This year I decided to save my $1,000 outlay ($500 for flight, $300 for hotel, $200 for store labor while I am gone) and stay home. 

I know that Diamond does a good job putting on their seminar and they try to get freebies to offset the cost of attending.  I usually have trouble selling the freebies to get back my expenses.  I often give them to customers, which is good for my customers and doesn't hurt my standing, but also doesn't pay the bills.

I recall in San Diego this year that a west coast dealer asked if they could host a seminar closer to him.  Baltimore is a trek from California and Ft. Wayne isn't too much closer.  In my case Baltimore is a 1/2 days travel each way, and driving to Ft. Wayne is 12 hours.  Neither is very close for me or to any west coast dealer.  I really do not have an answer for Diamond but it is a shame that dealers close to Baltimore/Ft. Wayne or the wealthiest dealers are the ones who will attend their seminars.  All the freebie alternate books will go to a very few who don't really need the income.  It is a little like the Alternate cover books that go to incentives for ordering 75 or 100 of one title.  Big market dealers get them but small market dealers do not.

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