I hope Trish and Jerry have modified the business practices of the old Metcalf shows. Vendors were pressured to keep prices high or risk being thrown out. Essentially the shows were run like a cartel operation with free trade/dealing discouraged in favor of ensuring that prices were kept high on average - didn't apply to private collections as much but was the rule for gun and ammo dealers. Such practices might benefit a few dealers but as a buyer I want and expect sellers to compete on price & value...bottom dollar isn't everything but all other things being equal it is a tiebreaker.
Seriously? You have first-hand knowledge of this? Or word of mouth or what? I'm trying to guess what the benefit of keeping prices high would be to Mr. Metcalf. I mean, he charges whatever for a table, it's not like he gets a commission on sales, does he? Or did, I suppose?
Anyways, this is the first I've heard of this and it sounds even worse than what I previously thought about his shows and business practices, if it is true.