[buymycards]

Rich, I agree with several of your points. I wasn't able to make the National this year, but I attended the large show in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, and that experience mirrored the experience that I had a the Chicago national a couple of years back.

I live 4 hours from Chicago, so I left home early enough to get to the show when it opened at 10:00 on Sunday. Some of the dealers left on Saturday, and by noon on Sunday several tables were empty. By 2:00 most of the dealers started packing up and by 3:00 there were only a few dealers still selling cards.

8 hours driving
6 bucks in tolls
12 bucks parking
10 bucks to get in the show
32 bucks for gas
Food prices at the show were outrageous

I had several cards that I was looking for, but I felt that the prices on the cards that I wanted were completely out of line compared to the BST and ebay. I didn't buy a card until around 2:00.

I love the big shows, and I don't mind the drive, but it really ticks me off when the dealers leave early.