Running National newbie question thread

[polakoff]

CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED - PLEASE SEE POST #16

Hi all,

This year will (finally!) be my first year of attending the National. My usual card show partner-in-crime is unable to attend. However, my best friend, who is a huge sports fan but has no interest in collecting cards or memorabilia, will be joining me in Atlantic City.

Having never attended, I'm not sure of all the activities other than what information I can gather from the schedule of events. Are there things that my friend, as a huge sports fan without interest in cards or memorabilia, would be interested in seeing or doing? That is, does it make any sense at all for him to attend the show for any period of time, or should he just be on his own during the days while I dig through cardboard?

Thanks in advance for the input...

David

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

This year I'm taking my Dad and Father-in-law who don't collect and think they'll enjoy seeing the show for part of one day. For the rest of the time I'm sure they'll find things to do in the casinos or sight-seeing. You might want to have your friend buy a one day pass to start

[polakoff]

I was thinking probably single day for him as well

[tschock]

David,

You say he has no interest in COLLECTING cards or memorabilia, but is he someone who would go to the baseball, football, etc HOF museum? If so, then I'm sure he would like the National for at least 1 day. I'm betting there will be a few interesting items there (uniforms, jerseys, etc) that are high roller or museum quality pieces.

FWIW, I'll be there all week so hope to see you there and catch up!

[RaidonCollects]

Hi,

I attended my first National last year and it was great.

I also recommend a 1-day pass, if he wants to come back you get buy a pass the next day.

I'm sure as a sports fan he will be able to appreciate the stuff on display. Auction companies show 100,000s of dollars of cool memorabilia, some of which might interest him.

Last National you had the opportunity to hold a Ruth game-used bat, which was really great, I'm not sure if that's coming back this year.

-Owen

[Snapolit1]

Maybe I'm biased as I am a Jersey guy, but I think there is a lot of history in AC that is fascinating. Great boardwalk. Yes, a lot of crazies but still fun. Then the casinos. And there is a beach if you want to kick back. And outlet stores. And other stuff. Fascinating piece of Americana. Don't be afraid to walk around. My wife has no interest in gambling but loves the place. Read a book about AC first. A place with a lot of really unique history. See Boardwalk Empire.

[Enfuego]

I agree, a 1 day pass can potentially spark an interest

[drcy]

If he's a sports fan who would go to a sports museum, then the convention will suit him fine. It will be not unlike a huge museum exhibit, with many rare historic pieces on display, game used, photos, spectacular advertising pieces, etc. The big auction houses have on display spectacular, unique historical pieces, such as historic home run balls, Babe Ruth jerseys, etc.

[polakoff]

Thanks all, that's what I was wondering!

Originally Posted by tschock

FWIW, I'll be there all week so hope to see you there and catch up!

Taylor, sounds good! I hope to see some familiar NC faces though Chandy tells me he is likely not going and I hope he changes his mind!

[JustCollectVP]

There should be enough sports related items on the show floor, in addition to sneaking a few peeks at the autograph guests, to keep a non-collecting sports fan entertained for at least one day.

If your friend takes an interest to anything and wants to come back, then you're golden. If not, there are enough things to do around the casinos and town to take up another day while you attend the show.

Good luck and maybe you can bring another collector into the hobby...

[Leon]

Depends if he likes sports or not. Even as a non-collector I would think 1-2 days at the National wouldn't be boring....Just "people watching" could be half a day!!

[iowadoc77]

I have taken my dad along 2 of last 3 years and in Cleveland we did 3 days and he is not a collector but loves to hang out with me and my two boys, 11 and 14. About 1 hour into it, he was having as much fun as we were and digging through boxes with the boys and when he had enough he went and read a book but that was close to the end of the day. I think you guys would have a great time

[Jantz]

Two words for your best friend:

Benchwarmer's booth!

I wouldn't be shocked if your friend ends up buying a few items. I took a friend to the last Cleveland National. When we met up for lunch he had 4-6 bags of stuff.

[Snapolit1]

Atlantic City has a beach. Now I wont argue it's Cancun or anything . . . but reading a book under an umbrella ain't a bad way to spend a day. Even a few beach bars now.

[TheNightmanCometh]

Does the National always take place in AC?

[polakoff]

So my circumstances have changed since my initial question, and now I am left with tons of more questions, so I figured I would turn this into a running thread in which I can pick your brains.

Turned out my friend couldn't come with me, and the same day I was approached by two other friends of mine to share a booth at the National, so now I am going to my first ever National...and selling!

I know everyone's tastes are different when it comes to how you shop. The few people on the board who have shopped with me at a Raleigh show (Tschock among them) can attest to the fact that I don't like to play games. I like to mark my items with the price I need. If you buy bulk, I will discount. I don't like to play games and mark book value, do percentage off sticker, etc.

My plan for NSCC is to bring mostly vintage. I do not deal in high end, mostly low to mid range vintage. At smaller shows I will generally have a box or two with cards priced as marked ranging from 25 cents to $40. For the National I will be bringing bulk, of course, and am trying to decide how to sort. Personally, I love nothing more than when there is a disorganized box on a table with a price per card and I can dig through hoping I find a treasure. Not everyone is like that though, and at a high traffic show I'm concerned that might cause a backup at my table (or maybe that's a good thing? I don't know).

In your opinion as buyers, would you rather see vintage cards:
A) Sorted by price only - i.e., $1 box, $2 box, $3 box, $5 box, $10 and up box
B) Sorted by sport only - i.e., baseball box all prices, football box all prices, etc
C) Sorted by price AND by sport - i.e., $1 baseball box, $1 football box, etc
D) Sorted by sport AND by year - i.e., 1955 Baseball section all prices, etc
E) Not sorted at all - boxes of cards priced individually
F) Other (please specify)

Thanks in advance as always - this forum has always been such a great resource for me!

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by polakoff

C) Sorted by price AND by sport - i.e., $1 baseball box, $1 football box, etc
D) Sorted by sport AND by year - i.e., 1955 Baseball section all prices, etc

Combination of C and D. For basic Topps sets, I would prefer to sort through in number order (if you have the time to set it up that way) so I know where to look for high numbers, etc.
For oddball cards, sorted by sport in dollar boxes makes the most sense to me. And then for your higher end stuff, in the glass display cases or in boxes sorted by star players...?

[polakoff]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Combination of C and D. For basic Topps sets, I would prefer to sort through in number order (if you have the time to set it up that way) so I know where to look for high numbers, etc.
For oddball cards, sorted by sport in dollar boxes makes the most sense to me. And then for your higher end stuff, in the glass display cases or in boxes sorted by star players...?

Was kind of playing around with an idea like this in my head...Topps/Bowman in year order and then other stuff in boxes. The only thing is - once upon a time I did number order, but by an hour into the show it was all messed up. And this wasn't even a large show!

[polakoff]

How would the general population feel about HOFer cards priced as marked in one box, sorted alphabetically by last name, and then things like 5-3-2-1 dollar boxes sorted by year?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by TheNightmanCometh

Does the National always take place in AC?

No, it is rarely there. And we are (almost) all glad of that .