I only attended the show on Friday, so I can only speak from that experience. As I walked around the show, I noticed a few things:
1. Pre-war material was definitely there, although prices as usual seemed high. Lots of nice cards there (tobacco, caramel, cabinets, type cards, PCs, etc.). As mentioned, the T208s were a sight to see.
2. It seemed as though there were very few collectors there. I don't know if it was because it was Fri. evening, or the economy, but it seemed kind of dead. Many dealers sitting around with no customers and exasperated looks on their faces. I'm not sure if I even saw one kid under 12-13 y.o. the whole time I was there. That just can't be a good sign.
3. There seemed to be no excitement in the crowd, no sense of anticipation or eagerness from those waiting to get in. I remember at Ft. Wash there always seemed to be a "buzz" in the air as people waited to get in. Not so at the KOP show.
4. I know many hated the Reading site, maybe more so for location than venue, but I just don't like the KOP convention center. It seems so dark, and I just don't like the whole set-up.
5. I was finished looking after less than 2 hours. Normally, it would take a good 3-4 hours for me to look around on a Friday. There seemed to be an absence of some dealers who used to set up at Ft. Wash. If I wasn't waiting for a card to be slabbed at SGC, I would have left before 7pm.
6. Many nice dealers, but also the usual charming guys who don't even look up when you're perusing their merchandise. Also dealers who would rather chat with their buddies than make a sale. I waited a couple of times to ask a dealer a question, but after waiting a couple of minutes I just moved on. It's a shame, because I came home with a pocket still full of cash.
This is just my experience. I'm sure others have differing opinions, but I thought I'd share. It seems like it has changed so much even in the last three years. I've attended almost every show since around 1993 and although I like having less competition for cards, it's a little disheartening to see what the show has become. Hopefully Sat and today are better.
Mike
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