Quote:
Originally Posted by barrysloate
Dan- nobody has complained more on this board about how poorly OJ's are graded than me, but we all know that going in. If you have one with a gem front but some paper loss on the back, you will get hammered. You had to know that when you submitted. I know, it stinks, but it's never going to change. Graders obsess over technical flaws, often missing the big picture. The fact that a card may otherwise be a gem doesn't seem to sway them. But we know it, so you either have to work within the system or keep them raw.
And on the other thread, you complained about the poor crowds at the show. That isn't hard to figure out either. When nearly ever dealer puts his material out at double retail, consumers will stop wasting their time traveling to these shows. A show is a good place to catch up with old friends, but a terrible place to get a fair deal. Collectors will continue to avoid them. Shows are not part of the hobby's future, but a piece of its past.
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I just got back from the Oaks show late last night. A few observations I had were.....the show was dead as far as end-user attendance. That being said I had a great time with the usual crowd of friends. Dan, Jim R, John M., Ted Z were all there quite some time and/or set up. John was my chauffeur again and I can't thank him enough. Try flying into a city and needing a ride everywhere and not know where your going....and that was me. But with John's kindness I didn't have a worry in the world. And how can I forget Fred Mckie's kindness in picking me up at the airport on the way in. Again, I am very thankful to him for that. We had a great ride to the show and I got to hear some great stories about the old hobby days, which I absolutely love hearing about. Back to the show though......I am with Dan on the number of folks attending. I am not sure 25 people went past our booth the whole time. I was stuck in a back corner away from everyone, it seemed, until Dan and John rescued me and pulled my table over to theirs. At least then I was by friends and it made the show very enjoyable. I had a good personal show but it was the worst ROI for B and L Auctions investment since my personal debacle in the restaurant business. I absolutely can NOT justify doing that again as a business decision where my company is concerned. Actually, I will have to think very hard about doing any show again with that promoter, again given where I was put with my table. It was that bad. I might as well have been in the parking lot, which actually would have been far better (though they might have loitering laws against it.) The promoter is a very nice person and I like him but this was business and to say my initial location sucked would be an understatement. I was next to the front door ok, but there were drapes leading folks quite a ways away and leading them to all of the other auction houses. I was like.....Thanks a lot!!
I did manage to do quite a few sales and trades to a handful of people I knew so on a personal basis the show was pretty good. I can't deny that. I don't think those deals could have been made over the internet either. There just isn't the personal back and forth you have when you are in person. I am quite sure of that, actually. Val and I did some trades and deals and I know he and I were both very happy.
As for grading......I think you have to play it the way it is. I am not sure getting any card with a photo on it graded, is a good idea, as long as they don't take the real aesthetics into account. A gem mint photo, a spec of writing on the back, and you get a 10 or 20. If you have the outline of a player, sort of ghost front, but really sharp corners, then that would be a prime candidate for grading
. SGC did some grading for me and they were spot on with their grades. I didn't give them any photographic type cards though
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