Improvements to the N'atl

[Guttapercha]

An app would work best where there can with a buyer and seller area.

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by Guttapercha

An app would work best where there can with a buyer and seller area.

The issue with an app is the assumption that all people use devices with apps. I don't use any devices with apps.

Edited to add: Apps would help greatly for those that have it and could still be an idea, I was only pointing out that it wouldn't benefit everyone.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

The issue with an app is the assumption that all people use devices with apps. I don't use any devices with apps.

Edited to add: Apps would help greatly for those that have it and could still be an idea, I was only pointing out that it wouldn't benefit everyone.

The app is the PA system. It works for everyone except those few collectors who are deaf....

[jhs5120]

I was thinking about this the other day (well something similar). What if a month or two before the National attendees submit a "wantlist" to the event organizers. The organizers then distribute the collective wantlists to the dealers. The dealers hopefully will recieve the list a couple weeks before the national and inform the organizers what they will bring on said list and, for a nominal fee, attendees can purchase back their lists with the location of the items they're looking for.

It's a win-win-win.

[darkhorse9]

Personally I wouldn't want things shouted over the PA. It's real distracting. Saturday morning I was near the Upper Deck booth when their annoying girl started screaming out endless winners from the expired redemption promotion. Finally other dealers had enough as well and had the officials shut her off.

It's hard to carry on conversations when others are blaring their news to the masses.

[ullmandds]

Some good ideas guys. I agree the blaring PA of the card companies was annoying but maybe it was their crappy PA or annoying screechy voices.

Maybe have an announcement every 15 minutes...or 1/2 hour...or hour..."Attention...does anyone have an old judge scrappy carrol left leg showing card(I made this up)...any condition. If so pls reply with table #...we've got a motivated buyer!"

Something along these lines?!

I like the idea of a text. If dealer is so antequated as not to receive texts...that's their problem.

[7nohitter]

I really like the idea of an app. I understand there are some without access but I think the majority have and use frequently devices which would allow an already good experience to be augmented; it's not 1989...

[kmac32]

A big improvement would be to occasionally move it to the West Coast. Anaheim would be awesome instead of Cleveland and Chicago routine. Maybe every 4 to 5 years here in California or even Dallas. Some collectors actually do live west of the Mississippi River.

[CaramelMan]

There is one line for someone who wants to use "a personal buyer" at the National.

The "personal buyer" is one person who has real time access to a message board where a group of dealers are located (here for instance).

The dealers would respond within a few minutes if they had the card this specific buyer was looking for. Set the minimum value card to be searched at around $250. If someone is serious enough, they will wait in line for this service and pay a small finders fee perhaps. Connects many dealers instantly with serious wants lists.

I'll be anyone's partner who wants to start this business with me.

[ullmandds]

I kinda like the app idea...but kinda not?! With the problem with theft...and insufficient help at a lot of tables...I think the distraction of having to look at your device could pose a problem.

I much prefer the concept that at regular intervals...the PA will announce the desired card/cards at which time the crown will "hush" wanting to hear the announcement...and I think some type of reward for the seller who comes forward the quickest would be positive incentive too?!

The only problem with the personal shopper idea is that the pool of available cards will be limited to those participating as well as the idea that these sellers will have to be on a message board and not manning their stuff.

[Bosox Blair]

How about this:

Each entrant is handed a free book (may also have some printed advertisement space).

In the book, each dealer is given one page to list the dealer's top 100 items in inventory - and asking price strongly suggested, but not mandatory. And of course, a booth number and floorplan.

So the bound book would be up to a couple hundred pages highlighting what the dealer thinks he has that is noteworthy.

I would have loved to have this in 2011 when I was in Chicago. It would have helped me navigate the place, and also I could have gone over it like a like a kid with a Christmas catalog at night in the hotel room.

The dealers' submission deadline for this might also force some dealers into organizing their stuff before they pack and head to the Nat.

The lists could also be published on the Nat's website (for the tech-savvy).

Cheers,
Blair

[Edwolf1963]

Originally Posted by Guttapercha

An app would work best where there can with a buyer and seller area.

I work for a progressive internet based company who uses an app for our twice-yearly conferences. Everything from agenda, to poll questioning, to updates, to Twitter or Instagram feeds.

Positive: Engaging, interactive, definitely the wave of the future.

Negative: Can be slow, cumbersome, mass numbers hit the servers at the same time slows it down considerably. In an area with poor reception like the Donald E. Stephens, that would have been a major issue.