National Dealer Pass

[Rich Klein]

This makes an interesting discussion.

it's one of the things I'll try to write about in my monthly GTS column. This will be part of the pre-National column I'll write.

And trust me, I get all sides of this discussion and I know from personal discussion that some vendors who pay good money for tables/booths would be upset at Jamie for this. I know this can't be stopped and at least Jamie is open about his wishes.

Regards
Rich

[Rhotchkiss]

So, I am likely going to buy a table at next year’s national just so I can get in Tuesday. I am not a dealer and I will likely set nothing up at that table, which means there will be one less dealer to buy from. But I will have paid full freight, and even though everyone else will be out one dealer Johny630 will be happy and that all that matters.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

So, I am likely going to buy a table at next year’s national just so I can get in Tuesday. I am not a dealer and I will likely set nothing up at that table, which means there will be one less dealer to buy from. But I will have paid full freight, and even though everyone else will be out one dealer Johny630 will be happy and that all that matters.

I'll take the table off your hands

[tschock]

>>> I am not a dealer. I am not looking to sell any cards. Thus the reason I don’t want to pay full price for a dealer booth when I won’t be selling any cards. I simply want to walk around on Tuesday and BUY cards for my collection a day before the general public walks in...

This response just leaves the taste that the OP is trying to 'justify' his actions. I'm not faulting him for trying to get the pass (or using it), I just wonder who he is trying to justify his actions to. The person who responded or himself.

[glynparson]

I know this happens with friends of dealers. It’s not a big deal to me on Wednesday before the show opens. Tuesday is more debatable when dealers have to pay extra to come in on Tuesday instead of Wednesday and one of the things we are paying for is the right to look at the tables before others. It’s not an illegal act but I can see why some see it as distasteful.

[sb1]

The era of big deals and bargains on Tuesday was over years ago. Most dealers are not even set up until Wed. afternoon.

[kailes2872]

I guess I don't understand why a dealer would move his stuff wholesale before the public shows up to buy retail on Wednesday. I have heard of folks offering their entire inventory on Sunday at a wholesale price to avoid dealing with it and effectively refreshing and turning their inventory as they take the $$ and buy up some new stuff.

What is the desire to move the good stuff early before having a chance to get full value?

[Rhotchkiss]

.

[markf31]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

So, I am likely going to buy a table at next year’s national just so I can get in Tuesday. I am not a dealer and I will likely set nothing up at that table, which means there will be one less dealer to buy from. But I will have paid full freight, and even though everyone else will be out one dealer Johny630 will be happy and that all that matters.

My father buys and sells Lionel trains and always has a couple of dealer tables at one of the larger North East regional train shows in York, PA. This train show is biannual, and the organizers of the shows stipulate in the contract for a table, that the dealer must have a presence on the table from show's opening on Thursday afternoon through the shows end on Sunday morning.

The organizers keep pretty good tabs on this, and failure to maintain what the organizers consider a significant presence at your tables black lists the dealer for at least the following 2 shows, and their table requests will get denied for those 2 shows at a minimum. They had to implement this to keep dealers from leaving early and not showing up on Sunday morning as well as people registering for a table, only to walk around the show before the public opening to make purchases, sales or trades and never put merchandise out on their tables.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by markf31

My father buys and sells Lionel trains and always has a couple of dealer tables at one of the larger North East regional train shows in York, PA. This train show is biannual, and the organizers of the shows stipulate in the contract for a table, that the dealer must have a presence on the table from show's opening on Thursday afternoon through the shows end on Sunday morning.

The organizers keep pretty good tabs on this, and failure to maintain what the organizers consider a significant presence at your tables black lists the dealer for at least the following 2 shows, and their table requests will get denied for those 2 shows at a minimum. They had to implement this to keep dealers from leaving early and not showing up on Sunday morning as well as people registering for a table, only to walk around the show before the public opening to make purchases, sales or trades and never put merchandise out on their tables.

My sense, or at least hope, is that Ryan was being facetious here. I'm not a dealer and never intend to be one, but my understanding is that there is a waiting list of dealers who are trying to get into the National, and there's a lottery for those tables, so just getting one in the first place isn't that easy. And for those that do get a table, I'm sure the NSCC dudes - not to mention every single buyer who buys tickets - wants to see those tables filled with inventory.

[Leon]

I think this is sort of correct. There is a waiting list for those who didn't get a table reserved the year before. Personally I think the National Committee has greatly gone down with Mike's passing. The committee needs to be completely replaced in my opinion, if they don't change the way tables are sold. This is the 21st century and they run the thing like it is from the 1960s.....(to me). And for God's sake, get effing Gizmo off of the committee. He is an idiot. I spoke with him recently and my view was reaffirmed. Any time someone's main defense, to a very obviously flawed system is, "because that is the way it's always been done" to me, it means it's time for them to move onto other endeavors in life.

As for early passes for folks who aren't table holders, it doesn't bother me as a table holder or otherwise. The more the merrier.

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

My sense, or at least hope, is that Ryan was being facetious here. I'm not a dealer and never intend to be one, but my understanding is that there is a waiting list of dealers who are trying to get into the National, and there's a lottery for those tables, so just getting one in the first place isn't that easy. And for those that do get a table, I'm sure the NSCC dudes - not to mention every single buyer who buys tickets - wants to see those tables filled with inventory.

[RedsFan1941]

glad to see you got a table leon. looking forward to chatting with you again. (even though it has been quite a few years, at a previous Cleveland nat’l.)

[Leon]

Originally Posted by RedsFan1941

glad to see you got a table leon. looking forward to chatting with you again.

I didn't get a table this year but have split one for many years in the past. The system for getting tables is antiquated (there is this new thing called "computers"). It was never as much of an issue as it is now that Mike isn't here.

[CTDean]

Many antique shows and markets sell early buyers passes. For a card show if admission is $10, a pass for set up could be $30 to $100. It gives everyone a chance to buy early.

[Rhotchkiss]

Yes, I am joking. Just taking a shot at Johny630's comment.

[RedsFan1941]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

This makes an interesting discussion.

it's one of the things I'll try to write about in my monthly GTS column. This will be part of the pre-National column I'll write.

And trust me, I get all sides of this discussion and I know from personal discussion that some vendors who pay good money for tables/booths would be upset at Jamie for this. I know this can't be stopped and at least Jamie is open about his wishes.

Regards
Rich

please post a link to your column

[Rich Klein]

I will when I write it for my next column. Trust me, I get all the sides of this discussion.

These are the monthly columns I've already written

https://gogts.net/category/kleins-korner/

Rich

[RCMcKenzie]

I would think the show organizers would want to accommodate the VIP's and big spenders. I don't expect them to accommodate me shuffling through a bargain bin after I've been told to leave.