2024 National Table Space

[philliesfan]

I do not see a problem with it. Sort of. For example, If a show is 500 booths with 2 tables per booth and $600.00 per booth ($300.00 per table). That is 1,000 tables total. If I rent 1 table from an existing seller and pay him the $300.00 for a table, why should the promoter be paid anything? He was still paid the $600.00 fee per booth. And as far as patrons, they are still seeing 1,000 tables of merchandise.

I think the problem may be legal issues. What if the dealer subletting the space has an issue with a customer and something goes wrong. Who is responsible? The booth owner? The dealer subletting the space?

Now what happens if there is a theft and I lose a $10,000.00 card. Who explains and reports it to the promoter, the police? And how would my collectibles insurance company view it since I was not an authorized dealer?

There is a lot of things to consider.

There could be a solution. If the dealer that has the space provides the necessary information about the secondary dealer to the promoter, he could get a contract signed and charge an additional fee of $50.00 or $100.00 for paperwork.

Just my thoughts.
Bob

[butchie_t]

Wouldn't the fact that it just sounds wrong ever come into play?

Because it sounds wrong. Nothing like gaming the system to get away with something.

If I was ever a promoter and I found out about it. Both would be banned from any future event.

It just is not cool. IMHO.

Just because you can, does not mean you should.

Butch Turner

[mrreality68]

I believe subletting should be ok and it allows more dealers the chance to get in and more products/selections.
IF there is concern or liablities then the National should add something into the their contract to address it

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

you guys aren't following the subletting idea through to it's greedy conclusion.

First: Dealers are subletting at a mark up, not the way to make a promoter happy.

Second: Dealers who have a high priority number have taken more booths than they need to specifically sublet, again at a mark up. This should piss new potential dealers off more than anything the promoter does. This is a MAJOR reason that even guys who have done the show aren't assured of a booth going forward.

[Al C.risafulli]

Second: Dealers who have a high priority number have taken more booths than they need to specifically sublet, again at a mark up. This should piss new potential dealers off more than anything the promoter does. This is a MAJOR reason that even guys who have done the show aren't assured of a booth going forward.

Third: as a result of this, companies (like mine) are getting further and further away from the door each year, despite having done Nationals for a decade, as companies sublet better locations from dealers with a surplus of space. Last year, our 10th National, I needed a sherpa and a couple of pack mules to get to our booth. As we journeyed between base camp and our booth, the sherpa pointed out multiple companies who have done fewer Nationals than we have, but with much better locations, as they sublet space from people who weren't even there.

-Al

[parkplace33]

If the National opened up more spots or did a lottery, this wouldn't happen.

Either way, I am sure a dealer will sublet you space. Cash is king.

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

If the National opened up more spots or did a lottery, this wouldn't happen.

Either way, I am sure a dealer will sublet you space. Cash is king.

To your first comment, not true actually. How can they open more spots than are physically available. Event Centers only hold x amount of space for x amount of dealers and customers. Not to mention that the fire codes for respective states are going to limit how many people can actually be in an area at any given time. And they have been known to close the doors and delay entry until they feel the numbers are ok.

And even if the National could find a larger spot, you believe that that would somehow bring every dealer in on the wait list? There would still be many unhappy dealers lamenting the fact that they did not get in again.

And how about the customer that is wanting to get to as many tables as they can over the event. Get too many dealers in an overly large event center then you are ticking off the customer because they cannot get to all or most all of the dealer tables.

There has to be a balance of a number of things as it pertains to holding an event such as the National. No one is ever going to be pleased with the results. But subletting, is still not cool to those that work within the rules of the events.

Butch Turner