Going to my 1st National this year

[Jobu]

Another National question: Are all the dealers generally set up from the opening bell on Wednesday? I am thinking about driving down for Wednesday but also really want to attend the dinner on Friday night and am wondering whether I ought to make two trips or just plan on Friday.

Thanks all.

[drcy]

They will be set up from the start. There's an official/scheduled moving in your stuff period for dealers the morning before the show opens to the public. Dealers literally drive and unload their cars full of stuff into the showroom, and that can only be done before the convention opens and the public is milling around. So the dealers will be there and set up from the get go.

[OldEnglishD]

As we inch towards the National, another question came to mind...

I see now that PSA and SGC will be at the show for on site grading/encapsulation. Are there significant disadvantages to doing this? Seems like I could save on shipping - at lease the shipping TO the companies.

Thoughts/experiences?

Thanks, Dave

[Steve_NY]

As a seller setting up a booth at the National, my comments are as follow:

-- if it is rare and you want to buy it at this show, consider either paying the price or open negotiations. I have seen it over and over again. Someone comes back in 15 to 20 minutes, and it's gone.

-- if it is not rare, shop around. Even if you don't buy it, you are likely to find another one. It may be at a higher price, but it can be found again.

If I find something at another booth, I always negotiate, especially if I want it and I know I'll never see another one in my lifetime.

Wear comfortable shoes. I bought ones that have that memory foam. They make your feet feel better all day.

Also, carry a small notebook to jot down booth numbers, what you saw there, and the price. That way, you can keep track of what you really want to buy.

Stop by and say hello. In most cases, I will give you a substantial savings on most items I have for sale. Where I will be more stubborn is with items I just picked up specifically for this National. I need to break even on those items before I start discounting them.

I am at booth 1110P six booths in the door.

Just enjoy yourself and have fun.

Steve Sabow

[calvindog]

I would suggest staying on site. The cost of a hotel room connected to the convention center is $153. After walking around all day it helps to be able to get back quickly to the room when you want -- it's a small luxury.

[brightair]

This will be my 5th or 6th National, 3rd in Chicago. I plan for each some time in advance.
Unlike other people, it takes me the whole week to see everything I want to see, and that includes avoiding all modern cards, all memorabilia booths, and all football/basketball/hockey booths.
Generally I start with a pre-made map of the room with all booths marked with dealers I know will have some stuff I like. I do a quick sweep of the room visiting just them first. I mark down other booths I see in passing that look promising, and visit those next. Finally I do a thorough sweep of the room visiting every booth with possible hits, even if I've been there already, as things can change.
I like talking with dealers but some are too pushy or reluctant to put prices on items - that puts me off.
This takes the whole week for me. I also have friends at the show and we call each other on our cells when we find a booth that is helpful for one of us. Very useful as it multiplies the eyes you have looking for your deals.
Comfortable shoes - excellent point - I would add, comfortable everything. I wear long pants and carry a light long sleeve shirt in case I get planted at a booth that happens to be right under the AC blower (it happens).
I carry a drink, and some snack like fruit because I don't want to take time for a meal and don't want to buy overpriced unhealthy food just because I am empty.
Magnifier, my glasses, a couple pens, lots of small bills, a few hard plastic sleeves and a small cardboard box to hold cards, my detailed up-to-date, easy-to-read wantlist, small flashlight (could be cell phone), belt bag, small light day pack, and sometimes I carry a very lightweight folding tripod golf seat for when I am planted at a booth for a couple hours and no chairs available (hurts my back to stand so long on cement).
I feel like I am prepping for a military campaign, but it is fun and works for me. I have a blast with my friends finding stuff, meet lots of people, see stuff I never imagined before, have high energy days and sleep well at night. By the end of the week I'm tired and feeling like I saw it all. Evening dinners (esp net54), maybe a ballgame and a swap session with friends, ends a memorable week.
Then I can't wait for next year, but I need a few weeks to rest up!

[Jewish-collector]

So, in the evenings after the show ends (besides the Net54 dinner), "Lollapalooza" is at Grant Park that week

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by brightair

This will be my 5th or 6th National, 3rd in Chicago. I plan for each some time in advance.
Unlike other people, it takes me the whole week to see everything I want to see, and that includes avoiding all modern cards, all memorabilia booths, and all football/basketball/hockey booths.
Generally I start with a pre-made map of the room with all booths marked with dealers I know will have some stuff I like. I do a quick sweep of the room visiting just them first. I mark down other booths I see in passing that look promising, and visit those next. Finally I do a thorough sweep of the room visiting every booth with possible hits, even if I've been there already, as things can change.
I like talking with dealers but some are too pushy or reluctant to put prices on items - that puts me off.
This takes the whole week for me. I also have friends at the show and we call each other on our cells when we find a booth that is helpful for one of us. Very useful as it multiplies the eyes you have looking for your deals.
Comfortable shoes - excellent point - I would add, comfortable everything. I wear long pants and carry a light long sleeve shirt in case I get planted at a booth that happens to be right under the AC blower (it happens).
I carry a drink, and some snack like fruit because I don't want to take time for a meal and don't want to buy overpriced unhealthy food just because I am empty.
Magnifier, my glasses, a couple pens, lots of small bills, a few hard plastic sleeves and a small cardboard box to hold cards, my detailed up-to-date, easy-to-read wantlist, small flashlight (could be cell phone), belt bag, small light day pack, and sometimes I carry a very lightweight folding tripod golf seat for when I am planted at a booth for a couple hours and no chairs available (hurts my back to stand so long on cement).
I feel like I am prepping for a military campaign, but it is fun and works for me. I have a blast with my friends finding stuff, meet lots of people, see stuff I never imagined before, have high energy days and sleep well at night. By the end of the week I'm tired and feeling like I saw it all. Evening dinners (esp net54), maybe a ballgame and a swap session with friends, ends a memorable week.
Then I can't wait for next year, but I need a few weeks to rest up!

What, no emergency first aid kit?

Do you have a pre-event training regimen?

[K-Nole]

Originally Posted by Steve_NY

As a seller setting up a booth at the National, my comments are as follow:

-- if it is rare and you want to buy it at this show, consider either paying the price or open negotiations. I have seen it over and over again. Someone comes back in 15 to 20 minutes, and it's gone.

-- if it is not rare, shop around. Even if you don't buy it, you are likely to find another one. It may be at a higher price, but it can be found again.

If I find something at another booth, I always negotiate, especially if I want it and I know I'll never see another one in my lifetime.

Wear comfortable shoes. I bought ones that have that memory foam. They make your feet feel better all day.

Also, carry a small notebook to jot down booth numbers, what you saw there, and the price. That way, you can keep track of what you really want to buy.

Stop by and say hello. In most cases, I will give you a substantial savings on most items I have for sale. Where I will be more stubborn is with items I just picked up specifically for this National. I need to break even on those items before I start discounting them.

I am at booth 1110P six booths in the door.

Just enjoy yourself and have fun.

Steve Sabow

Me and Zack will be sure to stop in and say hello.

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by OldEnglishD

As we inch towards the National, another question came to mind...

I see now that PSA and SGC will be at the show for on site grading/encapsulation. Are there significant disadvantages to doing this? Seems like I could save on shipping - at lease the shipping TO the companies.

Thoughts/experiences?

Thanks, Dave

I just found out I'll be able to attend. Wondering the same thing as Dave....

Is it a good idea to get cards graded on site, how does it work, etc?

[OldEnglishD]

Originally Posted by tonyo

I just found out I'll be able to attend. Wondering the same thing as Dave....

Is it a good idea to get cards graded on site, how does it work, etc?

Hey Tony, so I did the math comparing the PSA July monthly special of $5.75 (25 card min. and valued under $100) and the $7.00 drop off at the National (10 card min. and valued under $150).

I had 28 to submit, so the monthly special worked out to be better for me as long as it cost me less than $32 to ship them to California, which it did.

But if you have between 10-25 cards (or cards worth more than $100), the National is probably the way to go.

I also wasn't sure about the lines at the PSA booth either. Don't want to spend too much time standing in line to submit cards!

Lastly, my understanding is that the submittal process at the National works the same way as by mail - just fill out the form (with payment) and drop them off at the PSA booth instead of shipping.

From the PSA site:

National Take-Home Collectors Club Special:
$7.00 Card Special– 10 Card Minimum Quantity Required

For All Years, cards valued under $150 each
Sport and non-sport cards
Regular size, thick/patch, Coins/Pins, and Tallboy cards are accepted
Excluding Supersized, T3's, and Autographed Cards
For Collectors Club members only
Turnaround time approximately 50 business days/varies with demand

Hope this helps! Dave

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by OldEnglishD

Hey Tony, so I did the math comparing the PSA July monthly special of $5.75 (25 card min. and valued under $100) and the $7.00 drop off at the National (10 card min. and valued under $150).

I had 28 to submit, so the monthly special worked out to be better for me as long as it cost me less than $32 to ship them to California, which it did.

But if you have between 10-25 cards (or cards worth more than $100), the National is probably the way to go.

I also wasn't sure about the lines at the PSA booth either. Don't want to spend too much time standing in line to submit cards!

Lastly, my understanding is that the submittal process at the National works the same way as by mail - just fill out the form (with payment) and drop them off at the PSA booth instead of shipping.

From the PSA site:

National Take-Home Collectors Club Special:
$7.00 Card Special– 10 Card Minimum Quantity Required

For All Years, cards valued under $150 each
Sport and non-sport cards
Regular size, thick/patch, Coins/Pins, and Tallboy cards are accepted
Excluding Supersized, T3's, and Autographed Cards
For Collectors Club members only
Turnaround time approximately 50 business days/varies with demand

Hope this helps! Dave

Hi Dave,

thanks for the math!

I'll probably pass on trying to grade.

I'll be glad to exchange want lists and text numbers with ya

Tony

[Leon]

Grading on site isn't always the most cost effective way of doing it. We are bringing some to leave with SGC and they can send them back after the National. Saves on shipping!!

Originally Posted by tonyo

Hi Dave,

thanks for the math!

I'll probably pass on trying to grade.

I'll be glad to exchange want lists and text numbers with ya

Tony