Will anyone be giving a blow-by-blow account from the National this year?

[Snapolit1]

Once you establish yourself as a knowledgeable collector and not some jammoke who just stumbled in from the casino I think most sellers are willing to be reasonable. Of course there can always be good faith difference in opinion as to what something is worth. I would chat a bit and establish you know what you are doing before throwing out a number.

[Tennis13]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Once you establish yourself as a knowledgeable collector and not some jammoke who just stumbled in from the casino I think most sellers are willing to be reasonable. Of course there can always be good faith difference in opinion as to what something is worth. I would chat a bit and establish you know what you are doing before throwing out a number.

So I am somewhere between a jammoke (I think, I'm not sure what that is but it doesn't sound complimentary) and a knowledgeable collector. I know there is a ton of talk about pricing at the National, and here's sort of my view:

1) The National is the only show where I can confidently walk in knowing that I can line up 5 to 10 cards that I want, look at them side-by-side, and understand exactly what I'm buying and how it stacks up versus the other cards. I bought my Gehrigs this year and last year, and both times I hemmed and hawed, and went back and forth on what card I wanted, and could have easily bought any of 4 or 5 cards, but I settled on a LOWER GRADED card because I did not like the higher graded alternatives as much as I thought I should. It had nothing to do with price, but it had to do with what I could see and how the row of cards stacked up against each other. I won't get that at many other shows, I don't think.

2) Because it's the National, these guys are paying premium $$$ for tables, and so in a seller's market, that cost is transferred to the buyer. That's just basic economics in what is clearly right now a price inelastic market.

3) I don't go to the National to compete on pricing. I go for the experience, the ability to learn and to see what I estimate is 75% to 80% of total US inventory for sale at this stage in life. I get good data points on how prices are moving, what's available and not in broad strokes, and a way to sort of narrow down my focus. In short, it's a very complete data point in what is typically a very fragmented, opaque marketplace. If I ever go, and guys are competing on pricing aggressively, that will be very instructive to me as well for how I could purchase cards over the next 12 to 18 months.

Using all of that information, I think you can find pockets and areas that are soft, or not extremely elevated, in order to get what you need. I paid a lot more than I wanted for my Gehrig last year (and I didn't bargain on mine this year) but I walked the entire floor and didn't find another one in the ENTIRE NATIONAL. That pressed me into action; I wouldn't have had that experience without the National.

Is it worth $22 and $10 for parking and maybe $25 in gas? For me, without a doubt. I look forward to it every single year.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Tennis13

to see what I estimate is 75% to 80% of total US inventory for sale at this stage in life.

I liked a lot of what you had to say, but you clearly overestimate the National if you think the above is even remotely accurate.

Kinda contradicts what you said later "I walked the entire floor and didn't find another one in the ENTIRE NATIONAL"

[Tennis13]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I liked a lot of what you had to say, but you clearly overestimate the National if you think the above is even remotely accurate.

Kinda contradicts what you said later "I walked the entire floor and didn't find another one in the ENTIRE NATIONAL"

So, what is the percentage? Again, I'm no expert, I am just guessing.

It doesn't contradict it. It's my assumption that if I want it, I'm going to find it at the National, and in multiple forms. If I don't find it in multiple forms, then I better act quick, because I'm not sure how I'm going to find it elsewhere without paying a finder's fee/auction fee of some sort.

Again, because I think there's so much at the National, if I can't find it, I sorta say "Oh, man, I gotta buy it now or maybe not get a chance again."

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I'd be shocked if 25% of the industry's prewar inventory was in that room. BEYOND shocked actually. There might be as much prewar inventory in board members homes who weren't at the National as there was at the National. I think I'd actually take that action in favor of the board.

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I'd be shocked if 25% of the industry's prewar inventory was in that room. BEYOND shocked actually. There might be as much prewar inventory in board members homes who weren't at the National as there was at the National. I think I'd actually take that action in favor of the board.

Yeah, I put a decimal point then start adding zeros to the right of it before writing a 1.

[e107collector]

Anyone see any tougher Joe Jackson cards for sale?

Tony

[clydepepper]

Well, it has been very interesting reading all the reports from National. I'm not sure when or even if I'll ever be able to attend.

If it ever comes to Atlanta, I would make a concerted effort to be there...but, even then, I would be quite the green-horn to such surroundings. Nice to know there was a good Net54 representation there...perhaps that sort of group would provide some guidance should I show up.

For someone who is yet to move up to a smart-phone, what's the best way to carry / handle your finances / then purchases at National...I mean, I know to carry anything in my front pockets, not my back pockets - but what else would y'all advise?

Thanks,
Raymond

[uyu906]

My son (12 yrs old) and I went all day on Thursday. I have been collecting since 1976, but this was only the 2nd National I have ever attended and my son's first.

When we entered the hall at 10AM we walked right past Joe Orlando of PSA chatting with some guy in an aisle near the PSA booth.

Things I noticed - I asked at a number of dealers' tables that had pre-war for York Caramels (E210) but found none! Very strange, I thought.

I was also looking for a 1934 Goudey Jimmie Foxx in PSA 3 and could not find one. In fact I only saw a few in any condition, most were not graded or PSA 1's or 2's. Most of the raw were in similar condition. I also saw at least 1 high grade.

I was also looking for Old Judge Baltimore players and John Tener cards. I saw a bunch of Old Judges - but not one Baltimore or John Tener Old Judge. Nada -

Saw lots of high & low grade card stars and RC's from 1950s and 1960s. But less in mid grade - PSA-4-6. PSA 6's I saw in these were priced significantly higher than normal prices for these. I tried to buy a 1951 Bowman Nellie Foxx RC in PSA 6 and found only 1, but could not come to an agreement with the dealer. He wanted $175, but it was OC top to bottom and I just could not pull the trigger.

My most successful buys were 3 graded T206 Baltimore players I needed: Adkins, Dessau, and Dunn (Old Mill).

I met one guy in his 30's at a dealer's table who specialized in high grade 1950s stars and RC's. He dropped 9K on a couple of high grade RC's. The dealer asked him what he did for a living and he said he was an investment broker. I guess those guys really are driving the market now.

Bitter sweet thing, my son bought mostly Pokemon cards (of which there was a fairly large supply) - but we still had fun hanging out all day and he liked looking at the pre-war stuff I was checking out. I was kind of secretly hoping some collector or dealer would verbally encourage him to collect sports cards but no one said anything to him (possibly because he is already 5'10"), except one dealer who rudely told him to get out of a chair at his booth because they were for customers (not realizing I was on the other side of the booth trying to purchase some cards from his partner).

I though the show had plenty of room in the aisles and in the hall in general. Seemed like a bigger space than what was at the last Baltimore National. Easy parking for $15 right next to the convention center.

White House Subs did not disappoint after the show was over.

I will anxiously look forward to the next National on the East Coast!

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I'd be shocked if 25% of the industry's prewar inventory was in that room. BEYOND shocked actually. There might be as much prewar inventory in board members homes who weren't at the National as there was at the National. I think I'd actually take that action in favor of the board.

I believe he said "what I estimate is 75% to 80% of total US inventory for sale"

not just total inventory

[sushihotwings]

Thanks everyone for the fantastic national descriptions and I appreciate the entirety of it even if it isn't pre war. Great to get the big picture and details on all of it. You got me excited about Chicago next year

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

I believe he said "what I estimate is 75% to 80% of total US inventory for sale"

not just total inventory

I understand, but there's no way even with that qualification.