First Time Going to National Convention (Prices better or Worse than eBay)?

[griffon512]

"Prices are much higher than ebay. Probably 25% more. If it was the same as ebay, the dealers wouldn't show up."

I disagree with this statement in one of the posts because it's too much of a generalization. Some dealers will be very overpriced and some will be in-line to better than a comparable auction house price, and everything in between. Like with everything else it depends on the dealer's cost basis/financial situation, how long it's been in their inventory, etc. If there is a general statement that I think is true it's that people shouldn't go to the show looking for bargains. That rarely happens for popular vintage cards at these conventions because the dealers are familiar with market prices...but if you work the floor you may get lucky.

[that T206 Guy]

Originally Posted by griffon512

"Prices are much higher than ebay. Probably 25% more. If it was the same as ebay, the dealers wouldn't show up."

I disagree with this statement in one of the posts because it's too much of a generalization. Some dealers will be very overpriced and some will be in-line to better than a comparable auction house price, and everything in between. Like with everything else it depends on the dealer's cost basis/financial situation, how long it's been in their inventory, etc. If there is a general statement that I think is true it's that people shouldn't go to the show looking for bargains. That rarely happens for popular vintage cards at these conventions because the dealers are familiar with market prices...but if you work the floor you may get lucky.

When you say 25 Percent More than eBay do you mean?

- 25 Percent more than eBay Buy it Now (Seems like 90 Percent of eBay is BIN these Days). I remember the Good Old Days when eBay was 90 Percent Auctions.

- Or 25 Percent More than eBay Auction Prices.

It seems like eBay Auctions (What I always do) sell for Half of What Buy It Now eBay Prices are.

[iowadoc77]

You aren't going to get exact answers to most of your questions. If you are solely going there to find great deals, better buy a VIP tag and be running in when the doors open ready to buy immediately the first thing you see that is close to what you want.
The National is an experience and, IMHO, a tremendous one at that. I love to see stuff that I have never seen in person. I love to have conversations and meet great people. I usually buy a few cards and mostly get some great time with my 13 year old and 16 year old sons.
Just my 2 cents worth, but you will get much more out of it if you are going for the experience of it. And bonus if you get some good buys.
Eric

[Exhibitman]

You just gotta go, dig in, and work the room. All of the obvious great deals are gone before the show even opens by way of dealer to dealer sales, but there are tons of great items available at great prices, if you do the legwork. Flexibility is key: if you go there thinking that you are going to look for one rare card only, you probably will leave empty-handed. I find it best to go with a detailed want list across everything I collect but also ready to snap up whatever I come across that I can easily flip or trade. And then there are the offbeat things you find that you just cannot anticipate.

I figure that by the end of the show I will have physically shuffled through over 100,000 cards and looked at untold thousands more.

[that T206 Guy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

You just gotta go, dig in, and work the room. All of the obvious great deals are gone before the show even opens by way of dealer to dealer sales, but there are tons of great items available at great prices, if you do the legwork. Flexibility is key: if you go there thinking that you are going to look for one rare card only, you probably will leave empty-handed. I find it best to go with a detailed want list across everything I collect but also ready to snap up whatever I come across that I can easily flip or trade. And then there are the offbeat things you find that you just cannot anticipate.

I figure that by the end of the show I will have physically shuffled through over 100,000 cards and looked at untold thousands more.

I am not looking for Crazy Expensive Stuff or HOF.

Just Common Cards.
- PSA 7 and PSA 8 From the 1940's and 1950's of Common Players
- 1909 T206 in PSA 1-7 of Common Players
- Stuff Like that

Do Commons Sell before the Show Starts?

I would assume you are talking about Mantle Rookies and Stuff like that.

Or Am I Wrong?

[that T206 Guy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

You just gotta go, dig in, and work the room. All of the obvious great deals are gone before the show even opens by way of dealer to dealer sales, but there are tons of great items available at great prices, if you do the legwork. Flexibility is key: if you go there thinking that you are going to look for one rare card only, you probably will leave empty-handed. I find it best to go with a detailed want list across everything I collect but also ready to snap up whatever I come across that I can easily flip or trade. And then there are the offbeat things you find that you just cannot anticipate.

I figure that by the end of the show I will have physically shuffled through over 100,000 cards and looked at untold thousands more.

I understand what you are saying about the "Experience"

I have seen YouTube Videos with Old Game Used Jerseys and 1909 T206 Wagners.

I am Excited to see Rare Stuff like that.

Seems like a TON of Fun.

But I DON'T want to come back without any Cards Either

[Rich Klein]

And sometimes dealers will have material ready for you if they you look for certain cards.

Last year in Chicago, a dealer I know for many years and was a good Regional Correspondence when I was at Beckett knew I loved the Topps buy back cards. Well he loaded me up with about 1200 cards at such a good price I had my money out before he finished the sentence.

Regards
Rich

[ValKehl]

Steve, I say this in all sincerity. If you consider yourself a serious vintage card collector, and I sense that you do, then you absolutely, positively must attend at least one National in your lifetime. As I see it, this is the only way you will get ALL of your questions answered to your satisfaction. And, besides, you will really enjoy the experience - I guarantee it! I note that you are in Michigan, and with most of the Nationals these years being held in Cleveland and Chicago, I assume you won't have nearly as long a journey to make as most other collectors do. FYI, I have attended 15-20 Nationals, and I still look forward to attending them like a kid looks forward to going to a toy store.

[ALR-bishop]

Bring cash