Question about The National

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by Donscards

I set up at the National and shows on the East Coast---I only take Cash, Paypal and checks from people I know or with Good references. I do lose some sales, but the same card will sell at a later date. I do have many high priced cards and trust me, buyers do bring a lot of cash. Many dealers will take up to 50K in cash . I do get stopped at the airport, not for the cash, but for the encapsulated cards that cause an alert for some reason. I then have to explain what I have and that I am selling them at a show. Cash is still King and I don't know of any guys that have been robbed at the National due to cash (other than cards being stolen from showcases)

Don, you are the reason I take cash to shows now! A few years back, Don had a great card I wanted but I didn’t have the cash and he didn’t know me to accept a check (plus I didn’t have a check on me). I didn’t get the card. At the National a few months later, I rolled in and bought a pretty 51 bowman mays from Don, all cash. There have been other times I have missed out on cards from other dealers bc I didn’t have cash, or I had to leave a cash deposit and send a check later, which sucks. Cash is king. You get better deals with cash and everyone accepts it.

[vintagerookies51]

Don’t they have an ATM right outside the show? I think I remember leaving the show last year, and saw a must-have on the way out that I missed earlier, went to the ATM and snagged it

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by vintagerookies51

Don’t they have an ATM right outside the show? I think I remember leaving the show last year, and saw a must-have on the way out that I missed earlier, went to the ATM and snagged it

Don't know about anyone else but my Bank only allows me to take out $400 a day, so ATM's are of questionable usefulness.

[CurtisFlood]

As a vendor I accept checks from people that I know well or cash. I just don't have time to play with credit devices as there are usually 3 to 8 people at my booth buying or working on lists. I don't have enough eyes to be distracted in that manner. I lost a major theft to someone when I turned my back momentarily to run a credit card. Never again.

[that T206 Guy]

Originally Posted by CurtisFlood

As a vendor I accept checks from people that I know well or cash. I just don't have time to play with credit devices as there are usually 3 to 8 people at my booth buying or working on lists. I don't have enough eyes to be distracted in that manner. I lost a major theft to someone when I turned my back momentarily to run a credit card. Never again.

You can do it on your Phone Now.

No Need to Turn Your Back.

[Leon]

When I was in buying mode, first time around, I think I would bring upwards of 10k in cash. Nowadays when i go it is somewhere between 3k and 5k. I never worried about it. When I set up I will take almost anything except a CC as I don't have a personal merchant account. Folks can still pay on CC through Paypal though, which is how i earn 2% cash back when I use PP. I have also borrowed numerous wads of 100s, from friends at the National, to make cash purchases when I ran out of said cash. Where there is a will there's a way.
.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Leon

When I was in buying mode, first time around, I think I would bring upwards of 10k in cash. Nowadays when i go it is somewhere between 3k and 5k. I never worried about it. When I set up I will take almost anything except a CC as I don't have a personal merchant account. Folks can still pay on CC through Paypal though, which is how i earn 2% cash back when I use PP. I have also borrowed numerous wads of 100s, from friends at the National, to make cash purchases when I ran out of said cash. Where there is a will there's a way.
.

+1 on the cash. Just don't carry it all in one place (i.e., your wallet--and keep your wallet in your front pocket!) and be aware of what's going on around you, both on the show floor and to and from the parking lot. Somebody that's stepping right along with you, making every turn, is more than likely up to no good. Cash will often get you better deals (the 2015 National), but not always (not as much discount percentage wise at the 2016 national, IMHO).

Just be careful,

Larry

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by that T206 Guy

You can do it on your Phone Now.

No Need to Turn Your Back.

You can, I can't. I have a smart phone, but do not use internet. Good suggestion though. I'm an old dog and have trouble learning new tricks!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by CurtisFlood

You can, I can't. I have a smart phone, but do not use internet. Good suggestion though. I'm an old dog and have trouble learning new tricks!

Square on your phone doesn't use the internet. It's an app.

[jfkheat]

Originally Posted by vintagerookies51

Don’t they have an ATM right outside the show? I think I remember leaving the show last year, and saw a must-have on the way out that I missed earlier, went to the ATM and snagged it

Last year in Chicago the ATMs at the convention center ran out of money Saturday. As has been mentioned, banks limit how much can be withdrawn each day. My bank limits it to $600 per day.
James

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Don't know about anyone else but my Bank only allows me to take out $400 a day, so ATM's are of questionable usefulness.

Originally Posted by jfkheat

Last year in Chicago the ATMs at the convention center ran out of money Saturday. As has been mentioned, banks limit how much can be withdrawn each day. My bank limits it to $600 per day.
James

All you have to do is call the bank and change your daily limit to anything you want. I do it all the time when going on vacations/traveling.

Cash is king because not everyone reports it.

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Don, you are the reason I take cash to shows now! A few years back, Don had a great card I wanted but I didn’t have the cash and he didn’t know me to accept a check (plus I didn’t have a check on me). I didn’t get the card. At the National a few months later, I rolled in and bought a pretty 51 bowman mays from Don, all cash. There have been other times I have missed out on cards from other dealers bc I didn’t have cash, or I had to leave a cash deposit and send a check later, which sucks. Cash is king. You get better deals with cash and everyone accepts it.

It gives me a chuckle when reading this, I remember you well at the Chantilly show, I usually don't go that far south to do a show so I didn't know you. You were quite upset since you didn't understand why I only took cash. But we did meet at the National and Yes, you did have cash this time.--Hope to see you again in Cleveland, take care and have a great 4th.

[Arazi4442]

Thanks to all of you for your information. Guess I need to decide if I'm willing to lose a purchase.

Happy 4th of July to everyone!!

[pokerplyr80]

Assuming you bank with a major bank just uber to the nearest branch, pull out the cash you need, then uber back to the show. If you put a small deposit down any dealer should be willing to hold a card until you return with the rest of the cash.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

Assuming you bank with a major bank just uber to the nearest branch, pull out the cash you need, then uber back to the show. If you put a small deposit down any dealer should be willing to hold a card until you return with the rest of the cash.

This. If you offer a reasonable non refundable deposit (not $20 on a $2k card) to hold the card for the day most dealers will gladly give you time to get to a bank. And Cleveland is a major city, sort of: they probably have all the major commercial banks.

[jfkheat]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This. If you offer a reasonable non refundable deposit (not $20 on a $2k card) to hold the card for the day most dealers will gladly give you time to get to a bank. And Cleveland is a major city, sort of: they probably have all the major commercial banks.

This is fine if you bank with one of the major banks. I don't.

[Arazi4442]

Same for me. I'm at a regional bank with no presence in Cleveland and my ATM withdrawal limit is $400. I've even had out of town (but still in the US) transactions denied as possible fraud over $500.
Even if I did find a dealer to take a debit/credit card it could be an issue to call my bank, get approval, designate my account for approval and the make the transaction, espically late Friday or Saturday.
The more concerns I read about carrying large cash amounts the more nervous I get, I guess I'll just have to trust in a normal amount of walking around money and PayPal.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by jfkheat

This is fine if you bank with one of the major banks. I don't.

If you're really that worried about carrying cash you could open an account locally at wells Fargo or bank of america, throw a few grand in, then withdraw by the show if you make a deal. The suggestion to have another dealer vouch for you so someone you dont know will take your check or PayPal is also a good one. This is what I planned to do in Chicago last year.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Arazi4442

Thanks to all of you for your information. Guess I need to decide if I'm willing to lose a purchase.

I carry no more than 2K with me to the National. However, I don't expect to ever lose a purchase due to a cash shortage. It helps that I have been collecting for a long time, and many/most of the dealers I'm likely to buy from recognize me and will accept my check. Some dealers will accept credit cards and/or PayPal. There usually is an ATM around. In the past, I've had a dealer who knew me well vouch for me to convince a dealer who didn't know me to accept my check. Another time, a dealer who knew me cashed my check, so I could pay cash to a dealer who didn't know me. The point is, "where there's a will, there's a way." When all else fails, I've yet to meet a dealer who wouldn't accept my check and ship me my card after my check cleared, as I'm ok with leaving the show without my newly-purchased card in my hand.

[Beastmode]

If your carrying more than $2K in cash on that convention floor you better be carrying something else that requires a permit. IMO, just asking for trouble carrying that much cash. It's 2018, if a dealer is only taking cash than I'm sorry, that's plain bad business, and frankly, would give me cause for concern.

Square and CC's are fine for 98% of all the dealers there. If you really want a card and it's all cash, work out the 2% surcharge. Buy what you like, at the price you like, with the method you like, it's your money.