Let's Talk About Card Shows For A Minute

[Exhibitman]

Like anything else, i find that the more effort I put in at a good sized show the better the results. Just glancing through showcases is not the way to find rare cards and memorabilia; they are often buried in the stacks, boxes and bins. You have to get dirty and dig through the musty, dusty bins of poorly organized stuff. All of these were 'picks' pulled at shows:



















Go. To. Work.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Like anything else, i find that the more effort I put in at a good sized show the better the results. Just glancing through showcases is not the way to find rare cards and memorabilia; they are often buried in the stacks, boxes and bins. You have to get dirty. Go. To. Work.

THAT's what I'm talking about. I can't wait to go again!

Flea Market being at the right place and right time all bought at Flea Markets in in NJ and PA

[Bestdj777]

I’ve been to a couple of shows. I don’t think your going to find any deals on more widely available, high dollar cards as dealers seem to mark stuff at or above market. I picked up a couple of variations I hadn’t seen on eBay before at eBay prices, so it was good just to see and have the opportunity to buy something new. It’s also great to just walk around and see what everyone is selling and what the auction houses have displayed. Someone else can weigh in, but it might be a good place to pick up cheap cards (I.e., dollar bin cards) if you are a set builder as you save in shipping and tax that would substantially increase the price of any nominal value cards on eBay.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by jingram058

THAT's what I'm talking about. I can't wait to go again!

Me too; unfortunately, I don't know when that will be since I can't make it to the National this year and there aren't local shows in L.A.

[Bliggity]

I love going to shows because, even though they can be frustrating and there's usually no good prewar and the prices are too high, there's bound to be one card that speaks to me and ends up coming home. And usually it's something that I wouldn't normally collect, so it helps diversify my collection. Here are some of my best card-show pickups. The signed T205 Snodgrass I found raw for barely more than the price of the regular T205 itself. JSA passed it at the show a couple hours later

[bmattioli]

I Attend shows to talk with fellow collectors and still attend any I can. Last June during all this lockdown I saw an Ad for an outdoor show in Trumbull CT. I went but It was weird being totally outside with a mask on but it was something during these odd times. I'll remember that along with my Memphis shows I attended while stationed at Blytheville AFB in the 80's and met Mantle.. among others.. Good times..

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by Bliggity

I love going to shows because, even though they can be frustrating and there's usually no good prewar and the prices are too high, there's bound to be one card that speaks to me and ends up coming home. And usually it's something that I wouldn't normally collect, so it helps diversify my collection. Here are some of my best card-show pickups. The signed T205 Snodgrass I found raw for barely more than the price of the regular T205 itself. JSA passed it at the show a couple hours later

Beautiful Turkeys! I need to go to shows with you

[Steve_NY]

How about a seller's perspective?

Since the mid 1970s, I have always attended shows as a seller. I've always had a ton of followers/customers who bought from me at every show I attended, and followed me from show to show. It seems like only yesterday but I have set up at every National but the first four.

it's not just the money -- but that helps to continue me buying and enjoying the pursuit of items that I know will sell to specific customers. I might have mentioned it previously, but this year I am returning to my roots and focusing on all four sports, and their vintage stars and rookies. I had abandoned that display 15 + years ago, and had focused on unusual sports and non sports items. I will cut back there but still display items that others can't find or no longer have available to display.

Since I am primarily a Vintage Raw seller, I have nothing invested in PSA grading and have much more room to negotiate. If you see prices at booths that scare you away, test the seller out and see if he or she has room. You don't lose anything by giving it a shot. Without even asking I tend to give everyone at least a 10-15% break. If I don't offer you a break, then I just don't have the room but that is highly unusual.

Stop by at this year's National at Booth 1114, 8 booths in the door facing the food concessions. Drop me a line or call me if you are looking for something I can bring to the show or help you in advance. Either way, enjoy the show if we don't get to talk before then or at the show.

Steve -- DynamicTwo@aol.com
914-522-3853

[benge610]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Like anything else, i find that the more effort I put in at a good sized show the better the results. Just glancing through showcases is not the way to find rare cards and memorabilia; they are often buried in the stacks, boxes and bins. You have to get dirty and dig through the musty, dusty bins of poorly organized stuff. All of these were 'picks' pulled at shows:



















Go. To. Work.

Yep. Passion finds da goods!

[Hankphenom]

I love and treasure my stuff as much as anybody. I can also handle being alone and left to my own devices as much as anybody. But as I slouch into my twilight years, I realize more and more that what gave my life and the things I did with it the most juice was the PEOPLE I got to know and love through those activities. I remember "Twilight Zone" episodes where extreme introverts got their fondest wish to live in a world by themselves, no other people to bother them, and all the time they could ask for to read their books, or leaf through their card collections, or whatever else they thought was central to their existence. Of course, they soon discovered that it was those other people, bothersome or not, that gave these pursuits their meaning and brought them alive. Just as I feel sorry for anyone who didn't live in the heyday of neighborhood playgrounds like I did and get to experience all of the life-affirming joys, challenges, and life-lessons they gifted me, I likewise am so happy that I was in this hobby during the heyday of shows, where I had so many fabulous experiences of all kinds and made so many great friends I couldn't begin to remember them all. What a joy it was to see so many of the grizzled veterans I shared those with at the recent Philly Show, I could have given them all a big kiss to thank them for being there when we all had so much fun together and for being there still--if they would only shave. I would counsel those recent to the hobby to go to every show you can, no matter how big or small, while they last, I can guarantee that down the road you'll be glad you did, that's where your most enduring and fondest memories will have come from, the associations you developed and all the interesting interactions you had face-to-face. Just a little advice from another old guy pissing in the wind, take it or leave it as you will.