And in other News....

[Jeff_cvc]

I’ve never attended before, but I am thinking about going to Chicago next year. For those of you that have been before, how long do you suggest going? Are there certain days that are better then other days to be there? Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by Jeff_cvc

I’ve never attended before, but I am thinking about going to Chicago next year. For those of you that have been before, how long do you suggest going? Are there certain days that are better then other days to be there? Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

I think it depends on your goals and if you are bringing anyone with you. When my son was younger we spent more time at the corporate booths that the card companies set up, as they would often have activities for kids. If it's just me, it takes me a day to scope everything out and do a quick survey of the vintage dealer tables that are set up, and do some comparison shopping on some high dollar (but not rare) cards. I make a list of booths I want to visit again. I may try to fill some oddball sets that day since it's possible some stuff would be gone by the next day. If I want to consign anything, I'll usually do it that first day. I mostly will do most of my buying the next day. Sometimes, depending on when I have to get home across state lines, I may stay for the morning of a third day. I'm not into breaks, and I usually don't have anything for the graders, nor do I buy autograph tickets. So nearly all of my time is spent roaming around the dealer booths. I'm there from the minute it opens to the minute it closes. That's how I roll, but I know others have great strategies they've crafted to fit their needs!

[Oscar_Stanage]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

So nearly all of my time is spent roaming around the dealer booths. I'm there from the minute it opens to the minute it closes. That's how I roll, but I know others have great strategies they've crafted to fit their needs!

Jethrod -
this is how I am rolling next year- got caught up in some bells and whistles as a rookie, but I learned my lesson.

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by Oscar_Stanage

Jethrod -
this is how I am rolling next year- got caught up in some bells and whistles as a rookie, but I learned my lesson.

Oscar, I guess I do have to admit I get caught up in one or two bells or whistles under the right circumstances! I do buy a couple of boxes of 1 new product each year. I tend to prefer Upper Deck's Goodwin Champions, as I really enjoy opening that product and it doesn't break my bank, and most importantly, I can usually complete the base set from those 2 boxes. So...if UD is doing a redemption program for their special National card packs, and if Goodwin is included in the redemption program, I'll usually buy a couple of boxes from authorized UD dealers and then open the packs at the booth. They just want to see the packs opened and they collect the wrappers so I delay my gratification until later when I can really go through the cards I bought from the boxes. They give you I think 4 packs of cards per box, and if you are lucky, then your pack was seeded with a nice autograph card. UD usually has some exciting raffles during the day and if I'm in their area, I might participate. If UD doesn't have Goodwin ready in time for the National or it's not part of their redemption, I might buy Allen and Ginter, and then I'll go to the Topps booth where they usually have a redemption program dealie going on. Not a bad way to spend a few minutes, though there usually are some lines and crowds to deal with!

[Jeff_cvc]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

I think it depends on your goals and if you are bringing anyone with you. When my son was younger we spent more time at the corporate booths that the card companies set up, as they would often have activities for kids. If it's just me, it takes me a day to scope everything out and do a quick survey of the vintage dealer tables that are set up, and do some comparison shopping on some high dollar (but not rare) cards. I make a list of booths I want to visit again. I may try to fill some oddball sets that day since it's possible some stuff would be gone by the next day. If I want to consign anything, I'll usually do it that first day. I mostly will do most of my buying the next day. Sometimes, depending on when I have to get home across state lines, I may stay for the morning of a third day. I'm not into breaks, and I usually don't have anything for the graders, nor do I buy autograph tickets. So nearly all of my time is spent roaming around the dealer booths. I'm there from the minute it opens to the minute it closes. That's how I roll, but I know others have great strategies they've crafted to fit their needs!

Great help, thank you for your response, much appreciated.

Originally Posted by mrreality68

I agree with scoping the place out taking pictures/notes of what you see and want to double back to.
Have a plan and stay focused.
As for the days to go. Depends on what you want to do. The Early days are great for finding the hardest/rarest/things you most want or need on your list. Because many of the items you are looking for might be gone by someone that came before you.
The prices are highest on the earliest days and dealers may make less deals (on Wed or THur) because they feel they have the full convention to sell their items. On Sat and Sundays as the National Show is coming closer to the end the prices and deals often get better but again selection is not as good.

IT also depends on the activities you intend to do both in the show and out of the show(since you are in Chicago for example) maybe you want to go to a ball game or something so depends the days they are playing.
Are you meeting with people if so what days they go may impact your plans.

I am going Wed thru Sat. I want the extra time. This year I did Wed, THur and Friday and was not enough time for me to meet people, meet dealers, have lunch with a few, and take my time to enjoy the show and all the details

Jeff, thank you! Very helpful feedback.

I told my youngest son I was going next year (he’ll be 17 next year) and surprisingly, he nearly jumped out of his seat and wanted to go. It caught me off guard as he’s not a collector, but has plenty of cards from when he was younger as I would buy them as gifts. Anyway, it looks like he will be joining me, hence, taking in some sights as well as the show will probably be in order. Looks like I’m going from start to finish!

[jethrod3]

[QUOTE=I told my youngest son I was going next year (he’ll be 17 next year) and surprisingly, he nearly jumped out of his seat and wanted to go. It caught me off guard as he’s not a collector, but has plenty of cards from when he was younger as I would buy them as gifts. Anyway, it looks like he will be joining me, hence, taking in some sights as well as the show will probably be in order. Looks like I’m going from start to finish![/QUOTE]

You're quite welcome and glad that you got some good feedback. I thought of your post above when I also just responded to Oscar (above). Although I spend nearly all the time hitting the dealer booths, I did neglect to mention that I sometimes stop by the corporate booths when they have wrapper redemptions for some of their new products. Your mentioning of your son brought back memories of taking my son----we would always do the wrapper redemptions when he'd come with me and he was always luckier than me. He pulled an Ken Griffey Jr. autograph out of one of the wrapper redemption packs! Wish my son would go back with me again one year! Anyway, if you're into buying new product, your son might like some of the activities at the corporate booths like Upper Deck and Topps. Topps still runs the popular "Pack Wars" which kids love, and by kids, yup, I mean even the teenagers!

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Jeff_cvc

I’ve never attended before, but I am thinking about going to Chicago next year. For those of you that have been before, how long do you suggest going? Are there certain days that are better then other days to be there? Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

I agree with scoping the place out taking pictures/notes of what you see and want to double back to.
Have a plan and stay focused.
As for the days to go. Depends on what you want to do. The Early days are great for finding the hardest/rarest/things you most want or need on your list. Because many of the items you are looking for might be gone by someone that came before you.
The prices are highest on the earliest days and dealers may make less deals (on Wed or THur) because they feel they have the full convention to sell their items. On Sat and Sundays as the National Show is coming closer to the end the prices and deals often get better but again selection is not as good.

IT also depends on the activities you intend to do both in the show and out of the show(since you are in Chicago for example) maybe you want to go to a ball game or something so depends the days they are playing.
Are you meeting with people if so what days they go may impact your plans.

I am going Wed thru Sat. I want the extra time. This year I did Wed, THur and Friday and was not enough time for me to meet people, meet dealers, have lunch with a few, and take my time to enjoy the show and all the details

[Leon]

Yeap, I am going from Wed through Saturday too. I am already looking forward to it. I hope to meet a lot of members I haven't met before.

Originally Posted by mrreality68

I agree with scoping the place out taking pictures/notes of what you see and want to double back to.
Have a plan and stay focused.
As for the days to go. Depends on what you want to do. The Early days are great for finding the hardest/rarest/things you most want or need on your list. Because many of the items you are looking for might be gone by someone that came before you.
The prices are highest on the earliest days and dealers may make less deals (on Wed or THur) because they feel they have the full convention to sell their items. On Sat and Sundays as the National Show is coming closer to the end the prices and deals often get better but again selection is not as good.

IT also depends on the activities you intend to do both in the show and out of the show(since you are in Chicago for example) maybe you want to go to a ball game or something so depends the days they are playing.
Are you meeting with people if so what days they go may impact your plans.

I am going Wed thru Sat. I want the extra time. This year I did Wed, THur and Friday and was not enough time for me to meet people, meet dealers, have lunch with a few, and take my time to enjoy the show and all the details

[IndyDave]

I'm in line with the earlier posters. I will drive to Chicago from Indy on Wednesday with plans to attend the Wednesday sneak peak, all day Thursday and most of the day Friday.

I booked the adjacent Hyatt for Wednesday and Thursday nights. Depending on how late I stay Friday I will either drove all the way back to Indy or get a room somewhere away from the show (plenty of rooms in Chicago).

I'm most likely coming by myself and like others, really don't plan to do the autographs or breaks. I'm there to see the tables. Usually by mid-afternoon on Friday I'm getting tired - and grouchy. By then I've usually seen every table once, or more than once. It is typically time to go home.

I've always gone with the option to stay Saturday if I want to. Haven't felt the need yet.

I like staying at the Hyatt to have access to my room during the show if I feel I need a quick break. Last year I didn't have a room there, but still walked over to use their public restrooms and grab a sandwich from their grab and go place. Better than the food at the show, just as high priced.

When I haven't stayed at the Hyatt, I've taken a cooler with me. I bought a sandwich in the morning on the way in at Trader Joe's and went out to the car for my lunch.

[commishbob]

Well I may get back to a National after all. Haven't been to one since the long ago Houston edition. The last two years I've been in the wrong place at the right time (I was in Chicago this year during the AC show and in Jersey last year during the Chicago show!). But we plan to visit our new grandson in Evanston every year for his July 28 birthday this may just work out.

If we're lucky the weather will be as freakishly nice next year in Chicagoland as it was when we were just there, 70s/low 80s with low humidity. It was perfect.