Sticker price at card shows

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I was at Chantilly Saturday. In speaking with some dealers and watching the tables/traffic, it appears that it was a slow show for most pre-war and vintage dealers selling graded cards. One dealer-friend, who has an amazing assortment of 1950-60 key-cards, told me Chantilly was very slow, coming off a Philly show he thought was slow. He said he may take some shows off in this economy. I do think things at shows may indeed be slowing.

I collect exclusively prewar. Almost everything pre war I saw at Chantilly (and Philly before that) was overpriced to stupid-overpriced. No wonder dealers appear to be having slow shows. Sometimes I wonder if dealers are really actually trying to sell cards. Some are for sure, but others have sticker-prices that are so ludicrous that I wonder if they are just fishing for suckers. When I walk by the table and see a stupid price on a card, I don't even bother to ask. I imagine I am not alone.

Juxtapose card shows to AHs, which seem to be business and usual when it comes to solid prewar sales results. I dont think most things are still setting records with each new auction, but there are many bidders and prices are solid. Perhaps prewar collectors are deciding to forgo shows and obnoxious sticker/asking prices for acquisitions from the comfort of their homes.

Not having been at the show, it's hard for me to imagine. But you mentioned items being overpriced to stupid-overpriced. And then you talked about the AHs and their brisk business. My experience these days with the AHs is that final hammer prices tend to be overpriced to stupid-overpriced. I guess one clear difference is that stuff is actually selling for those prices at the AHs, instead of merely asking for it at the shows.

But maybe the asking prices at shows are even a step beyond the stupid-overpriced that we're seeing at AHs these days?

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by raulus

But maybe the asking prices at shows are even a step beyond the stupid-overpriced that we're seeing at AHs these days?

This

It seems to me that you can often get better “deals” at auction than from many dealers at shows.

There are many dealers I know from shows who have good stuff and are reasonable (many are on this site). But lately I feel like many dealers are asking “museum prices”, often on non-museum pieces. And I am starting to see the same cards show after show

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

This

It seems to me that you can often get better “deals” at auction than from many dealers at shows.

There are many dealers I know from shows who have good stuff and are reasonable (many are on this site). But lately I have seen many more with “museum prices”, often on non-museum pieces. And I am starting to see the same cards show after show

Interesting strategy.

Obviously I’m not averse to asking museum prices for my items on eBay. I flatter myself to think that they’re generally pretty rare pieces worthy of such pricing. But the cost to me to keep them rolling over on eBay for year after year is zero, while going to shows as a dealer has a nonzero cost. So it is a bit puzzling that dealers would take this approach to running their business at shows. I mean, asking retail is one thing, but if you’re going to ask for a multiple of retail for relatively common items, then (as you noted) it seems like you’re unlikely to find many takers.

At the same time, that’s the beauty of capitalism!! We each get to chase our wildest dreams, and over time those who execute poorly get washed out due to lack of profitability. Sometimes that process can take years or decades, but eventually those chickens come home to roost.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

This

It seems to me that you can often get better “deals” at auction than from many dealers at shows.

There are many dealers I know from shows who have good stuff and are reasonable (many are on this site). But lately I feel like many dealers are asking “museum prices”, often on non-museum pieces. And I am starting to see the same cards show after show

Glad you brought up Chantilly. Heard the same thing from two patrons who went to the show. Same dealers, same inventory, same high prices.

Sadly, I wonder how many dealers bought high and are now stuck with inventory. At some point, will they lower or continue to be stubborn?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Glad you brought up Chantilly. Heard the same thing from two patrons who went to the show. Same dealers, same inventory, same high prices.

Sadly, I wonder how many dealers bought high and are now stuck with inventory. At some point, will they lower or continue to be stubborn?

It’s the age-old question for underwater investors:

Will you stay solvent long enough for your bets to pay off?

[jsfriedm]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

This

It seems to me that you can often get better “deals” at auction than from many dealers at shows.

I actually said this to dealers at previous Boston Shriners' Shows, and they openly told me that of course you can get better deals at auctions, but basically you are paying for the premium of not having to wait/compete - you pay more to take it home right now. Needless to say, I was not persuaded.