Buying collections - can this work?

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by BobC

You don't think putting out a bunch of cash will bring people to your table looking to sell stuff? If not, you likely don't understand the greed and desire of many people. It will also likely create a slight (actually more likely a big) bit of buzz at the show as people walking around start telling and questioning others if they saw the one dealer/seller with the briefcase full of cash. It WILL attract people to come see you, but it is also probably not a great idea for everyone for several of the negative reasons I also mentioned, that can't handle it.

You might think I'm being some kind of a jerk, especially after your 'Umm - thanks?" comment/question. But I'm being fully serious if you want to get attention for buying stuff at a card show. Honestly tell me what other suggestion(s) by anyone else in this thread will likely get you more actual attention for what you want, faster and quicker than what I've suggested. Everything I stated is 100% logical, makes perfect sense, and/or is true. If you don't want some completely honest advice, don't go asking for it.

Personally Bob, I love your plan and it would be an instant separation from the other guys. I'd use passable fake cash and a hired "security guard " for presentation.

How would you present to make an heir or widow with a pre war collection comfortable enough to approach your table?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Personally Bob, I love your plan and it would be an instant separation from the other guys. I'd use passable fake cash and a hired "security guard " for presentation.

How would you present to make an heir or widow with a pre war collection comfortable enough to approach your table?

The fake cash might be a good idea, just don't get anyone claiming it could be counterfeit, as then you could have a whole other set of issues. And actually, isn't what I described basically taking a page right out of the Mr. Mint bible of how to do business? I remember when he used to specifically get the very first table inside the entrance doors at a card show so he had the first crack at anyone walking in with stuff to sell. He would actually offer to pay in cash, and if memory serves, made actual handwritten offers he gave to people of what he would pay them for their stuff when they did stop to show him what they may have. And I'm guessing he likely got some additional leads he would follow up on from people that maybe didn't bring all their stuff with them. There is the old saying, "Money talks....and bull$hit walks!", which is so very true.

As for widows and others, chances are they aren't coming to card shows themselves, maybe some younger relatives or friends looking out for them or otherwise trying to help. I'd suggest having a stack of business cards to hand out to people so there may be that follow-up activity after the show and/or away from it. Think about all the pictures you ever saw of Al (Mr. Mint) Rosen, more often than not it showed him with a huge smile, flashing tons of cash, or tons of great cards. The card flashes were for potential buyers. The cash flashes were for potential sellers. That way he always covered both sides of the aisle.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...t=0&ajaxserp=0

Rosen was to my understanding very good at using this technique, until I heard about him doing his usual and paying up to get the front table at the doors at the Cleveland National held in the IX Center one year. My understanding was he went ape$hit when he found out that unlike all the other Nationals he'd been at, no one told him there were two separate entrances to the IX Center on opposite sides of the convention floor. He apparently didn't like paying to only get a first crack at maybe half the people walking into the show. I also thought I heard/read somewhere he never bothered to do another National show after that, at least not ever in Cleveland. I've always found that hard to believe those stories/rumors I had heard that he really didn't know there were two separate entrances. But stranger things have happened in the world, right?

[Eric72]

I met Rosen once at show where we were both set up. From this one meeting, I formed on opinion of the man that persists to this day:

The world was a stage to him, he thought himself the principal actor, and the stacks of cash were very effective props. Whether one found his methods distasteful (I did) or brilliant, one thing was readily apparent.

He got results.

I'm not saying you should mirror what Rosen did. Most people couldn't pull it off. However, don't dismiss it out of hand.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Eric72

I met Rosen once at show where we were both set up. From this one meeting, I formed on opinion of the man that persists to this day:

The world was a stage to him, he thought himself the principal actor, and the stacks of cash were very effective props. Whether one found his methods distasteful (I did) or brilliant, one thing was readily apparent.

He got results.

I'm not saying you should mirror what Rosen did. Most people couldn't pull it off. However, don't dismiss it out of hand.

All I was saying Eric. And of all the suggestions people were giving, flashing cash will likely get you the quickest and most attention possible. Think about all the people who go to the shows who want to operate under the table, they start thinking they're getting untraceable, untaxable cash, and THEY....ARE....IN!

And if you do it at a show that isn't as big as the National, you'll definitely get people's attention and become the talk of a smaller show. There's a reason why people like Alan Rosen and Don West were successful. Also why there are all those Shop-At-Home like channels still out there. They wouldn't be there if they weren't selling things to people and making tons of money. Of course, nowadays, it seems it has pushed over even more into the podcasts and other online people/sites who use whatever means they can think of to lure people in, and then hook them with whatever crap they're selling. For example, it is stated fact Alex Jones didn't make all his money from his podcasts, he made most of it from the supplements he was selling to people coming to listen to his podcasts. Like you said about Rosen being an actor, but just a different kind of stage/show to bring all the gullible people in.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by BobC

All I was saying Eric. And of all the suggestions people were giving, flashing cash will likely get you the quickest and most attention possible. Think about all the people who go to the shows who want to operate under the table, they start thinking they're getting untraceable, untaxable cash, and THEY....ARE....IN!

And if you do it at a show that isn't as big as the National, you'll definitely get people's attention and become the talk of a smaller show. There's a reason why people like Alan Rosen and Don West were successful. Also why there are all those Shop-At-Home like channels still out there. They wouldn't be there if they weren't selling things to people and making tons of money. Of course, nowadays, it seems it has pushed over even more into the podcasts and other online people/sites who use whatever means they can think of to lure people in, and then hook them with whatever crap they're selling. For example, it is stated fact Alex Jones didn't make all his money from his podcasts, he made most of it from the supplements he was selling to people coming to listen to his podcasts. Like you said about Rosen being an actor, but just a different kind of stage/show to bring all the gullible people in.

Rosen had much more in his repertoire than just the open display of cash. I can only imagine what it would've looked like had social media (especially video) been ubiquitous during his heyday.

To be fair:

In small doses, his routine might be impressive and mesmerizing. Prolonged exposure, though...not so much.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Rosen had much more in his repertoire than just the open display of cash. I can only imagine what it would've looked like had social media (especially video) been ubiquitous during his heyday.

To be fair:

In small doses, his routine might be impressive and mesmerizing. Prolonged exposure, though...not so much.

...and maybe that's what made him so successful. He seemed more interested in a "closing a deal" than forging long-term friendships. At least that's what I took away from it. Granted it was a long time ago; this was one show back in the 90's.

Damn, if the man didn't stand out, though. He was certainly memorable.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Rosen had much more in his repertoire than just the open display of cash. I can only imagine what it would've looked like had social media (especially video) been ubiquitous during his heyday.

To be fair:

In small doses, his routine might be impressive and mesmerizing. Prolonged exposure, though...not so much.

Definitely agree. If he started out today and tried doing what he was doing back then, with all the online connections, social media, and FB and other such online groups, podcasts, and whatever out there, he'd overwhelm the sensibilities of most people in the hobby in a heartbeat. Nowadays, something happening clear on the other side of the world can become known across the globe in a matter of minutes. Wasn't like that back then, and so, sometimes people used/needed these more over the top methods to get their message out there, and the buzz started. Just like flashing lots of cash, while advertising you're looking to buy collections, at a local show will likely get a buzz quickly started among attendees as well. Continue doing it over, and over, and over, and it eventually becomes a bit passe' for sure.

But since mostly only the older collectors will really remember Rosen and his techniques, or maybe even ever heard of him and what he would do, enough time has probably passed since he was at the top of his game and some of his "tricks" if initiated by someone else today would likely be greeting a whole new generation of potential sellers, and thus have a greater likelihood of working and raising interest because they hadn't been seen by a lot of these people before that could now be potential sellers.