Strongsville Sports Collections Convention - April 14th-16th

[BobC]

Originally Posted by jimtodd

Bob, if you’re talking about the Independence show, I was a bit perturbed when I saw he set it up on the same weekend as Strongsville. I don’t blame them for not working with him, especially since it was intentional, and the Strongsville show has been established for years. You would think he’s missing out on vintage buyers and sellers attending that would have if it was just a week or two apart. I for one won’t be able to make independence, although I would have gone if it was a different weekend. I’m sure there are others in the same boat.

That is the one Jim. As I mentioned in my story, I asked Steve, the guy putting on the show in Independence exactly why he was doing it the exact same weekend as well, because I was thinking just like you, why would someone do that.

FYI, was at Strongsville today, and talking to a guy who was at the other show, and actually set up there as a dealer. Apparently, the show in Independence did not fill all 300 or so tables, but supposedly still did okay, according to him. This guy I spoke with said he'd pretty much sold out and came over to check out the Strongsville show Sunday afternoon then. We were both talking about things with a fellow collector from Atlanta, who ended getting a table after he got there Friday and found out SGC had cancelled. He had brought an unbelievable amount and quality of stuff to trade/deal with, and ended up being able to set up as a dealer instead, and be there all weekend taking over part of SGC's cancelled spot. In fact, I think it is the same guy/dealer that someone took a picture of his showcase and posted here earlier in the thread that had all the Cobb's in it. He borrowed the showcases from the people running the show. We had a great discussion regarding S74 silks he and I both have. And he had some unbelievable non-sport items as well, which we were talking about with the guy that had set up at the Independence modern show, who it turns it is also an unbelievable non-sport pre-war card collector as well. I told the two of them the exact same story about talking with the guy putting on the Independence show last month, and why he decided to have his show at the exact same time. The modern dealer mentioned how he did have some older, pre-war non-sports stuff at that show, and how the younger collectors were drawn to it and asking lots of questions. He said the modern collectors are looking and beginning to pay more attention to the older stuff after all, an obvious good sign for the hobby's overall health. Another person at the Strongsville show told me how they felt like there were more dealers interested in asking if people had things to sell, than they necessarily were in selling their cards to them. And an old dealer friend told me how his best day was on Thursday, the day before the Strongsville show actually opened, as he mentioned all the dealers who came in early to set up were doing a lot of sales and trades before the doors ever opened. For all the talk of inflation, and other economic fears and issues with perceived dropping card prices and a failing hobby, it sure as heck didn't seem to be the case there in Strongsville that the hobby is suffering and in any danger of dying out any time soon.

Didn't buy anything myself, as prices were definitely strong. And though there were many cards there from sets I collect, none of them were cards I was still missing from those sets. My typical luck. LOL

[jimtodd]

Bob, thanks for the update! I was curious how they would do and was also very happy with the turnout at Strongsville today as a buyer/observer. I agree, lots of good conversations, trading and friendly negotiating. More younger people than expected. A good amount of buying and selling it seemed.

Bob, you aren't going to believe this, but if you were the Silks guy, you taught me about them today too, and showed me your awesome S74 Cobb (Helmar right?). I was in the yellow shirt. You encouraged me to buy a silk from the Atlanta dealer. Unfortunately, I think you talked the silks up too much to him also, because I offered to buy that SGC6 Tinker at the marked price, and he no longer wanted to sell it. Haha! Thanks anyways for the advice - it was good to meet you.

Originally Posted by BobC

That is the one Jim. As I mentioned in my story, I asked Steve, the guy putting on the show in Independence exactly why he was doing it the exact same weekend as well, because I was thinking just like you, why would someone do that.

FYI, was at Strongsville today, and talking to a guy who was at the other show, and actually set up there as a dealer. Apparently, the show in Independence did not fill all 300 or so tables, but supposedly still did okay, according to him. This guy I spoke with said he'd pretty much sold out and came over to check out the Strongsville show Sunday afternoon then. We were both talking about things with a fellow collector from Atlanta, who ended getting a table after he got there Friday and found out SGC had cancelled. He had brought an unbelievable amount and quality of stuff to trade/deal with, and ended up being able to set up as a dealer instead, and be there all weekend taking over part of SGC's cancelled spot. In fact, I think it is the same guy/dealer that someone took a picture of his showcase and posted here earlier in the thread that had all the Cobb's in it. He borrowed the showcases from the people running the show. We had a great discussion regarding S74 silks he and I both have. And he had some unbelievable non-sport items as well, which we were talking about with the guy that had set up at the Independence modern show, who it turns it is also an unbelievable non-sport pre-war card collector as well. I told the two of them the exact same story about talking with the guy putting on the Independence show last month, and why he decided to have his show at the exact same time. The modern dealer mentioned how he did have some older, pre-war non-sports stuff at that show, and how the younger collectors were drawn to it and asking lots of questions. He said the modern collectors are looking and beginning to pay more attention to the older stuff after all, an obvious good sign for the hobby's overall health. Another person at the Strongsville show told me how they felt like there were more dealers interested in asking if people had things to sell, than they necessarily were in selling their cards to them. And an old dealer friend told me how his best day was on Thursday, the day before the Strongsville show actually opened, as he mentioned all the dealers who came in early to set up were doing a lot of sales and trades before the doors ever opened. For all the talk of inflation, and other economic fears and issues with perceived dropping card prices and a failing hobby, it sure as heck didn't seem to be the case there in Strongsville that the hobby is suffering and in any danger of dying out any time soon.

Didn't buy anything myself, as prices were definitely strong. And though there were many cards there from sets I collect, none of them were cards I was still missing from those sets. My typical luck. LOL

[BobC]

Originally Posted by jimtodd

Bob, thanks for the update! I was curious how they would do and was also very happy with the turnout at Strongsville today as a buyer/observer. I agree, lots of good conversations, trading and friendly negotiating. More younger people than expected. A good amount of buying and selling it seemed.

Bob, you aren't going to believe this, but if you were the Silks guy, you taught me about them today too, and showed me your awesome S74 Cobb (Helmar right?). I was in the yellow shirt. You encouraged me to buy a silk from the Atlanta dealer. Unfortunately, I think you talked the silks up too much to him also, because I offered to buy that SGC6 Tinker at the marked price, and he no longer wanted to sell it. Haha! Thanks anyways for the advice - it was good to meet you.

Yeah, that was me! What the heck, I'll be damned, small world, huh?!?! LOL What I don't get though is why would Alex, that was the guy from Atlanta's name, not sell you that S74 silk of Tinker? I'm assuming he is some kind of dealer himself, but just traveled to the Strongsville show as a buyer/collector bringing stuff to trade/barter with, and then totally lucked out and was able to grab a table at the last minute when SGC had to cancel. He had his stuff priced, and they weren't super bargain prices either. But he was willing to deal on them for sure. Did you see the notebook, with Christy Mathewson on the cover, that he had a $250 price on? I first walked up when he was talking about and showing it to someone else. And then after that other guy left, I commented on how that was a cool item, and that I had never seen that particular type of notebook cover before. He didn't blink an eye and offered me a 20% discount on it later on, after we had been talking about a bunch of other stuff for a while. So he was definitely looking to sell things. I hope it wasn't my fault, as we were talking at one point about how underappreciated and undervalued we both felt the S74 silks are. I had mentioned how if PSA were to ever start grading them that I believe the prices for these silks would jump, just like what seemed to happen with PSA starting to recently grade the M101-2 Sporting News Supplements. Now I'm wondering if he started to think about that some more in talking to you about the Tinker silk. I'll bet he did, and figured if he sold it now, he'd regret it later. If that is what ended up happening, I am so sorry, and had no idea I could have changed his mind like that. LOL Go figure! But he did have some reeaallllyyy nice stuff, including those S74-1 and S74-2 silks in his cases! And my God, did you see all the T206 red Cobb portrait cards he had?

[tribefan]

After a week to recover, I have to say it was a great show. Got to catch up with some hobby buddies (Hi Tony) and met a few N54 members, including Scott Russell.

Can't wait for next year!