Dealers' Pricing at the National

[edhans]

I always get a hearty chuckle out of these threads. This will be my 16th consecutive National; all as a dealer. I think I can count on the thumbs of one hand the number of colleagues who said they were disappointed in their sales. So despite those "exorbitantly high prices", dealers have sufficient sales to make their time, effort and expense worth it.

I think there's an important distinction being overlooked here. If you're looking for a 1965 Mantle in PSA 7 or better, you'll find several dozen to choose from in Chicago. It's not a rare card. By all means ridicule the dealer whose price is double that of the dealer two rows over and won't negotiate. If you're considering a G&B, Old Judge cabinet, E107 HOFer, E271, T214, etc... and are using ten year old VCP data, then you're sure to be disappointed and may be inclined to bemoan those money-grubbing dealers asking such ridiculous prices. Rare cards can't simply be replaced in the next big auction. Be prepared to pay a premium for them.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by edhans

I think there's an important distinction being overlooked here. If you're looking for a 1965 Mantle in PSA 7 or better, you'll find several dozen to choose from in Chicago. It's not a rare card. By all means ridicule the dealer whose price is double that of the dealer two rows over and won't negotiate. If you're considering a G&B, Old Judge cabinet, E107 HOFer, E271, T214, etc... and are using ten year old VCP data, then you're sure to be disappointed and may be inclined to bemoan those money-grubbing dealers asking such ridiculous prices. Rare cards can't simply be replaced in the next big auction. Be prepared to pay a premium for them.

This.

Absolute rarity is wonderful. When you have a truly rare item, you can set the price and hold out to get it. I've had buyers try everything they could think of, from inapposite comps to appeals to sentiment, to get a rare card from me. Nope. That is the beauty of owing a rare item: my way or the highway. On the other hand, trying to figure out a price for an absolutely rare card is very challenging and there is a lot of FOMO on both sides when one comes up for sale. No one in the transaction knows for sure if they are making a good deal because there is no market record to speak of. That is also the fun of it: the buyer gets something wonderful and the seller gets a price that makes him happy. So yeah, if you are chasing a card with a few known examples, if you find one at all, you are not gonna find it on discount at any show. I've never once regretted stepping up and buying a rare item at the National; I've very much regretted passing on some of them (damn you to hell, Eddie Collins decal mini-bat!). Ditto selling them. The stuff I wish I still had...Ugh. I am gonna write a column of big fish story regrets. Maybe I will call it "rare cards that were in my hands and I sold them because I am an idiot."

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by edhans

I always get a hearty chuckle out of these threads. This will be my 16th consecutive National; all as a dealer. I think I can count on the thumbs of one hand the number of colleagues who said they were disappointed in their sales. So despite those "exorbitantly high prices", dealers have sufficient sales to make their time, effort and expense worth it.

I think there's an important distinction being overlooked here. If you're looking for a 1965 Mantle in PSA 7 or better, you'll find several dozen to choose from in Chicago. It's not a rare card. By all means ridicule the dealer whose price is double that of the dealer two rows over and won't negotiate. If you're considering a G&B, Old Judge cabinet, E107 HOFer, E271, T214, etc... and are using ten year old VCP data, then you're sure to be disappointed and may be inclined to bemoan those money-grubbing dealers asking such ridiculous prices. Rare cards can't simply be replaced in the next big auction. Be prepared to pay a premium for them.

Well said!

For me, there are always more cards to buy at the National than I usually have money. If you have the time and intestinal fortitude to look for them deals are always there. It can be a grind though and you need to have a pretty wide area of expertise. If you are extremely focused on a specialized collection then you will likely come away with very little.

In other words…Tons of bargains to be had if you look around and know what things typically sell for…if you are looking for T206 in grades 4 to 4.5 with yellow backgrounds of American League players in PSA holders from even # aisles… you may have a problem! 🤣

Our perspective shapes our reality.

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by edhans

I always get a hearty chuckle out of these threads. This will be my 16th consecutive National; all as a dealer. I think I can count on the thumbs of one hand the number of colleagues who said they were disappointed in their sales. So despite those "exorbitantly high prices", dealers have sufficient sales to make their time, effort and expense worth it.

I think there's an important distinction being overlooked here. If you're looking for a 1965 Mantle in PSA 7 or better, you'll find several dozen to choose from in Chicago. It's not a rare card. By all means ridicule the dealer whose price is double that of the dealer two rows over and won't negotiate. If you're considering a G&B, Old Judge cabinet, E107 HOFer, E271, T214, etc... and are using ten year old VCP data, then you're sure to be disappointed and may be inclined to bemoan those money-grubbing dealers asking such ridiculous prices. Rare cards can't simply be replaced in the next big auction. Be prepared to pay a premium for them.

Well said!

For me, there are always more cards to buy at the National than I usually have money. If you have the time and intestinal fortitude to look for them deals are always there. It can be a grind though and you need to have a pretty wide area of expertise. If you are extremely focused on a specialized collection then you will likely come away with very little.

In other words…Tons of bargains to be had if you look around and know what things typically sell for…if you are looking for T206 in grades 4 to 4.5 with yellow backgrounds of American League players in PSA holders from even # aisles… you may have a problem! 🤣

Our perspective shapes our reality.