East Coast National - this weekend

[Brian]

Can anyone tell me what the lines were like at BGS or PSA? I tried getting cards graded by Beckett at the National on three separate occasions, and each time, the line was very long, an hour's wait I was told.

[toppcat]

Parking can be challenging there. If you're on the right train line, you can take Metro North almost all the way to the show, then just hop a cab or Uber. I think it's under a mile away.

[Oscar_Stanage]

I was there Friday … felt a bit small, so I am somewhat disappointed that this is the biggest show outside of the National. That said it is definitely worth going. I’d say there were 6 to 7 tables with meaningful tobacco inventory that were worth spending time at. That is not a lot relative to the size of the show(prob 10%?), but enough to spend some time and make for a worthwhile trip.

Pricing is about what I’d expect. I bought a few commons for my collection at prices somewhat in line with what I get on net54 and other private deals. I looked at a few of the key cards I need but they are generally priced at the high end of a the range of realized auction prices, in other words adding another vig onto a 20% vig. Not really necessary for me to lift those offers.

[Snapolit1]

They claim it's a 500 table show.

Biggest show I've ever been to other than the National.

Originally Posted by Oscar_Stanage

I was there Friday … felt a bit small, so I am somewhat disappointed that this is the biggest show outside of the National. That said it is definitely worth going. I’d say there were 6 to 7 tables with meaningful tobacco inventory that were worth spending time at. That is not a lot relative to the size of the show(prob 10%?), but enough to spend some time and make for a worthwhile trip.

Pricing is about what I’d expect. I bought a few commons for my collection at prices somewhat in line with what I get on net54 and other private deals. I looked at a few of the key cards I need but they are generally priced at the high end of a the range of realized auction prices, in other words adding another vig onto a 20% vig. Not really necessary for me to lift those offers.

[Oscar_Stanage]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

They claim it's a 500 table show.

Biggest show I've ever been to other than the National.

There could very well have been 500 tables. It just didn’t seem big . I was up and down aisles very quickly. There were 6 or 7 tables I spent time at with tobacco, so I guess that math leads to way less than 10%

[Al C.risafulli]

And I understand Josh looking a basketball cards.
He is thinking that is the only size ball he could hit

This is the funniest thing I've read here in a while.

-Al

[AnkurJ]

Went today with my son. Enjoyable time overall! We had to park down the street as the lot was full. Lots of vintage, mostly priced well above market comps. In some cases so much that it wasn’t worth negotiating. Like Snapolit said, one dealer with many Ruth autos that were marked 4-5x market. Maybe just a show and tell?

One thing I still don’t understand is why dealers don’t mark prices. It’s strange but I guess they don’t mind being asked for multiple different prices.

Lots of modern autos, boxes, signed photos and other memorabilia. Jordan autos at usual high prices. Many Fleer Jordan Rc’s. Not many Ohtani autos. I had one for sale but not much interest. Some very cool type 1 photos and esoteric premiums. Fun time to see many cards, but probably cheaper to buy online or at auction.

[chalupacollects]

Originally Posted by Brian

Can anyone tell me what the lines were like at BGS or PSA? I tried getting cards graded by Beckett at the National on three separate occasions, and each time, the line was very long, an hour's wait I was told.

On Saturday afternoon with two passes past Beckett tables, no line and not one person submitting.

Bought some stuff for sets I am completing but overall, most singles were overpriced for the condition.

There were a couple of searcher tabels with decently organized singles going back to the 30's that had nice discounts posted...

[Brian]

Thanks, Tim.
Yeah, I dropped off some cards but did not buy anything. The line stretched out the front door. As others have mentioned, cards were pretty over-priced. And I was prepared to spend, having been blown out on my white whale in the LOTG last night...er, morning. Some nice eye candy, but out of reach.

I did see a bunch of kids wheeling and dealing. They had cash to burn and knew what they were doing--they had the negotiation skills of much older folk.

Commoditization is alive and well. And all I could do was think about the good old days........

[Snapolit1]

One of the saving graces of the Westchester show is you can buy a Nathan's hot dog and fries (with cheese, of course) at their modest food court. I've seen a lot worse options.

[Topnotchsy]

I went back today to pick up my 1949 Dodgers signed baseball that I dropped off at JSA. As expected, the major signatures were all authentic (Jackie, Campy, Reese etc) outside of Gil Hodges which as I suspected, was a clubhouse sig.

I walked around a bit, but prices seemed like there was little to talk about. I spoke to a few vendors. Foot traffic at the show was apparently pretty good, but a lot of people were coming looking to sell. I heard a vendor saying that his experience at the show was making think he needs to sell more on eBay, since people were offering so little, but my personal experience was that prices seemed super high. For items I was interested in, I was ready to pay at least eBay prices and even a bit higher since it is in person, but I barely even asked about items since the prices labeled that I was interested in were consistently quite a bit higher than eBay and auction houses.

[akleinb611]

I went on Saturday, and I can confirm that this is by far the largest East Coast National since the Gloria Rothstein glory days of the Nineties. Dealers everywhere, and while a large piece of the overall action involved the newer shiny stuff, there was enough available to make things interesting for the likes of us.

As for prices - well, if you're looking for graded stuff or top tier cards and/or condition, yes, the dealers all seem to have had Christmas in their eyes. But I'm a bottom feeder, and when you collect off condition stuff or oddball items, you can find bargains. I picked up an even quantity of sports cards and non-sports cards at very attractive prices. One dealer announced in no uncertain terms that he was retiring, and he priced his inventory to sell. Another had a few interesting non-sports lots and was willing to discuss prices.

I didn't find everything I was looking for, but that's always the case. The show was well worth the trip, and it's nice to be getting out of the house for a change. The large crowds seem to indicate that lots of collectors are emerging from the pandemic eager for the card show experience. Ebay remains an important part of collecting, but it's not the only part of collecting.

Alan

[parkplace33]

Foot traffic at the show was apparently pretty good, but a lot of people were coming looking to sell. I heard a vendor saying that his experience at the show was making think he needs to sell more on eBay, since people were offering so little, but my personal experience was that prices seemed super high.

As for prices - well, if you're looking for graded stuff or top tier cards and/or condition, yes, the dealers all seem to have had Christmas in their eyes.

I talked to two collectors that went to the show this weekend and couldn't agree more with the above. Dealers that priced their cards as of today did well. Ones that had prices from 2 years ago did not.

From comments though, if anyone thinks that card shows are a thing of the past, you are definitely mistaken. This show was extremely busy and people were looking to buy. I hope this continues at the next big show, the Philly Show.

[Snapolit1]

True. Great crowd. Smiling happy people. Lots of kids. All good in my book.

Unfortunately not a great place to buy anything really nice.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Unfortunately not a great place to buy anything really nice.

Sorry to hear nothing has changed in the over 16 years since I've worked this show. I worked so many shows there and never once found anything to buy (seeking autographs only, however). Colleagues and I always dreaded having to work any event held at this location.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I talked to two collectors that went to the show this weekend and couldn't agree more with the above. Dealers that priced their cards as of today did well. Ones that had prices from 2 years ago did not.

From comments though, if anyone thinks that card shows are a thing of the past, you are definitely mistaken. This show was extremely busy and people were looking to buy. I hope this continues at the next big show, the Philly Show.

Were you actually there? It did not sound like it. And are you actually attending the Philly show?

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Were you actually there? It did not sound like it. And are you actually attending the Philly show?

The East Coast National, sadly no. The Philly show, yes.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Were you actually there? It did not sound like it. And are you actually attending the Philly show?

LOL. Odd to make an assessment of a show without having been there.