East Coast National - this weekend

[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.

[packs]

I keep going but I haven't bought something at a Westchester show in probably 15 years. I've also seen the same case sitting in front of the same guy pretty much every one of those years. It hasn't yet dawned on some people that their prices are the reason they haven't sold anything in a decade.

But they keep coming too.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Nor has it dawned on the customers to stay home. You couldn't get me to that show at gunpoint.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

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.

I'm confused as to why you could never buy ANYTHING at this location. Was it the prices being high in your opinion so you couldn't make an easy flip? Is your want list so advanced that you need the major auction houses to come up with items for you? Or is there some other reason? Hard to believe you could never buy ANYTHING there

Rich

[packs]

I don't have a problem finding things I would buy at these shows. My problem pops up when it comes time to pay a reasonable price for them.

I don't think the problem is limited to one or two posters either. The problem seems to be universal and unending as I happen to see the same cards in the same cases in front of the same dealers for all of time.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't have a problem finding things I would buy at these shows. My problem pops up when it comes time to pay a reasonable price for them.

I don't think the problem is limited to one or two posters either. The problem seems to be universal and unending as I happen to see the same cards in the same cases in front of the same dealers for all of time.

Same mentality you see every day on ebay.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I'm confused as to why you could never buy ANYTHING at this location. Was it the prices being high in your opinion so you couldn't make an easy flip? Is your want list so advanced that you need the major auction houses to come up with items for you? Or is there some other reason? Hard to believe you could never buy ANYTHING there

Rich

It's a combination of everything you mentioned, but especially what Packs mentioned regarding the same dealers with the same merchandise, year after year. Same with the big National.

[packs]

It really gets to be absurd when you see a guy who priced their card at $2,000 four or five years ago, failed to sell it in that time, and now has a nice new $4,500 sticker on it instead.

[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.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

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

Just stating what I heard. I look to seeing how things are at the Philly Show.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

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

If you've ever wanted to torture yourself, read the readers' comments to a new play or movie review in the NY Times. Out of the first 100 overly verbose chest thumping rants, only one or two will be folks who have actually seen the play or movie. But you'd be suprised how much they have to say about it though. It's truly nuts. Many will start "Though I have not seen the play. . ." and then go on for a 200+ word critique.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

If you've ever wanted to torture yourself, read the readers' comments to a new play or movie review in the NY Times. Out of the first 100 overly verbose chest thumping rants, only one or two will be folks who have actually seen the play or movie. But you'd be suprised how much they have to say about it though. It's truly nuts. Many will start "Though I have not seen the play. . ." and then go on for a 200+ word critique.

I guess the rules of evidence don't apply to movie or card show reviews.

[obcbobd]

Went to an East Coast National about 20 years ago, so I'm a little our of date.

Is it worth the drive from Boston? How does it compare to the Shriner's Show?

Thanks

Bob