Saturday national

[Snapolit1]

I have the same feeling every year when I don’t go.

50% of me hears about all the problems and lines etc and thanks god I didn’t go.

50% of me thinks I am a lazy jackass for not going because I love looking and talking with people about rare cards and memorabilia. Always a battle.

Bottom line for me this year is I have been traveling for business and jumping on a plane this weekend to Cleveland even for a short flight wasn’t doing.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Don't ever feel too bad about not attending. I find that I'm happier if I don't and more frustrated if I do. I'm never there for the social aspect, although I do tend to chat with longtime friends and collegaues. We socialize enough via other means that it isn't a big loss not doing so face-to-face.

[Snapolit1]

Bottom line is it’s a terrible place to get any kind of deal. So if the social part isn’t that important to you, definitely not worth the aggravation.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Yes, that's certainly been my experience since about 2010. It used to be a different story, and I sure hope it changes, but with subletting no longer allowed, I feel the opportunities for fresh discoveries at tolerable prices will be a nonexistent factor.

From 2009 onward, I kept attending and finding nothing, but saying, "Maybe THIS year will be different," but it never was. After a nightmarish and disastrous 2018 National road trip which came accompanied by the usual slop bucket at the end of a fading rainbow, I bid farewell. I hope for brighter days, and receiving some exciting phone calls saying, "You've gotta get here NOW!". Hey, it could happen.

[BioCRN]

The shiny stuff is enduring in the face of extreme cost.

A box of 2024 Topps Chrome at release time cost just under $2 **per card** in the pack. We know breaking modern stuff is gambling, but that is the current buy-in.

That said, there's no shortage of buyers and the post-COVID, enduring-inflation (though slowing), etc reality we're in hasn't killed the spending spirit even with the cost getting more and the odds for "hits" getting worse.

I would have thought that fan base would be one of the first to jump ship from the hobby once the world opened up again. I seem to be wrong.

[ullmandds]

has the hobby broadened to the point that most vintage is being held in collections and just not sold????

[BioCRN]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

has the hobby broadened to the point that most vintage is being held in collections and just not sold????

Dunno if it's enough to impact the hobby, but there's got to be more new people beginning or expanding their "forever collections" that will hold until they possibly upgrade or the market makes it worth it to sell.

I've been working on my various graded collections since the late 1990s, and I'm sure there's a few cards in my collection that some would be excited to have as part of their collection even if they're not amongst the hottest collectable names.

Often it's harder to add an uncommon issue common card than a star from the same set. I've noticed a lot more of those kinds of cards getting snapped up quickly the past 2-3 years rather than sitting around for sale lingering for months/years. I doubt a lot of these collectors are set collectors, more likely type or team collectors...which I've seen a lot of both pop up recently.

[oldjudge]

For those who have attended, is there much in the way of pre-1900 cards?

[bbcard1]

The National is a fun place to look, but not aways a great place to buy.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Bottom line is it’s a terrible place to get any kind of deal. So if the social part isn’t that important to you, definitely not worth the aggravation.

I only go for the social aspect as I get to sit next to and talk to people I've known for years. I didn't buy or sell anything . I had a lot of fun and am going home tomorrow morning.
.

[the-illini]

IMO the National has been great - best sales I have ever had.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by the-illini

IMO the National has been great - best sales I have ever had.

That's awesome Chris! Great to hear

[Yoda]

I understand a new-to-the-hobby photo of Yaz holding a rare, hybrid Dutch tulip went for big bucks.

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Bottom line is it’s a terrible place to get any kind of deal. So if the social part isn’t that important to you, definitely not worth the aggravation.

Maybe that's the case if you are buying a rare card or a card that is in high demand. However, I had no problem getting fair deals for the major purchases that I made, which were mid-grade 1955 Topps baseball star cards and the Terry Bradshaw rookie (PSA 5). I got these from a couple of dealers that had a lot of vintage stuff that I felt was more or less priced fairly once you expressed interest in them. That is, they had stickers on them that priced them a bit higher than recent eBay sales, but in the end I got them for probably slightly less than the going rate on eBay (and I didn't have to pay for shipping!!). I'm sure that the dealers that sold to me got what they needed to get out of those sales, and I didn't ask for anything ridiculous because i respect that they need to cover their table fees and other expenses, but I think everything worked out for me and for them. I did my deals on Thurs and Fri when there likely wasn't much pressure on those dealers to sell to me given that Saturday was probably going to also be very busy for them. AND, I was able to sell some of my memorabilia to dealers. So my buying and selling experience was pretty satisfying. In Chicago last year, I had a similar experience on a Saturday.

Again, it may have to do with the fact that I tend to buy stuff that is not insanely expensive (e.g., cards in high grades) or in ultra-high demand (rare cards).

[Gradedcardman]

I went to Cleveland this year to buy and I was able to do that. The best deal for vintage I found was at trade night and spent a good amount of money. The deals are there but you have to ask for them.

[vintagerookies51]

Unless you're looking for a very oddball item, I don't understand why people would buy anything at the National when you can get it in an auction for significantly less. For me, going to the National is for a few reasons - I loved being able to bring in a big $ card by hand, get it graded, and consign it face to face after talking with a few auction houses. It eliminates the stress of shipping. Second would be the autograph guests. Getting to meet one or more of your childhood heroes is pretty cool. Third, it's basically the best sports museum in the world, especially this year. Not often you get to see the most valuable piece of sports collectibles in history in person. While it wasn't a priority for me going, I do enjoy the social aspect as well. None of my friends or family really speak the language of sports cards so it was nice to chat with people while waiting in the hour long lines.

[Hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by Gradedcardman

I went to Cleveland this year to buy and I was able to do that. The best deal for vintage I found was at trade night and spent a good amount of money. The deals are there but you have to ask for them.

Share an example?

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by jethrod3

Maybe that's the case if you are buying a rare card or a card that is in high demand. However, I had no problem getting fair deals for the major purchases that I made, which were mid-grade 1955 Topps baseball star cards and the Terry Bradshaw rookie (PSA 5). I got these from a couple of dealers that had a lot of vintage stuff that I felt was more or less priced fairly once you expressed interest in them. That is, they had stickers on them that priced them a bit higher than recent eBay sales, but in the end I got them for probably slightly less than the going rate on eBay (and I didn't have to pay for shipping!!). I'm sure that the dealers that sold to me got what they needed to get out of those sales, and I didn't ask for anything ridiculous because i respect that they need to cover their table fees and other expenses, but I think everything worked out for me and for them. I did my deals on Thurs and Fri when there likely wasn't much pressure on those dealers to sell to me given that Saturday was probably going to also be very busy for them. AND, I was able to sell some of my memorabilia to dealers. So my buying and selling experience was pretty satisfying. In Chicago last year, I had a similar experience on a Saturday. Again, it may have to do with the fact that I tend to buy stuff that is not insanely expensive (e.g., cards in high grades) or in ultra-high demand (rare cards).

What a great experience you had, I'm sure there are many other true collectors with similar stories. This sounds to me like what the perfect show should be like.

[jethrod3]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

What a great experience you had, I'm sure there are many other true collectors with similar stories. This sounds to me like what the perfect show should be like.

Yes! In many ways it was a perfect show for me (aside from the traffic and wi-fi issues that everyone had to deal with)! I was also able to consign all of the stuff I brought to a major auction house (that usually does not happen!!), and after several years, my son (now an adult) came with me for one day. He hadn't attended a National since he was maybe 11, and we had a great time!

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I have the same feeling every year when I don’t go.

50% of me hears about all the problems and lines etc and thanks god I didn’t go.

50% of me thinks I am a lazy jackass for not going because I love looking and talking with people about rare cards and memorabilia. Always a battle.

Bottom line for me this year is I have been traveling for business and jumping on a plane this weekend to Cleveland even for a short flight wasn’t doing.

And it wasn't a great week to travel...at least not on Delta. Looking forward to the East Coast National in a couple weeks.