Chantilly October 2024

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I heard the same thing from a few other collectors. Not as much vintage as years past.

I just don't get this, though I see it all the time. The same dealers with massive vintage inventory are almost always there. Forget my auction, just in my little 4 dealer island you had Tom Botticelli and Alex Tymchuk, two booths I could spend a day at by themselves. Throw in Stan Loch, Howard Chasser, Bill Chappell, Larrie Dean and for the first time Andrew Friedman and likely a few others I'm either forgetting about or didn't even know about since I don't get to wander around, and I find it hard to believe that vintage availability was down.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I just don't get this, though I see it all the time. The same dealers with massive vintage inventory are almost always there. Forget my auction, just in my little 4 dealer island you had Tom Botticelli and Alex Tymchuk, two booths I could spend a day at by themselves. Throw in Stan Loch, Howard Chasser, Bill Chappell, Larrie Dean and for the first time Andrew Friedman and likely a few others I'm either forgetting about or didn't even know about since I don't get to wander around, and I find it hard to believe that vintage availability was down.

Scott, you forgot to mention Dan Mckee, whose several showcases contained more different, scarce/rare pre-War type cards than you are likely to ever see at any other dealer's table at any other show, including the National.

[nwfsteve]

I live in Richmond so I usually go. I thought there was a little less vintage than usual. Foot traffic on Saturday was normal. Picked up a 1952 Bowman Stengel PSA 6 from Howard which was a highlight and also hand delivered my 52 Bowman Mantle to SGC for a new holder.
I don’t do autos any more but back in the day the ticket numbers would go into the 300s for stars - now very few hit the 100 mark. They count differently I suppose, but while prices on autos are high seems demand is slacker.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by nwfsteve

I don’t do autos any more but back in the day the ticket numbers would go into the 300s for stars - now very few hit the 100 mark. They count differently I suppose, but while prices on autos are high seems demand is slacker.

I'd bet that a good number of the players sign more in the back room than for the customers in line. If you ever get a sneak peak back there, you'll see lines of helmets, jerseys, balls, etc.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

I'd bet that a good number of the players sign more in the back room than for the customers in line. If you ever get a sneak peak back there, you'll see lines of helmets, jerseys, balls, etc.

Econ 101: The higher the prices on anything, the lower the number sold. But as you said, the promoters are guaranteed a certain number of autographs, which they flip to their network of dealers, etc. Which is undoubtedly also depressing sales, the ton of autographed material flooding the market from previous shows and otherwise.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Econ 101: The higher the prices on anything, the lower the number sold. But as you said, the promoters are guaranteed a certain number of autographs, which they flip to their network of dealers, etc. Which is undoubtedly also depressing sales, the ton of autographed material flooding the market from previous shows and otherwise.

There's also the fact that they have a lot of guests over and over again. That's gotta put a dent in demand even for a regional show.