The National: Is 4 hrs. enough on Wednesday?

[OhioLawyerF5]

I would say if you are looking for Jim Thorpe, you'll need MORE time, not less. You will need to stop and look for that needle in a haystack at every vintage table. And you absolutely can't stop and look at every vintage table in one day. There will be literally hundreds of vintage tables. If you even stop to dig through cards at a fraction of them, it will be many hours. I was looking for very rare 90s cards last year, which are super easy to spot from a distance. So I could mostly just scan the tables and it took 2 full days to see it all. 2 years ago I only wanted one specific card: 1967 Tom Seaver. It's a card that dozens of dealers had. But it took a full day to see them all and narrow it down to the one I want.

[skelly]

It could be enough time, depends on the kind of shape you are in / how quickly you want to navigate / be aggressive as far as getting the attention of dealers. Also depends on how crowded it will be. You might want to play it safe and give yourself more time. To go all the way out there, you don’t want to have any regrets or thoughts that you might have missed something.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by skelly

It could be enough time, depends on the kind of shape you are in / how quickly you want to navigate / be aggressive as far as getting the attention of dealers. Also depends on how crowded it will be. You might want to play it safe and give yourself more time. To go all the way out there, you don’t want to have any regrets or thoughts that you might have missed something.

Pretty easy to identify whose selling vintage and not the shiny recent stuff.

[notfast]

No.

Not at all. I have a very unique focus and you need to look at every booth including a quick once over of the modern booths because they could have someone in the corner of a showcase.

[shoreball51]

If you want to not feel rushed as you look Ithink 4 hours is not enough time. Also keep in mind you may encounter a line to enter so you may not actually have 4 hours.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Pretty easy to identify whose selling vintage and not the shiny recent stuff.

That does nothing but cut the show in half. Now all he has to do is look closely at around 500 tables for a needle in a haystack. He'll need all day....at least.

[JollyElm]

I can't get through a single table at a show in four hours, because I'm too busy talking people up and looking for cool cardboard adventures.

The more time you're able to give yourself, the better. Being overly rushed is not the way to go at these things.

[CardPadre]

I wouldn't think you need to spend a ton of time at each vintage table scanning for Thorpe stuff. Just quickly ask the dealer if they have any...that's something they will instantly know. Or carry a sign around that says "Thorpe?" and flash it to every dealer you pass and get a nod or a shake. EZ.

[Brent G.]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

That does nothing but cut the show in half. Now all he has to do is look closely at around 500 tables for a needle in a haystack. He'll need all day....at least.

Wow — I guess I have no idea of the scope. I’ve been to the November and March shows at Donald Stephens the last couple years since I got back into the hobby, and it’s a pretty quick.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Brent G.

Wow — I guess I have no idea of the scope. I’ve been to the November and March shows at Donald Stephens the last couple years since I got back into the hobby, and it’s a pretty quick.

Not even remotely the same situation. The National dwarfs those shows.

[Brent G.]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Not even remotely the same situation. The National dwarfs those shows.

Thursday it is then. Appreciate all the insight.

[Snapolit1]

Or you ask the dealer if he has what you are looking for.

Not exactly comparable, but if I am looking for Lou Gehrig type 1 photos I could
Cover the National easily in 4 hours.




QUOTE=OhioLawyerF5;2522452]That does nothing but cut the show in half. Now all he has to do is look closely at around 500 tables for a needle in a haystack. He'll need all day....at least.[/QUOTE]

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Or you ask the dealer if he has what you are looking for.

Not exactly comparable, but if I am looking for Lou Gehrig type 1 photos I could
Cover the National easily in 4 hours.

If that's how you feel about a show, why go at all? Just shop on ebay or auction houses. You'll find a lot more there. Most people don't go to a card show to do all they can to avoid looking at cards.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

If that's how you feel about a show, why go at all? Just shop on ebay or auction houses. You'll find a lot more there. Most people don't go to a card show to do all they can to avoid looking at cards.

Yeah, the dealers at these shows are such fascinating people. . . I wish I had days on end to chew the fat with them and experience their BO and lousy personal hygiene in all its glory.