White Plains NY Card show this weekend

[barrysloate]

Jim made a good point. Many of the dealers in this hobby have abysmal business skills. And like Jeff said, many of them are ethically challenged. Put those things together and you have an environment that is not much fun.

[calvindog]

The problem with this hobby/business is that dishonesty is so deeply ingrained that it's just laughed off. I usually don't get pissed off unless I'm on the receiving end of a fraud. Problem is that in this hobby it happens everyday and is met with a shrug instead of shock.

[barrysloate]

I've been in this hobby for 28 years and I've seen fraud of varying degrees for all of them. You either accept it, fight it, or just go find something else to do.

[bigfish]

I guess I would try to convey one point. I do not let dealers who attempt to rip me off ruin my show or upset me. I take note and move on. Can't control it and it happens quite frequently. That was my main point. Life it to short.

Happy Collecting~

Toby

[barrysloate]

Toby- I respect your position completely, and know you bring a positive outlook to this hobby. But not everybody deals with being ripped off, or feeling someone is trying to rip you off, the same way. My take is shows were getting depressing and I no longer wanted to go to them. But everyone's reaction is different.

[Jewish-collector]

You need to realize that the the focus of the shows has changed dramatically over the years. It's now more of the dealers and auctions houses meeting their clients & consigners & displaying their cards rather than much actual buying going on. If you understand this, you will enjoy the show much more. Jeff - I hope you can make it down to Baltimore for the National this summer.

Alan

[John V]

Ugh! My excitement about attending the National is taking a beating.

[yanksfan09]

I dont understand why dealers don't set more fair prices to sell as they would be getting cash in hand that day! They wouldn't have to sell over an auction site or be paid by paypal and lose much more $ to fees.

I went there Saturday and most of the tables were grossly overpriced that had pre war. Although I did make a couple decent purchases. I don't mind paying slightly above ebay auction prices but not 2X or more like most ask for. I don't understand the business strategy of these people. Do they expect to get any new customers or make any sales with these prices? They complain shows aren't like they used to be but they're the reason why.

It was also very tight in there (tables too close together), but I still had a good time for a few hours. There was a couple more tables with pre war cards than I was expecting but still probably 90% shiny stuff etc... I don't let that or the crazy prices bother me. I just wish more good people like the ones on the board would set up tables at shows like this and the shows could be so much better. I hate to see people saying they won't go to show anymore etc... I just wish there was a way to make these things better.

I'm looking forward to hopefully going to my first National this year. I don't know if this has been done at Nationals or any shows, but I thought it might be cool if the board set up a table at a show. Sort of a BST table where members could meet, buy, sell, trade...I suppose a table woudn't be necessary but would be a nice meeting spot at least. I don't know...just a thought (probably dumb)....

[Jim VB]

Erick,

Leon's table seems to do exactly that, in an unofficial capacity.

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

I went there Saturday and most of the tables were grossly overpriced that had pre war. Although I did make a couple decent purchases. I don't mind paying slightly above ebay auction prices but not 2X or more like most ask for. I don't understand the business strategy of these people. Do they expect to get any new customers or make any sales with these prices? They complain shows aren't like they used to be but they're the reason why.

Erick, I totally agree, and I believe I met you at the SGC table. I don't mind paying more than I usually do, but when a dealer is selling 33 Goudey beater commons for $30-$40 each, I just scratch my head. When I first started going to these shows I used to fire back with "I've gotten this for half the price on EBAY", but I stopped after it didn't do any good and I would rather not get the look of death from every table.

I walked out of there with a couple good finds in "dollar" bins as well as taking care of some much needed SGC and JSA business.

[brass_rat]

I dropped by the show on Saturday afternoon. I hadn't been to a show in over 10 years, but I thought it might be fun. Prices were laughable, yes, but I enjoyed walking around the room just checking everything out. I dropped off a few cards for grading and went on my way...

In a way, card shows are like stock exchange floors -- in the old days, they were fun, had lots of camaraderie and all of the trading volume. Today, however, everything moves much faster in both venues, most trading occurs electronically, and the information gap (between all participants) isn't nearly as large as it used to be. Volume has moved off of exchange floors, as well as away from card shows...

I think someone pointed out that the tables were close together...maybe a little too close -- a few times I passed individuals that may not have had a shower in a few days...certainly one of the things about card shows that I didn't miss.

Steve

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by brass_rat

I think someone pointed out that the tables were close together...maybe a little too close -- a few times I passed individuals that may not have had a shower in a few days...certainly one of the things about card shows that I didn't miss. Steve

I also agree, I hate getting the "People's Elbow" anytime I stopped to check out a table. And yes, it was a little stinky...got to love our hobby!

[Rickyy]

I think now the only show I attend these days are the virtual Net 54 card show.

[barrysloate]

Jeff- I'll send Sarno an email and see if we can set something up.

James- we'll keep you posted.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by calvindog

The problem with this hobby/business is that dishonesty is so deeply ingrained that it's just laughed off. I usually don't get pissed off unless I'm on the receiving end of a fraud. Problem is that in this hobby it happens everyday and is met with a shrug instead of shock.

Sadly true.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Jim made a good point. Many of the dealers in this hobby have abysmal business skills. And like Jeff said, many of them are ethically challenged. Put those things together and you have an environment that is not much fun.

Barry has put it so well.
I have been in this business for over 20 years. The level of enjoyment I get from it has totally changed over that time.
I don't have to beat a dead horse and start ranting about the autograph market but the ethically challenged extends to all facets of this business. They have taken the fun out of it. What a shame, what a shame.

[botn]

If someone asking 3 times too much for an item is the worst thing in our hobby I would say we are doing pretty well. I do agree with those who claim fraud is rampant in the hobby however I am not sure that asking too much or even way too much for something falls into that category of fraud. Seems like Jeff is advocating for a Price Czar.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by botn

If someone asking 3 times too much for an item is the worst thing in our hobby I would say we are doing pretty well. I do agree with those who claim fraud is rampant in the hobby however I am not sure that asking too much or even way too much for something falls into that category of fraud. Seems like Jeff is advocating for a Price Czar.

LOL, yes that is exactly what we need! But seriously, the petty frauds that go on at a baseball card show should only be the worst thing in our hobby. At a card show, however, the crooks simply don't have a chance to do any more damage than lie every chance they get.

One thing that really made me laugh -- and keep in mind this was my very first card show -- were the fake looks of pain, anger and shock that the dealers would give when you point out their easily proven lies. Like the putz that told me the Orange Borders Tigers team card booked for $2400 and I told him straight out he was lying. You'd think that the dingo had stolen his baby.

[slidekellyslide]

A dingo ate my Goudey!

[bcbgcbrcb]

One interesting thing of note was a "1907" Ty Cobb Postcard in an SGC holder at the Huggins & Scott table which I had never seen before. I don't recall the issuer but it was for the purposes of marketing a product and could possibly be a 1/1.

The strange thing about it was that it specifically mentions on the back of the postcard that Cobb is 21 years old but the postmark on the back shows a date of October - , 1907. Cobb was born in December - , 1896, which would make him only 20 at the time that the postcard could have been issued based on the postmark date (no issue date is indicated anwhere on the postcard)..............

[Mrc32]

I'm no dealer, but I have heard dealers in the past say that they price their items high on ebay and at shows because getting high quality Pre-War inventory is quite hard.

Its not like people walk in with a stack full of Orange Borders every day. So when they get good stuff they price it high in hopes to make some good coin on it.

I don't condone the practice, but everyone should realize that inventory for pre-war dealers ain't that easy to come buy.

Every collector likes to get a deal....and I'm sure every dealer out there likes it when someone overpays.

[HRBAKER]

Business may be bad but by appearances most seem to be eating fairly well at the shows I have been to. Of course a cheeseburger is cheaper than a treadmill.