Basic questions / advice for National

[Jim VB]

Steve,

I'll attempt to be serious for a second, but it's really not my strong suit. Cash is the way to get the best deals. Most dealers will figure out a way to do credit cards, but they hate it, for a variety of reasons. One, there's the fee to the bank for credit card usage. Two, there's that nasty paper trail which causes them to collect, and pay, local sales taxes. Three, there's still that nasty paper trail that forces them to declare the sale as "revenue."

I've heard rumors that some dealers are willing to go to great lengths to minimize the "revenue" they receive. Cash isn't always "revenue." Often, it's just "walking around money."

Anyway, they're just rumors.

[John V]

Here is another general question:
As far as pre-war cards and memorabilia, what percentage of tables/dealers would you say are not eBayers? Will we be pleased to see new material that has not been listed as BIN on eBay for months and months?

[tbob]

Originally Posted by John V

Here is another general question:
As far as pre-war cards and memorabilia, what percentage of tables/dealers would you say are not eBayers? Will we be pleased to see new material that has not been listed as BIN on eBay for months and months?

John- that's a good question. At past Nationals I noticed lots of dealers with cards which had never found their way to ebay or the BST, but in the past few years, that number seems to be shrinking as 707, Shoebox Cards, MW cards and others have started listing entire pre-war inventories on ebay with BINs. I'd say the two exceptions are: 1) the cards that "wander" in to the National and are purchased by sellers to "flip," most of which have never seen the light of ebay or auction and 2) there are still some dealers who have cards for sale and have never used the internet to try and sell them, although as I said earlier, that number is decreasing.
tbob

[brass_rat]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Steve,

I'll attempt to be serious for a second, but it's really not my strong suit.

So I've noticed.

Good point on the paper trail...I'm sure most dealers would like to report zero income every year... Haha

[calvindog]

The IRS actually pays informants to snitch on tax cheats. It never ceases to amaze me how arrogant some card dealers and other part-time sellers are; it would take a phone call from one aggrieved customer to the IRS to have the dealer painfully investigated by the IRS for their easily-discovered fraud.

[Anthony S.]

If anybody walks up to you with a Fireside T-208 in 5+ condition duct-taped to their forehead and starts speaking to you in plural, run.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Anthony S.

If anybody walks up to you with a Fireside T-208 in 5+ condition duct-taped to their forehead and starts speaking to you in plural, run.

Hey! Isn't that Hal Chase on that $10,000 bill?

[barrysloate]

Not Hal, but his uncle Samuel.

[HRBAKER]

There is some sage advice buried in this thread; wear comfortable shoes, take notes, plan on spending more than you think and steer clear of the food that is sold there. I have never had trouble writing a check. Of course if you have a wallet full of money orders (all under $10,000 of course) you should do just fine as well.