So exactly what do you want from a show?

realistic pricing would be a plus

[docpatlv]

Originally Posted by Pup6913

realistic pricing would be a plus

This is the answer for me. An example would be, at the last Philly show a dealer had a cabinet card I was interested in. He had listed it on e-bay with a BIN of $1200 which I thought was a little much given the condition. At the show I asked how much he was selling it for, thinking maybe if he reduced the price I might purchase it. Well, he said he was asking $1800. I said thanks and moved on.

I understand that dealers have costs (i.e. overhead, etc.) but at the end of the day, consumers want to pay the least amount possible. Whether your shopping for a new PC, large screen TV, or car, most people are going to shop around and when it comes down to purchasing, they're going to go with the cheapest option (assuming said merchandise is of equal quality and value). People aren't going to pay $1000 for a TV at a local Hi-Fi store if they can get the exact same TV at Best Buy for $800.

Unless you're holding something rare and can realize the price you're asking, I think that dealers have to be realistic in pricing their merchandise. Who's going to pay $500 for a card, when a similar card could be had any day of the week on ebay for $300?

As I said in another post, I've made more purchases at smaller local card shows and even "non-sports" shows than I have at the Philly show.

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by docpatlv

Unless you're holding something rare and can realize the price you're asking, I think that dealers have to be realistic in pricing their merchandise. Who's going to pay $500 for a card, when a similar card could be had any day of the week on ebay for $300?

In the past when I have mentioned that fact to dealers who have overpriced their merchandise I have gotten anything from death stares to outright hostility. Apparently they don't take a dose of reality too well.

[docpatlv]

Originally Posted by Robextend

In the past when I have mentioned that fact to dealers who have overpriced their merchandise I have gotten anything from death stares to outright hostility. Apparently they don't take a dose of reality too well.

Rob,

That's another thing I forgot to mention. Many (NOT all) dealers I encounter at shows have the personality of a wet mop. I can't tell you how many times I have been looking at a dealer's unmarked merchandise waiting for the dealer to finish eating his chicken fingers or shooting the breeze with his buddies. It's called customer service. I'm not asking you to stop stuffing your face with french fries drowned in ketchup, but a simple "Hi, let me know if I can help you with anything" would go a long way.

If there's something I want, 9 times out of 10 I'm gonna walk away if the dealer comes across as an a$$hole.

[oldjudge]

Val is exactly right. Great material will bring people out. Great material requires that the best vintage dealers attend. He should offer the best vintage dealers preferential rates to entice them to come. On site grading by SGC is also a plus. He should allow SGC and PSA to set up for free if they will grade on site.

[bbcard1]

I normally find a dealer trying to buy something and totally ignoring me as I try to buy something from him. I mark it at about 50/50 for dealers who are interested in being at a show and those who really should have stayed home.

I absolutely agree on the pricing but what can you say? The promoter can't do much to influence the pricing of the dealers.

At one time I ran a bunch of small shows that were very successful (though I normally did them for a non-profit and didn't make any money at it)...generally sold out of dealer tables the first couple of hours after I set the date and sent out the postcard. I just held the cards of the asshole dealers and pikers for a couple of extra days before I sent them out. I was constrained by the size of the room, so once I sold 30 or so tables, I was done. It worked out fine. People who are promoting shows of more than 150 tables probably don't have that luxury.

[Bridwell]

Getting a large group of the top vintage dealers from the National to attend another show would probably require giving them tables practically for free. If you could get 30-40 vintage dealers in one place, the collectors would come. Once you had the best vintage dealers, the show would grow. Within a few years, it could be huge. I'd recommend approaching the top dealers who were mentioned on Brett's video of the National. Ask them what it would take to get them to another show.

[Rich Klein]

that show has a track record and thus the dealers come.

For any other show, either as a new one or as a continuing one. The aspects will be, constant advertising *primarily local*, using social networks and chat boards *like this one* and reasonable prices all around. That is one of the reasons that the megalopolis is hard to hold really good shows in, in that there are not a ton of reasonably priced places which has all that is needed.

That includes plenty of parking nearby and ease to get to the show.

And, frankly, a promoter may have to take a loss on a show or two to get it off the ground. And many promoters don't understand that starting as a "loss leader* might actually make them more money in the long run.

Also, in the DFW area, we are down to one promoter who tries to run reasonably sized shows. There are no postcards sent out, no social network they use (that I know of) and almost no advertising (not even the free listings in SCD and Beckett). I usually only find out about this promoter's shows by accident.

Regards
Rich