The National: Is 4 hrs. enough on Wednesday?

[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.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Let us know how much time you actually required and what your plan of attack turned out to be.

Just as everybody's amount of time will vary depending on their purpose for being at the show, methods of operation will also differ from person to person.

As one poster brought up, you never know if some mostly modern dealer might have some vintage tucked away in a corner, but you have to consider how much time you actually have and calculate the very low odds of finding a pre-War Jim Thorpe card from someone who uses the word "refractor" in every other sentence. I wouldn't waste even a second in asking, while others will spend the entire week at the show because they can not help themselves in checking at every single booth. Yes, people have found good items because of such persistence, but I'd prefer to get out of a show as fast as possible rather than subject myself to that degree of tedium. Not for me. To me, that's equatable to going into a Tesla dealership and asking if they have any Hummers for sale. More power to anyone who finds their needle in a haystack that way; you deserve it for your hard work!

[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.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

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.

Serious question. How many times have you gone to the National? and When?

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Serious question. How many times have you gone to the National? and When?

4. 2 x in Chicago, 2 in AC.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

4. 2 x in Chicago, 2 in AC.

And you actually experienced smelly dealers? Or was that just playing to a meme?

[edhans]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

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.

Most of bathe at least every other day. I even shave once or twice.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

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.

For every dealer I'd prefer not to be around or talk to at a show, there's probably at least 100 collectors that are worse.

[timn1]

[QUOTE=jayshum;2522527]For every dealer I'd prefer not to be around or talk to at a show, there's probably at least 100 collectors that are worse.[/QU
The collectors are way scuzzier than most of the dealers.

[Exhibitman]

Two words: astronaut diapers

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by timn1

The collectors are way scuzzier than most of the dealers.

LOL not even a question!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

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.

LOL....
Come on Steve. I see a lot of friends at the National who take showers at least weekly!
.