An Idea To Improve The National; An Open Letter To The Board

[keithsky]

I don't think the people that run the national really care what collectors think. Like all the corporate crap taking up half the building with the loud noises. Even all the auction companies put them in a certain area not everybody wants to be involved in an auction and with them bringing all their stuff that you can't even buy people just bypass their table anyway so let them have their own area. I agree tables and chairs randomly put out so people could sit down would be nice. Those worthless bags they give out when you walk in instead of a Heritage catalog promoting themselves they could throw in a survey that people could fill out on what they like and dislike at the National and mail it to the National people at least that way for future nationals they could make changes based on what collectors feel is good for the hobby not just a few people sitting around deciding for the whole collecting world what's good for a national. Get the people and collectors involved with their ideas as a few folks that have posted on this post have come up with already and some good ideas that they probably won't implement or even consider. Years ago those bags they gave out used to be fun to get standing in line with cards to open and little odds and ends stuff companies would put in there nothing spectacular or worth keeping but still something to do while you were standing in line this year the only thing in the bag was a heritage catalogue. Whoopi

[Donscards]

Great Ideas guys, but it will not work---the selection of booths go by a seniority rating---the more nationals u have done, the better selection of a booth u get---so the guys that have done Nationals from the beginning get the best booth location, meaning up front where u enter the show.---The Corporate people pay big money for their sites, so they will get the middle of the floor-----I wish they would combine booths (vintage, new cards, memorabilia, etc.) also better numbering of the booths would work---and like I stated before, the Topps booth was the worst ever for loud noise with their loud speaker auctions and promoting their cards.---It drove me crazy---but what can I do--just shake my head and try to talk to a customer---my voice took 2 days to come back to normal. But again, the booths go by seniority and they work their way down from front to back.

[buymycards]

I always go straight to the back and start with the small guys. Usually better deals and not as crowded.

[Runscott]

Adam - great ideas. As Don says, the fight over prime spots nixes some of that, and the fact that money trumps all will keep the big guys wherever they desire to be.

One good thing about Cleveland - I didn't wear myself out checking out all the other booths. Chicago drained me both times I was there, and I was a collector so I had plenty of time to wander around. It was just too much to mentally process, and as much as I should have been making sure I left no stone unturned, I missed a lot of booths.

Maybe I will go to Atlantic City - it's only 3.5 hours from where my kids live, so they could see me being stupid at work.

[Jewish-collector]

I had suggested Adam's idea a few years ago, but Don explained why it would never work. The Chicago National is the only facility where the corporate booths are in the middle of the show. In Cleveland and Baltimore, the corporate stuff was in one corner or one side of the room.

[midmo]

Great suggestions, 100% agree. I was trying to talk to a dealer near the Topps guys and we had to stop several times because we couldn't even hear each other. Ridiculous. They need to turn that bullhorn down a notch. And could it hurt to put out a few chairs near the food at least? After walking around for several hours I needed a food break and there wasn't a place to sit down. Other than that, I had a great time.

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by midmo

Great suggestions, 100% agree. I was trying to talk to a dealer near the Topps guys and we had to stop several times because we couldn't even hear each other. Ridiculous. They need to turn that bullhorn down a notch. And could it hurt to put out a few chairs near the food at least? After walking around for several hours I needed a food break and there wasn't a place to sit down. Other than that, I had a great time.

Come on Justin, you could have sat at my table as long as you wanted!

I was far enough away from the bullhorn that I wasn't bothered by it, but I remember last year in Cleveland it was maddening.

[bcornell]

Originally Posted by keithsky

I don't think the people that run the national really care what collectors think.

This is the only conclusion that anyone can come to. I've been to 12 Nationals and they are in a steep decline in quality. It's practically all Tristar (autographs) and 'corporate' booths now along with $25 admission fees, which is just obscene.

Mike Berkus & Co. brought this show to life and now they are causing it to die. I've been saying this to anyone who will listen - this hobby is imploding.

Bill

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by bcornell

I've been to 12 Nationals and they are in a steep decline in quality. It's practically all Tristar (autographs) and 'corporate' booths now along with $25 admission fees, which is just obscene.

I would agree that the quality of the material from National to National is in pretty steep decline -- but isn't that the dealers' faults as well? As for walking a lot, well, a) this is the nature of the beast considering the size of the floor and the number of booths in existence; and b) having taken a look at the size of most of the hobbyists it might not be the worst thing in the world to get these people moving to some place other than a feed bag.

[wonkaticket]

I would add in the little train from the show Silver Spoons.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

I would add in the little train from the show Silver Spoons.

HA! And Dexter Stuffins!

[slidekellyslide]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzDaNEJudAs

[drmondobueno]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I would agree that the quality of the material from National to National is in pretty steep decline -- but isn't that the dealers' faults as well? As for walking a lot, well, a) this is the nature of the beast considering the size of the floor and the number of booths in existence; and b) having taken a look at the size of most of the hobbyists it might not be the worst thing in the world to get these people moving to some place other than a feed bag.

Hey! I resemble that remark😎

[Exhibitman]

Oh, I agree we are a bunch of lardasses (mostly) who benefit from walking and I'm not complaining about having to cover the mileage per se. It just frustrates me to have to cut around the corporate crap. Here's another idea: aisles between the corporate displays. There were some parts of the floor where they had multiple booths with no passage between them.

[ullmandds]

being young(46) and relatively fit...I do not mind the walking...what I didn't love is the difficulty in figuring out booth #'s...and I would prefer similar material grouped together.

But...part of these complaints are what make the national what it is. You have to hunt for things...if everything were organized there would be no hunting. There would also be issues with dealers providing customer attention...whereas with us having to walk...and "find" certain dealers...this creates more even time for them to help customers.

Additionally if all material were grouped together...a lot of people would come and go quickly figuring they have seen all they came to see.

So I don't think like material will ever be grouped together...it really doesn't make sense.

For those who want material grouped together...there's...oops...there used to be ebay!

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Oh, I agree we are a bunch of lardasses (mostly) who benefit from walking and I'm not complaining about having to cover the mileage per se. It just frustrates me to have to cut around the corporate crap. Here's another idea: aisles between the corporate displays. There were some parts of the floor where they had multiple booths with no passage between them.

LOLOL they WANT you to have to run into the corporate sponsors, etc. at every turn. That's the point! And yeah it was kind of Twiilight Zonish after a while. Wherever you turned or whichever path you took you ended up back in front of one of those massive corporate signs and areas.

[Rickyy]

I haven't been to a National or a large show in years....but it still sounds the same in terms of not being customer friendly. I can understand the logic of wanting the attendees to comb and look over every dealer, but a specific print out listing of dealers and their specialties would be helpful. I went to a antique show many years ago where they had a booth that you can stop at and they could print you out a list of dealers based on what you were looking for... (ex: post cards) and they would sort and print out the location map of all post card dealers in the bourse.

Ricky Y

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by calvindog

LOLOL they WANT you to have to run into the corporate sponsors, etc. at every turn. That's the point! And yeah it was kind of Twiilight Zonish after a while. Wherever you turned or whichever path you took you ended up back in front of one of those massive corporate signs and areas.

What was weird about the set-up from that perspective was that quite a few of the corporate booths had sides that were enclosed so you literally would dead end into the back of a booth panel. Big waste of potential visibility That was mostly the graders, but there were also significant dead ends at the unopened card seller booths and one of the card mfgs had a set-up that was closed off on at least one of the sides.

To echo others, displaying booth #s should be mandatory, like addresses on curbs.

[bostonmarathonman]

Originally Posted by calvindog

b) having taken a look at the size of most of the hobbyists it might not be the worst thing in the world to get these people moving to some place other than a feed bag.

:d :d :d