A guy walks into a card show...

[Griffins]

We haven't had a dedicated card show in SoCal in years- a few friends and I did 3 small ones a few years ago, but costs were way way too high, and the Long Beach coin show has a few tables of cards, but other than that nothing since '08 when the Hollywood Park show folded up.
I guess I'd be happy for any show, vintage or not. Ebay is a 24/7 show that is tough to compete with.

[aad0906]

The show in Chantilly (VA) had a few dealers with E and T cards, picked up 2 nice E-98 cards for a decent price.

[Leon]

I took moderator privileges and copied this from the correct water cooler section sub forum. It is an interesting conversation for some of us, as when I set up this last weekend at a local show there were almost no pre-war cards being sold except the few in my cases. Rich K was there (hey Rich) and he tried hard to persuade me to buy a lot of 5 T206 cards.....though, actually if all of them were put together there would probably only be about 4.5 cards being sold. They are collector grade. At some local shows there is a little more pre-war but not much. I don't know why more people don't set up at shows. It's fun, cheap and you can make a few bucks. I sold around 1k this last weekend which I wouldn't have sold at home. Though I guess the argument could be made that if I were to put 6? hours into selling them from my domicile I could have done better, except there is no human interaction when doing it at home.

.

[BruceinGa]

Originally Posted by Leon

They are collector grade. .

Leon, Do you mean collector grade as opposed to investor grade? Do you think slabbed cards are investor grade or only those that are of high grade, slabbed or not?
I'm just trying to get a handle on this.
Thanks.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Griffins

We haven't had a dedicated card show in SoCal in years- a few friends and I did 3 small ones a few years ago, but costs were way way too high, and the Long Beach coin show has a few tables of cards, but other than that nothing since '08 when the Hollywood Park show folded up.
I guess I'd be happy for any show, vintage or not. Ebay is a 24/7 show that is tough to compete with.

Yeah, that was a tough nut to crack. People will come to shows with a vintage focus and the dealers were mostly happy with our shows, but in this day and age I am convinced that the vintage collector crowd is quite distinct from the current player autograph crowd. The show needs to be a non-autograph show where the dealers take an active role in bringing their customer base into the show. The days of renting a gym and setting up and being stormed with crowds who find a Beckett classified listing are over. Even the National has dead hours and distinct zones of little interest to collectors of vintage material.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

My show, for a small show, had a lot of pre war. Glen Mechannick had amazing stuff, museum worthy. My partner Aad had a very nice selection of T and E cards. I had my usual smattering of tobacco and caramel as well as a selection of Goudeys and Play Balls. I didn't get a chance to see what Glyn Parson brought, but I know he's loaded in great prewar, and Dave Czuba definitely had some as well. Those were the guys who were located close to me, I didn't get a chance to walk around much. For a show with 30 booths I thought we had some amazing stuff.

[Tony Gordon]

From a dealer standpoint, I find it very difficult to acquire pre-war cards at a price where I can make any kind of profit. Post-war, on the other hand, is plentiful at tremendous prices. In addition, the demand for post-war is tenfold when compared to pre-war at the small local shows I attend. My suggestion for pre-war collectors is to set up at your local show with your duplicates and try and generate a local interest. I find it troubling when collectors talk about small shows as some sort of other-worldly corporate entity when these shows are put on by regular folks, your friends and neighbors, with a passion for the hobby and are best served when considered a community. In my opinion, your local card show is your community and it is up to you, both dealers and collectors, to shape it into the form you like.

[Snapolit1]

Tony - thoughtful post, and I don't disagree. I think the problem is for prewar collectors eBay and the major AHs have sort of cornered the entire market. When I see a prewar card at your typical small show, it is usually grossly overpriced. The old "1500/750" canard. Often times I discreetly walk away and ring up the same card on eBay and see I can get it for $400. I could set up a table at my local show tomorrow and would be assured I'd have many nice conversations and few if any sales. Most of the time these are just different markets with different consumers. Not always but most of the time. Doesn't, of course, make one better or superior, just the reality of different strokes for different folks.
It could happen, but I don't go to a small show thinking I will get a great opportunity on a nice prewar card. Most of the time I buy something to support the cause, but it's not something I've even that excited about.

[esd10]

The show at the now torn down vets memorial had some nice vintage from baggers sports cards but very expensive and a few other pre war dealers. Most of the time at these shows around me is just a bunch of newer swatches/autos and boxes of over priced in my opinion junk but every once in a while you will find a deal on vintage.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

From a dealer standpoint, I find it very difficult to acquire pre-war cards at a price where I can make any kind of profit. Post-war, on the other hand, is plentiful at tremendous prices. In addition, the demand for post-war is tenfold when compared to pre-war at the small local shows I attend. My suggestion for pre-war collectors is to set up at your local show with your duplicates and try and generate a local interest. I find it troubling when collectors talk about small shows as some sort of other-worldly corporate entity when these shows are put on by regular folks, your friends and neighbors, with a passion for the hobby and are best served when considered a community. In my opinion, your local card show is your community and it is up to you, both dealers and collectors, to shape it into the form you like.

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Tony - thoughtful post, and I don't disagree. I think the problem is for prewar collectors eBay and the major AHs have sort of cornered the entire market. When I see a prewar card at your typical small show, it is usually grossly overpriced. The old "1500/750" canard. Often times I discreetly walk away and ring up the same card on eBay and see I can get it for $400. I could set up a table at my local show tomorrow and would be assured I'd have many nice conversations and few if any sales. Most of the time these are just different markets with different consumers. Not always but most of the time. Doesn't, of course, make one better or superior, just the reality of different strokes for different folks.
It could happen, but I don't go to a small show thinking I will get a great opportunity on a nice prewar card. Most of the time I buy something to support the cause, but it's not something I've even that excited about.

Now I actually do disagree somewhat. My inventory lists for the same price live and online for the most part, and I accept offers in both locations. I do sell more pre-war stuff on ebay, but I sell more of EVERYTHING on ebay. I sold a '33 Goudey Travis Jackson to a board member at my show as well as a few T206 and T205 out of my $10 and $20 bargain boxes. I do know what you guys are talking about as I have seen dealers who are insanely overpriced, but there are definitely reasonable pre-war live dealers.

[Jobu]

Regarding my post about the lack of vintage at shows in the Milwaukee area, I can say that most of what is there is in Tony's casees - first booth across from the door at Gonzaga Hall! I appreciate your effort to have some stuff in stock.

I have devised a new way to start building interest - when I find good deals on T205 and T206 I am picking them up on the cheap and plan to give them to kids at the 2 or 3 local shows that I attend in Milwaukee each year. I remember being floored by my first two T206 (Newt Randall and Bergen batting) and I had to pay for those - I could not take my eyes off of them as my dad drove me home from the two shows where I got them. Hopefully I can do the same thing for a few youngsters. Last year a board member posted a few free Exhibits on the BST and I claimed the Spahn and gave it to a kid at a show who clearly thought it was cool (and the smile from his dad really made it worth it).

I would call on everyone here to do the same. If you have some $10-$15 common pre-war cards, try to give 1 or 2 away to kids when you attend shows.

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

From a dealer standpoint, I find it very difficult to acquire pre-war cards at a price where I can make any kind of profit. Post-war, on the other hand, is plentiful at tremendous prices. In addition, the demand for post-war is tenfold when compared to pre-war at the small local shows I attend. My suggestion for pre-war collectors is to set up at your local show with your duplicates and try and generate a local interest. I find it troubling when collectors talk about small shows as some sort of other-worldly corporate entity when these shows are put on by regular folks, your friends and neighbors, with a passion for the hobby and are best served when considered a community. In my opinion, your local card show is your community and it is up to you, both dealers and collectors, to shape it into the form you like.

[horzverti]

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

From a dealer standpoint, I find it very difficult to acquire pre-war cards at a price where I can make any kind of profit. Post-war, on the other hand, is plentiful at tremendous prices. In addition, the demand for post-war is tenfold when compared to pre-war at the small local shows I attend. My suggestion for pre-war collectors is to set up at your local show with your duplicates and try and generate a local interest. I find it troubling when collectors talk about small shows as some sort of other-worldly corporate entity when these shows are put on by regular folks, your friends and neighbors, with a passion for the hobby and are best served when considered a community. In my opinion, your local card show is your community and it is up to you, both dealers and collectors, to shape it into the form you like.

Well written Tony. I attend a several shows throughout the year in the Milwaukee area. I know that I am a grown man, but I still get excited when I arrive at a show. Every single time. I have felt this way since I was 10. I agree that these shows are our collecting community. I appreciate the work that goes into producing them on a regular basis. The annual National show is great, but the opportunity to head to Gonzaga, Clarion or Serb Hall monthly is awesome. The Wisconsin and Illinois collectors know what I am talking about. Thanks Tony.