Anyone been to Frank & Sons Warehouse show?

doog71

Hello all,

I'm planning a trip to Southern Cal and was wondering if anyone has been to the Frank and Sons Warehouse show in Industry. I've always wanted to check it out. One vendor from the show that I called said it's like "Ebay without shipping costs", in other words the dealers are aware of Ebay prices and ignore "book" prices.

Is there good raw vintage at this show? How about graded vintage? Is it just cards or toys and stuff as well? Any descriptions or experiences you've had would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Doug

EagleEyeKid

I used to frequent that show 4 or 5 years ago to pick up my PSA submission with a friend and from what I remember, prices were pretty good. Huge competition among the dealers so the prices were huge bargains. Dealers had to be dead on when it came time to haggle. Modern boxes were 50 - 75% of retail. Modern singles/rookies 40-60% off. There was a huge selection of vintage raw and graded. Sorry, I can't account for what they were going for since I don't buy/collect vintage. All and all, it's a big show and big selection. Cards, toys, beanie babies, and other crap. Since then I have moved (100 miles away), and didn't know that show was still going on. You should have fun. Hopefully it hasn't changed much in 5 years.

My crappy auctions.

bowdowntome

Wow, is that thing still going on?
I haven't been there since I moved away 11 years ago. I'm sure it's changed a bit since then, but I always had fun and found bargains on vintage football. I also use to sell there every now and then.

neenish

I used to go there when they first started years ago (they had like 6 tables in the center of the old warehouse). Now, the place is like 90% video, yu-gi-go, comic book, beanie babies related junk, IMO. I think her name is Maraya, and she's one of the few dealers that has graded, older cards. There's also one other gentleman that has some '50-60's cards and some tobacco cards once in a while. Don't go on a hot, Saturday afternoon. It gets pretty crowded, and way too many stanky people.

NickM

I haven't been in about 4 months. It's mostly anime, video games, and stuff other than cards, but there are still a number of card dealers there. Most of them are weekend warrior types with modern singles, but prices are competitive with ebay. I don't think you'll find any steals on vintage - there's one dealer with boxes and boxes of beaten-up cards at half of high book, a few others with some graded cards priced at SMR or raw cards priced at high Beckett, and Maraya's never been mistaken for a bargain seller.

Nick

WhosYourVladdy

Hey Guys,

The show is still going on. I have been several times in the last few months. If you are looking for a great deal on quality vintage forget it. There are maybe 4 or 5 dealers that have anything of quality. Only two guys have any selection of vintage cards, and the best that I was able to pull were a few 8's. If you are looking to fill out raw sets, you can see Phil Panacci. He has a nice selection, but his best stuff is at home. He is trying to get rid of the marginal stuff that he acquires. Mostly as the last thread indicates, it is the weekend warriors that have a lot of modern stuff, and just a bunch of junk (toys, anime, magic, pokemon, etc.) I only saw one dealer that has any PSA stuff, and she prices everything at SMR, so no deals. I think that you have a better chance to find what you are looking for at the Hollywood Park Naxcom show. Better selection, all sports, vintage, graded, auto's, etc. Just my two cents.

David

bowdowntome

Man, it sounds like F&S has changed dramatically since I was last there 11 years ago. Back then you could find lot's of ungraded vintage football cards, packs etc.. Of course that was before grading really took off, but still, even the high quality ungraded stuff I could usually sniff out for small percentages of book then. I even managed, a couple times, to find just normal folks setting up tables there getting rid of cards they had when they were kids (1960's), without knowledge of price guides. I got some reall good starts on 1962 T, 1963 T, 1964, 65, and 66 P, as well as 1962 Post (including many SP's), from one guy just cleaning out his closet and selling those "worthless old cards" he had as a kid. He set the price and I bought just about all of the ones he had there. Funny thing is he sat there most of the day and hadn't sold hardly anything, I couldn't believe my luck! Just goes to show that even small "finds" of hidden away vintage cards can be found by the average collector, even at card shows.

Maybe it's just me, but I seem to have a nose for finding that 1 dealer at just about any show with some unwanted vintage football cards.

DeutscherGeist

I have been to Frank & Sons Warehouse. It is not far from me. About 10 years ago, they moved their location to a bigger place. While card dealers dominated the place, other products have moved in. It is a collectibles show now. It is not exclusively cards. They have hot wheels, comics, magic, Pokemon, video games, toys, etc. Maraya is not cheap. She also sells her stuff on ebay, so she is not going to dump her stuff for cheap money unless she knows it won't sell for much on ebay.

I remember years ago, I got bargain prices on cards. They really sold for cheap. You had regular dealers there and some one timers who simply unload their stuff at whatever it takes to sell. I think the bargain days are over.

Don't get me wrong. It is still a good show. It is HUGE. But for something specific as vintage cards, it is not a sure thing. If you are open minded and enjoy collecting a variety of things, then I think you will find it ideal.

Cubby

If you're looking for vintage, I would not look at Frank's. Hollypark is a much better option. At Frank and Son's the vintage is sparse, with most (if not all) dealers selling at full SMR. However, if one is searching for modern boxes, I would recommend Frank's, great selection, good prices.

Griffins

If you're out here this weekend the Hollywood Park show is on. The next one is June I think, then September.
There is a Van Nuys show every couple of weeks but I've never been- guess there is occasionally some vintage there.
It's a little different, but in May there is a PCL reunion. About a dozen dealers with lots of minor league cards (Remars, Zeenuts, etc) and a lot of the players from back then. Irv Noren was there a few years ago, and some of the Oakland Oaks. Nice vibe to the whole thing, the players hanging out and telling stories.

NickM

The Van Nuys and Buena Park shows (once a month) are far better for vintage cards than Frank & Sons. They are a basic hotel show (40 to 50 dealers, usually an autograph guest, mix of packs, modern singles, and vintage, with a few Beanie and nonsport dealers). As with most smaller shows, it has few people with high-grade vintage, but there are a couple with fairly extensive inventories and a couple graded vintage specialists.

Nick