Hollywood Park show this weekend

TheCARDKid

Does anyone plan on going?

I'm not sure if I'll make it. There wasn't much last time in Feb.

kingraider75

Feb was bad. Very few people had any wax, let alone cheap wax. I will probably go. Not sure what I want to buy. The only set I am actively building right now is 1935 national chicle, and no one had that at the show at all. No I take that back, one guy had a GAI 7.5 Rockne. I didn't even bother to ask how much he wanted, cause I know it was too high lol

TheCARDKid

The wax selection in Feb reminded me of something you'd see at a 75 table show. I was hoping for packs like 81/82 OPC or even a 92/93 Upper Deck basketball box, but no such luck.

kingraider75

the outside area use to have a couple of guys flipping wax for cheap, but I didn't see anyone doing that now. It's mostly guys bringing out trays of low grade VGish or worse baseball commons. I wonder if that show is going to turn out like the Van Nuys one.

mudflap02

I may go, but I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with the Frank and Sons show in Industry. Went for the first time 2 weekends ago, and I might go back next weekend.

Robeson

Frank and sons in the morning and Hollywood park on Sunday! Frank and sons is becoming a type of Swap meet. Alot of junk showing up, but still fun. Only about 4 dealers there and they want high book less 10% or more for EX cards. Hollywood park is interesting, except dealers want full book on commons and 125% of SMR on stars. I never buy anything there, I always take about $400 and come home with $340. I can't see paying $140 for a Koufax when I can come home and buy it for $60 on Ebay. Good deals on sheets and albums. Thanks for letting me vent a little

Griffins

The outside area is always a bit slower at the February show, due to weather. I expect it'll be a bit busier this weekend.

CollectorChris

Now that it's over, any show reports?

dakota

Brutal......Why is it so hard to get a decent show with quality vintage dealers in the Southern California area? Any thoughts?

Knuckles

Pffft.. You guys have it good. Here in Edmonton there's a monthly show which has 10 tables or less.. no wax. no true vintage.

bladefox

A joke, especially for prices on modern RC's- many of the dealers want near BV on RC's. I asked two dealers if there was any deep discounts on hockey, one made a BS statement that he sells most hockey to football collectors like me (whatever that means) and another said hockey sells strong, which I find it hard believe, since there a few dealers that does key RC singles in hockey in the SoCal area. And collectors wonder why card shops are closings and shows are not doing well, many collectors get their stuff on the bay for better prices. I mainly go to submit cards to PSA booth. I say about 70% of the dealers there set up at the other smaller Naxcom shows or at Frank N' Sons.

TheCARDKid

Has anyone been to the Tri Star shows in San Francisco recently? How do they compare?

kingraider75

Well I hate to be the only one saying that the Hollywood Park was decent. I was looking for vintage and picked up a couple of sets. Did I get a better deal than Ebay on them, probably not. However, I don't mind paying an extra 10-15% more than Ebay, so I can actually see the condition of the cards. Most dealers won't discount their cards because they know what they have in them. That is they know what they paid for them, so why take a loss? Some of the those guys go to shows all over the place, so they think they can get their money elsewhere.

For new RC's, I agree that most dealers won't discount.
As for overpaying/pricing on the vintage, i.e. Koufax, at least you can see the card in person and determine what the grade is. If the card is raw, I think overpaying a little is worth it, but probably not double.

I was upset at the lack of dealers flipping cheap wax. The prices were maybe $5-10 less than the shops, which isn't worth the hassle, unless you buy a case.

Griffins

I didn't think the show was up to the level of the previous few. I went on Saturday and was there for about 5 hours. Attendance was a lot less, and a few big dealers were absent, notably Bill Goodwin. Prices seemed standard, higher than ebay but that is to be expected. The outside cheap seat area had more booths than in February, but still much less than a couple of years ago.
I missed the SF Labor day show last year, but typically it blows the LA show away. Better selection and more dealers.
All in all I don't know how much longer shows like this can keep going- most of the bigger deals I saw were between dealers. Both PSA and GAI seemed slow, and Beckett and SGC have long since stopped coming to this show. The only crowds were for the autographs.

Treetop

I was there Saturday for 2-3 hours. Actually came home with more money than I left with, since I was able to sell (or should I say gave away) some raw cards I was going to ebay.

A few of my purchases:

A perfectly centered sgc 88 1956 Topps Al Kaline
A very nice centered PSA 8 1959 Topps Mays/Asburn card
Raw 1973 Clemente for $30 that should grade PSA 9
Raw 1961 Killebrew for $10 that should grade PSA 7
also picked up a 1969 Topps PSA 8 Bud harrelson card, but paid through the nose for it, but I wanted it to complete my 1969 mets run in 8, excluding ryan and seaver

All in all, the show was slower that the past few years, but I always enjoy talking with the dealers. I flew back to the Philly show in May and the Hollywood Park show is a dog compared to the Philly show.


Mark

koby

This was the weakest Hollywood Park show that I have been to in a while. Dealers were so overpriced, almost as if they did not realize that ebay exists. Almost every dealer that I talked to todl me that they will probably no longer set up at shows because everyone was expecting ebay prices and they couldn't make money.

Cubby

I was there on Saturday, (Just for business with PSA) did not buy anything. I like Frank and Son's better.

Griffins

Is there ever any pre War at Frank and Sons? I've never been although it's probably only 20 minutes from me. I thought it was mostly hot wheels and beanie babies. How about the Van Nuys monthly shows?

I heard some griping from a few dealers this weekend that they were told their prices were higher than ebay. Can't say I blame them (the dealers), should it cost the same to pay for a table, sit around for 3 days and ship everything both ways as it does to put it up on ebay? I don't expect to pay ebay prices at a show, but there are a lot of cards (mid grade modern stars, 6's and 7's, post WW2) that I would never consider buying at a show since ebay is cheaper.

MorrellMan

<< <i> However, I don't mind paying an extra 10-15% more than Ebay, so I can actually see the condition of the cards. >>



I agree; I was able to cherry pick some '71 high numbers that cost a bit more, but I know they were exactly what I wanted, all raw and potential 7s and 8s. I agree with Anthony - these kinds of shows may be shortlived for us, but I still enjoy thumbing through cards, picking out exactly what I want and negotiating the price. I bottom feed on ebay, primarily because it is such a crap shoot. Card shows are different, and I'll continue to patronize the ones we've got.

Edited to add: No pre-war to speak of at Frank and Sons; the gal who usually sets up across from Goodwin at Hollypark (I forget her name) is always there and she does most of the vintage. There are a couple of other good vintage dealers there too, but their stuff is pretty well picked through. Airtel has gone way downhill. Paul still sets up there but I haven't seen Fred in a long time. Either show is good if youre looking for that odd pocketed plastic or a nice comic book....

Griffins

<< <i>the gal who usually sets up across from Goodwin at Hollypark (I forget her name) is always there and she does most of the vintage. >>



Marion from Maraya Sportscards.

Robeson

Hello everybody from a new member, The show was decent with the dealers outnumbering the buyers on Sun afternoon. I was able to pick up needed 1972 and 1975 mini commons in real nice shape. Spent about $120.00. Good deal on boxes of ultra sheets for $8/box and albums for $3. Looking forward to the Van nuys or Buena Park show. Has anybody tried the show on Thursday and Sunday in Whittier?

bladefox

Well, I'd like to add that there weren't any big selection of wax- I even told the one pack dealer, that I have been looking all over for any box of 2003 UD Premiere Prospects, there weren't any at this show. I actually tried a pack of 2003 Ultimate Collection pack ($80-since I was going home with a lot $$ left anyway), and got only a $60 Ichiro jersey card- which is why I'm glad I've cut down spending on packs in this year. Another observation- a lot of dealers had many modern graded in BGS vs. PSA, which I know they won't discount, so I didn't bother asking.
I also expected this show crowd to be smaller, since there wasn't the big name autograph signers at this show, so I was disappointed that there was a few sparce of deep discounts on Sunday, since there were probably a lot dealers going home with their stuff and less $$.
As for other shows- Air Tel in Van Nuys is okay smaller show, but I'd only recommend if you live in the area or have nothing to do on a Sunday. I agree it has gone downhill, but nice to talk to dealers. I wouldn't recommend Buena Park, it's worst than Van Nuys.
Robeson, Whittier is okay, but it's like Van Nuys on a lesser scale, you can actually network with dealers if you're looking for a certain player or card you're looking for. Franks N' Son is becoming more of a Swap Meet, but I'd go for the newer packs and non-sports stuff.
Hopefully, things will be different when the National comes back to Anaheim next summer.

Tipem

At least there is a show that you can attend.Here in NE Florida there hasn't been a show here for at least 3 years that had more than 20 tables and 10 dealers.Vintage is almost non-existant with one guy that always has the same stuff.I haven't even been in a couple of years.I have gone to the National for the last couple of years and think that I will try the Philly show in the near future.


Vic