First time to National, best day to go?

blindflyer

All,

I'll be in Vegas Fri-Sat and at work on Thurs ---- but I'm thinking of heading down to Anaheim for National on either Wed or Sun. I'll be looking for 1960 Topps hi-grade raw.

Is it typically better to go the first day or last day? Which is likely to yield better deals from a buying perspective? Does it really matter?

... Probably not worth the $17.50 admission fee to go both days, so just thought I'd ask the experts. Thoughts?

Griffins

Wednesday the show opens at 5pm, so if you're going then you'd better move fast. Sunday things start clearing out, and everything is pretty picked over. If you're going to seriously buy, hit it Wednesday nite and have a battle plan ready.

storm888

If they have a "pre-sale ticket," you might want to
consider it. Often, for less than $100, you can get
in some of the big shows an hour early. It IS often
worth the price.

In any event, the minute the door opens, you want to
be there, IF you want a shot at the good stuff. Many
dealers are superstitous; they think it will jinx their
entire show if they are unable to sell the first person
that comes to their booth. Often, your best lowball
offers will be accepted, but you better hurry because
there will be LOTS of competition.

There will be a "National-News thread" here. I hope
everybody who attends will provide as much blow by
blow as they can.

storm

Boopotts

Those who've attended the National will know better than I, but I've gone to quite a few shows over the past 3 years and if the National is anything like the shows I've attended you can probably find a much better use of your time then attending a card show if your intention is to find high grade vintage raw at prices significantly below what you'd expect to pay for that same card graded. The days of the yokel showing up with binder after binder of nm-mt raw cards for $2 a pop are, as Ernie Harwell would say, 'looooooonnnng gone'. Funny thing, but there's something about selling a card for $2 that in graded form would sell for $30 that just seems not to sit right with the average card dealer.

RonBurgundy

Boo Potts - I don't know what shows you attend, but I don't have a problem finding raw. It is challenging, but not impossible. If you work hard at becoming a critical grader, you can also find out which cards justify the asking price and which ones don't. When I pay $25-$30 for a raw 1957 mid series common that I think is a PSA 8, and it comes back an 8, I have $32-$37 in a card that books for $80. Those economics are fine with me. It's all a roll of the dice but you can turn the odds in your favor by knowing the grading standards.


Stay classy,


Ron

Mefer

Well, I don't know if it is the best time to go or not, but I will be at the National on Saturday (only day that works with my schedule). eBay is nice and all but there is nothing like seeing a ton of cards in person. It has been 20 years since I have been to a National so I am looking forward to it!