Just Wanted to Share: Went to an empty card show yesterday

joeknowscards

I went to the Long Island National Card Show yesterday and it was empty. There wasn't anymore than a 100 people there at one time during the 3 hours that I was there. A good majority of the people went there to submit their cards to BGS and then walked right out. The combination of eBay and and the economy leaving people with less disposable income is probably the reason for the poor turnout, but it was sad to see. Just wanted to share this with you guys.

Joe Knows Cards

SportsItUpCards

That sucks for the sellers, but great for buyers because theres no competition.

Giovanni

Stone193

I guess that's the way it's gonna be for a bit.

The title threw me! I was trying to figure out what an "empty card" was?

Also, you put up that link - what am I looking for with respect to the show?

mike

BobaFett72

Looks like the link is his blog/commentary

Ironmanfan

I went to a Mall Show yesterday strictly to purchase supplies and a take a quick look at the 10-12 tables set up.....I overhead one dealer talking to another whether or not even to show up today.

nam812

I went to the same Long Island show today and it wasn't that bad, but then again, whether there was 1 or 1000 people in attendance doesn't matter to me. As long as there are cards I could use, at the prices I need to get them for, that's all that matters to me.

DrJ

Went to my local mall show yesterday. Overall there was very little turnout and the dealers I talked to said it had been very very slow.

Too many people are keen to eBay, and the overpriced cards just do not fly.

As far as vintage goes, none of the dealers had graded cards, and they were basing all of their prices on Gd/Vg cards on book value. They made you feel you were getting a good deal buying a card on sale for 50% of high book value which would grade no better than a PSA 3.

I did buy some plastic holders for some thick memorbilia/autographed cards I have acquired and some other supplies. Also picked up 20 oddball Rickey Henderson's which I had yet to acquire for $4.00 so it was not a total wash.

helionaut

You guys are lucky. I'm dying to go to a show. The monthly show that's been running here in Austin for at least 15 years turned into a bi-monthly, then there was about 3 or 4 months between, and the last one was back in Feb I think and none on the horizon. The promoter said that the hotels were jacking up prices on rooms and tables, and I guess that'd be true. But the same dealers were always there, never more than 1 or 2 new guys, and the number of people coming through the door dwindled to almost nothing in the last couple years. Probably no more than 100 all day at the last few, and that's being generous. There used to be about that many waiting to get in at 10 AM. For $50 table fees times about 20-30 tables, plus $200 in admission fees, I doubt it was worth his time after paying for the space. And it's like that all over. Down in San Antonio there was a bi-annual show that used to be twice as big as it is now, tablewise, and a lot more crowded with buyers. It can't just be buying on ebay that keeps people away, the hobby is not appealing anymore to a lot of people. At least there's a big one up in Arlington at the end of the month that is usually good (but not always worth the 3 hour drive), and the next weeked the SA finally comes around.

Stone193

<< <i>Went to my local mall show yesterday. Overall there was very little turnout and the dealers I talked to said it had been very very slow.

Too many people are keen to eBay, and the overpriced cards just do not fly.

As far as vintage goes, none of the dealers had graded cards, and they were basing all of their prices on Gd/Vg cards on book value. They made you feel you were getting a good deal buying a card on sale for 50% of high book value which would grade no better than a PSA 3.

I did buy some plastic holders for some thick memorbilia/autographed cards I have acquired and some other supplies. Also picked up 20 oddball Rickey Henderson's which I had yet to acquire for $4.00 so it was not a total wash. >>

I would imagine successful dealers go mainly to buy and "mix" with friends and potential buyers.

Also, predominantly "raw" dealers like Kyle's cards will most likely do ok at shows since people would probably like to see - in person - the cards they're gonna buy?

But, I do think high gas and the impending doom may slow action at shows to a degree.

But, the economy hasn't affected the vintage market as demonstrated by good activity at the REA.

mike

CDsNuts

The ones in Maryland are always mall shows with the same dealers. Without walking into any one show, I can tell you that the guy with only modern wax will be there, the guy with 30,000 .10 cards that aren't organized in any way will be there, the guy with Nascar die-casts will be there, the guy with garbage Ravens merchandise will be there, etc...... I always walk out wondering why I even considered going in the first place.

WinPitcher

But, the economy hasn't affected the vintage market as demonstrated by good activity at the REA.


Agreed and it has not slowed my sales either.

Steve

swartz1

try coming to south central PA - dead - nothing....I travel to Maryland to just go to a really weak Sunday show...oh well...

CDsNuts

swartz- Do you ever hit the antique markets in Allentown? They used to be great for finding bargains in the 90s. Haven't been in about 15 years though. My grandparents used to sell antiques at a place called the Black Angus every Sunday.

bigred1

CDsNuts, where do you go in Md. for shows?

GeneralJim

I think you mean adamstown not allentown . Adamstown is famous for its antique alley , was there yesterday , didnt find much in the way of cards though . Black Angus is a good place to go ,so is Reningers . If your into antiques thats the place to be !!

CDsNuts

I don't go any more but the ones I went to were listed in the show calendar on beckett.com.

swartz1

I used to frequent the Green Dragon when I was broke and in college - some nicer finds there and the silver spring flea market until they closed it just outside carlisle pa - good times and nice finds...anway - harrisburg malls are the only thing now and the occasional Maugansville Sunday show in Maryland -

CD - I have heard of that market - just never went...

Real nice shows - obviously in Reading and in Ephrata - pretty much once a year...

msassin

I spent plenty of Sundays riding with my parents to Adamstown in the late 80's early - 90's. Even set up there once or twice. Haven't been there in years though.

DrJ

<< <i>I would imagine successful dealers go mainly to buy and "mix" with friends and potential buyers.

Also, predominantly "raw" dealers like Kyle's cards will most likely do ok at shows since people would probably like to see - in person - the cards they're gonna buy?

But, I do think high gas and the impending doom may slow action at shows to a degree.

But, the economy hasn't affected the vintage market as demonstrated by good activity at the REA.

mike >>




There are a lot of dealers who like to go just to buy the cards from someone down on their luck looking to make a fast buck. The one dealer who I bought the 20 Hendersons had a table full of star cards for .25 each. His table was one of the busiest. During the hayday of the collecting scene, I had a ton of fun picking up singles of my favorite players, or cards to complete a set.

With today's product filled with manufactured rarities, the player and set collector is starting to disappear. If shows simply exist to sell the big hits from todays boxes, and vintage stars, I don't see the show scene lasting much longer outside of a few major shows in each region and Ebay for all the rest.

J

Leiascards

No card show, but did go to Canton today and it was shoulder to shoulder there. Did pic up some nice old non-sports and old video game stuff