The White Plains NY show was empty today

EchoCanyon · October 3, 2009 11:18AM

I think there were more dealers than buyers.

And one dealer said Friday was a morgue.

SDavid · October 3, 2009 11:40AM

Everyone I talked to in Philly said it sucked--guess they were right?

Then again, my biggest scores have come from shows with light to medium attendance (less product, usually, but also a lot less sharks to scoop everything up).

metsfan · October 3, 2009 11:42AM

Didn't even know there was a show today. The White plains shows always had good crowds in the late '80's and '90's. Its easier to buy stuff now on the net, esp. with the cost of tolls,gas,parking,etc. Its too bad to see shows do poorly since it's a great way to see what your buying, and interact with other collectors and dealers.

tedh111 · October 3, 2009 12:22PM

The last 3 shows in New york have not been good and the last philly show stunk as well, which is really odd because the March show in Philly was fantastic and the White plains in January was good as well both of which were right in the heart of the recession.

Allen · October 3, 2009 12:25PM

Makes one think you could take a bank roll to a big show and have the dealers competing for your cash.

otwcards · October 3, 2009 12:26PM

Sadly, interacting with some of the dealers at shows (the weekend warriors for the most part) is one of the more painful aspects of attending shows. I am constantly amazed by how genuinely stupid some people are and how they manage to make table fees, let alone a profit.

One of the best was some young guy at the National that had a table filled with junk that at best had a cumulative value of about $500.00. I inquired about some box bottoms (he said the best he could do was $20.00 EACH when they are usually around $10 for the entire set) and a couple of promo cards that he was asking $200 each for (they're typically available for about $3-5 each. I asked him what other shows he does and he said he bought the table from his buddy and hadn't done a show in about 10 years... I figure by the end of the weekend, he learned that things had changed...

Nugen · October 3, 2009 12:38PM

I attended Philly and found some of the dealers I spoke to unwilling to come down to prices on the bay. A couple were down right angry. Some need to get real. One long time dealer was getting out of the business and selling off his remaining inventory to other dealers.

Ripken · October 3, 2009 4:13PM

Dealers have to realize that their competition isn't really the other guy in the room...it's eBay and other dealers who sell online through their own stores. Those that recognize it succeed. Those who conduct business like it's still 1995 don't.

csmtampa · October 3, 2009 4:28PM

I'd love to go to a card show and just go through some good $1 boxes.

italianstallionyankees · October 3, 2009 6:04PM

<< Dealers have to realize that their competition isn't really the other guy in the room...it's eBay and other dealers who sell online through their own stores. Those that recognize it succeed. Those who conduct business like it's still 1995 don't. >>

Where I live and attend shows the year is still 1991 and all the dealers still have the Tuff Stuff handy.... You ask about ebay prices and they say that it is too much of a risk and you cannot see what your buying! True,but when you have a Vg card for full book that isn't a deal at all. One dealer that sets up each week I track his ebay account and I get to see all what he bought each week on the Bay . I always make it a point to write down the cards that he purchased and the amount that he bought the card for. I always offer him $5-$10 dollars under what he paid for the card, then I show him a Smr and a Beckett Graded Card Investor Guide and state the condition of the card. He always tells me I only accept real offers. The Funny thing is (sometimes) he sells the cards for more than he pays for them but other times he just re-lists the cards back on the bay! I don't understand this type of business practice? I wonder how many dealers do this same thing including dealers at the nationals that sell mostly raw cards?

metrotheme · October 3, 2009 9:35PM

For that show, I think the autograph guests were Tommy Davis (free with admission) and Monte Irvin ($25 anything, no fee for inscriptions). While Monte is a HOF'er, his autograph is plentiful and Davis isn't a huge draw (he had a bit part with the Mets here, most of his career was with the West Coast). I know the reason I don't go to that show, and it is the toll. If you add the admission ($7) and the toll to go to Westchester ($8), then it's $15 before you even stepped in the door. Is the "free" autograph worth $15 plus the 30-45 minute commute each way? For the folks that are in Long Island it is even longer. Today's autograph lineup doesn't look all that appealing either. And yes, I will agree many dealers are still in la-la land when quoting prices and snicker at fair counter offers.

EchoCanyon · October 3, 2009 11:03PM

<< For that show, I think the autograph guests were Tommy Davis (free with admission) and Monte Irvin ($25 anything, no fee for inscriptions). While Monte is a HOF'er, his autograph is plentiful and Davis isn't a huge draw (he had a bit part with the Mets here, most of his career was with the West Coast). I know the reason I don't go to that show, and it is the toll. If you add the admission ($7) and the toll to go to Westchester ($8), then it's $15 before you even stepped in the door. Is the "free" autograph worth $15 plus the 30-45 minute commute each way? For the folks that are in Long Island it is even longer. Today's autograph lineup doesn't look all that appealing either. And yes, I will agree many dealers are still in la-la land when quoting prices and snicker at fair counter offers. >>

Personally, I live only a few miles away -- which makes it beyond convenient.

Even better, I usually give the free autograph to my nephews as a b-day/holiday present and they are over-joyed.

jivan · October 3, 2009 11:58PM

I usually go to that show in white plains a couple times a year... find that a large percentage of the vintage guys and guys with vintage memorabilia have had the same stuff for years and never sell it.. seems just like some of the lancaster, PA antique dealers that have had the same stuff since i was a kid over 40 years ago.....nice to look at but to me, it seems alot of theri prices are so out of line with reality.. considering that these guys bought this stuff for so damn cheap, they don't want to asell, just display.....the promoter does have top notch dealers but usually has alot of the same ones at the "long island" shows at hofstra twice qa year and it does save like 40.00 on the trip expense

jivan · October 4, 2009 12:01AM

<< 

<< Dealers have to realize that their competition isn't really the other guy in the room...it's eBay and other dealers who sell online through their own stores. Those that recognize it succeed. Those who conduct business like it's still 1995 don't. >>

Where I live and attend shows the year is still 1991 and all the dealers still have the Tuff Stuff handy.... You ask about ebay prices and they say that it is too much of a risk and you cannot see what your buying! True,but when you have a Vg card for full book that isn't a deal at all. One dealer that sets up each week I track his ebay account and I get to see all what he bought each week on the Bay . I always make it a point to write down the cards that he purchased and the amount that he bought the card for. I always offer him $5-$10 dollars under what he paid for the card, then I show him a Smr and a Beckett Graded Card Investor Guide and state the condition of the card. He always tells me I only accept real offers. The Funny thing is (sometimes) he sells the cards for more than he pays for them but other times he just re-lists the cards back on the bay! I don't understand this type of business practice? I wonder how many dealers do this same thing including dealers at the nationals that sell mostly raw cards?

>>

you track his ebay sales and then offer him 5-10.00 less per card ??? what is the point of doing that??

PaulMaul · October 4, 2009 12:11AM

The main problem with the White Plains shows is that no one really has significant graded product. Yes, there are a few dealers who have PSA stuff
(mostly 1950's-1960's or pre-war), but for someone looking to build high grade 1970's sets there is basically nothing.

Luckily, there are a few dealers there who do have high grade commons if you are willing to devote 4 hours to poring through everything. I picked
up a nice stack of about 25 1973 NM/M commons, a nice 1978 wax pack for $15, 3 nice 1972 high numbers. You really have to dig though, at first
glance the show appears devoid of anything worthwhile.

PaulMaul · October 4, 2009 12:13AM

For non-sports enthusiasts, there was also a guy at the White Plains show who had just graded about 20 pack fresh Mars Attacks cards. He had 5 PSA 8's
and a bunch of 7's and 8 and 9 ocs.

WinPitcher · October 4, 2009 12:15AM

What did he want for them?

Steve

italianstallionyankees · October 4, 2009 1:42AM

<< 

<< 

<< Dealers have to realize that their competition isn't really the other guy in the room...it's eBay and other dealers who sell online through their own stores. Those that recognize it succeed. Those who conduct business like it's still 1995 don't. >>

Where I live and attend shows the year is still 1991 and all the dealers still have the Tuff Stuff handy.... You ask about ebay prices and they say that it is too much of a risk and you cannot see what your buying! True,but when you have a Vg card for full book that isn't a deal at all. One dealer that sets up each week I track his ebay account and I get to see all what he bought each week on the Bay . I always make it a point to write down the cards that he purchased and the amount that he bought the card for. I always offer him $5-$10 dollars under what he paid for the card, then I show him a Smr and a Beckett Graded Card Investor Guide and state the condition of the card. He always tells me I only accept real offers. The Funny thing is (sometimes) he sells the cards for more than he pays for them but other times he just re-lists the cards back on the bay! I don't understand this type of business practice? I wonder how many dealers do this same thing including dealers at the nationals that sell mostly raw cards?

>>

you track his ebay sales and then offer him 5-10.00 less per card ??? what is the point of doing that?? >>

Just to do it! He has been known to sell cards that he has cracked out of psa altered holders and sell for 3/4 of book and also buys vintage 1970's wrappers and 1970's lots of ex/mnt nm cards . He is a con man with autos as well. Those kind of people make me sick!

PaulMaul · October 4, 2009 1:53AM

<< What did he want for them?

Steve >>

There were no bargains to be had. He said he had paid pretty high to get them in Chicago.

Cards4Charity · October 4, 2009 5:47AM

makes me yearn for simpler times with a larger collector base and cheap wax, kids collecting with their dads and charging $8 for a Tom Gordon RC. sigh.

tkd7 · October 4, 2009 6:27AM

There is too much going on in October for people to go to shows. I think March dates get much better attendance.

WinPitcher · October 4, 2009 7:05AM

Tom

Hi, I agree. January and March are when people need to get out of the cabin.

This time of year people are still outside enjoying the weather.

Steve

nam812 · October 4, 2009 7:31AM

Anyone go today? Was the attendance any better?

EchoCanyon · October 5, 2009 12:46AM

Anyone?

richtree · October 5, 2009 12:57AM

I went out to Reading, PA last year and it was my first major show in years..

Obviously there isn't a boom like the earlier 90's but still there are many problems with the industry.

Most of the venues are dull and dreary. Huge and quiet.

There really aren't any dealers there selling modern content. I walked around the Reading show and ever dealer had the same stuff as far as cards.

It seemed like every deal had cards from 1948-1969 . mostly raw and overpriced.

Almost noone even had any wax packs.

Card shows used to be fun with wax packs, raffles, player signings and a good atmosphere.

I guess ebay replaced the "card show", for better or worse.

mtcards · October 5, 2009 2:18AM

Its a catch-22

Myself included, we all loved the old days of shows/flea markets/etc., which have really died out because of ebay, yet we all buy a lot, if not a majority of our stuff on ebay and other online stores. We have created the very scenario we hate.

celesterussell · October 5, 2009 2:38AM

that show has pretty much always been a dog.

within afew years, for the most part, the shows will go by the way of all flesh DEAD.

TheHun · October 5, 2009 2:48AM

oh - the good old days of card shows ... sigh

true catch-22

the card shows = ebay
Wal-Mart = Five & Dime store

Morgoth · October 5, 2009 5:38AM

You should try local card shows for depressing. Most dealers if they get a nice older vintage card they sell it to each other until they have full SMR in the card and can't move it because Ebay pricing is about 30% lower than SMR.

I have seen cards change hands 3 times in one day with only about 12 dealers in a room.

Dealers are their own worst enemys.

I think about the old time dealers who have had the same inventory and cards for at least 5 years, at what point do you start to turn over your inventory and replace it with faster moving items?

I had one dealer tell me this weekend he doesn't do grading and it ruined the hobby. I have seen him set up at almost every Indy area show with virtually the same cards. Overgraded by 2X vintage at almost SMR 8 pricing. In truth it was dealers like this guy who tried to screw over every collector they dealt with that forced PSA to come into existance. The fact he knows his stuff won't grade but will complain about grading is funny to me. I bet he is still mad that somebody got a PSA 8 on a Mantle he sold and his hatte has grown ever since.

italianstallionyankees · October 5, 2009 6:39AM

<< You should try local card shows for depressing. Most dealers if they get a nice older vintage card they sell it to each other until they have full SMR in the card and can't move it because Ebay pricing is about 30% lower than SMR.

I have seen cards change hands 3 times in one day with only about 12 dealers in a room.

Dealers are their own worst enemys.

I think about the old time dealers who have had the same inventory and cards for at least 5 years, at what point do you start to turn over your inventory and replace it with faster moving items?

I had one dealer tell me this weekend he doesn't do grading and it ruined the hobby. I have seen him set up at almost every Indy area show with virtually the same cards. Overgraded by 2X vintage at almost SMR 8 pricing. In truth it was dealers like this guy who tried to screw over every collector they dealt with that forced PSA to come into existance. The fact he knows his stuff won't grade but will complain about grading is funny to me. I bet he is still mad that somebody got a PSA 8 on a Mantle he sold and his hatte has grown ever since. >>

I wonder how long it will take for these TYPES of dealers to realize that their Vg/ex inventory is not scarce and rare??!

Why spend money setting up at shows and then having to pay gas to drive to the show, and Paying for the high cost of motels? Then they complain about the hobby being dead!

Fabfrank · October 6, 2009 4:04AM

I was planning on going to the show, but just couldn't motivate myself. Gas, tolls, time are all valid points, but I just didn't feel the need. I guess my enthiusiam has slipped a bit over the years, but I just wasn't looking forward to searching through unorganized dealer boxes

EchoCanyon · October 6, 2009 4:44AM

There were a few deals -- some guys selling loads of set from the late 80s/90s for only $3.

Morgoth · October 6, 2009 5:52AM

Did he have a LSU tigers shirt on and a mullet?

The White Plains NY show was empty today

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