Observations on the current state of the hobby from a show this weekend

[tribefan]

Hit 2 shows today in Cuyahoga County.

First show, usually find some good stuff, but a lot of the regular dealers were not there. Suburban rec center, about 45 tables, 3 empty tables. 10% vintage, 70% modern, 20% pokemon. Didn't see any Hobby wax other than loose packs. 24 Hoops blasters at $35. Bobblehead guy was good to talk to, bought one from him.

Second show was a mall show, with a few autograph signers. The dealers were way over with sticker prices. To the point that I didn't want to make an offer. Walked out without buying anything. At least there was no cover charge

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by NickyCards

What’s with the negativity?

Not sure what you're talking about I'm just out here calling balls and strikes like Pat Hoberg.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Not sure what you're talking about I'm just out here calling balls and strikes like Angel Hernandez.

Fixed it for you.

[Chicosbailbonds]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Good question, lets hear from those experienced with this sort of thing. Has anyone in here gone through bankruptcy?

My parents did, it was a clean slate. The CC offers came in right away since they had no debt.

[jmarascojr]

There's a monthly show here in Rochester NY at the Jewish Community Center, probably like 20-30 tables of the same stuff every month.

You definitely know the two people who are camping out at Walmart/Target to grab the retail and bump it up...

This month they had JSA, which was enough for me to go, get a handful of things authenticated and pick them up later... Saves on shipping and got me out of the house...

[Stifle]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Not sure what you're talking about I'm just out here calling balls and strikes like Pat Hoberg.

Hit a walk off yesterday. One of the best shows for what I search for. Went to the same show roughly 2 years ago and it was a strike out. You just never know which dealer will bring whatever they have. I can honestly say I’ve been to shows with hundreds of more tables but walked away spending much more with less value. A top 3 all time best show in the past 35 years.

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by 6celtics33

I know someone that did. I worked with her. She had to do chapter 13. Payments for 5 years.

Originally Posted by Chicosbailbonds

My parents did, it was a clean slate. The CC offers came in right away since they had no debt.

Big difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. If you have any reasonable income/assets, you'll get kicked to Chapter 13 and will end up paying a large chunk of the debt anyway.

Most people can coordinate their own version of Chapter 13 by simply calling their creditors and making the arrangements themselves. Creditors would rather work directly with the customer than deal with courts. And the customer saves thousands in court and attorney fees. It will also preserve your credit score and make it easier to rebuild it.

I looked into all of this after my divorce. Was still riddled with medical debt and living off credit cards while I went through grad school. At that time, I was still entry level at my job and knew I was gonna need some time to move up the salary scale. I had a phone consultation with a credit counselor and she gave me a few tips. The next day I hit the phones and spent all day negotiating. By the end of the day, I had 5 year payment plans across the board, most at zero interest. Knocked my monthly payments down to a fraction of what they were and never had to consider bankruptcy. Credit rating went to 775 on it's own.

It's not as hard as people think it is, but human instinct is to avoid those debt calls. Best thing you can do is answer the phone. Tell them your story and what you think you can pay. You'd be surprised how friendly they become when they realize they will actually get something from you. People think they need an attorney and court protection but they really don't. All you need is a phone and to be honest.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by f2tornado

Fargo, ND show was decent today. Better than last year's version but it took a while to find enough bargain bin material to justify driving 200 miles each way. The show was busy but the aisles were spaced wide enough to avoid too many log jams. I didn't notice a lot of people trading. Mostly cash customers. More and more tables are becoming populated with display cases filled with PSA stuff leaving fewer tables with stuff to dig through. Digging is half the fun at these events. The other half is split between finding deals, seeing stuff not seen every day, and a little small talk. I can get most slabs online. Interestingly, it was hard to find much baseball which is most of my focus. It seemed like 75% of the dealers were football, basketball, and Pokémon. Cell service was zero but thankfully WiFi was available so I could make my bet on the winning Preakness horse between tables.

That's probably the last show I go out of my way for until the big one in Omaha late July.

[mrb842]

Dallas/Schaumburg show this weekend was maybe 1/2-1/3 pokemon/non sports and this was a show with a big sports autograph list. I continue to wonder about the national and the tension we'll see this summer because a massive part if not the defining part of the show is their boomer/older gen x dealers with junk wax era stuff and memorabilia and when you go to monthly shows the massive part of the dealers now are millenials/gen z etc with pokemon/non sports and whatever fresh nba/nfl/mlb they're flipping.

It's two separate polar worlds headed for a major confrontation and I think at the national you'll see a ton of folks doing business OUTSIDE of the national because they're not able to set up there/don't see what they need represented but still want to wheel and deal. The future of all of this will be outside of the show floor and that's something that the organizers of the national and bigger folks should be really concerned about.

The dallas show in schaumburg got much better attendance than last time they did it. great venue again-much more modern and cleaner than Rosemont is for the fall/spring shows.

Beckett by the way was awful, they were certing stuff that was clearly fake and failing things that were real.

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by mrb842

It's two separate polar worlds headed for a major confrontation and I think at the national you'll see a ton of folks doing business OUTSIDE of the national because they're not able to set up there/don't see what they need represented but still want to wheel and deal. The future of all of this will be outside of the show floor and that's something that the organizers of the national and bigger folks should be really concerned about.

Zero concern. If you were in Cleveland last year, this would be apparent to you. Promoters certainly want a well-attended show. But 2 hour traffic jams and 45 minute food/bathroom lines are a bigger deterrent to attendance than what you've suggested.

As far as the long term, death will solve that problem. Not to make light of it, but we all die and those older dealers you reference will eventually retire or die, opening spots up for whatever the future is. There will never be a day when more business is done outside of the National than in the National. That simply won't happen.

[ThoseBackPages]

The National is doing better than it ever has. Now that the new ownership is in full control they have continued to clamp down on eliminating things that made past shows enjoyable for folks like me. They are in charge thats the way it is now. i dont like it, but i do not matter to them (nor should i)

[alpine]

All it takes is 1 dealer to make a show worthwhile. My son & I went to a show in Reno a few weeks ago. 80% was Pokemon. Then in the back, here are these two guys who have a great selection of older Baseball & non-sports unopened wax. I could not believe it.

I ended up trading a Jordan PSA 10 insert for some stuff I really enjoy. Super clean untampered with 1987 & 1989 Fleer Baseball Wax Boxes, etc. I also sold another Jordan Insert to these guys.

To me this show was better than the 2024 Burbank Card Show that I had attended. It only took one dealer to make it worth the 80 mile drive.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Fixed it for you.

That's low. Angel would feel otherwise.

[asujbl]

National was awesome in 2024 if A) you knew the right entrance to go in and B) you had paid for VIP for the bathrooms

We parked in 30 seconds coming in from the nature preserve side and pissed in 5 minutes or less

Just saying

[metsandweezer]

Vegas show was packed this weekend. Repackers bought me out. Lots of Pokemon dealers though.

[coupie21]

Show this weekend in Pittsburgh (Monroeville to be exact). Only went today (Sunday) to get some 8x10's signed by some Steeler HOFers. Spoke with some of the dealers who said the show was a lot slower/less attended than last year. A lot of vintage, but prices were ridiculous (i.e., sticker of $5,250 for a PSA VG 3 1953 Topps Willie Mays...last 5 sells on Ebay were between $2,500 and $3k). I just don't get it, they can't possibly move any inventory at those prices. It's irritating, to be honest. I did one pass and walked out.
Baseball signers included Reggie Jackson and Pedro Martinez on Saturday. Jackson's auto pricing was from $180 for up to an 11x14 photo to $400 for him to sign his rookie card. Pedro's pricing was from $190 for cards to $500 for him to sign game used equipment. Needless to say, I passed.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by asujbl

We parked in 30 seconds coming in from the nature preserve side and pissed in 5 minutes or less

If you're peeing for anywhere near 5 minutes you should get checked out.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by coupie21

Spoke with some of the dealers who said the show was a lot slower/less attended than last year.

Honest dealers, that's not something you see every day.

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Honest dealers, that's not something you see every day.

Most dealers would tell you it was slow even if they had their best show ever. Dealers always look for something to complain about. I tend not to interact with them when I am setup.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

If you're peeing for anywhere near 5 minutes you should get checked out.

Hilarious

[Mahomie]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

I was at a card show earlier today, and I ran into this guy (he had a booth setup).

I'm not into the "hobby influencer" scene at all, but I recognized his face and noticed that he had someone there filming his trades.

We made a quick deal (bought a Dirk Nowitzki auto from him), and I went on my way. Seemed pretty chill.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

Dealers always look for something to complain about.

I'm surprised I don't get along with them better.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by Mahomie

We made a quick deal (bought a Dirk Nowitzki auto from him)

Which one?

[scotts]

Originally Posted by coupie21

Show this weekend in Pittsburgh (Monroeville to be exact). Only went today (Sunday) to get some 8x10's signed by some Steeler HOFers. Spoke with some of the dealers who said the show was a lot slower/less attended than last year. A lot of vintage, but prices were ridiculous (i.e., sticker of $5,250 for a PSA VG 3 1953 Topps Willie Mays...last 5 sells on Ebay were between $2,500 and $3k). I just don't get it, they can't possibly move any inventory at those prices. It's irritating, to be honest. I did one pass and walked out.

I went on Saturday and then show was VERY LAME. Nothing like previous years. Only good thing were thr autograph signers. Dennis Rodman was also there Saturday. The Washington Crowne Center show is easily the best one in Pittsburgh

[Mahomie]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Which one?

I just posted in the basketball section, but I bought this from him: