For the most part are dealers at nationals fair with their prices?

[boadster]

The hottest stuff will be priced higher. I have been to 4 of these. The year Strasburg was a rookie, his rookie auto cards were higher there than anywhere, but people came to get those and shelled the money. Jordan rookies will command a premium because the dealers are confident that they will be sold over the 5 days. If you are interested in buying cards that aren't considered the "it" thing of the moment, there are enough dealers, where you can find some who will negotiate with you. The dealers will be tight on their best stuff, b/c they need to sell it at a price that allows them to make back their table fees, which are not cheap there...

[maconithappen]

I went back in 2013. The first 2 days from my experience, dealers wouldn't budge much on price. I think, like everyone has said, the last day is the best to get deals but everything is picked through. This some what makes sense because I understand it is very expensive to set up and you have to factor in travel, hotel as well as taking off work.

[Chicosbailbonds]

If you are looking for eBay-type prices, shop Sunday and don't expect it with the hottest cards/players. Some dealers also go to mainly buy. Look fo the dealers with the frowns on Sunday, they may want to deal more.

[ddearing]

Why would a dealer plan his business model off of selling right at eBay prices, but spend $5000 to set up at a the national. If the idea is saving 10% in eBay fees, they are going to need to do $50k in sales to break even with sitting at home and selling online and not a lot of guys can carry enough inventory for that. Not going to happen for a lot of people. I think it's more realistic to expect eBay prices plus around 20%. From my experience, that's a fair premium for getting to see the card before purchase and getting it immediately.

As a dealer, I generally tell customers that I will pay around eBay prices minus 20% (which is more than most there) and try to sell around eBay + 20% (which is less than most people there). We stay very busy and turn over a ton of inventory at the show. A lot of times I tell walk-up sellers that and they sit down immediately and we do big deals. It's fun to turn over the inventory.

Because of that, I end up buying/spending more each year than I used to sell the entire show when I first starting doing nationals. We normally have one guy working who spends most of the show just buying walk up deals.

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by ddearing

Why would a dealer plan his business model off of selling right at eBay prices, but spend $5000 to set up at a the national. If the idea is saving 10% in eBay fees, they are going to need to do $50k in sales to break even with sitting at home and selling online and not a lot of guys can carry enough inventory for that. Not going to happen for a lot of people. I think it's more realistic to expect eBay prices plus around 20%. From my experience, that's a fair premium for getting to see the card before purchase and getting it immediately.

As a dealer, I generally tell customers that I will pay around eBay prices minus 20% (which is more than most there) and try to sell around eBay + 20% (which is less than most people there). We stay very busy and turn over a ton of inventory at the show. A lot of times I tell walk-up sellers that and they sit down immediately and we do big deals. It's fun to turn over the inventory.

Because of that, I end up buying/spending more each year than I used to sell the entire show when I first starting doing nationals. We normally have one guy working who spends most of the show just buying walk up deals.

It really varies table by table. But it's really more about finding a lot of stuff you may not find otherwise. Looking for a 2003 Topps whomever /25 that never gets listed on ebay? It's probably going to be at the National. Looking for some oddball thing that you didn't even know existed? It's probably going to be at the National.

The best deals, which is difficult to do on a website like eBay, tend to come when you buy a lot.

[justinstaff756]

Originally Posted by chezball

Nothing against you,but that table I won't be going near.

I'm disappointed. To everyone else I hope to see you there and look forward to aggressively buying and trading some cardboard. Thanks

[meelypops]

mike1498, please stop by my booth as early as you can. I made a lot of deals last year. I am a dealer but also enjoy making the deals. What will you be looking for?

(#1456 is currently my booth number pending could change - The Meelypops Shop)

http://nsccshow.com/wp-content/uploa...-6-25-2016.pdf

[fulltritty]

How are the prices on vintage usually compared to E-bay? I just got into vintage cards and rarely stopped by the vintage tables at the National in the past. I'm hoping to find some common Yankees players and maybe get a big name PSA graded.

[Skipscards]

Originally Posted by fulltritty

How are the prices on vintage usually compared to E-bay? I just got into vintage cards and rarely stopped by the vintage tables at the National in the past. I'm hoping to find some common Yankees players and maybe get a big name PSA graded.

Same as everything else. Prices are all over the place. There are some huge vintage sellers there though.

[donscards]

I will be setting up at the National I sell mostly graded vintage---I mark all my cards with prices which I think are fair and usually go down a little---since I do shows all year long, I don't reduce prices near the end of the show---and I would advise collectors do shop early, many dealers leave early sunday especially in AC where the traffic on the NJ turnpike is crazy, bumper to bumper for usually a hour at least---I plan on leaving sunday around 12--good luck to all---It will be fun.

[hobbydriver]

i'm thinking of either attending this year while piggybacking off a work trip in atlanta (would have to buy a flight to ac, rent a car, and get a hotel for a weekend) or waiting until next year when it's in chicago, which i can take advantage of since my parents are there. to wait or not to wait a year is the question. here in washington state, the card shows are few and far between and i get that itch. i just love seeing the cards in person and the one and only nationals i went to in 2008 just blew my mind. absolutely incredible cards. i'm also one of those that buy out dealers. i had success when i was living in san francisco and just loved getting the variety of cards that can easily be resold, if needed.

[card-r-us]

I'm bringing my entire collection I know its worth at least 35k-45k I will be selling mostly to dealers but if some of you guys want to look at I dont mind selling single cards also I have few cards listed in my ebay store which is (gacarddealer)but I have ton more that im bringing but I want really sell it all. Let me know if your interested..

[dasiegel]

Originally Posted by chezball

Nothing against you,but that table I won't be going near.

Originally Posted by theblemishedone

No worries. Totally understand.

Weird, would love to here more, have done many high end deals with Justinstaff each smooth as can be.

[dasiegel]

To answer the OP question i think that prices are all over the place with many being right at ebay. Because the prices of the table are so expensive you don't always get the deals you want. I believe the best deals come later in the show when sellers want to get rid fo what they can but if you choose this method the best deals would be gone already.

In summary I think the way to go is to bring your negotiating hat. If you ask for a card at say 20% of ebay and they aren't interested, keep walking. You can always come back but it is likely someone at the show will have a deal or two you'll be happy with.

[justinstaff756]

Dasiegel. I just look forward.. Can't satisfy everyone ya know. I just keep doing my thing with the guys who want to ball.. You coming there da?

[theblemishedone]

Looking forward to seeing and meeting you all!

Originally Posted by dasiegel

Weird, would love to here more, have done many high end deals with Justinstaff each smooth as can be.

[solt0131]

The best day for buying will be Sunday, no doubt in my mind.

[dasiegel]

Originally Posted by justinstaff756

Dasiegel. I just look forward.. Can't satisfy everyone ya know. I just keep doing my thing with the guys who want to ball.. You coming there da?

Originally Posted by theblemishedone

Looking forward to seeing and meeting you all!

Yea likely Friday, looking to buy high end bball and baseball and maybe move a few monsters.

[wisportsnut77]

I hope to see you all there. I'll be with RBICru7 at booth 857/861. Come on by and say hi. Always looking to wheel and deal!

[dasiegel]

Originally Posted by ddearing

Why would a dealer plan his business model off of selling right at eBay prices, but spend $5000 to set up at a the national. If the idea is saving 10% in eBay fees, they are going to need to do $50k in sales to break even with sitting at home and selling online and not a lot of guys can carry enough inventory for that. Not going to happen for a lot of people. I think it's more realistic to expect eBay prices plus around 20%. From my experience, that's a fair premium for getting to see the card before purchase and getting it immediately.

As a dealer, I generally tell customers that I will pay around eBay prices minus 20% (which is more than most there) and try to sell around eBay + 20% (which is less than most people there). We stay very busy and turn over a ton of inventory at the show. A lot of times I tell walk-up sellers that and they sit down immediately and we do big deals. It's fun to turn over the inventory.

Because of that, I end up buying/spending more each year than I used to sell the entire show when I first starting doing nationals. We normally have one guy working who spends most of the show just buying walk up deals.

Well I see your point but those #s also assume that your were paying near ebay prices for those cards. If it costs $5000 to set up for the weekend (I don't know the setup cost or if most dealers do it for the whole event) then it really doesn't make sense for low or mid level dealers to even do it. But if a dealer is good enough at buying singles that are well under current ebay and have enough volume to setup, big sales at the National are more likely then anywhere else as well as connections with big private buyers, dealers, etc. It might be worth it.

I have set up at small shows before and it wasn't worth it for me. 6 hours of my weekend to make $3-400 and pay $60 for the table told me I was better off on forums or the bay. But some guys at those shows make a few thousand between singles and box sales and it was worth it for them especially because it beats the foot traffic of owning a store or the time it takes to list a million things on ebay, then package and ship.

Long story longer, it depends on the seller but buyers have the same attitude. they aren't gonna pay for a flight, take a long drive, pay admission etc to pay over ebay. With all the tables there they will just go to the next one because in my experience plenty of people hover around those prices.

[justinstaff756]

Originally Posted by dasiegel

Well I see your point but those #s also assume that your were paying near ebay prices for those cards. If it costs $5000 to set up for the weekend (I don't know the setup cost or if most dealers do it for the whole event) then it really doesn't make sense for low or mid level dealers to even do it. But if a dealer is good enough at buying singles that are well under current ebay and have enough volume to setup, big sales at the National are more likely then anywhere else as well as connections with big private buyers, dealers, etc. It might be worth it.

I have set up at small shows before and it wasn't worth it for me. 6 hours of my weekend to make $3-400 and pay $60 for the table told me I was better off on forums or the bay. But some guys at those shows make a few thousand between singles and box sales and it was worth it for them especially because it beats the foot traffic of owning a store or the time it takes to list a million things on ebay, then package and ship.

Long story longer, it depends on the seller but buyers have the same attitude. they aren't gonna pay for a flight, take a long drive, pay admission etc to pay over ebay. With all the tables there they will just go to the next one because in my experience plenty of people hover around those prices.

i like it

[Davsports]

Originally Posted by ddearing

Why would a dealer plan his business model off of selling right at eBay prices, but spend $5000 to set up at a the national. If the idea is saving 10% in eBay fees, they are going to need to do $50k in sales to break even with sitting at home and selling online and not a lot of guys can carry enough inventory for that. Not going to happen for a lot of people. I think it's more realistic to expect eBay prices plus around 20%. From my experience, that's a fair premium for getting to see the card before purchase and getting it immediately.

As a dealer, I generally tell customers that I will pay around eBay prices minus 20% (which is more than most there) and try to sell around eBay + 20% (which is less than most people there). We stay very busy and turn over a ton of inventory at the show. A lot of times I tell walk-up sellers that and they sit down immediately and we do big deals. It's fun to turn over the inventory.

Because of that, I end up buying/spending more each year than I used to sell the entire show when I first starting doing nationals. We normally have one guy working who spends most of the show just buying walk up deals.

You setting up at the show, if so let me know where, would be interested in stopping by.

[Gmrson]

Originally Posted by Davsports

You setting up at the show, if so let me know where, would be interested in stopping by.

He'll be there. Very well organized set up and always a must stop for me.

[ddearing]

Originally Posted by Gmrson

He'll be there. Very well organized set up and always a must stop for me.

Sorry, I just saw this. Yes, my booths are 1925, 1929, 2024, 2028. Please come by and introduce yourself. Let me know you are from the BO boards.

Also, in the last few days, I received back about 400 cards from BGS and 200 from PSA, mostly baseball rookies, but a fair mix of other things as well, that will be "new to the market" at the show. Come check it out.
Dan