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

[Galileo77]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Silver Pack PSA 10 is at $600 from $2000 18 months ago. So $480-510 before you buy? You can get a PSA 9 for $229 BIN/BO. Was at $1100 18 months ago.

can someone tell me why the 2022 Sapphire Edition #67 is so more expensive than other numbered Sapphire Edition such as #48 -are there less printed of the #67?

[PuddleMonkey]

Well boys, how bad were the shows this weekend? Ready to admit defeat?

[shawnkrebs]

Chantilly was busy midday Saturday. The promoters kept the expanded dealer space with more booths and there seemed to be a great variety of cards available. The five or so dealers I spoke with all said Friday was very active with lots of buyers as well.

I was also able to speak with Dan Dearing, which after reading his posts over the years, was a highlight. Thanks for the deal, Dan!

[Qubits]

90 table 1-day mall show in Charleston yesterday was great. Packed the whole time and the dealers I talked to said it was a great show for them. Also I had some sick pickups. The hobby is thriving.

[towerymt]

Originally Posted by Galileo77

can someone tell me why the 2022 Sapphire Edition #67 is so more expensive than other numbered Sapphire Edition such as #48 -are there less printed of the #67?

You mean #44? Sapphire vs Update Sapphire?

Looks like Update is more plentiful, but centering was awful so the gem rate was poor.

#67, PSA-10 pop 236, 299 graded (79% gem)

Update #44, PSA-10 pop 221, 680 graded (33% gem)

[daveyc1]

The first 3 hours of the Bangor show were pretty busy. then that slow noon hour when everyone leaves to eat and it was sporadically busy after that. pretty good show overall. did better than the August one. there was money changing hands, but lots and lots of people looking to trade.

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by shawnkrebs

Chantilly was busy midday Saturday. The promoters kept the expanded dealer space with more booths and there seemed to be a great variety of cards available. The five or so dealers I spoke with all said Friday was very active with lots of buyers as well.

I was also able to speak with Dan Dearing, which after reading his posts over the years, was a highlight. Thanks for the deal, Dan!

Agreed. Chantilly was solid as usual. Friday was very busy and Saturday was steady like always....Sunday was pretty dead but that was to be expected with the weather and football.

[Galileo77]

Originally Posted by towerymt

You mean #44? Sapphire vs Update Sapphire?

Looks like Update is more plentiful, but centering was awful so the gem rate was poor.

#67, PSA-10 pop 236, 299 graded (79% gem)

Update #44, PSA-10 pop 221, 680 graded (33% gem)

thank you very much that makes sense

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Well boys, how bad were the shows this weekend? Ready to admit defeat?

You may collect hard, but your posting is soft.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by solt0131

You may collect hard, but your posting is soft.

Posting? Soft? Wait until I start throwing elbows like Karl Malone.

[theshowandme]

Chantilly was great

Will be at Shriners in Boston next weekend

[hammerva]

Curious if anyone has been to the Hagerstown MD Mall shows lately? They are doing one this weekend with supposedly 200+ tables and thinking of making the hour drive

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by hammerva

Curious if anyone has been to the Hagerstown MD Mall shows lately? They are doing one this weekend with supposedly 200+ tables and thinking of making the hour drive

Excellent show, lots of dealers/tables. The last few have been insanely good.

[NickyCards]

Went to the big Long Island show at Hofstra yesterday. Picked up a decent amount of stuff. Highlights were a Hank Aaron Topps Tribute auto, as well as other hall of fame game used cards. Some dealers were very overpriced. I saw an Explosive Gold Josh Allen for 1200. One sold this month for 700. If you love vintage, I’d say this show is for you. Every other table was vintage, some higher end too.

[123precision]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

raw is for the poor!

Raw is for the wise

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

[ironfireman]

Noticed a trend of promotors trying to make big mega VIP shows in Charlotte NC & Spartanburg SC this year. 2-3 day shows charging $200 per table & $10 entry or $25 VIP.
The Charlotte show was kinda hurricaned out - lots of empty tables and mostly the same dealers as the other area shows. $10 parking sucked $7 to get in $10 for 2 days.
The Spartanburg Star Center show 2 weeks ago was crap if you are into vintage. Advertised as 400 tables. Maybe half that? Maybe 6 tables of vintage - Lotta pokemon & ultra modern. I bought some stuff from 4 different guys (One was a friend I see every week) mostly $1 cards. Again rent was $200 a table.
My biggest gripe of the Spartanburg show was instead of opening at the usual 9 AM they where only open for VIP at 9 AM $25!!! and then $10 at 10 AM! F-you guys! The Spartanburg show at the fairgrounds is way better for vintage and free.

[livealoha]

Raw cards will make a comeback in 2025!

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by livealoha

Raw cards will make a comeback in 2025!

Raw cards are fine. They hold their value versus PSA 9 for modern and for vintage they typically go higher than the graded version equivalent.

[PuddleMonkey]

Ebay is more of a museum than it ever was before. Flippers gotta be scared, bills don't stop just because your sales do.

[LVDan]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Ebay is more of a museum than it ever was before. Flippers gotta be scared, bills don't stop just because your sales do.

Auctions on quality cards becoming rare to a point they are now drawing a decent consisten sales expectation, if listed with a decent title/pics from an established account.

[livealoha]

I also feel that graded cards/Slabs get too bulky and take up too much space. It’s nicer to just flip through a binder and look at a collection vs looking through a stack of slabs. Anyone else feel this way?

[Bcr]

Originally Posted by livealoha

I also feel that graded cards/Slabs get too bulky and take up too much space. It’s nicer to just flip through a binder and look at a collection vs looking through a stack of slabs. Anyone else feel this way?

Depends on the cards but I have a display with slabs and one touches for my favorites and some binders for the rest. I do get enjoyment flipping through the binders from time to time.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by LVDan

Auctions on quality cards becoming rare to a point they are now drawing a decent consisten sales expectation, if listed with a decent title/pics from an established account.

This is spot on. If higher end stuff has perfect scans, an actual real description and not a lazy AI description, a solid title and professionalism all around, the stuff will sell for a solid price.

Established account of course helps too.

Too many people just throw things on ebay with no efort at all and it is a huge turnoff for me.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by livealoha

I also feel that graded cards/Slabs get too bulky and take up too much space. It’s nicer to just flip through a binder and look at a collection vs looking through a stack of slabs. Anyone else feel this way?

Definitely.

My entire collection is in binders or Ultra-Pro 3-4 card holders.

I hate slabs because they ruin the visual appeal of the card...

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by livealoha

I also feel that graded cards/Slabs get too bulky and take up too much space. It’s nicer to just flip through a binder and look at a collection vs looking through a stack of slabs. Anyone else feel this way?

i dont, but there are plenty of folks that enjoy the raw