General Forum

Anyone going to the National this year?     July 27-30 in Chicago.

I was kind of wondering about the Official Trade Night they say they are having on Thursday night, I cant find much info about it other that its listed on the schedule of events.    Anyone have any info on what that is?

Haven't had much time to do stuff but will be watching YouTube ers post videos. 

Currently on vacation so I'll be back soon. 

Go to Chicago or go to Italy, go to Chicago or go to Italy, hmmmmm

It's scorchingly hot over there in Italy right now I hear. Tornadoes in Chicagoland? Someone make it stop.

So I've heard, but another month before I go. The weather everywhere has been insane this year so who knows what we'll end up getting. We had a dry summer in CT last year, very mild winter (I don't think we got a foot of snow total this year) and this summer the wetness had taken vengeance.  

I seriously considered going until I started reading lots of people's experiences, and ultimately the notion of paying a couple thousand dollars in transportation and lodging only to be packed in like sardines on the dealer floor for the opportunity to probably spend less than $500 total just turned me off.

I mean, I want to go, but I just don't like people that much.

My brother is coming down from the Twin Cities area and we plan on attending on Friday.  I have been to a couple of card shows around me but this is the first time going to something this big.  I am looking forward to getting something but especially hopefully finding something for a buddy or two or three.

If someone is going and we want to meet up, let me know.  I am all for it.  

Going for the first time, driving over from Detroit area. Will be there Friday and Saturday. Buddy and I figured we need to go once just to experience it. Whether it's good or bad, would rather go and find out than regret never going.

Hope to find some rare All-Star Rookie Cup cards! ;)

My comment is similar to DaClyde's.  I would love to go just for the experience.  However, recent shows have been frustrating to me.  I live in L.A., Both Burbank shows were 300+ tables of mostly slabbed modern basketball and football cards.  The Del Mar and Long Beach shows over the past couple of years have been the same thing.  Maybe that is all people care about on the west coast, but I have heard it is the same all over.  I get the economics, shows are costly for dealers and individual cards have the highest profit margin.  But I see little variety, and the few vintage dealers have crowds and sell out quickly.

Nothing wrong with that, a lot of people want graded cards and they are a huge part of the hobby now, but there is likely not enough variety to warrant spending well over $1,000 to travel for any show in the current hobby environment.  If I am wrong please let me know, maybe the selection is different other places.

It's not a West Coast thing, they do it here out here too. For the shows I go to here 80%+ are modern ($1 boxes for commons, WTF) and/or slabbed material or the guy(s) who raided Target for all the blasters. Well, plenty of blasters floating around at least. But being the East Coast we always have a handful of tables that are vintage and vintage only. Best yet, if they know someone is looking to slab something (you can always tell), no discount. I come along and......