Two weeks from now, they’ll be pulling into the Stephens Convention Center and its nearby hotels, vehicles stuffed to the gills with millions of cards, autographs, programs, photos, game-used equipment, artwork and anything else they think someone might want to buy. A few have been behind a table for every National since the first one back in a Los Angeles hotel ballroom in … [Read more...]
Ramblings: To Deal or Not to Deal
Recently there was a terrific thread on a message board asking if it is still possible to be a part-time dealer in today's hobby. The short answer is, of course it is possible and in fact is in some ways very easy. The more nuanced answer is, what are your intentions? I have been a part-time dealer (and a full-time dealer way back in the day) and it was never that hard for me. … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Show Notes and Successful Dealers
Just some random notes from our weekend show at the Southfork Hotel here in the Dallas area. Every time we have a show, I either learn something new or get an old hobby lesson reinforced. Our scheduled guest was Doug Donley, who played receiver for both Ohio State in the late 1970s and then for the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1980s. Like all of the guests we have had so … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Sometimes, the Dealer is to Blame
As many of you know, I’ve been known to set up at card shows for a good deal of my life. Having experience behind the table, helping out at card shops and working with card dealers, I usually love to take the side of the under-appreciated card dealer/store owner in these Ramblings. But sometimes, the problems that arise are the card dealers’ fault. I saw several cases of this … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Sometimes It’s Not the Dealer’s Fault
Recently there was a short thread on the Blowout Cards forum about a few things sports card show dealers did incorrectly. While in some ways I agree with was posted, there is also the point that many of these issues are caused just as much by customer viewpoints as by the dealers. So we're going to detail some of the items in that thread as well as a few other salient … [Read more...]
Ramblings: When Collectors Expect Too Much for Their Stuff
Like many of you, I often receive offers to purchase cards. However, unlike many businesses, I don't go out and solicit a lot of collectors to buy their cards as that should be in the purview of those dealers who really want to do this for a living rather than just as a side venture. I recently received a couple of offers that illustrate one of the common issues between … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: NSCC Wrap News and Notes
Dealers and collectors have made their way out of Cleveland--or will be leaving shortly--as the 2014 National Sports Collectors Convention comes to an end. The show's five-day run ended late Sunday afternoon at the I-X Center. Some final notes and observations from the weekend: Traffic on the show floor seemed strongest on Thursday and Friday. No matter where it’s … [Read more...]