Man, I just absolutely love the Gonzaga show. The show is run by the non-profit Wisconsin Sports Collectors Association and these guys get it!! On Sunday, they gave free gifts to all the ladies and the leftovers were handed out to dealers to give to their wives. I gave the pretty bag of handmade soap and lotions to my wife and told her I was thinking about her all day at the card show and had to stop on the way home and pick her up a gift. She slugged me in the stomach. No, actually she was happy with the gift.
The Gonzaga show was excellent, just as pleasant as a show can and should be. I few of my regulars couldn't make it but I picked up some new customers and made a lot of sales. I bought a few cards and a cool 8X10 photo of the 1957 Milwaukee Braves signed by Del Crandall.
Some customers stayed at my table past the show closing time of 2 p.m. and no one harrassed them to leave like they do at Orland Park. Then a dealer came over and made a significant purchase. By the time I left at 3 p.m., several dealers were still set up and making sales. Mike, the VP of the WSCA, just sat back and chatted with another dealer while the other guys finished up looking at cards. No hassle. Why can't the Orland Park show be this way? I'm going back and forth on whether I want to continue setting up at the Orland Park Show. I know if I continue to set up there I will continue to be hassled after 2 p.m. So I'm leaning toward leaving the show. However, I've made a great many friends there who I enjoy seeing regularly and would hate to lose that. It's a really tough call.
This Sunday May 22, 2011, I am setting up at Fred Copp's Schaumburg, Illinois, show. While I don't make the same sales as I do at the other shows, I still really enjoy this show because Fred is absolutely terrific. I try and set up at one of Fred's shows at least once a month because Fred takes care of his dealers. A decade ago, when I was in law school and did not have much of an income, Fred would cut me some slack on the table fee if I had a bad show. Four years ago when I severely broke my ankle and was out of commission for months, Fred volunteered to unload my car and help me set up my table. So for several shows, my wife loaded up my car and Fred unloaded at the show. I can't say how much I appreciate the effort. I was stuck at home and in a lot of pain after getting a metal plate and 12 screws surgically inserted into my ankle. Getting out of the house helped me recover and I'll forever be in Fred's debt. Also, Fred doesn't care when you leave the room. He will never hassle you to get out, like John Leary at Orland Park. Fred will also make sure that you are not in the room alone or the parking lot alone. He is aware that his show is located in a major metropolitan area and there is a criminal element out there. Bottom line is that Fred takes care of his dealers. The folks at the WSCA take care of their dealers. PJ at Serb Hall takes care of his dealers. John Leary doesn't give a crap about his dealers. I don't know how much longer I can put up with the hassle at Orland Park. In the meantime, I can't wait for Schaumburg this Sunday. I know I'll have a great, hassle-free time!
The Gonzaga show was excellent, just as pleasant as a show can and should be. I few of my regulars couldn't make it but I picked up some new customers and made a lot of sales. I bought a few cards and a cool 8X10 photo of the 1957 Milwaukee Braves signed by Del Crandall.
Some customers stayed at my table past the show closing time of 2 p.m. and no one harrassed them to leave like they do at Orland Park. Then a dealer came over and made a significant purchase. By the time I left at 3 p.m., several dealers were still set up and making sales. Mike, the VP of the WSCA, just sat back and chatted with another dealer while the other guys finished up looking at cards. No hassle. Why can't the Orland Park show be this way? I'm going back and forth on whether I want to continue setting up at the Orland Park Show. I know if I continue to set up there I will continue to be hassled after 2 p.m. So I'm leaning toward leaving the show. However, I've made a great many friends there who I enjoy seeing regularly and would hate to lose that. It's a really tough call.
This Sunday May 22, 2011, I am setting up at Fred Copp's Schaumburg, Illinois, show. While I don't make the same sales as I do at the other shows, I still really enjoy this show because Fred is absolutely terrific. I try and set up at one of Fred's shows at least once a month because Fred takes care of his dealers. A decade ago, when I was in law school and did not have much of an income, Fred would cut me some slack on the table fee if I had a bad show. Four years ago when I severely broke my ankle and was out of commission for months, Fred volunteered to unload my car and help me set up my table. So for several shows, my wife loaded up my car and Fred unloaded at the show. I can't say how much I appreciate the effort. I was stuck at home and in a lot of pain after getting a metal plate and 12 screws surgically inserted into my ankle. Getting out of the house helped me recover and I'll forever be in Fred's debt. Also, Fred doesn't care when you leave the room. He will never hassle you to get out, like John Leary at Orland Park. Fred will also make sure that you are not in the room alone or the parking lot alone. He is aware that his show is located in a major metropolitan area and there is a criminal element out there. Bottom line is that Fred takes care of his dealers. The folks at the WSCA take care of their dealers. PJ at Serb Hall takes care of his dealers. John Leary doesn't give a crap about his dealers. I don't know how much longer I can put up with the hassle at Orland Park. In the meantime, I can't wait for Schaumburg this Sunday. I know I'll have a great, hassle-free time!
RSS Feed
