Nice crowd at the Gonzaga show today (February 26, 2012), the room was jam packed from 9 a.m. until noon. Even at 2 p.m., some dealers and customers remained and deals being made as I vacated the room.
Prior to the show, I had planned to put out some cheapie boxes, something I do on occasion at this show, but I was so busy early on, I didn't get to put out my dime box and I wasn't able to get my dollar box out until noon. My problem was that I was a little slow setting up, as usual. Shortly after I placed my binders out, there was a crowd at my table. I was so crowded that I noticed customers walking by my table several times, trying to find an opening to get in and check out some cards. I probably lost some sales today because some customers couldn't get up to my table.
There was a large crowd by the auction today as well. I talked to Keith, the president of the Wisconsin Sports Collectors Association, the group that puts on this show, and he assured me that he is planning to make some changes with the auction to protect autograph buyers. As I wrote last month, I purchased a fake autograph at the auction a few years ago and was a little discouraged when I heard one of the auctioneers advise customers last show to avoid authenticating autographs purchased at the auction. Keith said buyers should get their autographs authenticated and he will take care of any problems that may arise. Keith was definitely sincere when he said he will do all he can to protect customers. All the money the association earns from the auction goes to charity and after talking with Keith, I fully support the auction and recommend that customers participate fully.
Back at my tables, I was too busy to follow the auction today. The dealer on my left, P.J., told me he purchased a complete set of Sportscaster cards for 50 dollars at the auction today. P.J. said the set is worth about $2,000. The cards are cool. He showed me a Wayne Gretsky card where the Great One looked like a little kid. I'm guessing the card was from 1979 or 1980. The dealer next to P.J. today was Dave, who hasn't been around for a while. He told me he was out of commission because he broke his foot playing basketball. Been there, done that, and I have a metal strip with 12 screws in my left ankle to show for it. The dealer next to Dave today was Rolf, an autograph dealer and former show promoter. We had a nice group of dealers today at my end of the show.
Jim was the first customer at my table today. I've probably talked about Jim before. He collects vintage sports and non-sports cards along with vintage tin soldiers. He was telling me how he recently picked up some World War I tin soldiers. I'd love to see his collection one day. Mark was there shortly after Jim, and he picked up quite a few '57 and '58 football cards. I had a bunch of guys working on Braves and Brewers team sets today. My customer who collects Italian ballplayers found a bunch of '57s today. I sold some '70s basketball to a new customer. My customer who is working on sets from most every year, took a nice large pile of cards today. Steve picked up my PSA '61-62 Topps Bobby Hull and '57 Topps Brooks Robinson rookie. Jason picked up my T206 Ed Ciccotte and 1934-35 Batter Up Ted Lyons and Willis Hudlin. A new customer purchased my '52 Bowman Don Newcombe along with a pile of '73s. The guy from the Mears auction house picked up a nice '63 Topps checklist. I accepted a six dollar check for some '70s football from an older guy I met at the show last month. He was with a collector who was upgrading his vintage sets at my table. I sold some '75s out of my newly updated book. My 50-cent box got a nice work out today. So did my dollar box for the few hours I had it out. I sold much more stuff, but as I write this, my memory is in a fog.
On the buying front, the numb-nut, who is at every show trying to sell cards to customers at MY table, was around with his box of Braves cards. When he set the box down on my display case to show someone some cards, covering my cards on my table that I have to pay money for, blocking the display from paying customers, I had to say something and I think for the first time he may have realized that I don't want him around. Another guy came around and said he had some cards to sell but didn't bring them. I hear this sort of thing at every show where someone approaches me and says they have this or that to sell but they never have the cards with them. I always tell them to bring me the cards to look at and have a price in mind that they would like to receive for the cards. It is a rare occasion when these folks return with actual cards to sell. Another guy had a binder of '70 Topps baseball. I didn't even look at the cards or ask him the price because I've dealt with him in the past and he is much too high. Brad had a small pile of 1950s-60s commons and stars but they were really beat up. He wanted $70 for something I'd pay about 20 bucks for, so I passed. I did pick up a '60 Topps Mickey Mantle All Star from a new customer. The guy I purchased the 1965 Chicago White Sox pocket schedule from last month, had a pair of 1964 Kahn's Weiners commons today that I picked up. I've never had these cards before and am going to post them on the Bay and see how they do.
In sum, very busy, sales were good but not too many buys to be had. I can't make the Gonzaga show next month but will return with piles of new cards for the April show. Next week is a double bill with Orland on Saturday and Schaumburg on Sunday. I'm hoping to have a binder of '75 Topps Minis ready to go along with a new pile of stars for the display cases. I started reloading my '76 binder but I don't think I'll have it done in time. Also in the works are '59 football and '70-71 basketball. Thanks to everyone who bought cards from me today, I truly appreciate your business. Hopefully, I'll see the same sort of crowd next weekend in Orland and Schaumburg. Also, don't forget to check out my eBay auctions under the selling name "tabithagordon." I currently have 125 or so vintage cards up for auction on eBay.
Prior to the show, I had planned to put out some cheapie boxes, something I do on occasion at this show, but I was so busy early on, I didn't get to put out my dime box and I wasn't able to get my dollar box out until noon. My problem was that I was a little slow setting up, as usual. Shortly after I placed my binders out, there was a crowd at my table. I was so crowded that I noticed customers walking by my table several times, trying to find an opening to get in and check out some cards. I probably lost some sales today because some customers couldn't get up to my table.
There was a large crowd by the auction today as well. I talked to Keith, the president of the Wisconsin Sports Collectors Association, the group that puts on this show, and he assured me that he is planning to make some changes with the auction to protect autograph buyers. As I wrote last month, I purchased a fake autograph at the auction a few years ago and was a little discouraged when I heard one of the auctioneers advise customers last show to avoid authenticating autographs purchased at the auction. Keith said buyers should get their autographs authenticated and he will take care of any problems that may arise. Keith was definitely sincere when he said he will do all he can to protect customers. All the money the association earns from the auction goes to charity and after talking with Keith, I fully support the auction and recommend that customers participate fully.
Back at my tables, I was too busy to follow the auction today. The dealer on my left, P.J., told me he purchased a complete set of Sportscaster cards for 50 dollars at the auction today. P.J. said the set is worth about $2,000. The cards are cool. He showed me a Wayne Gretsky card where the Great One looked like a little kid. I'm guessing the card was from 1979 or 1980. The dealer next to P.J. today was Dave, who hasn't been around for a while. He told me he was out of commission because he broke his foot playing basketball. Been there, done that, and I have a metal strip with 12 screws in my left ankle to show for it. The dealer next to Dave today was Rolf, an autograph dealer and former show promoter. We had a nice group of dealers today at my end of the show.
Jim was the first customer at my table today. I've probably talked about Jim before. He collects vintage sports and non-sports cards along with vintage tin soldiers. He was telling me how he recently picked up some World War I tin soldiers. I'd love to see his collection one day. Mark was there shortly after Jim, and he picked up quite a few '57 and '58 football cards. I had a bunch of guys working on Braves and Brewers team sets today. My customer who collects Italian ballplayers found a bunch of '57s today. I sold some '70s basketball to a new customer. My customer who is working on sets from most every year, took a nice large pile of cards today. Steve picked up my PSA '61-62 Topps Bobby Hull and '57 Topps Brooks Robinson rookie. Jason picked up my T206 Ed Ciccotte and 1934-35 Batter Up Ted Lyons and Willis Hudlin. A new customer purchased my '52 Bowman Don Newcombe along with a pile of '73s. The guy from the Mears auction house picked up a nice '63 Topps checklist. I accepted a six dollar check for some '70s football from an older guy I met at the show last month. He was with a collector who was upgrading his vintage sets at my table. I sold some '75s out of my newly updated book. My 50-cent box got a nice work out today. So did my dollar box for the few hours I had it out. I sold much more stuff, but as I write this, my memory is in a fog.
On the buying front, the numb-nut, who is at every show trying to sell cards to customers at MY table, was around with his box of Braves cards. When he set the box down on my display case to show someone some cards, covering my cards on my table that I have to pay money for, blocking the display from paying customers, I had to say something and I think for the first time he may have realized that I don't want him around. Another guy came around and said he had some cards to sell but didn't bring them. I hear this sort of thing at every show where someone approaches me and says they have this or that to sell but they never have the cards with them. I always tell them to bring me the cards to look at and have a price in mind that they would like to receive for the cards. It is a rare occasion when these folks return with actual cards to sell. Another guy had a binder of '70 Topps baseball. I didn't even look at the cards or ask him the price because I've dealt with him in the past and he is much too high. Brad had a small pile of 1950s-60s commons and stars but they were really beat up. He wanted $70 for something I'd pay about 20 bucks for, so I passed. I did pick up a '60 Topps Mickey Mantle All Star from a new customer. The guy I purchased the 1965 Chicago White Sox pocket schedule from last month, had a pair of 1964 Kahn's Weiners commons today that I picked up. I've never had these cards before and am going to post them on the Bay and see how they do.
In sum, very busy, sales were good but not too many buys to be had. I can't make the Gonzaga show next month but will return with piles of new cards for the April show. Next week is a double bill with Orland on Saturday and Schaumburg on Sunday. I'm hoping to have a binder of '75 Topps Minis ready to go along with a new pile of stars for the display cases. I started reloading my '76 binder but I don't think I'll have it done in time. Also in the works are '59 football and '70-71 basketball. Thanks to everyone who bought cards from me today, I truly appreciate your business. Hopefully, I'll see the same sort of crowd next weekend in Orland and Schaumburg. Also, don't forget to check out my eBay auctions under the selling name "tabithagordon." I currently have 125 or so vintage cards up for auction on eBay.
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