Chicago area highways were all one large parking lot on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. I tried to weave my way around but ended up getting nowhere. It took me five hours to get to Indy. Once I made it to the La Quinta Inn on Saturday, September 5, 2015, I was happily greeted by the Speedway Gas Station sign next door announcing a $2.09 a gallon price -- woot! Gas was $2.75 a gallon when I left Chicago.
Load in was simple because I only brought out my binders this week after just bringing mostly display cases to Indy last week. My sales were much improved. I'll probably bring a combo of display cases and binders next month. I knew the binders would attract the Bob. It was nice being Bob-free at Fishers last week. Though, he wasn't too bad this time around. We were able to cut a deal on some Exhibits. He tried to low-ball but I stuck to my price.
There were more set-builders at the La Quinta show than at Fishers show which is odd because it is usually the other way around. My set-up is geared toward set builders so I was very pleased. The father and son team I met a while back at the Hoffman Estates, Illinois, show came out to see me and purchased their usual group of St. Louis Browns and Cardinals. Thanks guys!! My 50-cent box was a big hit. I wanted to bring some other cheapy boxes but I could not get them ready in time. Hopefully next month I'll have more cheapy boxes ready to go.
I wish I understood modern cards. It just seems that modern card dealers do a brisk business. I don't know if any of the modern card dealers are making any money but I watch these guys week after week buy and sell a ton of cards. Case in point: early on at the La Quinta show, Seth bought out the table next to me. Seth placed his newly purchased cards under his table. John then came over and bought all the cards on top of Seth's table, leaving mounds of cards under the table. Seth said he actually went home with more cards than he came with. It is kind of fun to watch these guys. Vintage is a whole different ball game. Sure there are guys like Gizmo who come around and buy guys out but most cards are sold in small quantities. You have to have great patience to be a vintage dealer.
No buys to report from this show. It seemed that the show cleared out around noon. I was on the road by 1 p.m. I knew it would be a nightmare heading home because I65 is all messed up. I tried to weave my way northwest, but like Friday, I ended up getting nowhere. Five hours later, I was home.
The brakes on my car have been shaky of late. By Saturday evening, they were feeling really funky so I decided to skip the flea market on Sunday. Sorry! I know guys showed up to see me. I gotta get my brakes fixed.
Up next is Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, September 12, 2015. I'm setting up at the Woodland Mall. I was last set up in Grand Rapids over the winter at a show held at a middle school gymnasium. As with all the Michigan shows, there was a nice turn out but sales were tough. Mark Smith is a regular dealer at the mall show and says it is pretty good. Mark is usually spot on. I only took one table because the fee was high. I think I am just going to bring out my binders and some cheapy boxes. I like Grand Rapids. It is a beautiful clean city. Grand Rapids also has the greatest doughnuts in the world and I am looking forward to chowing down on a few.
On Sunday, I'm at my favorite show -- Gonzaga Hall in Milwaukee. I will have my 1966 Topps baseball binder reloaded on ready to go by Sunday. I'm going to try and get some other stuff ready as well. I am looking forward to another excellent baseball card weekend. Come on out and see me!!
Don't forget my show on Saturday, September 19, 2015, at the Clarion, 5311 S. Howell, in Milwaukee. I could really use all hands on deck. Thanks!!
Pictured below are modern card collectors hovering at good guy Brian Mayne's table at the La Quinta Show this past weekend.
Load in was simple because I only brought out my binders this week after just bringing mostly display cases to Indy last week. My sales were much improved. I'll probably bring a combo of display cases and binders next month. I knew the binders would attract the Bob. It was nice being Bob-free at Fishers last week. Though, he wasn't too bad this time around. We were able to cut a deal on some Exhibits. He tried to low-ball but I stuck to my price.
There were more set-builders at the La Quinta show than at Fishers show which is odd because it is usually the other way around. My set-up is geared toward set builders so I was very pleased. The father and son team I met a while back at the Hoffman Estates, Illinois, show came out to see me and purchased their usual group of St. Louis Browns and Cardinals. Thanks guys!! My 50-cent box was a big hit. I wanted to bring some other cheapy boxes but I could not get them ready in time. Hopefully next month I'll have more cheapy boxes ready to go.
I wish I understood modern cards. It just seems that modern card dealers do a brisk business. I don't know if any of the modern card dealers are making any money but I watch these guys week after week buy and sell a ton of cards. Case in point: early on at the La Quinta show, Seth bought out the table next to me. Seth placed his newly purchased cards under his table. John then came over and bought all the cards on top of Seth's table, leaving mounds of cards under the table. Seth said he actually went home with more cards than he came with. It is kind of fun to watch these guys. Vintage is a whole different ball game. Sure there are guys like Gizmo who come around and buy guys out but most cards are sold in small quantities. You have to have great patience to be a vintage dealer.
No buys to report from this show. It seemed that the show cleared out around noon. I was on the road by 1 p.m. I knew it would be a nightmare heading home because I65 is all messed up. I tried to weave my way northwest, but like Friday, I ended up getting nowhere. Five hours later, I was home.
The brakes on my car have been shaky of late. By Saturday evening, they were feeling really funky so I decided to skip the flea market on Sunday. Sorry! I know guys showed up to see me. I gotta get my brakes fixed.
Up next is Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, September 12, 2015. I'm setting up at the Woodland Mall. I was last set up in Grand Rapids over the winter at a show held at a middle school gymnasium. As with all the Michigan shows, there was a nice turn out but sales were tough. Mark Smith is a regular dealer at the mall show and says it is pretty good. Mark is usually spot on. I only took one table because the fee was high. I think I am just going to bring out my binders and some cheapy boxes. I like Grand Rapids. It is a beautiful clean city. Grand Rapids also has the greatest doughnuts in the world and I am looking forward to chowing down on a few.
On Sunday, I'm at my favorite show -- Gonzaga Hall in Milwaukee. I will have my 1966 Topps baseball binder reloaded on ready to go by Sunday. I'm going to try and get some other stuff ready as well. I am looking forward to another excellent baseball card weekend. Come on out and see me!!
Don't forget my show on Saturday, September 19, 2015, at the Clarion, 5311 S. Howell, in Milwaukee. I could really use all hands on deck. Thanks!!
Pictured below are modern card collectors hovering at good guy Brian Mayne's table at the La Quinta Show this past weekend.
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