Saturday, May 26, 2024, Sheraton Hotel, Madison, WI
I usually arrive around 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. and always have difficulty setting up with throngs of people already in the room. This month I arrived at 8 a.m. Woot! Hardly anybody in the room, so I went to the faux Starbucks and ordered some coffee and breakfast and chilled at my tables before setting up.
This was my first show in months where people weren't trying to go through my stuff while I was setting up. It is so nice to be able to set up while unencumbered. I completed set up well before the opening bell of 9 a.m.
Shortly after setting up, a few regulars started going through the binders. New this month was 1971 Topps baseball. My first customer of the day pulled a nice stack of Philadelphia football from the 1960's. Second customer pulled some cards out of my 1950's football binder.
Football was the story early on. This really nice couple I met at the show a few months ago, sat down and spent a good hour pulling football cards. I brought out all of my football binders today, along with all of my baseball and hockey. I had one guy go through all the hockey binders and pull a stack of 10-cent cards.
Then it seemed like my 1956 Topps baseball binder had a huge magnet attracting the set builders, who were out early today. My people! There was a guy I met a few months ago, who told me he purchased a near '56 set for just $10. I have a hard time believing him. Anyway, he pulled some cards along with his buddy. Then a line formed for the '56 binder. Crazy! I can't remember how many guys went through there but at least five or six. I sold a TON of '56 Topps today which is so weird because I had that binder filled for months with hardly a glance at all the other shows.
Between 10 and 11 a.m., I was crazy busy. I had that line for the '56 and people standing in front of every inch of my three tables going through binders. Woot! Great day!!!
There was a guy I met at this show a year or two ago, who sold me several binders of Philadelphia football. He approached today carrying a binder of 1966 Topps baseball. I initially thought he was going to offer to sell me the cards. Instead, he spent a good hour pulling cards from my '66 binder to nearly complete his set. Awesome!
Around noon, things died down with just a trickle of sales through 2 p.m. when I started to pack up. This seems to be my pattern in Madison -- very busy in the morning and slow in the afternoon, which works for me because my mornings are so good! I really appreciate everyone who purchased cards from me. I had a tremendous day!
On the buying front, an older gentleman had a beat-up binder of cards from 1955 through 1958. Most of the cards were creased. He said there were 150 cards in there and he wanted $2 a card. Well, I sell cards in that condition for 50 cents to $1. I could not pay $2 per card. There were some 1958 Topps game cards that I figured I could make a little money on and offered $200 for the binder. He rejected my offer and shopped the binder around.
I learned later that Eric purchased the binder for $300. I think he overpaid. He thinks he can recoup his money on the 1958's which were in better condition than the '55 Bowman and '56 Topps. There were some minor stars like Hank Bauer and Bob Lemon but I still think he will have a tough time breaking even on the deal. Eric then sold me the beater '55s and '56s for $25. My only purchase of the day.
Nevertheless, an excellent day! Next Madison show is June 22. This show has been so consistent for me. I can't wait for that June 22nd show!
In the meantime, it is Oak Creek Week! I'll be heading up Friday to set up the show which should be interesting since I have wayyy oversold it. I am hoping some dealers drop out this week.
As usual, I am behind on responding to messages. I will start responding today. I find it remarkable that people ask me for tables every day, seven days a week. There is never a day where I do not get a request for a table. I wish I had room for everybody!
Even if you can't set up, you should still come out and enjoy the show!! Hope to see you Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in beautiful Oak Creek, Wisconsin!!
Below are a couple of photos I snapped early on in Madison.
I usually arrive around 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. and always have difficulty setting up with throngs of people already in the room. This month I arrived at 8 a.m. Woot! Hardly anybody in the room, so I went to the faux Starbucks and ordered some coffee and breakfast and chilled at my tables before setting up.
This was my first show in months where people weren't trying to go through my stuff while I was setting up. It is so nice to be able to set up while unencumbered. I completed set up well before the opening bell of 9 a.m.
Shortly after setting up, a few regulars started going through the binders. New this month was 1971 Topps baseball. My first customer of the day pulled a nice stack of Philadelphia football from the 1960's. Second customer pulled some cards out of my 1950's football binder.
Football was the story early on. This really nice couple I met at the show a few months ago, sat down and spent a good hour pulling football cards. I brought out all of my football binders today, along with all of my baseball and hockey. I had one guy go through all the hockey binders and pull a stack of 10-cent cards.
Then it seemed like my 1956 Topps baseball binder had a huge magnet attracting the set builders, who were out early today. My people! There was a guy I met a few months ago, who told me he purchased a near '56 set for just $10. I have a hard time believing him. Anyway, he pulled some cards along with his buddy. Then a line formed for the '56 binder. Crazy! I can't remember how many guys went through there but at least five or six. I sold a TON of '56 Topps today which is so weird because I had that binder filled for months with hardly a glance at all the other shows.
Between 10 and 11 a.m., I was crazy busy. I had that line for the '56 and people standing in front of every inch of my three tables going through binders. Woot! Great day!!!
There was a guy I met at this show a year or two ago, who sold me several binders of Philadelphia football. He approached today carrying a binder of 1966 Topps baseball. I initially thought he was going to offer to sell me the cards. Instead, he spent a good hour pulling cards from my '66 binder to nearly complete his set. Awesome!
Around noon, things died down with just a trickle of sales through 2 p.m. when I started to pack up. This seems to be my pattern in Madison -- very busy in the morning and slow in the afternoon, which works for me because my mornings are so good! I really appreciate everyone who purchased cards from me. I had a tremendous day!
On the buying front, an older gentleman had a beat-up binder of cards from 1955 through 1958. Most of the cards were creased. He said there were 150 cards in there and he wanted $2 a card. Well, I sell cards in that condition for 50 cents to $1. I could not pay $2 per card. There were some 1958 Topps game cards that I figured I could make a little money on and offered $200 for the binder. He rejected my offer and shopped the binder around.
I learned later that Eric purchased the binder for $300. I think he overpaid. He thinks he can recoup his money on the 1958's which were in better condition than the '55 Bowman and '56 Topps. There were some minor stars like Hank Bauer and Bob Lemon but I still think he will have a tough time breaking even on the deal. Eric then sold me the beater '55s and '56s for $25. My only purchase of the day.
Nevertheless, an excellent day! Next Madison show is June 22. This show has been so consistent for me. I can't wait for that June 22nd show!
In the meantime, it is Oak Creek Week! I'll be heading up Friday to set up the show which should be interesting since I have wayyy oversold it. I am hoping some dealers drop out this week.
As usual, I am behind on responding to messages. I will start responding today. I find it remarkable that people ask me for tables every day, seven days a week. There is never a day where I do not get a request for a table. I wish I had room for everybody!
Even if you can't set up, you should still come out and enjoy the show!! Hope to see you Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in beautiful Oak Creek, Wisconsin!!
Below are a couple of photos I snapped early on in Madison.
Pictured above is big Mark setting up in the morning. Mark is pretty much all slabs these days. He sells both modern and vintage. Man, oh, man, does he have some vintage! He has one case filled with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. Amazing stuff.
Tommy M, pictured above, was busy early in Madison. Overall, excellent crowd today!
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