According to most of the dealers I spoke with, the show was a bomb.
Attendance was sparse and most collectors were not dropping large amounts
of cash in the room. However, dealer to dealer sales were fairly good
with most of the action taking place during set-up. They would have been
even better if retail sales throughout the show had been better.

From a selling standpoint, this was my worst National ever (I've done 14
of them). I had two large dealer sales on Wednesday, but these were
pre-arranged and could have been handled through the mail. Many dealers I
spoke to went hours between sales at their tables. It was, for me, a
great buying show. I spent more than I sold (a first for me at the
National)...prices on a lot of things were just too good to pass up. I
bought several boxes of 2003 UD Golf for under $25 per box, cases of 2001
UD golf at $86 per case (I know golf is kinda dead, but I have a lot of
customers in Japan that still buy it and I figured I couldn't go wrong
at under $8 per box), tons of singles priced at under 20% of guide.

The facility was very nice and load-in was really easy (load-out for most
people was a different story). Lots of dealers packed up on Saturday.
The hotel rates in AC were the highest of any city that has ever hosted a
National. The city itself is a dump. The casinos are a big disappointment
for those who have ever visited Las Vegas (although the new Borgata is
nice).

My overall impression of the show was that it was boring. No excitement
in the room. Not a lot of collectors trying to sell their cards to
dealers in comparison ot other Nationals. This was also the first
National in 5 or 6 years that I didn't meet any of my mail order customers.
I generally have at least a dozen people introduce themselves to me as
past ebay customers, but this year there weren't any. I'd be really
surprised if they hold the National in AC in three years as planned (I
heard talk of moving it to Philly instead...don't know how true that'll
be).

Next year's National is in Cleveland...if you're a collector, you should
try to go. I think Mike's assessment below will still be true next year.




MIFA23 wrote:
: For me, it was the best show I have ever attended.
: Basically everthing on my list was obtained and more. I found TWO cards I had
: been looking for for four (did I say that three times?) years. I found stuff
: there for MUCH cheaper than what they go for on line. Any box you were looking
: for was there. Any single was also there.
: Came back with an absolute ton of stuff.
: Can't imagine a better show anywhere.
: Mike
: "Support your local card store and ENJOY the greatest hobby in the world"
: Mike
: Member of 2 good dealers groups
: (TIC) and CDN#99