dealer shortage at Expo?

BenDMitchell

BenDMitchell

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With the lockout in progress, are there any dealers that would normally go to the Expo, sitting this one out fearing lack of interest?
 
There may be, but I don't think it will be noticeable overall. What the lockout really hurts is attendance.
 
I don't know if there will be a lack of interest as much as there will be a lack of people wanting to throw down big money on cards. I've spoken to a few dealers who are not going because they don't want to "give away" their inventory. If you're a buyer, it should be a good show. If you're selling and want top dollar for your cards, you might be in tough.
 
Good point. Last lockout, Friday was rife with dealers essentially cannibalizing one another for sales. I didn't have so much trouble - sharpened my pencil a little, kept a sense of humour, and for the most part had a decent show.
 
Maybe we need to come up with special incentives for buyers:

* "BUCK FETTMAN" T-shirts
* "NHLPA - No Hockey Leaves People Angry" T-shirts
* 25% off if your guy scored a goal overseas last night
* 80% off if you can correctly name and spell all the teams in the KHL
* 100% off if you wear an uglier shirt than Q
 
We attend , or setup every year. We are doing neither this fall. I usually rip about 10 cases of product for redemptions, but am passing on all of this year. I dont think it will be a bad year, but for us, simply too costly to travel that far, as I think attendance will be down, and so will buying.
I know in our store, there is a general complete lack on interest in wax and singles sales, and group breaks are impossible to fill. Too many people ( fans and collectors) that are fed up with the whole state of the lockout, and the millionares/billionares fighting with millionares . I know that we are fine with the wide range of items that we carry in our store and online, with football, nascar and non gaming etc, but I hope that this does not spell the end of more hobby shops in canada like it did last time. There are not very many pure card shops anymore, so it might be OK for the industry.
 
This is just my 2 cents to the table but the last expo i set up at was the other lockout and i had a really good show.I feel true set collectors and player collectors if they need the card,they will get it.I am very excited about the show lock out or not.Looking forward to doing sales,trades,visits with friends and all that comes along with the expo!!I have been excited about expo since the beginning of the year!!!!If your in this hobby to become rich.............wrong hobby.............
 
I am also very excited for this Expo. I am always excited for expo. As soon as I leave Expo, I start looking forward to the next one.

It is the best place to be around lots of like minded people where we all have the hobby in common. I love the hobby, always have and Expo is the semi-annual highlight for me. I probably average 3 hours a day doing hobby related things and that was before getting involved with HI as I have. Now its even more.

Anyway, I love the hobby, even during lockouts. I collect cards. Simple as that. A bunch of spoiled rotten multi-millionaires won't change that. (It does helps that my two main PC guys are a retired player and a guy who has only played 7 NHL games in his career.)

I expect the Expo to be better than most expect. People will be looking for deals but I also think there will be deals to be had. If you have room to move on your cards as a vendor, you should do fine.

Plus I am super pumped that a few buddies of mine who haven't been in a couple years will be there this time and we get to hang out and on top of that I look forward to seeing all the usual suspects and hopefully meeting more collectors (HI members or not) and making more friends through this hobby. Some of my best friends have come through the hobby partly from being an Expo regular for close to 10 years now so I just look forward to seeing everyone, and looking at, and buying and selling, cards for three straight days.

I am bringing lots of cards for my booth (#602) and will be able to offer some very good prices on many pieces. Some will be more expensive simply because I overpaid for them and and willing to wait out this softer period.

End of the day, I'm not bummed at all. Worst thing that happens is that I pick up a few PC pieces, sell or trade away a few pieces to other people's PC's and if I make one new friend and get to put one more face to a name, I will consider it a success.

If you are coming to Expo, please be sure to come say hello to me. I always hear "I came by but you were busy so I didn't want to bother you". REALLY!!! Screw that! Come say hi, interrupt me throw pepperoni at me whatever, please do not come to Expo and not come say hi. The more faces to the names the better.

That's it, back to the excel model I'm working on now.
 
Well there is more pressure on us to make In The GameLand more fun than ever.

I'm up for the challenge, so starting tomorrow, we are going to come up with some more ideas to bring people into the show and into our booth.

Hope I can get some good stuff going in just two weeks.

Rick, don't give up yet. Creative people can do some creative things.

Brian Price
 
The best part about the EXPO is talking to other hobbyists there. The last time I went it was more a social gathering and people were discussing the hobby, hockey, and showing off each others best cards which was real fun. I wouldn't doubt a decline in people chasing the high end rookies there though. Personally, I have no interest in the newer stuff because of the lock out.
 
Have a great EXPO everyone. I had to delete my post as one of the other dealers on here decided they needed to once again complain so my earlier comments result in an email from manufacturer.

This is one FUNNY PLACE.
 
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The last lock out was a spectacular show for me. I am looking forward to it. Regardless I am a hobby nerd so I just love being there period. Ain't no strike gonna hold this caper back
 
btw to answer this question now that I have been at the expo a few days. No dealer shortage. There is a shortage of clean smelling air but not a dealer shortage.
 
For me the sales have been really down this show. I know my inventory is getting older, but I do have high end autos, but not a lot of people are buying. I've gotten for more "just browsing" answers than ever. The numbers are down, but also the general desire to buy. It is tough this year. So much so, that I'm going to forgo the spring show, ending my 14 show streak. I think my $580 would be better served in eBay fees, and the 35 hours I spend for the show, be better spent selling on eBay. I'll sell more in less time.
 
I didnt notice a dealer shortage there. I did notice there were more, how do you say..... flea marketish type vendors? Not that it is bad, but some of them had 10% sport and the rest miscellaneous collectibles.

I didnt spend a whole lot, only bought 1 thing this year. Me and the nephew missed out on a ticket to spin the wheel at In The Gameland, but was still nice there as always.


Prices seemed decent, but did notice a lot of people with lots of decently discounted pieces. Almost bought a signed Lafleur jersey cause the price was right, but it looked like a Chinese knock off so I didnt (stitching was off and jersey numbers weren't tackle twill).

Nephew got some freebies from vendors, seemed to be a bit less this time around tho.
But all in all we both had a good time the 2 hours we were there.
 
We were talking about this Thursday ight at Lonestar's. Sure, the lockout affects the EXPO. There may be a few dealers who don't attend but there are always the new guys willing to give it a shot that take the available spots.

As for buyers; attendance may be down but most people who attend are motiviated buyers - they go there to buy.
 

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