STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

[DonTheLegend]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

with what ive seen over the last couple of years, the decent stuff flies out of the store very, very quickly.

if you're not the first couple dozen folks in line, you have little hope of getting some of the better items (in my opinion)

i was able to find some nice GU hats with , say, DK57 or the flag. i also saw a couple if GU Izzy hats left. however, at least for me, not alot of what i wanted.

i did see somebody walk out with a Larry Walker GU bat while i was in line. and another guy who was loaded down with GU jerseys, bats, hats......you name it. and thats what im trying to avoid this time around.

you can still pick up some stuff from lower tier players, relief pitchers and former obscure guys well after the initial rush.

after about 30 minutes to an hour, the place looks like a tornado rolled through it, so you really have to dig and force your way into certain areas.

the place isnt that big to start with.

good luck!!

[bigtruck260]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

i am seriously thinking about getting in line around 2 - 3am.

im trying to psyche myself up . i havent done the semi camp out thing in a few years.

i really, really want to get into the team store before everything disappears.

I am getting there after a good breakfast and then to the leftovers. I am really interested in snagging something from Juan Encarnacion. The most underrated player in Cards recent history.

Donnie - there is going to be snow on the ground man. Bring a habachi.

Dave

[Billyu40]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

2-3 am? Is it going to be that bad that in order to try and get games used stuff I have to stay up all night? Im not so sure about this!

[DonTheLegend]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

i am seriously thinking about getting in line around 2 - 3am.

im trying to psyche myself up . i havent done the semi camp out thing in a few years.

i really, really want to get into the team store before everything disappears.

[AWA85]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

Anyone checking out the Cardinals Caravans, I think I'll be making it to one of them. It says autographs for children, hoping they open it up to everyone after awhile though, little worried.

[Redbird64]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

Hey Guys

I'm new around here, and a huge Cardinals fan. I'll be flying in from California. I attended in 2006 but couldn't get there last year. Too bad because I have an Edmonds item I would have loved to get him to sign. Looking forward to the whole thing, big crowds and all......

[bigtruck260]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

I am probably back in the game. Donny - I will stay in touch.
See everyone else there if you are going to be in on Saturday. I might even have my little guy with me if he can behave.

Dave

[stlbats]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

I was just wondering if anyone else went. I was in line at 8:45 Friday night.

Stlstuff- were you able to get any tickets you wanted?

Thanks
Jason
ripken8@bellsouth.net

[STLStuff]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

I was in line a little before 6:00 a.m. What do you want to know?

Jeff

[stlbats]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

Anyone go to the early auto ticket sale today?

Jason
ripken8@bellsouth.net

[Billyu40]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

That bat guy is a pretty good guy . His prices are more than fair and has a great product. I just wish he would have read my mind and kept that Colby Rasmus bat I wanted to buy but didnt pull the trigger on. Ive heard of Buyers and sellers remorse but darn the I should have bought it remorse hurts the most. A great seller but a horrible mind reader

[bigtruck260]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

Wife just called - Her Grandmother is not doing so good...say prayers if you feel like it. Next weekend for me will depend on how this situation pans out...it stinks, but some things have priority. I enjoy sleeping in my own bed.

Dave

[bigtruck260]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

Jeff -

That was an awesome breakdown. You should have taught a business class at Webster when I was there.

I think I would have the the clubhouse attendants keep aside several good player bats during the season - or at least make sure the players put a few more used items aside for the warmup. There will be no shortage of folks bidding on these items. Maybe by offering more in the way of GU itmes, the prices on bats, jerseys, hats and spikes could spread out a little more and entice more people to bid. I am NOT placing a bid on a Duncan bat that is higher than $200. It's just not worth it for me...though the Cards Authentics Store was selling a busted one for $400 last year.

Limit the amount of dealers. This is the highest traffic area - or at least spread them out a little. I understand that this is a money maker...it is also what makes my blood pressure boil. Too many card dealers offering the same product - and most of them jack up prices for the event.Not to mention some of the dealers are the same ones that sell nothing at local shows...and they can be very agressive (not in a good way). They are not all kid-friendly and DO NOT mention eBay.

The guy with all the bats is a good guy - his pricing is fair.

Change the venue. Why does it have to be at the Millenium? If it was at a larger facility, much more could be done - including exhibits and clinics, etc. The store could be expanded, etc. What about the Dome?

Otherwise, I'm there Saturday.

Dave

[Birdbats]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

Just a few random observations about the auto guests and prices...

• Cardinals Care lost three of their "money tickets" this year. Eckstein ($125 last year), Edmonds and Rolen (both $90 last year) will not be at this year's event. Considering those guys all sold out last year, that's a ton of money CC won't be getting this year.
• Last year, they sold scratch-off raffle tickets (2 for $1) for an Edmonds, Carpenter or Rolen autograph chance. Not selling any such thing this year, so that's a loss of income. Still selling $1 scratch-offs to win a Pujols.
• Molina was not at last year's WWU. Seems they're trying to compensate for the loss of Edmonds by charging his price for Yadi. For the record, I've seen Yadi at one show since the '06WS, and his price was pretty much the same. It's high, but people will pay it.
• Ankiel and Isringhausen weren't at the show last year, so their $55/40 fees will make up for Rolen's absence. Given Ankiel's popularity, I'm shocked they're not charging $90 for him.
• Guys who went up in price: Duncan (30 to 40), LaRussa (25 to 30), Looper (10 to 25), Pujols (150 to 175), Rasmus (free to 30), Ryan (0 to 10) Schoendienst (55 to 60), Schumaker (free to 5), Wainwright (50 to 80).
• Guys who went down in price: Tyler Johnson (10 to 5), Kinney (10 to 5), Reyes (30 to 10), Carpenter (90 to 75).
• Guys who are the same: Flores (10), Herzog (50), Miles (15), Spiezio (50), Thompson (10). Miles and Spiezio didn't show last year because of the weather.
• There are 26 "for fee" autographs and 45 freebies this year. Last year, there were 25 "for fee" autographs and 39 freebies.
• If you bought one ticket for each guest this year, you'd spend $955. Last year, you'd have spent $1,115.

I agree some of the individual prices are just stupid. But, overall, you could make the argument that costs are actually lower and there are more free guests. Granted, there are fewer "stars" at this year's show, but the $300+ people spent on Edmonds, Rolen and Eckstein autographs last year can be used for other things this year.

If I could make one change, I'd eliminate the free autographs and charge less for the stars. Here's my thinking. If you've ever tried to get a free signature, you know the lines are LONG and often get cut off before you can even get in line. Very frustrating. If CC charged just $5 for these guys instead of nothing, the lines would be more manageable and everyone who bought a ticket would be guaranteed an autograph. With the income raised by the nominal $5 fees, you could afford to lower the cost of other autograph fees. For example, if this year's 45 freebies were $5 each and CC sold just 100 tickets for each guy on average, that would generate $22,500.

With $22,500 to work with, assuming your stars can sell 300 tickets each, CC could reduce six players' fees $10 each and one player $15 and come out even. These lower ticket costs could lead to even more income for CC because many people who, for example, won't pay $90 for Molina might pay $75. That's $75 more than CC would have received had they not lowered the price.

I know CC likes to have free autographs because it looks like good PR. What they don't seem to consider is the poor PR they get from overcharging on other guys, as well as the poor PR created by angry fans who can't get the free autographs or are forced to stand in line two hours to get Tom Lawless.

If you ran the WWU, what would you do differently?

[stlbats]

Re: STL Cardinals Winter Warm Up

Sorry about that guys I guess i read it wrong.

What is the early bird thing? Do they sell gameused items.

Are all game used item auctioned off or are some of them actually for sale? If so what kind of items are they?

Ive never been to the winter warm up and im fairly new to the game used world so sorry if my questions seem dumb.

Hey Billy,
the early bird sale is Saturday morning and only for admission/autograph tickets for next weekend. At the WWU there is usually some GU stuff for sale (usually common/former players, bats, hats, few jerseys) and some usually more popular players stuff for silent and live auctions. In the years past there has been a HUGE HUGE crowd, you can hardly walk in most areas. stlcardinals.com has details

Jason