card show talk - my experience

[crankbait09]

went to my LCS today and was talking with the owner for a bit. Come to find out, there was a card show going on about 30 minutes away.........Thought about it for a bit, and decided to go. I haven't been to a card show in 25+ years, so I was kinda interested to see how it was again.

Not sure how many tables were there, but there seemed to be a decent amount. I'd say that 75% of all the tables were nothing but Pokemon cards. holy crap. I don't know when Pokemon came out, but I certainly don't remember ever seeing it last time I went. But there were tons!!

As I made my way through looking for my PC's, I was quickly reminded that I don't belong there

Unless you are only looking to buy; trading/selling are not enjoyable for the everyday hobbyist. At least not for me. I understand the vendors are there to make money. that's it. Maybe they enjoy collecting as well, but man, the low ball offers that I witnessed for ppl trying to wheel and deal, was insane. I kept hearing - i have to make "$XX" on this card, so I have to buy with that in mind. these comps say this so I'm offering you even less than that. take it or leave it.

My main goal in attending this show was to try and trade my micro mosaic for another. I couldn't find the mosaic I wanted, but I ended up actually talking with one of the vendors before I left. I mentioned wanting to trade and he started comparing the comps. he said he'd trade me a few cards if I wanted to trade the one I had. he said, i'd give you $70 for it, since it sold for $80 however long ago. the comps were all over the place, but he went with the lowest. i'm like, hell no. ain't no way I'm doing that. I couldn't find the card I wanted, anywhere. so I left with my dignity in tact

I saw a lot of young kids walking around with hard boxes/cases of I would assume, were slabs, or $$$ cards that they were looking to trade/sell. not sure how they find this enjoyable. This is not a kids hobby anymore. at least that's how I feel. It is crazy how much all this costs to be able to partake. I understand we all gotta start somewhere, but it just seems like no one at these shows are in it for PC/fun. its about making the $.

For me, it didn't seem like much fun at all. Like I said, if I went there with only the intention of buying cards to add to my PC, then I think all would be well.
but any type of negotiating would kill that. Especially since it has to benefit the seller.

I don't know anything about Pokemon, not sure if that is the same way. I'd imagine so. A lot more kids were at those tables than that of sports.

This isn't a rant, kinda just mentioning my experience. Think I'll just stick to this forum and trading.

 

[bigwallastyle]

I go to card shows in STL every so often and I skip all the tables with the $600 price tags and look for the guys with the bargain boxes off to the side. Sometimes, you catch people that just want to get rid of stuff and that's where I hang out.

Basically, I just go with the idea that I'm going to skip 80% of the tables or just windowshop as I'm not interested in spending a car payment for a Judge auto.

 

[cornwellfamily]

I try to do a half dozen shows a year, meaning setting up and selling cards or try to trade for cards or items to add to the Mancave or put in my pc(Banks n Mathews). If any profits that just goes to replace what I may have sold. I have come to hate the word COMPS but live with it. Pokemon has overtaken sports cards. It seems to be cheaper then hobby boxes of sports cards.
As far as the kids walking around with their cases they are making bank. The last show I was a part of the vendor across from me paid a kid 6000.00 for 3 cards, it was unbelievable. They were Ohtani and Judge cards. Way out of my price range. My hof items are an older collectors preference and the kids pretty much just pass by. I break even considering table and time costs, if I make above I put it towards my needs and the mancave

 

[crankbait09]

I did notice that slabs/graded cards are the go to, for most. I saw those everywhere. I understand those increase the value, but man, these vendors had them on display with a hefty price tag to go along with.

I csme across a case hit that was graded. He was asking 1k for it. I guess if he gets it, thats a lot of profit. Goal met!!

 

[Kirbyfan34]

i've been pondering selling at a local flea market this summer and i feel like I could do all right, just to get rid of some of my bulk stuff. I am currently sorting non pc stuff into teams and players, separating HOF players and stars like Ohtani, Judge, etc. Also hope to make so homemade holiday/christmas ornaments cut from the trunk of our real christmas tree to sell also as not everyone is into sports cards.... Will keep everyone posted on those developments.

But yeah last show I went to was last March and it was kinda chaotic to try to sift through boxes looking for PC or set needs.

 

[YankeesFan0428]

The shows I go to in Houston often have decent deals, lots of 50 cent and dollar bins and it’s pretty easy to trade nicer Astros for Yankees I need.

There are definitely a few guys whose tables I avoid like the plague, though, because they are nonstop picking and choosing between whichever comps make them the most. One card books for $1,000 (but sells for a hundred), so it’s listed for $1k. another card comps for $150 (but books $50), so it’s listed at $200 but he’ll meet you at $150. You get the point. You have to really know your stuff and be tough enough to walk away when it doesn’t feel right, which I guess most people aren’t— some of those tables feel like being at a car dealership.

On your note about the kids with the cases. Yeah, it’s insane. I’ve seen it, too. Really high end cards. The kids are just as big into flipping as the dealers, though I really can’t blame them with the prices for “wax.” The other day at my LCS, a dad walked in with his 12 year old and dropped $850 on a few Topps Chrome Sapphire boxes. I couldn’t believe it. They ripped it there. The shop owner was genuinely excited for the kid, or tried to be, but the kid didn’t get anything big — a few low numbered cards and an auto for some random rookie. The kid was in good spirits about it but spending that much felt so wrong. I mean, there were so many nice singles in the shop that the dad and kid could have gotten versus just hunting for riches.

 

[key2win]

Card shows were more fun in the late 90s and 2000s. There were more trading going on at booths, dozens of dollar/quarter/dime boxes everywhere, and kids could actually afford packs and boxes since they had low end options for them.

Especially since Covid, nows its all about grading, posting expensive stuff you have/sell/find on social media, everyone tries to rip you off, and its all about making a huge profit. Its not the same hobby for collectors like it used to be.

 

[PRosefan1]

The shows I go to in Houston often have decent deals, lots of 50 cent and dollar bins and it’s pretty easy to trade nicer Astros for Yankees I need.

There are definitely a few guys whose tables I avoid like the plague, though, because they are nonstop picking and choosing between whichever comps make them the most. One card books for $1,000 (but sells for a hundred), so it’s listed for $1k. another card comps for $150 (but books $50), so it’s listed at $200 but he’ll meet you at $150. You get the point. You have to really know your stuff and be tough enough to walk away when it doesn’t feel right, which I guess most people aren’t— some of those tables feel like being at a car dealership.

On your note about the kids with the cases. Yeah, it’s insane. I’ve seen it, too. Really high end cards. The kids are just as big into flipping as the dealers, though I really can’t blame them with the prices for “wax.” The other day at my LCS, a dad walked in with his 12 year old and dropped $850 on a few Topps Chrome Sapphire boxes. I couldn’t believe it. They ripped it there. The shop owner was genuinely excited for the kid, or tried to be, but the kid didn’t get anything big — a few low numbered cards and an auto for some random rookie. The kid was in good spirits about it but spending that much felt so wrong. I mean, there were so many nice singles in the shop that the dad and kid could have gotten versus just hunting for riches.

That would have been over 23 boxes of 89' upper deck for that same 850.00!! I remember thinking upper deck was crazy for charging a dollar a pack!! LOL. I have all but quit buying new product. Aside from the blasters that loved ones get me for Christmas and Birthdays. Enjoying taking the 50 bucks for two blasters full of crap and buying a solid HOF autograph or nice vintage hall of famer instead.

 

[TC84]

Last "card show" I was at was at the signing event for Cowboys/Oilers. Vendors had their cards and mem for sale... maybe 20 dealers. Small compared to what I've heard they're like now. In between signings I would look for Cowboys cards and other PC cards. Only raw... even in 2011 the graded cards were overpriced. I had a good experience because I found a Jerry Rice RC for $40. Needed that one! And as I was looking at his other cards a Randy Moss '98 Press Pass Kickoff jumped out to me, probably cuz it was die cut. Cool card, the best part was the info on the back. It said Moss didn't go to combine because of mouth surgery... I knew that to mean he was getting braces put on his teeth and you often saw them in during his rookie year. I just thought that was a cool factoid, so I told the seller if I bought the Rice would he throw in the Moss for me. He said yes and I was really happy. It was fun.
I'm like you... this should still be an enjoyable hobby. If you're not having fun then what's the point? To make money i guess... and those people seem miserable and stressed. Keep it loose... there's always another card!

 

[peaceandlove]

went to my LCS today and was talking with the owner for a bit. Come to find out, there was a card show going on about 30 minutes away.........Thought about it for a bit, and decided to go. I haven't been to a card show in 25+ years, so I was kinda interested to see how it was again.

Not sure how many tables were there, but there seemed to be a decent amount. I'd say that 75% of all the tables were nothing but Pokemon cards. holy crap. I don't know when Pokemon came out, but I certainly don't remember ever seeing it last time I went. But there were tons!!

As I made my way through looking for my PC's, I was quickly reminded that I don't belong there

Unless you are only looking to buy; trading/selling are not enjoyable for the everyday hobbyist. At least not for me. I understand the vendors are there to make money. that's it. Maybe they enjoy collecting as well, but man, the low ball offers that I witnessed for ppl trying to wheel and deal, was insane. I kept hearing - i have to make "$XX" on this card, so I have to buy with that in mind. these comps say this so I'm offering you even less than that. take it or leave it.

My main goal in attending this show was to try and trade my micro mosaic for another. I couldn't find the mosaic I wanted, but I ended up actually talking with one of the vendors before I left. I mentioned wanting to trade and he started comparing the comps. he said he'd trade me a few cards if I wanted to trade the one I had. he said, i'd give you $70 for it, since it sold for $80 however long ago. the comps were all over the place, but he went with the lowest. i'm like, hell no. ain't no way I'm doing that. I couldn't find the card I wanted, anywhere. so I left with my dignity in tact

I saw a lot of young kids walking around with hard boxes/cases of I would assume, were slabs, or $$$ cards that they were looking to trade/sell. not sure how they find this enjoyable. This is not a kids hobby anymore. at least that's how I feel. It is crazy how much all this costs to be able to partake. I understand we all gotta start somewhere, but it just seems like no one at these shows are in it for PC/fun. its about making the $.

For me, it didn't seem like much fun at all. Like I said, if I went there with only the intention of buying cards to add to my PC, then I think all would be well.
but any type of negotiating would kill that. Especially since it has to benefit the seller.

I don't know anything about Pokemon, not sure if that is the same way. I'd imagine so. A lot more kids were at those tables than that of sports.

This isn't a rant, kinda just mentioning my experience. Think I'll just stick to this forum and trading.

Dude.....all of this. I went to a card show last weekend for the first time in about 10 years due to usually not happening in my area. I had the same experience. Pokemon was about 50% of the tables. Most tables were nothing but slabs and predominantly football or basketball. Very few baseball. Cards all over priced. One dealer had a box of random cards arranged by teams...I found 2 winns and 2 Gorman rcs I could use. No price so asked how much assuming this was like a bargain box. Guy told me that he would "cut me a deal" on those and do $40 for them. The 4 cards didn't even book for $40 total so I typed them into ebay on my watch list and got them for $8 combined. I took my son with me and he collects Pokemon. I was disgusted by all of the young kids walking around with metal cases and all were more concerned with trying to sell cards and make money than trading. This hobby is not much of a hobby anymore. It did provide a good lecture for my son though as I told him to look at all those other kids with the metal cases and told him that he needs to worry about what cards he likes and wants and not worry about how much something can sell for. If you dont need it then fine, but dont be like the ones that just try and make money on them. We bought quite a few cards from about 7-8 tables out of the 250 tables there but the rest.....none. And the haggling is true too. Some kid was trying to buy a card from a dealer. He didn't have anything priced and pulled up "comps" for the card. The dealer of course cited the most expensive comp of $36 whereas the kid said that there were 5-6 that sold around $22 or $23 that were more recent The dealer said im not selling my card for that and accused the kid of "trying to flip it". It's crazy. After that last table, I didn't even attempt asking prices on anything not marked as I was just going to get screwed on a comp.

 

[crankbait09]

I remember this one table I was at.....this kid had to be 14-15, couldn't be much more than that. He had one of those "bullet proof suit cases". he pulled out three slabs. I wish I would have looked to see who or what they were of. I wasn't really listening until the end of the conversation. the vendor asked the kid how much he wanted for these cards...the kid said $8k. (this is when my ears perked up) they talked a little afterwards, then I heard the vendor say that he couldn't afford that and that he didn't have the funds at that time. they didn't really negotiate after that. I remember thinking, this damn kid is playing their $$$ game. he packed up and moved on. (i think the vendor needed a hug after that)

 

[key2win]

One thing that does help especially in last 20 years are online trading forums like here. Ive dealt with hundreds of different members all around the US and gotten so many PC cards I couldnt find on EBAY. Plus I have my regulars, some going back 10-20 years that I still trade with today. Even with shipping prices increasing, this is still better option than attempting to trade with vendors at a card show now.

 

[peaceandlove]

I remember this one table I was at.....this kid had to be 14-15, couldn't be much more than that. He had one of those "bullet proof suit cases". he pulled out three slabs. I wish I would have looked to see who or what they were of. I wasn't really listening until the end of the conversation. the vendor asked the kid how much he wanted for these cards...the kid said $8k. (this is when my ears perked up) they talked a little afterwards, then I heard the vendor say that he couldn't afford that and that he didn't have the funds at that time. they didn't really negotiate after that. I remember thinking, this damn kid is playing their $$$ game. he packed up and moved on. (i think the vendor needed a hug after that)

Imagine being a kid and walking around with at least 8k in cards.....

 

[SymphonicMetal]

Last "card show" I was at was at the signing event for Cowboys/Oilers.

Was this the same card show where Eddie Vedder was signing but always signed "Mark Stepnoski"?

 

[TC84]

Was this the same card show where Eddie Vedder was signing but always signed "Mark Stepnoski"?

Yes! That imposter sat down and started signing Stepnoski's name with such confidence you had to wonder if it was indeed Mark Stepnoski.
If I knew what he looked like I would have paid the extra to get a picture with him. But he didn't seem too keen on getting his picture taken... you know how those 90s Grunge singers were... everything was terrible.

 

[TC84]

Inside joke @crankbait09 lol it was Stepnoski but he looked just like Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam.