Most ridiculous things you've heard at your LCS/card shows

[ksp6687]

Figured I can't be the only one who hears some nonsense at their LCS or at a card show and feels the overwhelming urge to just roll your eyes.

Overheard these gems yesterday from my lame LCS

"We pay 50% of Ebay comps"

"We usually pay $5 for 1,000 base cards"
(I literally picked out 20+ base cards per 1,000 that are selling at $3-$7/card after not coming to a deal on this one)



What else do you guys got?

[DajuanWagner]

At a show:


Me: Do you have any basketball cards?


Every dealer that sets up at my shows: No, because Baseball and football cards are the only cards that sell. Basketball doesn't sell.

[asujbl]

Your LCS wants to pay me $750 for the 150,000 base cards sitting in my basement? Tell them to get in the car and come pick them up.

[TimBuckTwo]

"Look, I'm gonna have to frame it and it is going to sit for awhile and I have to pay for the overhead so the best I can give you is XXX."

[DajuanWagner]

"Look, I'm gonna have to frame it and it is going to sit for awhile and I have to pay for the overhead so the best I can give you is XXX."



I love Pawn Stars!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TimBuckTwo]

I love Pawn Stars!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah they forget the part " I'm gonna make XXXXX when it sells."

I love it too.

[the mesiah]

“Well Beckett says it’s going for $___.00”..

[mc1]

“The card was listed for $1500, but it sold for Best offer and theres no way to check the actual sale price.”

[yaoming]

Figured I can't be the only one who hears some nonsense at their LCS or at a card show and feels the overwhelming urge to just roll your eyes.

Overheard these gems yesterday from my lame LCS

"We pay 50% of Ebay comps"

"We usually pay $5 for 1,000 base cards"
(I literally picked out 20+ base cards per 1,000 that are selling at $3-$7/card after not coming to a deal on this one)



What else do you guys got?

:p
went to LCS few months ago planning to sell base cards lot of 500 cards or so, hoping to get $100-150 "store credit"
included there were 4 kobe topps base RCs, 93-94 MJ finest base
plus some MJ, prizm rookies of lower tier rc etc
I was offered $50 and was "humiliated"
I politely declined and left
few weeks later, Kobe accident happened, and the Kobe RCs sold through consignor for over $200, MJ finest base over $100
still have many Iverson, Ray Allen, NAsh topps RC sitting at home

[OddityCards]

(on a $50 card)

seller: "I see someone listed one on Amazon for $1000. I can do 10% off that price to save you in fees"

[ksp6687]

Your LCS wants to pay me $750 for the 150,000 base cards sitting in my basement? Tell them to get in the car and come pick them up.

I was trying to sell Prizm & Optic base from 19-20.

I'm sure there are some junk base cards from the past that offer would be fine on. With this bass card movement, when literally one card in the 1k can cover the offer they made you, I'd say it's a bit of a lowball..

[CubbysCardboard]

One staff member, promoting buying in breaks at the store, warned against online breaks. He went on a conspiracy theory claiming some breakers are pre-recording breaks and then adding live voiceovers (to the boxes with fewer hits) and airing them on IG/Facebook/YouTube.

Not gonna lie...I left the store pondering that the whole way home!

[Einstein43]

I love the response : would you take less bc I need some wiggle room to make some money

[Selanne00008]

I love the response : would you take less bc I need some wiggle room to make some money



That’s Probly the most honest and up front answer in this thread!


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[Giannis34fan]

I love the response : would you take less bc I need some wiggle room to make some money

My favorite is when using a Beckett from 6 months ago to get a comp yet when they try to sell, they try to use the latest eBay comps?! :cry: :doh:

[gomiamigo]

Buy at eBay sold prices
Offer at eBay asking prices

[waulk11]

In house auctions "No more ebay fees." "The house keeps 10%." This was in 07-08 when Ebay fees were 7% and less.

[spamtyhd]

A number of years back I was at one of the big shows in Rosemont, Illinois and some dealer had a Sam Bradford rookie auto. Ebay value was $50. I ask him for a price, and he says "$100". I said to him that it has been selling on Ebay for $50, but that I'll offer $60. He told me that it cost him a grand to set up for the weekend and he wasn't selling the card for $60. I had my son with me who was probably 12 at the time. Such a jerk move....I know--his card, his price, but don't be a prick.

[Donkaylove]

wait til the next month when shows come back. astronomical pricing, ridic reasoning, and all out craziness. be prepared!!

[hermanotarjeta]

Me: Why did you increase your box prices?

Shop Owner: Because blowout increased their prices.



Just being honest.

[Bigbluesooner]

Figured I can't be the only one who hears some nonsense at their LCS or at a card show and feels the overwhelming urge to just roll your eyes.

Overheard these gems yesterday from my lame LCS

"We pay 50% of Ebay comps"

What else do you guys got?

Ha! I hear that one quite a bit.

One that stuck with me a couple of years ago. First show I'd been to since I was a kid, start walking around to get my bearings. An old timer asks me what I'm looking for and I say "just looking around" he pulls out a stack of 60's football commons that are pretty beat up. I flip through them to be nice. Nothing I was really looking for. He asks me how much I'll pay. Said I'd circle back around. He yells out "YOU'RE NOT HERE TO BUY ANYTHING , NOT A REAL COLLECTOR". Embarrassed the hell out of me. I just walked off.

Funny, over the last couple of years he always tries that same bully sales pitch on whatever crap he's trying to get rid of. Cracks me up.

[ksp6687]

Ha! I hear that one quite a bit.

One that stuck with me a couple of years ago. First show I'd been to since I was a kid, start walking around to get my bearings. An old timer asks me what I'm looking for and I say "just looking around" he pulls out a stack of 60's football commons that are pretty beat up. I flip through them to be nice. Nothing I was really looking for. He asks me how much I'll pay. Said I'd circle back around. He yells out "YOU'RE NOT HERE TO BUY ANYTHING , NOT A REAL COLLECTOR". Embarrassed the hell out of me. I just walked off.

Funny, over the last couple of years he always tries that same bully sales pitch on whatever crap he's trying to get rid of. Cracks me up.

What a jerk

[Howie7107]

What is the standard when buying singles from a shop? Sure does seem like the cards in my LCS are awfully far north of eBay. Not sure if they’d be willing to come down around comps as I don’t think they have that much trouble getting uninformed buyers to pay the sticker.

[ksp6687]

One of my favorites I didn't mention before isn't even something they say.

It's when they take the time to sticker and price their cards, but put astronomical prices on them.

I remember I was at the East Coast National in Dec and a dealer with a big table had some ridiculous prices. Can't remember the cards off the top of my head, but legit 3-4x Ebay comps (probably still priced too high for today's market lolol).

I'm assuming this is an old tactic to catch people who don't know much and squeeze every dollar out of them, where as someone in the know would likely negotiate starting price anyways?

Anyways, I think it's a trash move and make sure to skip anyone's table doing that. Hope some of y'all do the same

[Jopeal]

The hobby is getting infused with new blood right now and should alter the landscape of card shows soon enough.

My words.

[TimBuckTwo]

Ebay is the market.

Period. Been that way since 199X

[mfisher27]

Hard to really fault the “50% of eBay comps” when selling to shop or other reseller. You’re the middle man in this scenario, you’re not getting eBay prices unless you sell to a collector/speculator.

[pokemaniac]

Ha! I hear that one quite a bit.

One that stuck with me a couple of years ago. First show I'd been to since I was a kid, start walking around to get my bearings. An old timer asks me what I'm looking for and I say "just looking around" he pulls out a stack of 60's football commons that are pretty beat up. I flip through them to be nice. Nothing I was really looking for. He asks me how much I'll pay. Said I'd circle back around. He yells out "YOU'RE NOT HERE TO BUY ANYTHING , NOT A REAL COLLECTOR". Embarrassed the hell out of me. I just walked off.

Funny, over the last couple of years he always tries that same bully sales pitch on whatever crap he's trying to get rid of. Cracks me up.

I'm not sure you should have been the one to feel embarrassed here..

[SaveMeTheGum]

"My prices are firm"

[brewtown107]

"I wish my wife was here."

[drobfan8]

wait til the next month when shows come back. astronomical pricing, ridic reasoning, and all out craziness. be prepared!!

Excellent point.

I know the market well and search ebay every day. I offered someone over the amount I thought it would sell for and he replied asking for triple. His reasoning was, "those prices are old, everything has gone up now"

I haven't seen much of a change in price of this particular set, just like many sets haven't changed. Just the "hot/pumped" stuff.

[allabtsprt]

This didn't happen to me, but I witnessed it at a card show recently. My first thought was what a jerk, but after thinking about it, I actually got a kick out of it. Then I understood that the game works both ways:

Customer: What are you asking for that box of cards?
Dealer: $xxx.xx
Customer: Wow! They are going for half that on Ebay! Would you take less?
Dealer: I don't really care what they are going for on Ebay. That's my price! Take it or leave it.

[BartoloCakeFart]

One staff member, promoting buying in breaks at the store, warned against online breaks. He went on a conspiracy theory claiming some breakers are pre-recording breaks and then adding live voiceovers (to the boxes with fewer hits) and airing them on IG/Facebook/YouTube.

Not gonna lie...I left the store pondering that the whole way home!


I’ve seen a guy ask people on the live stream for song choices to play. Didn’t realize it was for this reason


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cardlover29]

“The card was listed for $1500, but it sold for Best offer and theres no way to check the actual sale price.”

http://www.watchcount.com/

[JustaGuy]

I've been out of collecting since about 2001, just getting back into it. I have a local card shop around the corner from my house, so figured I would start there with some basketball I wanted to sell. Brought him a 98-99 Electrifying Jordan that Becket lists at 400 low, 800 high. He tells me the only way he can sell singles is to sell at the Beckett low, so he can offer me 300 for it. I told him that Jordan's were so hot right now he could probably sell it at over the high price and he laughed at me.
Two days later I sold it in a lot along with really only one other big card ($300) and a bunch of other low level Jordans for $1500.
I don't think I'll be selling any cards to him, but sure looks like I might be able to buy some from him!

[dennythedinosau]

I've been out of collecting since about 2001, just getting back into it. I have a local card shop around the corner from my house, so figured I would start there with some basketball I wanted to sell. Brought him a 98-99 Electrifying Jordan that Becket lists at 400 low, 800 high. He tells me the only way he can sell singles is to sell at the Beckett low, so he can offer me 300 for it. I told him that Jordan's were so hot right now he could probably sell it at over the high price and he laughed at me.
Two days later I sold it in a lot along with really only one other big card ($300) and a bunch of other low level Jordans for $1500.
I don't think I'll be selling any cards to him, but sure looks like I might be able to buy some from him!

90's Jordan inserts (especially made by Fleer) are on fire.

[ClipsandVols]

"Nobody is buying my insane amount of 2016-17 optic base Giannis, Kawhi, Lebron, etc., so let me throw them in a $1-2 box" -Me at card shows in 2018. :doh:

[JustaGuy]

I know. I'm not really a basketball fan or collector, so I lucked into that card and a Soul of the Game both that I pulled in probably 2000. I could have sold them both individually or graded them, but I was looking for some cash to use to get back into baseball and football. But these basketball price are making me reconsider!

[Bulls90s]

At a show:


Me: Do you have any basketball cards?


Every dealer that sets up at my shows: No, because Baseball and football cards are the only cards that sell. Basketball doesn't sell.

Football is my favorite sport and I only pay big bucks for a basketball card most of time. I dont know if that is weird or not. I collect what I like.

[jscotta1989]

At a show:


Me: Do you have any basketball cards?


Every dealer that sets up at my shows: No, because Baseball and football cards are the only cards that sell. Basketball doesn't sell.

When I setup at a show, 95% of my buyers are after baseball or football. But the other 5% looking for basketball usually makes it worthwhile for me to bring it along. Mainly because I’m typically one of only a few that has any.

[Howie7107]

I don’t understand at all this attitude of “basketball doesn’t sell.” I mean I guess it’s probably partially due to older card owners not understanding the sports market as a whole. Writing is on the wall though and no sport resonates as well with the 25 and under demographic as well as Basketball. The sport is growing at an exponential rate.

[BdotHobbs]

Basketball doesn’t sell go card show clientele. It sells online and to people/kids that have no interest in going to card shows

[mvp]

This didn't happen to me, but I witnessed it at a card show recently. My first thought was what a jerk, but after thinking about it, I actually got a kick out of it. Then I understood that the game works both ways:

Customer: What are you asking for that box of cards?
Dealer: $xxx.xx
Customer: Wow! They are going for half that on Ebay! Would you take less?
Dealer: I don't really care what they are going for on Ebay. That's my price! Take it or leave it.

So, we have a family friend who owns a floor coverings store. He's an older, wouldn't-use-two-words-when-one-will-do type of guy.

If someone comes into his shop and is asking for advice, getting pricing on products etc, and says "Oh, they're doing this $2 a square metre cheaper at shop X," he'll just say "Well, what are you doing here? You better hurry up!"

Some people who have been around a long time in any industry know their prices, know their market, and don't have time for tire kickers. They value their time, knowledge, and service just as much as they do their product.

[ksp6687]

So, we have a family friend who owns a floor coverings store. He's an older, wouldn't-use-two-words-when-one-will-do type of guy.

If someone comes into his shop and is asking for advice, getting pricing on products etc, and says "Oh, they're doing this $2 a square metre cheaper at shop X," he'll just say "Well, what are you doing here? You better hurry up!"

Some people who have been around a long time in any industry know their prices, know their market, and don't have time for tire kickers. They value their time, knowledge, and service just as much as they do their product.

I get that for flooring (although in fairness I legit have no knowledge of that industry) but if you're a shop owner or Sports card seller during these times and that is how you act, then you're a dinosaur.

Having this "I've been around the block, I know what I'm doing" attitude during unprecedented times will hopefully knock out all of these guys one by one. It's adapt or die in this market today.

Having that lame ass attitude may have worked in the 80s & 90s when people's go to was the Beckett that came out every month, but now everyone has all of the most up to date pricing information they could ever need at their fingertips during an ever changing market where cards double in a week without games being played.

These guys need to adapt or get left behind

[mvp]

I get that for flooring (although in fairness I legit have no knowledge of that industry) but if you're a shop owner or Sports card seller during these times and that is how you act, then you're a dinosaur.

Having this "I've been around the block, I know what I'm doing" attitude during unprecedented times will hopefully knock out all of these guys one by one. It's adapt or die in this market today.

Having that lame ass attitude may have worked in the 80s & 90s when people's go to was the Beckett that came out every month, but now everyone has all of the most up to date pricing information they could ever need at their fingertips during an ever changing market where cards double in a week without games being played.

These guys need to adapt or get left behind

I understand what you're saying - and I'm not suggesting that manner of business is for everyone.

But the counter point would be that as it becomes increasingly difficult to do business online in this hobby because of all the dirty tricks and scammers, some people would be happy to pay a premium to purchase in person from someone they trust. That's the service he is offering (I assume). "You wanna risk buying sight unseen online from the other side of the country, go for it. You wanna inspect the box, look me in the eye, and shake my hand - this is my price."

The seller's target clientele might be smaller, but if he knows his customer it's not necessarily "adapt or die."

[ksp6687]

I understand what you're saying - and I'm not suggesting that manner of business is for everyone.

But the counter point would be that as it becomes increasingly difficult to do business online in this hobby because of all the dirty tricks and scammers, some people would be happy to pay a premium to purchase in person from someone they trust. That's the service he is offering (I assume). "You wanna risk buying sight unseen online from the other side of the country, go for it. You wanna inspect the box, look me in the eye, and shake my hand - this is my price."

The seller's target clientele might be smaller, but if he knows his customer it's not necessarily "adapt or die."

Pretty valid counterpoint.

Most people will probably want to pay less in person though than online as they know it saves the seller on fees, but I suppose that minority of people who want to do business the old school way or not take the risk from an unknown seller would buy from someone like him.

Just lowers the potential buyer pool would be my main concern with this way of doing business

[Promethius88]

I get that for flooring (although in fairness I legit have no knowledge of that industry) but if you're a shop owner or Sports card seller during these times and that is how you act, then you're a dinosaur.

Having this "I've been around the block, I know what I'm doing" attitude during unprecedented times will hopefully knock out all of these guys one by one. It's adapt or die in this market today.

Having that lame ass attitude may have worked in the 80s & 90s when people's go to was the Beckett that came out every month, but now everyone has all of the most up to date pricing information they could ever need at their fingertips during an ever changing market where cards double in a week without games being played.

These guys need to adapt or get left behind

The dealers that have been around for years are still around for a reason. The guys that pop up over night because of a hot market like this are a dime a dozen and will be gone as soon as the market cools. Because either they are in it for the quick buck or they don't know how to do business. Mr. Dinosaur will still be there after it all comes crashing down. All these guys who post looking for the next "investment" card/cards.....look for them 5 years from now. Won't be posting here.

[HanaleiJay]

Last year at a LCS here in Dallas they had their anniversary weekend and promoted there would be a bunch of deals.

When I showed up, first thing I saw was them charging kids $100 to spin a wheel, that only had different colors on it. Everytime they spun it, no matter what it ended on, they handed the kids autographed mini-helmets of backup lineman, and then played it off like they got a huge deal.

Honestly made me sick and I found a new LCS the next day. Take care of the Kids!

[tjforce]

My favorite story, and one I've told before, happened in 1997 when i was about 13 or 14.

Went to the local monthly show where I was a reg, about 35 tables, and pulled the biggest card of the day: a Jeter 1997 Preferred Precious Metals Gold. This was when pulling a card out of 100 was a big deal. The card booked for about $500, when Beckett was the bible.

Everybody was happy for me. Except for this one troll, maybe 17 or 18 years old. While the rest of the dealers congratulated me, his face got bright red as he yelled from across the room " You'll never get $500 for that card.... I wouldn't even give you $100!"

To this day it still cracks me up how someone could be so bitter towards someones good fortune.

[Archangel1775]

I needed money and went to sell a 1998 Finest Peyton Manning RC in 2002 to the LCS. I asked for $20, the guy offered me $10 and said the offer was low because it was the offseason and it would just sit in the closet all year. I never shopped there again.