Observations on the current state of the hobby from a show this weekend

[bravesfan#1]

The show in Hickory, NC this past weekend was very strong for me. My niche has long been HOF/current star autographs. I have nearly dipped out of non-autograph cards unless it is <$20 and goes on my bargain table. Tons of customers were looking for autos and new football stuff, so I luckily had what collectors were looking for. My stuff is priced to sell and I sold nearly 3 showcases full of cards, plus some wax and cheaper singles from the bargain table. Nearly 1,500 customers came in the door on Saturday, I was very pleased with the show.

Fun observations:
Watched a "famous" Youtuber drop nearly $5K on two Zach Wilson Flawless autographs. Later that night he nearly blows his knee out. We MoVeEEEE

Influencers buying Gardiner Minshew, Daniel Jones, and other QB's that have already had their shot. Yikes!

The Pelican boys are bottom of the barrel. I literally walk to the other side of my booth if they walk up and will ignore them. Was offered $100 on a signed NT shield by one of them. They offered my buddy $40 on a 2021 NT shield. One even asked for one of my $30 cards for free and then giggled about it. I feel bad for the people that employ these goons.

"Famous" Youtubers and their posse are completely different in real life than what is portrayed on camera. I see them during dealer setups every month. Heads down, mumbling, can't carry a conversation if a dealer is trying to be friendly. Will only perk up if they buy a card and need to shoot a quick video about it.

[bravesfan#1]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

I am also curious if Saturday shows will have more attendance than Sunday due to NFL games this fall. I typically would set up/go to Sunday shows around me. May have to move it to only Saturday for the time being.

The only larger show in my area that runs on Sunday is in Raleigh, NC. Attendance is obviously highest on Saturday but pretty packed on Sundays during football season. The show is over at 4pm so people will be running around the show from 1-4pm grabbing anyone that is performing well in the early afternoon games.

[towerymt]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

I hate to say it, but I think the recent Trout injury means we've seen "Peak Trout".

He's 31. He's 4+ years past peak, without injuries.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by bravesfan#1

The show in Hickory, NC this past weekend was very strong for me. My niche has long been HOF/current star autographs. I have nearly dipped out of non-autograph cards unless it is <$20 and goes on my bargain table. Tons of customers were looking for autos and new football stuff, so I luckily had what collectors were looking for. My stuff is priced to sell and I sold nearly 3 showcases full of cards, plus some wax and cheaper singles from the bargain table. Nearly 1,500 customers came in the door on Saturday, I was very pleased with the show.

Fun observations:
Watched a "famous" Youtuber drop nearly $5K on two Zach Wilson Flawless autographs. Later that night he nearly blows his knee out. We MoVeEEEE

Influencers buying Gardiner Minshew, Daniel Jones, and other QB's that have already had their shot. Yikes!

The Pelican boys are bottom of the barrel. I literally walk to the other side of my booth if they walk up and will ignore them. Was offered $100 on a signed NT shield by one of them. They offered my buddy $40 on a 2021 NT shield. One even asked for one of my $30 cards for free and then giggled about it. I feel bad for the people that employ these goons.

"Famous" Youtubers and their posse are completely different in real life than what is portrayed on camera. I see them during dealer setups every month. Heads down, mumbling, can't carry a conversation if a dealer is trying to be friendly. Will only perk up if they buy a card and need to shoot a quick video about it.

I was at the Winston Show on Sunday selling. Thought about selling at Hickory the day before but will try to do it for the next one. Most sellers I talked to did both shows and ALWAYS complain about how bad Hickory is that there are too many sellers and not enough buyers.

Had a kid do the $1 challenge (he asked for 2 graded cards that are between $8-10 each for $5 total. Added one of his other cards he had in the challenge and ended up being a variation that goes for $20. He literally had no idea what he even had) and saw the same YT guy at the Winston show. Agreed, on the doesn't talk unless filming and takes up tables to try and sell (or trade as they call it) their stuff at shows without paying for a table.

The guy next to me was so funny with the Pelican Boys (PBs for short). The PBs would ask him how much a card is since he didn't have them priced. He would say this card is $150. They would say could you take $30 for it. He would still be nice and say no. Then PBs would ask about another more expensive card (at least $500 on up via eBay) and his response every time would be "Bye, thanks for coming". He would ignore them after that

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by bravesfan#1

The only larger show in my area that runs on Sunday is in Raleigh, NC. Attendance is obviously highest on Saturday but pretty packed on Sundays during football season. The show is over at 4pm so people will be running around the show from 1-4pm grabbing anyone that is performing well in the early afternoon games.

Good to know. Downfall is that I mainly have baseball and working on getting a more diverse inventory to sell.

[mikejones]

Not a show but at the lcs. Been buying from my lcs for about 15 years so i meet a good amount of people. Theres the usuals thats been buying for decades. The last 2 years, I've seen so many people come and go. A guy that started coming in during the boom and spend like 1k each time on football and basketball hasn't been seen in about 6 months. The people that got sucked into sports cards in hopes of making a quick buck are leaving but they messed up the prices so much that it kind of makes it bad for the regulars. The market will correct itself. We just have to wait.

[bravesfan#1]

Speaking about the Raleigh, NC show, the next one is September 17th and 18th. NC State has a big football game at 7pm on the 17th against Texas Tech. The card show is literally across the street from the football stadium and the place will be packed all day. I highly recommend this show if you want to buy/sell cards all day and then check out the game later that night. You can literally walk from the card show doors and be at the front entrance of the stadium in about 20 minutes.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

I was at the Winston Show on Sunday selling. Thought about selling at Hickory the day before but will try to do it for the next one. Most sellers I talked to did both shows and ALWAYS complain about how bad Hickory is that there are too many sellers and not enough buyers.

Had a kid do the $1 challenge (he asked for 2 graded cards that are between $8-10 each for $5 total. Added one of his other cards he had in the challenge and ended up being a variation that goes for $20. He literally had no idea what he even had) and saw the same YT guy at the Winston show. Agreed, on the doesn't talk unless filming and takes up tables to try and sell (or trade as they call it) their stuff at shows without paying for a table.

The guy next to me was so funny with the Pelican Boys (PBs for short). The PBs would ask him how much a card is since he didn't have them priced. He would say this card is $150. They would say could you take $30 for it. He would still be nice and say no. Then PBs would ask about another more expensive card (at least $500 on up via eBay) and his response every time would be "Bye, thanks for coming". He would ignore them after that

I’ll admit to sending lowball offers on eBay if they don’t set a minimum offer amount, but I could never do that to someone’s face. On top of the fact even on eBay would I ever bother sending an offer that low. I think the way your friend handles it is very polite.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by towerymt

He's 31. He's 4+ years past peak, without injuries.

I mean in the last four years he's got an MVP, another top 5, and been to all three all star games!

But that's not what I was talking about. His BCA price (and presumably his Update PSA 10) relative to the market was the highest it ever was last September to November. I don't know where it's gone since then because I stopped tracking it.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by bravesfan#1

Speaking about the Raleigh, NC show, the next one is September 17th and 18th. NC State has a big football game at 7pm on the 17th against Texas Tech. The card show is literally across the street from the football stadium and the place will be packed all day. I highly recommend this show if you want to buy/sell cards all day and then check out the game later that night. You can literally walk from the card show doors and be at the front entrance of the stadium in about 20 minutes.

I wanted to set-up at a show in September, but it won't happen. Will be visiting some friends, going to a wedding and 2 baby showers. I think the next few ones (as of now) will be in October in Winston again and will try (need to convince the wife to be gone two days in a row) to do Hickory the day before. Otherwise before the baby comes, it will be Charlotte on Nov 5th.

Then only online until probably sometime next year.

[solt0131]

My buddy is set up today at the regular show in Winchester, VA and says the show is absolutely nuts. Busiest it has been in over a year.

[mwash1983]

Went to the show in Albany and it was a struggle and I think I did okay but not enough to go back anymore for a long while. Story of the show is, the same dealers, very little that I liked, too much junk chrome ie optic, mosaic, prizm, you can tell these people started in 2020, some tables priced like spring 2021. Seemed like fewer dealers overall and considerably less foot traffic. I ended up buying less than 60 and already sold some. May consider backing off shows for a while after I take a chance on the Syracuse shows next month.

[SupermanBrandon]

Shows are busier than ever it seems but are customers buying? With money? Or is it alot of trading, half cash/half cards, looking to sell to dealers only, just looking? Seems like the foot traffic is nuts...but Ive not been seeing cash being handed across the table nearly as much.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by mwash1983

Went to the show in Albany and it was a struggle and I think I did okay but not enough to go back anymore for a long while. Story of the show is, the same dealers, very little that I liked, too much junk chrome ie optic, mosaic, prizm, you can tell these people started in 2020, some tables priced like spring 2021. Seemed like fewer dealers overall and considerably less foot traffic. I ended up buying less than 60 and already sold some. May consider backing off shows for a while after I take a chance on the Syracuse shows next month.

Where is the Syracuse show at? Never mind, I found it.

[ThoseBackPages]

i love shows

[hermanotarjeta]

The only wax that is selling is 2022 topps series 2 at $100/box.

People going Jroid hunting, though the odds are steep.

[solt0131]

Is anyone going to the big Vegas show in Octoboer?

[soicanbefree]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

The only wax that is selling is 2022 topps series 2 at $100/box.

People going Jroid hunting, though the odds are steep.

I like to hear this.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Shows are busier than ever it seems but are customers buying? With money? Or is it alot of trading, half cash/half cards, looking to sell to dealers only, just looking? Seems like the foot traffic is nuts...but Ive not been seeing cash being handed across the table nearly as much.

From what I have seen recently at shows. Younger people are looking for trades or to sell what they have (some have to since they are too young to sell on eBay). I did a few trades as a seller, wasn't buying since most stuff I see is just the mass produced stuff or something I am not willing to pay at current comps (few hundred dollar card).

A lot of bargain shopping too and not just under $1 cards but cards under $5. That's what moved the most for me. I had 5 cheaper boxes (2 boxes of $20 and under and 3 boxes of $0.25 cards). Had decent amount looking at the quarter boxes but most people were looking at my other 2 boxes of $1-$20. Other sellers seemed to have people looking at their $1 boxes too.

Most collectors now are looking for cool/cheap cards or if they have someone in mind, looking for the best deal possible. I would say buyers (with cash) are just being more picky/smart with their money. People who are trading/selling are trying to unload what they have or use what they have to get something new.

[ottobord]

I find everything I want on eBay for usually at least 30% less then a lcs. I can wait the three days for delivery.

[OneSickDegen]

Originally Posted by solt0131

Is anyone going to the big Vegas show in Octoboer?

Hell yea!

[tobytyler]

Originally Posted by ottobord

I find everything I want on eBay for usually at least 30% less then a lcs. I can wait the three days for delivery.

yup, that's the problem. like to support these shows and don't mind if little off, but these guys are WAY off, like the last 4 months didn't happen.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by tobytyler

yup, that's the problem. like to support these shows and don't mind if little off, but these guys are WAY off, like the last 4 months didn't happen.

No one wants to take a loss on their cards, yet.

[PDCCollectibles]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

No one wants to take a loss on their cards, yet.

Pretty much....

[SearchPatrol]

Anybody going to the Burbank card show this weekend? Want to give Rob Veres a ton of credit. No other dealer could get PSA- Beckett - COMC - Goldin all at a first time card show. See even a few dealers from my neck of the woods(Wisconsin) setting up. Hope it's the first of many.