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

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Sounds miserable. There's always room for you here in fly-over country.

I have even encountered this nonsense at golf courses for people filming themselves for YouTube. Waiting behind a group setting up tripods for every shot. Knowing I can't do anything stupid or I will be caught on video.

I like what Rob Veres at Burbanks is saying about the hobby, so I might go to one of those shows.

[ThoseBackPages]

i cant imagine not going to the national. the friends and connections alone are priceless

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

i cant imagine not going to the national. the friends and connections alone are priceless

Yeah. It's sad that one of my older friends is calling it quits going to them after 2024.

[bjw]

As a non show go-er please forgive the change of subject.

The bellwether stock of mid 90’s unopened for me is 93 SP Baseball due to its large supply and rather liquid market (plenty of demand). Last 6 auctions now have ended under $2K. Last two in the $1850 range. Lots of Best Offer Accepted on eBay on the BINs as well. Just something to keep an eye on. There are a lot of these available on eBay - adding up all in stock, last time I checked I counted 63 boxes. I’d guess a bottom in the $1500-$1750 range on this.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by bjw

As a non show go-er please forgive the change of subject.

The bellwether stock of mid 90’s unopened for me is 93 SP Baseball due to its large supply and rather liquid market (plenty of demand). Last 6 auctions now have ended under $2K. Last two in the $1850 range. Lots of Best Offer Accepted on eBay on the BINs as well. Just something to keep an eye on. There are a lot of these available on eBay - adding up all in stock, last time I checked I counted 63 boxes. I’d guess a bottom in the $1500-$1750 range on this.

My view on sealed wax is that it can't be a stand alone collectible forever, trading hands between sealed wax collectors. At some point, there needs to be an end game where someone buys it to open it. If there isn't an end of the rainbow buyer to open it, eventually I think the sealed collectors will dry up.

I say this to make the point that if there is ultimately some thought that a box will eventually need to be opened, 1993 SP is one that will drastically lose value based on the fact that the cards inside are almost inevitably going to be stuck together with bad paper loss.

[pewe]

Originally Posted by hammerva

I understand why influencers and dealers would say that but for a lot of people Ebay and COMC is so convenient for collectors who aren't in the top tier of what they collect. Sure if you are looking for 3 to 4 figure cards then maybe a show is the better way to go. For example why should I go to shows and dig through 500 random as hell $1 - $10 boxes that may not have what I am looking for when I can find it online for less than 10 minutes.

I’d say it the opposite: the dealers at shows rarely have high end rare parallels that I collect.

Which doesn’t surprise me, of course. If they rarely show up on eBay, I’d guess chances are even lower they’d be at a show.


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[JoinerCP]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

No legal job is anything to be ashamed of. I would have no problem telling my family I ran a successful business.


…now, I would find it hard to say that I pay other people to open packs of cards for me, and that I rarely ever get any cards from the boxes I help pay for.

Maybe ashamed isn't the right word but it's really hard to have pride in a job that offers nearly zero value in the final summation. I'm sure a bunch of relativists are going to jump in to tell me how it's as good as anything else.

Let me be clear: i don't care if your job is "breaker", be happy with it. I don't think I could stomach that existence anymore than some other jobs that are more common. The amount of money made doesn't legitimize the job/action.

But back to my previous reply to you that I didn't get an answer: do you really not see products at stores? I'm curious what kind of collecting community you have around you.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by JoinerCP

Maybe ashamed isn't the right word but it's really hard to have pride in a job that offers nearly zero value in the final summation. I'm sure a bunch of relativists are going to jump in to tell me how it's as good as anything else.

Let me be clear: i don't care if your job is "breaker", be happy with it. I don't think I could stomach that existence anymore than some other jobs that are more common. The amount of money made doesn't legitimize the job/action.

But back to my previous reply to you that I didn't get an answer: do you really not see products at stores? I'm curious what kind of collecting community you have around you.

Everyone just needs to find a job/career that they are happy with, regardless of what others think. Hopefully you’ve been able to do that!

I live in the central Florida area and I do not see any Topps baseball products at my local Targets. Maybe complete sets…? But I don’t really count those. I see some Panini junk, and I think I saw some soccer blasters last time I was there. The shelves aren’t completely bare, but there’s nothing good on them. As far as the collecting community, I can’t really say. There’s not too many stores around and there’s definitely no major card shows around here (that I know of). I’m probably not a good person to gauge the pulse of the area, since I’m very content to just buy singles on eBay. There’s definitely a much bigger comic book/Pokémon presence here, that’s for sure.

[pezzicle]

Originally Posted by pewe

I’d say it the opposite: the dealers at shows rarely have high end rare parallels that I collect.

Which doesn’t surprise me, of course. If they rarely show up on eBay, I’d guess chances are even lower they’d be at a show.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ya ive started to notice this as well which makes shows more of a frustration then anything. The most frustrating part is I am in Canada and a lot of the cards I want are certainly available on eBay in the US, but it costs me $20 to ship, 13% tax at checkout and then an additional 20% on duty. a $500 card quickly becomes a $700 purchase :/

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by pezzicle

ya ive started to notice this as well which makes shows more of a frustration then anything. The most frustrating part is I am in Canada and a lot of the cards I want are certainly available on eBay in the US, but it costs me $20 to ship, 13% tax at checkout and then an additional 20% on duty. a $500 card quickly becomes a $700 purchase :/

Some solutions:

1. Pick-up such cards at local card shows in Canada
2. Drive down to NY and attend card shows in NY (picking up such cards there)
3. Make friends with vendors from NY-based card shows. Ask to use their mailing address and offer them a fixed price per card/order to hold such cards for you (until you pick it up from their home or next NY card show)

For #3, you can try to work off-eBay deals to save 13% eBay tax too. Those $500 cards could be hundreds of dollars cheaper.

[zakcollects]

Originally Posted by pezzicle

ya ive started to notice this as well which makes shows more of a frustration then anything. The most frustrating part is I am in Canada and a lot of the cards I want are certainly available on eBay in the US, but it costs me $20 to ship, 13% tax at checkout and then an additional 20% on duty. a $500 card quickly becomes a $700 purchase :/

This has been the biggest struggle for me here in Canada with the hobby. It's one thing to buy a $5 USD card, it's another to pay $15 USD in shipping to make it a $20 card. Even seeing an Auction at an absolute steal because the card is going for $20 let's say instead of the $50 I'd expect still means I'm paying nearly that $50 to get it.

And then things like the Black November sale. 2022 Heritage High Number at that price? I'd consider it. $60 USD shipping for a couple boxes? But the LCS markup is about the same around here.

[pezzicle]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Some solutions:

1. Pick-up such cards at local card shows in Canada
2. Drive down to NY and attend card shows in NY (picking up such cards there)
3. Make friends with vendors from NY-based card shows. Ask to use their mailing address and offer them a fixed price per card/order to hold such cards for you (until you pick it up from their home or next NY card show)

For #3, you can try to work off-eBay deals to save 13% eBay tax too. Those $500 cards could be hundreds of dollars cheaper.

That's the thing, #1 isn't really an option. Card shows up here are like 5% baseball, and 75% of that is either ultra modern (2022/23), Blue Jays, or Vintage; three areas that I don't collect. So the pickings are super slim for the area that I collect in (largely 1998-2018). I just went to the Toronto Card show this past weekend and looked at every single vender and found 1 card that I wanted.

like right now my main wants are:

2014 Betts Walmart Blue PSA 10 rookie
2014 Ramirez Chrome AUTO Black /100 raw rookie
2017 Judge Railing SP PSA 10 rookie
2018 Soto Bowman's Best AUTO raw

There is a Ramirez card on eBay. Listed at $1400. I have it more at around a $900 value (these are CDN prices btw). There is also a Judge on eBay but it is priced at $700 and I have it more like a $500 card.

I do plan on making a road trip down into NY sometime next year to try my luck down there for some cards I am looking for, but at the same time, my list of cards I want is super small and specific so I am not confident I'll be able to find them. Just have to be patient and wait for something to come up on eBay that doesn't have a stupid Buy It Now price.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by pezzicle

That's the thing, #1 isn't really an option. Card shows up here are like 5% baseball, and 75% of that is either ultra modern (2022/23), Blue Jays, or Vintage; three areas that I don't collect. So the pickings are super slim for the area that I collect in (largely 1998-2018)

I do plan on making a road trip down into NY sometime next year to try my luck down there for some cards I am looking for, but at the same time, my list of cards I want is super small and specific so I am not confident I'll be able to find them. Just have to be patient and wait for something to come up on eBay that doesn't have a stupid Buy It Now price.

No stress, #1 isn't your only option.

In addition to attending NY card shows and befriending vendors there, you can consider reaching out to NY card stores and/or reputable NY-based BO members. Ask them to hold packages for you for a fixed fee (per card/order) that benefits both parties. Pick up such packages monthly or monthly, etc. The less packages you want them to hold, the higher fixed fee you can offer. The more packages you want them to hold (as long as it's not a warehouse amount), the lower fixed fee you can offer.

There's endless possibilities out there. I'm sure some members (or card shops) would be happy to help, especially when they're being compensated to do so.

[pezzicle]

Originally Posted by zakcollects

This has been the biggest struggle for me here in Canada with the hobby. It's one thing to buy a $5 USD card, it's another to pay $15 USD in shipping to make it a $20 card. Even seeing an Auction at an absolute steal because the card is going for $20 let's say instead of the $50 I'd expect still means I'm paying nearly that $50 to get it.

And then things like the Black November sale. 2022 Heritage High Number at that price? I'd consider it. $60 USD shipping for a couple boxes? But the LCS markup is about the same around here.

absolutely. It makes it tough. I have made one purchase from the US since getting back into collecting. It was a $370 card that ended up costing me about $500 when all was said and done. I was fine with it because it was a BGS 9.5 with two 10s and two 9.5s that I crossed over into a 10 so the card is now worth $900 but still, that mark up for buying from the US is wacky.

[pezzicle]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

No stress, #1 isn't your only option.

In addition to attending NY card shows and befriending vendors there, you can consider reaching out to NY card stores and/or reputable NY-based BO members. Ask them to hold packages for you for a fixed fee (per card/order) that benefits both parties. Pick up such packages monthly or monthly, etc. The less packages you want them to hold, the higher fixed fee you can offer. The more packages you want them to hold (as long as it's not a warehouse amount), the lower fixed fee you can offer.

There's endless possibilities out there. I'm sure some members (or card shops) would be happy to help, especially when they're being compensated to do so.

ya it's not ideal but it is what it is. I'm in no rush. I'll hit a show at some point in the next year. I have all the card searches saved on ebay so if something pops up i'll be able to bid on it

all is not lost!

[mogwai316]

Originally Posted by zakcollects

This has been the biggest struggle for me here in Canada with the hobby. It's one thing to buy a $5 USD card, it's another to pay $15 USD in shipping to make it a $20 card. Even seeing an Auction at an absolute steal because the card is going for $20 let's say instead of the $50 I'd expect still means I'm paying nearly that $50 to get it.

And then things like the Black November sale. 2022 Heritage High Number at that price? I'd consider it. $60 USD shipping for a couple boxes? But the LCS markup is about the same around here.

So I sell quite a bit on eBay and I'll sometimes get orders from places that are middleman shippers for people outside the USA. Basically you get a box with one of these companies, you can use that box (with a USA shipping address) to mail all your eBay orders to, so you only have to pay US shipping for each order. And then once you have enough piled up, you can get one big international shipment from that company mailed to you. It seems like this could really save you a lot of shipping compared to paying international shipping on every single order. Downside is you don't get the cards immediately, though. And you're trusting the company to not screw you, because eBay won't protect you beyond the initial shipment being delivered. But it seems like there are several reputable companies doing this now.

[pezzicle]

im not sure how that would save any money unless you are able to skirt past the duty

i guess a bit because youre only paying say $10 for shipping each card vs $25 but on say 5 cards that's only saving you, what, $50?

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by zakcollects

This has been the biggest struggle for me here in Canada with the hobby. It's one thing to buy a $5 USD card, it's another to pay $15 USD in shipping to make it a $20 card. Even seeing an Auction at an absolute steal because the card is going for $20 let's say instead of the $50 I'd expect still means I'm paying nearly that $50 to get it.

And then things like the Black November sale. 2022 Heritage High Number at that price? I'd consider it. $60 USD shipping for a couple boxes? But the LCS markup is about the same around here.

Originally Posted by mogwai316

So I sell quite a bit on eBay and I'll sometimes get orders from places that are middleman shippers for people outside the USA. Basically you get a box with one of these companies, you can use that box (with a USA shipping address) to mail all your eBay orders to, so you only have to pay US shipping for each order. And then once you have enough piled up, you can get one big international shipment from that company mailed to you. It seems like this could really save you a lot of shipping compared to paying international shipping on every single order. Downside is you don't get the cards immediately, though. And you're trusting the company to not screw you, because eBay won't protect you beyond the initial shipment being delivered. But it seems like there are several reputable companies doing this now.

Don't even need to work with a random middleman company. Work with a reputable BO member.

Bam, situation resolved. Why pay more when you can pay less?

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by pezzicle

im not sure how that would save any money unless you are able to skirt past the duty

i guess a bit because youre only paying say $10 for shipping each card vs $25 but on say 5 cards that's only saving you, what, $50?

Every dollar saved is a dollar that can be allocated towards something (cards or not cards).

[pezzicle]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Every dollar saved is a dollar that can be allocated towards something (cards or not cards).

oh for sure, don't get me wrong, any money saved is helpful.

the cheapest way would just be to wait for it to come on eBay in Canada though.

Or keep going to shows in Canada and the US and cross your fingers.

patience is key for us Canadians if we don't want to spend 40% more for a card

[anusinha]

Originally Posted by pezzicle

im not sure how that would save any money unless you are able to skirt past the duty

i guess a bit because youre only paying say $10 for shipping each card vs $25 but on say 5 cards that's only saving you, what, $50?

COMC does this, Im pretty sure you dont have to pay the duty on cards shipped to canada.

[pezzicle]

Originally Posted by anusinha

COMC does this, Im pretty sure you dont have to pay the duty on cards shipped to canada.

that would be nice. it's 20% duty here. gets real pricey when you are buying something expensive

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

My post was more about the bigger shows. Could see how the smaller shows could be different. However, the smaller local shows are probably more closely related to the local card shops I go to. Mostly ultra-modern stuff and very limited stock or expertise in vintage. I buy stuff for my nephews at those card shops, but don't really enjoy going in there. If anyone knows any central California shows that have a decent vintage selection, I would be willing to go.

There's a show in Hayward on the 25th that should be right up your alley. Many of the exhibitors are the ones that formed the nucleus of the old St. Leander show. Tons vo mid-century and Pre-War.

[MC99LBC]

Originally Posted by pezzicle

that would be nice. it's 20% duty here. gets real pricey when you are buying something expensive

Www.nyaddress.ca

Trust me this is the absolute best thing you can do if you’re willing to drive 2 min into the Niagara Falls USA just past the border.

I’ve had one for at least 10 years best thing I ever did. That said I’m only 15 minutes from the USA side near Grimsby.

PM me if you need more details or want to ship a card there and then I can pick it up for you and mail it to you from Ontario. I also have a pro tip for you if you want to PM me

[CdnOsFan]

Originally Posted by pezzicle

ya ive started to notice this as well which makes shows more of a frustration then anything. The most frustrating part is I am in Canada and a lot of the cards I want are certainly available on eBay in the US, but it costs me $20 to ship, 13% tax at checkout and then an additional 20% on duty. a $500 card quickly becomes a $700 purchase :/

Americanmailbox.net - $2.50 per package, the best price and best service for parcel/mail receiving. Across from Seneca Casino, 3 blocks from the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. He will hold them for a while so that you can save them up and go get them. The cheaper shipping cost will offset the 1.5 hour drive especially if you go to pick up multiple packages.

Some of the others, CBI is expensive, NYaddress service was horrendous (maybe they are better now?)

1000's of packages received over the years and NO issues! Chris, the owner at American Mailbox is fantastic!