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

[notfast]

Originally Posted by mfw13

In this day and age, any dealer worth their salt should have some form of electronic payment available.....either Square, PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle.

On the rare occasions I go to a show I carry $100-200 with me in cash for small purchases, but my expectation for any card over $50 would be to be able to pay electronically.

Ewww

Yes basically everyone takes paypal Venmo Zelle but bring cash.

[JoshMN]

Originally Posted by Galileo77

Not sure this belongs in this thread but if not my apologies. My sons and i are going to the Dallas Card Show in Cincinnati. We have been to only one other show prior and we did not buy anything. But we plan to buy if we see what we like but my question is what is the usual way of payment at most Shows. Thank you

Cash is still king at shows.

The more pressing question is why are they having a Dallas card show in Cincinnati? Do they have Cincinnati card shows in Dallas?

[Galileo77]

Originally Posted by Cracktoast

Cash is king but I'd imagine some dealers have electronic payment of some type

thank you

[Galileo77]

Originally Posted by JoshMN

Cash is still king at shows.

The more pressing question is why are they having a Dallas card show in Cincinnati? Do they have Cincinnati card shows in Dallas?

LOL great question but I quess they move around outside of Dallas

[shawnkrebs]

Disagree. Ive sold many items Ive held in my collection because the financial opportunity was too great to pass up, yet I was sad to see the item go.

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

One who, upon a card purchase, experiences more joy flipping the card for profit than actually keeping it.

[shawnkrebs]

I set up in Chantilly this past weekend - one of the new booth spots in the North Hall/autograph side. I live 10 min away and have been going or occasionally setting up at the show for more than 20 years.

The Chantilly Show has changed. Gone are the tight aisles you had to squeeze through and the tables upon tables of vendors with showcases filled with the same items every year.

So many more new dealers, a different layout & added spaces since CSA changed hands.

There is more ultra modern and TCG. I dont buy or collect either, so I wont speculate on prices, but the dealers seemed busy and those that I spoke to were content with the turnout and happy with the sales.

The show crowd is much younger. So many kids! It seems silly there isn't some type of set up for kids 12 and younger getting into the hobby.

Yet there are still a large group of dealers who've set up in Chantilly for a long time with a huge variety of cards & memorabilia from all sports that draw buyers every year. Maybe not as many vintage or wax dealers. Maybe more dealers looking to sell a wizard or a lizard or a shiny card.

From my perspective, which is more hard to find items, I was happy with the turnout at my booth and very happy with the sales.

Just because a show you've attended forever no longer sells a majority of what you like doesn't make it a bad show. It just makes it a show that's changed. The lines were as long as ever to get in or buy food. The auto guests were as good as any year I can remember. Seemed like a great show to me.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by shawnkrebs

I set up in Chantilly this past weekend - one of the new booth spots in the North Hall/autograph side. I live 10 min away and have been going or occasionally setting up at the show for more than 20 years.

The Chantilly Show has changed. Gone are the tight aisles you had to squeeze through and the tables upon tables of vendors with showcases filled with the same items every year.

So many more new dealers, a different layout & added spaces since CSA changed hands.

There is more ultra modern and TCG. I dont buy or collect either, so I wont speculate on prices, but the dealers seemed busy and those that I spoke to were content with the turnout and happy with the sales.

The show crowd is much younger. So many kids! It seems silly there isn't some type of set up for kids 12 and younger getting into the hobby.

Yet there are still a large group of dealers who've set up in Chantilly for a long time with a huge variety of cards & memorabilia from all sports that draw buyers every year. Maybe not as many vintage or wax dealers. Maybe more dealers looking to sell a wizard or a lizard or a shiny card.

From my perspective, which is more hard to find items, I was happy with the turnout at my booth and very happy with the sales.

Just because a show you've attended forever no longer sells a majority of what you like doesn't make it a bad show. It just makes it a show that's changed. The lines were as long as ever to get in or buy food. The auto guests were as good as any year I can remember. Seemed like a great show to me.

I had no idea there was any booths on that side of the building. It’s normally just people selling stuff to get signed and gutter guards

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

ted dibiase approves

A wise man once said:

"My boy, there are only two kinds of people in this world: Teds and Virgils. Don't be a Virgil"

https://lonelyvirgil.net/

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by shawnkrebs

Disagree. Ive sold many items Ive held in my collection because the financial opportunity was too great to pass up, yet I was sad to see the item go.

Welcome to the fake collector’s club!

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Welcome to the fake collector’s club!

I remember years ago someone or some were arguing that everything has a price, regardless of sentimental or other attachment. I argued that wasn't the case for me personally. I have a 1970s rookie card of my favorite player growing up that I wouldn't sell for any amount. Sure, I could sell it and buy others like it, but it wouldn't be the same. I feel that way about my current PC guy. Just for clarity - does that qualify me as a true collector? I would love to be part of that exclusive club.

[Akphillips86]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

I remember years ago someone or some were arguing that everything has a price, regardless of sentimental or other attachment. I argued that wasn't the case for me personally. I have a 1970s rookie card of my favorite player growing up that I wouldn't sell for any amount. Sure, I could sell it and buy others like it, but it wouldn't be the same. I feel that way about my current PC guy. Just for clarity - does that qualify me as a true collector? I would love to be part of that exclusive club.

If you have to ask, you’re not a true collector.

If there’s a fire and you can save your cards or your child, and you pick your child, you’re not a true collector.

If you could sell your favorite card to pay for lifesaving treatment for your Grandmother and you do it, you are not a true collector.

If your dying wish isn’t to have all of your raw cards pulled out that you would keep in nothing but a binder and showered over your coffin with you when you’re buried, you’re not a true collector.

If you’ve ever sold a card, you’re not a true collector (unless you took a 95 percent loss to pick up your PC Grail).

Cards > Life itself. Period.


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[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Akphillips86

If you have to ask, you’re not a true collector.

If there’s a fire and you can save your cards or your child, and you pick your child, you’re not a true collector.

If you could sell your favorite card to pay for lifesaving treatment for your Grandmother and you do it, you are not a true collector.

If your dying wish isn’t to have all of your raw cards pulled out that you would keep in nothing but a binder and showered over your coffin with you when you’re buried, you’re not a true collector.

If you’ve ever sold a card, you’re not a true collector (unless you took a 95 percent loss to pick up your PC Grail).

Cards > Life itself. Period.


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Damn it...I guess I need to collect harder.

[Akphillips86]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

Damn it...I guess I need to collect harder.

Don’t beat yourself up. It takes intense psychological training to rewire the brain.

I’ve finally reached the point where I cracked all of my cards out of slabs and covered them with tons of small surface abrasions on the front (just big enough to be seen using a loupe, can’t be too big because it would ruin eye appeal) and wrote grading is a scam on the back with a Sharpie just to prove value means nothing.

It’s the most liberating thing I’ve ever done and I finally feel like I’m progressing on my journey to become a true collector.


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[theshowandme]

I have seen a dealer turn down $400 PayPal/Venmo and demand that it be in cash.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

I have seen a dealer turn down $400 PayPal/Venmo and demand that it be in cash.

Are they afraid of chargebacks?

[theshowandme]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Are they afraid of chargebacks?

Yes, and 1099s from the IRS

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Yes, and 1099s from the IRS

"FF no notes."

[auctionjmm]

I'll accept electronic at shows if somebody asks, but I still prefer cash for buying purposes. I often buy as much as I sell at shows because shows are a great place to buy the type of inventory I want. Maybe my perception is wrong, but I feel like cash is going to get me the best deal most of the time. I also suspect that the customer who is selling me the cards may very well turn around and spend that money at another table so I assume he'd want cash as well.

It's also psychological. I rarely deposit show money at the bank so I let it keep building up in my cash pouch. I don't know if/when I'll ever need that much cash but it feels good knowing I have a bag of cash in my house that I can dip into if I ever need it. It's like a savings account that I forget about. I'm a "spreadsheet guy" so every cent I own is accounted for EXCEPT the red pouch. That's my out of sight, out of mind, free money.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by Akphillips86

If you have to ask, you’re not a true collector.

If there’s a fire and you can save your cards or your child, and you pick your child, you’re not a true collector.

If you could sell your favorite card to pay for lifesaving treatment for your Grandmother and you do it, you are not a true collector.

If your dying wish isn’t to have all of your raw cards pulled out that you would keep in nothing but a binder and showered over your coffin with you when you’re buried, you’re not a true collector.

If you’ve ever sold a card, you’re not a true collector (unless you took a 95 percent loss to pick up your PC Grail).

Cards > Life itself. Period.


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Originally Posted by Akphillips86

Don’t beat yourself up. It takes intense psychological training to rewire the brain.

I’ve finally reached the point where I cracked all of my cards out of slabs and covered them with tons of small surface abrasions on the front (just big enough to be seen using a loupe, can’t be too big because it would ruin eye appeal) and wrote grading is a scam on the back with a Sharpie just to prove value means nothing.

It’s the most liberating thing I’ve ever done and I finally feel like I’m progressing on my journey to become a true collector.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This man gets it.

You are on fire today.

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Akphillips86

Don’t beat yourself up. It takes intense psychological training to rewire the brain.

I’ve finally reached the point where I cracked all of my cards out of slabs and covered them with tons of small surface abrasions on the front (just big enough to be seen using a loupe, can’t be too big because it would ruin eye appeal) and wrote grading is a scam on the back with a Sharpie just to prove value means nothing.

It’s the most liberating thing I’ve ever done and I finally feel like I’m progressing on my journey to become a true collector.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can only imagine the feeling of hearing the plastic crack as the card is freed from its false imprisonment.

I don't send cards off to grading companies, but I do run them each at least once through the dishwasher. Then I put them into my own holder and label each one as a Gem Mint 10. My collection is probably worth close to 7 figures because of this.

[Akphillips86]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

I can only imagine the feeling of hearing the plastic crack as the card is freed from its false imprisonment.

I don't send cards off to grading companies, but I do run them each at least once through the dishwasher. Then I put them into my own holder and label each one as a Gem Mint 10. My collection is probably worth close to 7 figures because of this.

Haha I almost spit out my drink reading this. Love it! Don’t forget to add the Finish Jet-Dry rinse aid. Definitely helps with the surface.


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[Akphillips86]

Originally Posted by auctionjmm

It's also psychological. I rarely deposit show money at the bank so I let it keep building up in my cash pouch. I don't know if/when I'll ever need that much cash but it feels good knowing I have a bag of cash in my house that I can dip into if I ever need it. It's like a savings account that I forget about. I'm a "spreadsheet guy" so every cent I own is accounted for EXCEPT the red pouch. That's my out of sight, out of mind, free money.

I can relate to this. My wife and I have a spreadsheet that covers every budgetary expense. I use virtually all of my monthly discretionary funds on cards and anything I sell goes back into the same fund. I’m essentially constantly curating my collection using a small discretionary amount each month and proceeds from anything I sell off. It allows me to enjoy the hobby and stay active in it without pulling funds from necessary places. And then sometimes the card fund functions as another little emergency fund to take the pain out of life’s little surprises.

Sigh….

I know, this means I’m not a true collector.


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[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Akphillips86

Haha I almost spit out my drink reading this. Love it! Don’t forget to add the Finish Jet-Dry rinse aid. Definitely helps with the surface.


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[ThoseBackPages]

greater than ever!

[theshowandme]

It is Day 3 of the Dallas Card Show this weekend and there have been no posts.

It is over folks.