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

[ken161]

Originally Posted by tdbaseballcards

Foot traffic was slower on Friday than what I remember. Sales for me personally were on par with what I normally do. Heard from many dealers it wasn't great. A lot of attendees at my table complained about the extremely high prices at other dealers tables. Some dealers are talking about doing Dallas next year instead of this show if they fall on the same date.

Saturday was busy for most of the show. I didn't sell a single card from my showcase, but I sold over $1400 of cards priced $5 and under. I didn't get to speak to many dealers, but it seemed like today was better from the couple of dealers around me I spoke with.

I am expecting tomorrow to be very slow as the Pats are playing at 1 and usually it means the show is a ghost town by 12-12:30.

I went to this show on Saturday. It had very much a pre-COVID feel -- a good amount of people but not mobbed. I get the impression that a lot of stuff is in the midst of a market correction.

[tdbaseballcards]

Today was the last day of the show. I think the traffic was pretty normal for a Sunday. People stayed much longer than normal. Dealers started packing up around 1, show closed at 3. I stayed until 3 and did lots of sales until the very end. Overall a good day for me. Overall dealers I spoke with mostly thought the show was 'alright.'

Ironically, this show was my best ever in terms of $ amount sold at this show. I've been doing it every year since 2015 (minus 2020).

You gotta adjust to the market, 2/3 of my table was dedicated to cards priced $5 and under. Right now bargain bins are where people are spending their money. I was busy most of the weekend and people were spending $100+ on stacks instead of just 1-2 cards. Until dealers learn to adjust as the market changes, shows will continue to have a lot of disappointed people.

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by tdbaseballcards

Today was the last day of the show. I think the traffic was pretty normal for a Sunday. People stayed much longer than normal. Dealers started packing up around 1, show closed at 3. I stayed until 3 and did lots of sales until the very end. Overall a good day for me. Overall dealers I spoke with mostly thought the show was 'alright.'

Ironically, this show was my best ever in terms of $ amount sold at this show. I've been doing it every year since 2015 (minus 2020).

You gotta adjust to the market, 2/3 of my table was dedicated to cards priced $5 and under. Right now bargain bins are where people are spending their money. I was busy most of the weekend and people were spending $100+ on stacks instead of just 1-2 cards. Until dealers learn to adjust as the market changes, shows will continue to have a lot of disappointed people.

Good stuff here and great to hear you had a good show. There’s a decent number of people on this forum who believe you can’t make money selling cheap cards when setting up at shows.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by solt0131

Good stuff here and great to hear you had a good show. There’s a decent number of people on this forum who believe you can’t make money selling cheap cards when setting up at shows.

No. There’s a decent number of people here who believe you can’t make a real living selling dime box cards.

[hammerva]

You can make a ton of money selling cards less than $5. The issue is that it takes a ton more work. You have to constantly post new stuff on Ebay/COMC/whatever and probably as soon as possible. Now do I think it is as easy as people make it no way. When I see people buy a $2 and then show a sold listing from 3 months ago that it went for $6, that is almost false advertising because it doesn't mean #@#@#@#@ now.

I would think it is way easier to take a $50-$200 card and flip it because dealers are always looking to replenish their cases. Especially given how it seems like 1 out of every 5-8 dealers at shows are heavy buyers.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by hammerva

You can make a ton of money selling cards less than $5. The issue is that it takes a ton more work. You have to constantly post new stuff on Ebay/COMC/whatever and probably as soon as possible. Now do I think it is as easy as people make it no way. When I see people buy a $2 and then show a sold listing from 3 months ago that it went for $6, that is almost false advertising because it doesn't mean #@#@#@#@ now.

I would think it is way easier to take a $50-$200 card and flip it because dealers are always looking to replenish their cases. Especially given how it seems like 1 out of every 5-8 dealers at shows are heavy buyers.

There is a difference between making money and making a living. The latter of which Solt likes to claim is easily done by many dealing dollar box cards.

Show me the dollar box guy who is paying his mortgage, supporting his wife and kids, and maxing out his 401k just by dealing cards.

[hammerva]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Show me the dollar box guy who is paying his mortgage, supporting his wife and kids, and maxing out his 401k just by dealing cards.

To be honest, most of the people who are selling $50 - $5000 cards at shows flipping like crazy aren't living off of that as well. Half of these influencers are still living with their parents. The only ones that are actually making a living off high end flipping are ones that have an actual business to compensate for it.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by hammerva

To be honest, most of the people who are selling $50 - $5000 cards at shows flipping like crazy aren't living off of that as well. Half of these influencers are still living with their parents. The only ones that are actually making a living off high end flipping are ones that have an actual business to compensate for it.

I didn’t say they were. Look at someone like Sasha T. Last I heard, he still lived with his parents. I’d buy a couple hundred grand more of cards a year too if I had no living expenses.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by tdbaseballcards

Today was the last day of the show. I think the traffic was pretty normal for a Sunday. People stayed much longer than normal. Dealers started packing up around 1, show closed at 3. I stayed until 3 and did lots of sales until the very end. Overall a good day for me. Overall dealers I spoke with mostly thought the show was 'alright.'

Ironically, this show was my best ever in terms of $ amount sold at this show. I've been doing it every year since 2015 (minus 2020).

You gotta adjust to the market, 2/3 of my table was dedicated to cards priced $5 and under. Right now bargain bins are where people are spending their money. I was busy most of the weekend and people were spending $100+ on stacks instead of just 1-2 cards. Until dealers learn to adjust as the market changes, shows will continue to have a lot of disappointed people.

Any time I set up and chat with other dealers, they always say it wasn't as good of a show or didn't get as much sales as another show. People just like to complain and it seems like dealers love to complain about something.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

I didn’t say they were. Look at someone like Sasha T. Last I heard, he still lived with his parents. I’d buy a couple hundred grand more of cards a year too if I had no living expenses.

Oh yea, pretty much all of the influencers live at home and now with the social media presence, a lot of those guys get extra funds from other sources (WhatsApp, YouTube, etc.)

[FT35]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

I’d buy a couple hundred grand more of cards a year too if I had no living expenses.

Amen.

[Retired hobbist]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

You’re conflating dealers and businesses. There was a time where most card show dealers were just weekend warriors engaging in their hobby. Now, most of these bigger shows are filled with a bunch of bozos who consider it a needed source of income.

Before the first boom most dealers were weekend warrior types who were more hardcore collectors than true dealers beyond having the paper work to be a dealer ie vendors license.

[bigdog2003]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

Oh yea, pretty much all of the influencers live at home and now with the social media presence, a lot of those guys get extra funds from other sources (WhatsApp, YouTube, etc.)

These big time influencers aren't making their money from cards. Anybody who thinks they are is crazy. They are just using cards to get views. More views means more ad revenue and more sponsorships. I've heard of some of the shows paying for flights for guys just to get them in the door so they will make videos there. If stamps saw a huge boom, you'd see some of the same guys making stamp show vlogs.

[bigdog2003]

There's a 1 day show about 1:30 away from me Saturday, but it doesn't start until 4:00 pm. I would go if it was earlier, but that's a little late for a show to start for me. I must be getting old.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by bigdog2003

These big time influencers aren't making their money from cards. Anybody who thinks they are is crazy. They are just using cards to get views. More views means more ad revenue and more sponsorships. I've heard of some of the shows paying for flights for guys just to get them in the door so they will make videos there. If stamps saw a huge boom, you'd see some of the same guys making stamp show vlogs.

Sponsored by auction houses, card manufacturers and grading companies to promote their agenda - to get you to buy more…mostly so that you will sell more…and to make cards appear to be more desirable and expensive.

[bigdog2003]

Originally Posted by MoreToppsPlease

Sponsored by auction houses, card manufacturers and grading companies to promote their agenda - to get you to buy more…mostly so that you will sell more…and to make cards appear to be more desirable and expensive.

The funny part to me is, people actually listen to them on what to buy. Do they not realize if they are telling you to buy something that means them or their friends are trying to sell?

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by bigdog2003

The funny part to me is, people actually listen to them on what to buy. Do they not realize if they are telling you to buy something that means them or their friends are trying to sell?

I think the thought process for some of these people is that if they’re in on the fix early, they can still reap some profits. After the whole GameStop fiasco, people are more actively aware, and looking to be a part of cook groups now (which, funny enough, diminishes their value).

But yeah, any good social media pumper worth his weight in base PSA 10’s will already have a healthy stock of whatever it is they’re recommending as “buys”.

[theshowandme]

Buy Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Ted Williams.

I do not have a financial interest in you buying any of those. The copies I own are low-grades and very long term holds for me.

[livealoha]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Long lines of customers waiting for dealers to buy their collections. They’re all in pelican cages.

The great sell off has begun!! Cough, cough, I mean the overall hobby price reset!

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by livealoha

The great sell off has begun!! Cough, cough, I mean the overall hobby price reset!

The real flippers with many years of experience have long since taken advantage of the tens of thousands of people who need/want/have to sell now.

And they’ll do it again when the opportunity presents itself, and try to shout down anyone who tries to warn the newbies just like they did during the recent boom. Many of these people still post here daily.

[xstphnx]

I honestly do not understand card flippers who post on IG that they'll buy your cards for under comps only. Like, why would anyone sell to them when Ebay is right there?

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by xstphnx

I honestly do not understand card flippers who post on IG that they'll buy your cards for under comps only. Like, why would anyone sell to them when Ebay is right there?

To avoid having to deal with eBay and 1099’s, I guess? I don’t know for sure. But you lose at least 13% in eBay fees and run the risk of returns. So if someone is offering 80% of comps, it could be a tempting offer. Don’t underestimate the value of no paper trail for some people.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by xstphnx

I honestly do not understand card flippers who post on IG that they'll buy your cards for under comps only. Like, why would anyone sell to them when Ebay is right there?

A hobby full of desperate sellers is not a good hobby, and that’s what the buyers you’re describing are.

[theshowandme]

Next February-April, social media is going to be hilarious when these dudes get 1099s and they’re told to pay taxes

[Univibes]

Originally Posted by xstphnx

I honestly do not understand card flippers who post on IG that they'll buy your cards for under comps only. Like, why would anyone sell to them when Ebay is right there?

Things that come to mind:

Welfare
SSI
Unemployment

If all of the above get a 1099 it can impact their benefits.