Share Card Show Experiences here - As Dealers/Buyers

[MavsRChamps]

Forgive me if there's already a thread for this (but I don't think so) but perhaps this can be a running thread where we share:

- Our experiences at card shows as dealers or buyers
- Trends we are seeing at card shows
- Share pickups/steals at card show
- Anything else!

For me, I'm specifically curious the contrast/differences of card shows around the country?

I'm been a smaller local dealer in the Philadelphia / New Jersey area - some shows decent size wise though - for about a year now every couple weeks. People don't seem to be looking for NBA in this area or is it just me? It's way more of a baseball/football crowd at shows; when I see card show vlogs on the West coast I see NBA sales way more prevalent.

For me - Noticing sells slowing down a ton (even other dealers don't buy as much from other dealers) & mainly it boils down to people just not going through the boxes at all which seems odd to me (instead look at showcases) - Talking any boxes, $1 boxes, $5 boxes, even my $20 and up box which are all priced & separated by sport ... The fact people don't go into boxes has helped me as a buyer to go through other dealer's value boxes and find amazing deals actually! Often can make a profit doing this and selling online. Perhaps the West coast crowd more-so goes through value boxes? .. I could have $20 cards in my dollar box and it would be irrelevant cause maybe 2 people even go through it at a show with 100+ attendees & majority it's newer collectors who wouldn't recognize a $20 1998 or 2007 card I have in there if that makes sense. Is this preference to just look at showcases just a regional thing? I can't make sense of it, especially when I go online and see card show vlogs of a bunch of people standing & going through rows of boxes.

Some great deals I've found recently include the below cards: 2008 Emmitt Smith UD Premier Triple Patch /50 - $20, Curry Insert /50 - $3, Walker 2000 E-X Shoe Card - $5
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[Bosoxfan5990]

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1519226

[mogwai316]

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[stlcardinals70]

I only go through bargain boxes at shows and never pay attention to anything in the cases, but I'd say the shows I'm at have a healthy mix of both types of buyers. I just went to one today where there were some great bargain boxes, and the tables with those boxes were packed all day.

[MavsRChamps]

Originally Posted by stlcardinals70

I only go through bargain boxes at shows and never pay attention to anything in the cases, but I'd say the shows I'm at have a healthy mix of both types of buyers. I just went to one today where there were some great bargain boxes, and the tables with those boxes were packed all day.

Thanks for inputs - What area of country you in, near St. Louis?

[mogwai316]

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[Budler]

Originally Posted by mogwai316

I like the idea of having a thread in here for card shows. That one in the baseball forum is mostly worthless because of the trolls that ruin just about every thread on this site by derailing every conversation into the same cesspool. You have to wade through so much garbage to try and read the posts that actually talk about card show experiences. In this area, it might actually stay on topic since it's mostly card dealers and more mature people that hang out over here.

You are correct that this is mainly dealers/resellers. Not sure about the maturity of some members here.

There have been several postings about shows here. They just drop down on the list so far one cannot really easily find them. I have put in my 2 cents worth several times as a buyer of cards for my PC only.
1. I have done a couple of shows and sold more cards to other dealers then the people coming to the shows.
2. I buy only cards for my PC. Only reason I'm selling is I got my nephew's collection of close to 200,000 cards and trying to get rid of them.
3. Due to what I collect/buy I find very few cards at shows. Then they are higher than I can buy online even with shipping. So it is not worth it anymore.
4. I get the same thing from dealers/reseller. It is not worth it to look for cards that I buy.
5. I have spent hours going through boxes not to find one cards.
6. I'm finding more collectors feeling the same as I do. The hobby has changed for us old guys and we wonder if it is worth it any more.

[bg17]

Originally Posted by Budler

You are correct that this is mainly dealers/resellers. Not sure about the maturity of some members here.



There have been several postings about shows here. They just drop down on the list so far one cannot really easily find them. I have put in my 2 cents worth several times as a buyer of cards for my PC only.

1. I have done a couple of shows and sold more cards to other dealers then the people coming to the shows.

2. I buy only cards for my PC. Only reason I'm selling is I got my nephew's collection of close to 200,000 cards and trying to get rid of them.

3. Due to what I collect/buy I find very few cards at shows. Then they are higher than I can buy online even with shipping. So it is not worth it anymore.

4. I get the same thing from dealers/reseller. It is not worth it to look for cards that I buy.

5. I have spent hours going through boxes not to find one cards.

6. I'm finding more collectors feeling the same as I do. The hobby has changed for us old guys and we wonder if it is worth it any more.

Im planning on going to my first ever show this weekend. I'm wondering, am I allowed to bring some cards to sell to dealers? Like is there a limit a ticket purchaser can bring in? Sorry for not knowing the obvious maybe, but I was just wanting to know so I'm prepared.

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[dlangley2]

As a general rule, no issues here. You may run into the occassional promoter that has a problem with it, but that is pretty rare in my experience.

Originally Posted by bg17

Im planning on going to my first ever show this weekend. I'm wondering, am I allowed to bring some cards to sell to dealers? Like is there a limit a ticket purchaser can bring in? Sorry for not knowing the obvious maybe, but I was just wanting to know so I'm prepared.

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[bg17]

Originally Posted by dlangley2

As a general rule, no issues here. You may run into the occassional promoter that has a problem with it, but that is pretty rare in my experience.

Thanks! Do they check you as you enter? Like say I wanna bring some slabs to sell..

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[fumanchu]

all the shows i've been to, people bring their pelican case or whatever all their cards are stored in, even the 3 row cardboard boxes and walk around table to table asking if they're buying or trading.

[regionrat]

The shows in Chicago and North West Indiana area are slower on average than they were 1 to 3 years ago. A lot of people are looking to sell these days but most of the people that walk stuff up to dealer tables want way too much for theiir stuff. Wax seems to sell faster than most single cards.

[bg17]

Originally Posted by fumanchu

all the shows i've been to, people bring their pelican case or whatever all their cards are stored in, even the 3 row cardboard boxes and walk around table to table asking if they're buying or trading.

Thanks for letting me know. Appreciate it!

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[regionrat]

Half of the people that look through my soccer dollar boxes are very annoying. One guy at the show two weeks ago spent over a half hour looking through my soccer dollar box. He checked eBay comps on a big stack of dollar soccer cards and he ended up buying 2 cards. If he would have lowballed me on those 2 cards I would have told him no.

[QuinEarlyDoucet]

Sounds like you were over ebay

Originally Posted by regionrat

Half of the people that look through my soccer dollar boxes are very annoying. One guy at the show two weeks ago spent over a half hour looking through my soccer dollar box. He checked eBay comps on a big stack of dollar soccer cards and he ended up buying 2 cards. If he would have lowballed me on those 2 cards I would have told him no.

[regionrat]

Originally Posted by QuinEarlyDoucet

Sounds like you were over ebay

Two cards must have been under. Maybe way under.

[MavsRChamps]

Originally Posted by regionrat

Half of the people that look through my soccer dollar boxes are very annoying. One guy at the show two weeks ago spent over a half hour looking through my soccer dollar box. He checked eBay comps on a big stack of dollar soccer cards and he ended up buying 2 cards. If he would have lowballed me on those 2 cards I would have told him no.

I get stuff like this sometimes, usually in my $5 box though. I don't mind it if the show is kinda slow ... Though if it's busy, and a guy is taking up space when someone else can look it is kinda annoying.

I figured out after a few months literally 95% of buyers ask for prices lower than what's listed or really want bulk discounts. So unfortunately I do price everything a little higher than what I'm willing to take.

Example - I technically have a "$1 Box" but no-one ever has bought 10 cards and been ok paying $10 ... So I basically turned it into a "3 for $2 box" in bulk and I look at it that way. People rarely even look though, even though I look around most tables and my boxes have better value than the average. I don't think - at least in NJ shows - many people at all are selling much of the $0.50 cent - $1 box stuff. Low-end is hard to sell nowadays.

[beauspencer]

Shows in Wisconsin are still heavily trafficked.

The show I promote has a waiting list longer than dealers that I have set up. It is a 140-table show, and it could be 300 tables if I had the space. Foot traffic is excellent. We are going into the busiest time of the year for card shows in my area. November through February are crazy busy.

[Budler]

All I can say is: Boy!!! things have changed at shows here. Going back to the years when sellers had tables full of boxes and chairs for us old guys to set with our lists and full sets. Low end was a nickel or dime now days it is $1 or $5. The last show I went to there were more tables of just graded cards then tables that had boxes of cards to go through.

Myself and others I personally know have thousands of cards we have collected and have no plans to get rid of them. That is what drove the hobby back then. Now when someone buys a card even if it is for their PC. They are thinking: When I sell it will I break even or make a little? So Yes they are trying to get it cheaper.

Card companies have not made it easier for set builders in the way they release sets.

It is easy to sell me the low end stuff BUT #4 in my other post says it all.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by regionrat

Half of the people that look through my soccer dollar boxes are very annoying. One guy at the show two weeks ago spent over a half hour looking through my soccer dollar box. He checked eBay comps on a big stack of dollar soccer cards and he ended up buying 2 cards. If he would have lowballed me on those 2 cards I would have told him no.

You ever think about 3 for $3 or 7 for $5 to move stuff and maybe eliminate fools like that by making them feel they are getting a deal?

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by Budler

All I can say is: Boy!!! things have changed at shows here. Going back to the years when sellers had tables full of boxes and chairs for us old guys to set with our lists and full sets. Low end was a nickel or dime now days it is $1 or $5. The last show I went to there were more tables of just graded cards then tables that had boxes of cards to go through.

Myself and others I personally know have thousands of cards we have collected and have no plans to get rid of them. That is what drove the hobby back then. Now when someone buys a card even if it is for their PC. They are thinking: When I sell it will I break even or make a little? So Yes they are trying to get it cheaper.

Card companies have not made it easier for set builders in the way they release sets.

It is easy to sell me the low end stuff BUT #4 in my other post says it all.

We do have a Beer and Peanut Crowd down SOUTH that has to be catered to still and I have a dime box, quarter , dollar and Priced box. One thing I cannot stand is the clowns that came in during the pandemic and do not price their boxes. While some may be sorted in some way they do not have a price. Its tough to negotiate if you do not know where they are on a price when buying bulk.

[Budler]

For me the big thing about shows is talking with dealers and customers. I have learned a lot.
I saw a sign: Please put cards back where you removed them from, for the next guy as you maybe the next guy. I asked if it help, and he stated A little but I still find baseball in the football boxes.
After the pandemic, things went south for me and prices went up. Some of the sellers I purchased a lot of cards from, years ago at a fair price now their prices are sky high. I'm taking from .50 to $2.75 type.

[regionrat]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

You ever think about 3 for $3 or 7 for $5 to move stuff and maybe eliminate fools like that by making them feel they are getting a deal?

I ended up taking the dollar soccer cards out of their top loaders. I combined those cards with some more numbered soccer cards, a bunch of hockey inserts and some other random stuff. I put all of it into a 5 row box and traded it at the show today. The dealer who got this stuff will likely either put the soccer cards in his 50 cent boxes or he will sell all of the soccer in a lot.

I sold one guy 220 dollar box baseball cards for $110 today. I sold another guy 59 dollar box football cards for $30.

It's a pain for me to sell low end soccer cards at shows these days. I have better luck selling soccer blasters and mega boxes at shows.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by regionrat

I ended up taking the dollar soccer cards out of their top loaders. I combined those cards with some more numbered soccer cards, a bunch of hockey inserts and some other random stuff. I put all of it into a 5 row box and traded it at the show today. The dealer who got this stuff will likely either put the soccer cards in his 50 cent boxes or he will sell all of the soccer in a lot.

I sold one guy 220 dollar box baseball cards for $110 today. I sold another guy 59 dollar box football cards for $30.

It's a pain for me to sell low end soccer cards at shows these days. I have better luck selling soccer blasters and mega boxes at shows.

I guess we are lucky here, not a lot of soccer fans. We are a 60/40 Sports/Pokemon here. I laugh inside at all of the pelican case carriers here that people carry all day.

[regionrat]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

I guess we are lucky here, not a lot of soccer fans. We are a 60/40 Sports/Pokemon here. I laugh inside at all of the pelican case carriers here that people carry all day.

I saw a lot of those pelican case carriers at the show today. The show was in a Southwest Suburb of Chicago. The show was well attended. A lot of people were buying. Not as much Pokemon at this show. I think there was quite a bit of vintage at the show today.