Do You Still Get Excited for Card Shows?

[f2tornado]

I do but then i get there and remember how crappy and overpriced they are.

Yes. Unfortunately most shows around here are either full of Vikings/Twins stuff (I collect neither) or high end stuff I'm just not after. The card show scene in MN has absolutely crashed.

I agree shows in Twin Cities are not like they used to be like back in the mid 90's where the larger ones would have 50-100 dealers and it was even possible to show hop on a given Saturday. That said, the MSP area still usually has a show every weekend and a decent larger one every month. One can also take the drive to the occasional show outside the metro. Collectors there have a luxury not afforded in many other portions of the country. Yes, there is Twins/Vikings overkill but that is life in the hometown. I now live in Grand Forks, ND and am lucky to get to a show once every four months. The excitement factor for shows is still there but I am not as pumped for them as I used to be. Getting cards easily on the internet definitely hurts the anticipation value. Also, I used to scoop up bargains at a very nice clip but now have to really scour to find something I want or could flip. Perhaps some of this is due to a tight budget I've had the past several years. If I'm buying to flip I now need to be pretty confident I can make a profit. Of course most dealers are also eBay savvy, further reducing the amount of deals to be found.

I went to a dinky show in Moorhead, MN on Saturday since I was in town anyway. I only spent $12 but I'm certain the sale of these two cards will pay for the gas. This along with simply looking at a lot of cards in one place is what keeps shows fun for me.

Serial #01/50

Serial #08/10

 

[predatorkj]

As a followup, I went to the show and (definitely not to my surprise) it sucked.

I went looking to buy, and everyone with decent stuff was either not willing to move, or wanted waaaay too much even after dealing: like 2x over current sv.

One guy I tried to work a deal with had his cards priced 2x sv, then offered to take some money off, trying to make it seem like hes giving me a smokin deal.

I wish I could say i was surprised, but im not.

Isn't this how it always is? At every show? I have been to a nice chunk and it seems to be the MO. About the best deals to be had are people who have the boxes where every card is $***. That is when you can find something worth its while to buy. Otherwise, if you re just perusing singles...I haven't found too many sellers who had a display of singles and were willing to cut any deals on them.

 

[VizquelCollector.com]

I keep going periodically, but I NEVER find anything. Hardly anyone knows who Vizquel is. Those that do are quick to tell me they wouldn't bother hauling anything of his to a show. I've probably wasted at least $150 in gas driving to shows and coming back empty handed.

 

[HPC]

Isn't this how it always is? At every show? I have been to a nice chunk and it seems to be the MO. About the best deals to be had are people who have the boxes where every card is $***. That is when you can find something worth its while to buy. Otherwise, if you re just perusing singles...I haven't found too many sellers who had a display of singles and were willing to cut any deals on them.

Basically, but here in Phoenix the guy who put on the show, does some good ones, so I figured it would be like the good one he does.

I love when dealers tell me "well I could get X amount on eBay for it" so thats why I cant sell it to you for X

...Okay, if you can get waaay more on eBay for it, why aint it listed already and in your showcase for the 3rd consecutive month?

Im tired of hearing excuses and crap like that

 

[jlyles]

I get nervous and anxious and excited before I go to a show. I'm agoraphobic and have major anxiety issues as it is, so going to shows and having to talk/haggle with dealers kind of frightens me (I know, it's hilarious to think about, but I can't help it?). So every time I go I always get the bubble guts and sweaty palms and such.

Usually though, I don't even get anything. It isn't even worth it to try and talk dealers out of buying for anything more than "30% of low book" or selling for less than "80% hi book". I realize you have to pay for the table and turn some kind of profit, but I'm not going to pay by Beckett prices (when was the last time they were even relevant?). If I'm selling, I'll give it to you for $20 if it sells for $25 on eBay, but just because it "only books for 25" doesn't mean that I'm trying to rip you off.

I don't think anything I said made any sense, but I am very grateful for the internet (eBay+card forums); I don't think I could do this hobby if it was all in-person.

 

[HPC]

Im pretty lucky because most of the guys dont even use beckett anymore.

But they use the same business tactic as everyone else: price your cards 1.5-2X over what they sell for, then haggle down to what they actually sell for, to make it seem like the person is getting a smokin deal.

Oh well. I'll wait until May for the next one and hope it goes better....which It probably wont.

 

[predatorkj]

Isn't this how it always is? At every show? I have been to a nice chunk and it seems to be the MO. About the best deals to be had are people who have the boxes where every card is $***. That is when you can find something worth its while to buy. Otherwise, if you re just perusing singles...I haven't found too many sellers who had a display of singles and were willing to cut any deals on them.

Basically, but here in Phoenix the guy who put on the show, does some good ones, so I figured it would be like the good one he does.

I love when dealers tell me "well I could get X amount on eBay for it" so thats why I cant sell it to you for X

...Okay, if you can get waaay more on eBay for it, why aint it listed already and in your showcase for the 3rd consecutive month?

Im tired of hearing excuses and crap like that

I have had a seller or two actually give me crap and state that I could never find a particular card any cheaper anywhere else. If they go that far, I'll just counter back and it usually will shut them up. In any case, I say let them alone and allow them to wallow in their financial misery. If they want to continue bringing the same crap show after show, eventually they will either sell it for a lower price, quit coming to shows, or must have apparently found an idiot dumb enough to buy it.

 

[shephech]

I am still like a little kid in a candy store when I go to cardshows ....

Shep :ugeek: