Ever walk into a card shop...

[ChasHawk]

Those pics you posted are like OCD organized compared to the place I went in to... :lol:

 

[cgilmo]

Those pics you posted are like OCD organized compared to the place I went in to... :lol:

thats because i don't take pictures of how it looks when there are 20 people in there.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

love pics like that

 

[Jenkinssssss]

This place is in the Del Rey section of Alexandria, VA. When I first moved to VA a few years ago, I jumped online to see if there were any card shops in the area and was pretty excited when I saw a few were still around. One rarely ever has new stuff but is good if you want to go digging around in 5000 count boxes going back a couple of decades. One is alright and is owned by the guys who do Huggins and Scott auctions. THEN there is this place. It was the first one I went into and ended up being pretty much a romper room of random collectibles. (No clue who this guy is, just pulled the photo off the internet.)

i walked in this place, laughed, turned around and left.

I think you're also talking about AJ Sports Shop or something in Vienna. What a massive dump.

The best is the place on Columbia Pike...Ron's Collector's World or something. Guy that runs it is so bitter. Wanted $110 for a box of Bowman Chrome. Told him I would buy a couple at $80 even though they were $55 online at the time. "Those guys search all their packs..bunch of hilarious BS...i'm bitter...FML." "You'll get some hits here for sure. Everyone always does."
Amazing.

 

[98Whitesteed]

It's funny, I have a case at a local LCS that I sell singles at. Every other renter barely cracks $100/month it seems, where I am over $300 on a regular basis. One look at their cards and prices is all you need to see why I triple their sales. I have a simple formula that I found works. Local team auto's and rookie cards of basically anyone popular in the 3 major sports. I buy on this formula..... I buy at 0-30% of book, never sell for more than 60% (that would be like Stras, or Lin, or Darvish in their peak's), and I enjoy a nice little check every month. Some people don't get it.

 

[98Whitesteed]

Classic story, thanks for sharing!
I don't think I've been to an LCS (except to pick up some supplies) in probably 6 or 7 years. Most stuff is severely overpriced except for commons. Not even sure where there are card shows out here in Phoenix anymore, there used to be a good one at the PHX Baptist Chruch but I don't see it advertised anymore. Thank god for eBay and online trading or I don't know what'd I do.

There is a new store thats suppose to be open by the end of March. Its in Glendale, not sure where you are. It might be worth checking out. The place is going to have batting cages, sports card shop, fitness area, cafe, and not sure what else.

 

[FrostyCollects]

All this card-shop talk makes me really miss going to my local card shop back in the 80s. The aura of rarity was much stronger back then...before the Internet took much of that away.

Curious...did anyone ever go to a card shop in the 60s or 70s? Did they exist that far back?

 

[fitch123]

Great read.

Almost good enough to make me want to go there and experience the madness for myself

 

[justinmandawg]

I'm always thankful that there's a solid card shop within a short drive from my house (Shawnee, KS). Good guy, very solid knowledge of pre-war and vintage, and always has some newer product available. Prices are closer to book than ebay, but overall the experience is pleasant. Too bad there's so many "bad" ones out there : (

Scott is a hell of a guy. I've had a lot of fun and gotten some great deals from him. It's also neat to see what walks in the front door. I haven't been in quite some time, but I'm sure he's still doing hella business.

 

[G $MONEY$]

People talk about the internet killing card shops, but it killed most collectible's values. What was perceived as rare is no longer rare. Imagine if this were the 80s again. There is no way any of us would be seeing Superfractors. You're talking about a once in a lifetime pull for a person. Now you can buy Supers all day. If I wanted a Granderson Superfractor before the internet, there's little to no hope of me finding it locally.

Yep that is so true. I remember back in the day i looked for a Warren Moon NFL RC for years and years. Not just in my home city of Calgary, but also when i went on holidays to Edmonton, Vancouver, Spokane, Great Falls and other places in Montana, Idaho and Washington State. Finally found one in Las Vegas about 5 years after i started looking :lol: Now adays i can go on Ebay and buy 100 Warren Moon's 1985 Topps cards :lol:

 

[tramers]

Last two LCS the smoke was thick and some of the cards i bought still smell - 10 plus years later ::facepalm:: /
Now have a great shop and super owner , prices fair on boxes / packs .

 

[boomo]

there is a similar place in gardner mass. Guy actually bought an old bank,
and left everything in place. so all the teller windows are there. He has stuff everywhere
and he is sketchy as the come. I do remember he had a box of 1971 topps series 1,
and a sealed box of the 60's twilight zone, but wanted way to much. this is a place
that has to be seen to be believed.