General Forum

Over the past few years I've set up at local 'card' shows. I live in a small area, so the shows aren't big. It started off strictly cards. Now it's progressed into collectibles. It's interesting to see how much changed. You realize sometimes you need to so you can keep up. I was at a show yesterday, had one guy looking for Judge cards. And 1 dealer had 1 copy lol. It wasn't me( I wish!)either. I brought a variety of items, even a Mantle bat relic. Only 2 ppl glanced at it. The only cards I sold were a handful of Cubs and Rangers for a handful of bucks. Thank goodness I sold a couple of figures and a transformer to cover the fee lol. I did make out like a bandit with a handful of dollar grab bags with a guaranteed relic on top and at least 1k total. I just wanted to say it's been interesting watching first hand how the hobby is changing and being a part of it. I'm also glad I have friends here to share stories with! 

Yeah I like hitting shows too in my town, there is always something to be had from someone who has cards in the corner of his display, this year I snagged some pretty neat things for a decent price, and if I ever get my ass in gear I'll send em out to some lucky recipients. =)

Very true, you never know what you'll find. Two guys had action figures. One guy had mid 90's NBA and those little fidget spinners, another had a bunch of funko pops and what looked like loot crate items, another had cards and game used jerseys and bats, 2 guys had strictly cards, one lady had kind of Gothic/medieval jewelry items, swords, and model kits. The jersey/bat guy was actually featured in Beckett years ago I believe. You never know.

I have a lot of good luck at our small local shows. I buy a lot from the $1 bins and 3 for $10 bins - that kind of thing. The last show I spent $100 for about $400 worth of cards. I notice more and more now that collectibles are taking over. Even the local cardshop now is mostly non-sport cards and collectibles with a small bunch of over-priced sports cards. I also pick up some supplies if I'm not finding much to buy from.

They're definitely not what they used to be, but times (and demand) change over the years. Not everyone is looking for the hottest, most expensive cards. My brother in law is trying to get me to get a table with him, but I don't think I will. I'm not big on selling anything other than doubles really, and lugging all my stuff to have it sit there isn't worth it. Not to mention, I'm so OCD about the order the cards are in and the way people handle them, I'd be a nervous wreck.

Aaron - I hear you about the OCD and nervous wreck part. I used to have a table at a card show in Florida back in the early 1990s. As much as I really did enjoy doing the shows, I worried about 2 things - cards being mishandled and cards going missing. Thankfully, nothing walked and no one damaged any of my cards. (I always had a second person at my table to keep watch if I was engaged in a deal with someone else.) You'll find that most of the people coming to a show (an actual room set up for the show - as ooposed to a mall show), are respectful and treat everything like gold. Unless I had display cases (which I did not), I wouldn't do a mall show. Too many people that have no clue walking by. I don't see too many mall shows anymore. Heck, I don't even have card shows near me these days. (Near being a relative term - almost impossible to find a show that's an hour or less away.)

The Chantilly Show this past weekend is a can't miss show for me and i knocked 8 more cards (mostly in the scarce mid series) off of my 1957 want list as well as buying a box of about 1000 assorted A&G mini's that one of the dealers that i deal with regularly gave me for a good price.  Will take all week to go through whats in there, with plenty to trade after the dust settles. 

Unfortunately I live in a very rural area of western Nebraska, so other than making the 3+ hour drive to Denver, there aren't many options for card shows close by. I do try to hit the flea market a couple of times a year though and have a few locals that call me up when they find something. Wish I did have more options to find the good stuff other than parents selling g their kids' old collections at a garage sale!

Three hour drive to Denver, so somewhere around Ogallala? Fountain, CO here and haven't seen a card show around here in about 4 years. Maybe there are some but not very well advertized.

Close avsbruins, a little farther to the west in Sidney. Only card shows I have seen are more of a "sale" advertised by a few of the card shops in and around Denver. So I basically try to line up a couple of cheaper Craigslist buys when I go down for the flea market occasionally and hope they don't sell it out from under me before I get down there.

My wife grew up in Julesburg. Been to Sidney a few times with her and Lake Mac. Good point on the CL collections. I have been looking on FB marketplace and Offer Up. Picked up a few binders and boxes on both. Nothing to write home about but did add to my PC and Ultimate Hockey card collection.