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MDog23
Posts: 6
Joined: Nov 2021
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 6:52 AM | |
For those of you collecting for the fun of it, not as a business or investment, what are your thoughts on card shows?
Like so many, I was out of collecting for many years and recently got back into it. I'm solely focusing on building sets through the years for my favorite baseball team. So my scope if pretty small compared to many others. The community at TCDB has been great and I've made good progress through trading. I've also done a little eBay and Sportslots to acquire cards that have been hard to trade for.
I've been to a couple small card shows, at the local mall, and they've never been helpful. The vendors can only bring so many cards to the show so they focus on what they think is hot/will sell but this doesn't match up well with me looking for specific cards for specific years. I had some interest in picking up a box of unopened packs or even a box of randoms, that I could use for trading, but the prices were crazy. I'd see guys selling boxes, clearly labeled as "sold only at Target" for twice what they paid at the store.
There is a show happening nearby me in PA in Sept. It's at a convention center and they charge to get in so I assume it is much more significant. For those that have gone to these large shows, are they helpful for my kind of collecting? Or am I going to see more of the same as the local mall show?
Thanks
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Gunny
Posts: 1,325
Joined: Jan 2009
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 7:01 AM | |
It has been my experience that larger shows will have some vendors who bring cards in large boxes and/or binders that allow potential customers to sort through looking for cards they may need. Usually the higher priced stuff from those sets are not in those boxes/binders. At smaller shows I usually see professional vendors trying to sell off inventory of boxes, blasters etc whilst the individual sellers usually bring newer stuff that they think is hot on the market.
Larger shows here in western PA bring vendors in from many different states so there is quite the variety to go through.
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We all live in a Perry Groves World...
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Sportzcommish
Posts: 6,035
Joined: Oct 2016
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 7:06 AM | |
My two cents, and it's probably not worth much more. I've stopped considering attending card shows mainly because the venues require an entrance fee and here in Houston you must pay for parking, too. Right off the bat I'm probably out at least $30.00 without getting any cards. That situation or something similar is a big no for me.
Trading is a great option, but I'm certain it's much harder trading for Yankees than it is for Astros so that goes into your thinking, too.
Edited on: Jun 8, 2022 - 7:07AM -------------------------------
Follow my blog - I Identify as a Card Collector. “Aslan didn't tell Pole what would happen. He only told her what to do. That fellow will be the death of us once he's up, I shouldn't wonder. But that doesn't let us off following the signs.” - Puddleglum in The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
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jimetal7212
Posts: 4,944
Joined: Dec 2016
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 7:09 AM | |
It really all depends about where you are at and consideration for the current collecting environment. I have 2 shows I reguraly attend here in CT (~40 tables each, $1 admission). A few years ago it was an eclectic mix of vintage, modern, dime bix and so forth. I built some great relationshIps with several dealers, especially on the vintage front. Move forward to today those same shows have had their focus shift. Last weekend I was at one of the two shows. Very heavy on dealers trying to move graded cards (and complaining when no one was buying), more tables of pure modern, the one guy who bought out the Targets/Walmarts and some vintage.
I stick to those dealers that I have the relationships with. It pays to be loyal and great deals. I'll venture outside those dealers sometimes, but am wary of what I'm walking into (i.e. unnecessary pandemic gouging). It's been decades since I've been to a 200 table show 9something I'm fixing this year). What I'd be doing to strolling through the tables and getting a vibe of who is doing what. There will be some gems delarers in there that is all about helping the collector and not the hype. From there you should be able to find a few that are willing to help. Heck, if you are collecting PA teams there should be plenty of dime boxes that you can dive into.
Edited on: Jun 8, 2022 - 2:31PM -------------------------------
Tired and trembling I am descending, will I have to stay here and live this life again?
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captkirk42
Posts: 2,271
Joined: May 2011
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 7:57 AM | |
Been probably close to 30 years since I've attended a card show. It was a local one with something like 40-50 vendors from all over. I don't recall any vendors with unique items. There was one vendor that I purchased a few "mystery" bags from. They were hand packed paper "sandwich" bags. I forget the number of cards they contained there were two "sizes" (flavors, whatever you want to call card counts) I think there were $1 and $5 bags. There might have been a third $2 bag I don't recall. I purchased at least 2 of the larger bags of Baseball with 20 or 50 cards or whatever card count they were and they were mostly 1988 and 1990 Fleer.
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I collect: Baseball, Football, Hockey, Mostly Vintage pre1980, My Homie teams - Washington/Baltimore Teams Senators (Twins, Rangers), Expos/Nationals, Redskins, Capitals, Bullets/Wizards - HOFers - Non-sport (mostly TV shows and movies). My Trade List is very much a work in progress CaptKirk42s Trading Card Blog Curly W Cards Strive For '65 YouTube klandersen42
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myrke
Posts: 813
Joined: Aug 2020
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 8:03 AM | |
Technically, those '88 and '90 Fleer ~were~ 30 years ago. Probably a different reaction then to that outcome than spending $5 to get '88 and '90 Fleer now, I imagine. Given what it sounds like card shows are today, going back in time to see rows of tables with no graded or sparkly cards might be a nice visit.
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dettigersmlb
Posts: 494
Joined: Dec 2019
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 8:25 AM | |
I'd probably avoid any card show that requires someone to spend that much to get in too...parking/admission. The show I am promoting has zero parking fees and a $1.00 admission and this is donated entirlety to a non-profit. They are fun and always have a good mix of current day product, vintage, high end items and lower end items...this show is made for anyone on any budget!
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bblair24
Posts: 22
Joined: Apr 2020
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 8:38 AM | |
If you are looking at the "Philly Show" in September, I've been the past few times and it way different from a show at a mall or at a local VFW.
I've gone the past few times and there are a lot of vendors and a lot of vintage out there. A few dealers have binders full of cards for set builders. If you want to work on your 70 Topps set - grab a binder that has that label and go for it. If you're looking for ultra modern slabs, plenty of dealers for that too.
Admission is $10 from what I can remember, and if you make a few hours out of it, it's worth it. Can be very busy on Saturdays, so keep that in mind.
Good luck!
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vrooomed
Posts: 15,042
Joined: Dec 2012
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 8:40 AM | |
Over the past year or so, I've been to a few very local card shows (all within about 10 miles of home) and all were free admission. Right before the pandemic, there was a show also within the 10 miles that was $1 to get in. I'll do that.
As I have mentioned previously, I am a "thrifty" card shopper. I was at a show this past weekend (no admission) and I bought stuff from 2 dealers - one had dime boxes and the other had a quarter box. Bought more than 100 cards for $15. My kind of card fun. There were about a dozen of them that I already had. When they are that price, I'm not checking my lists.
Depending on what you're looking for, and where you are, could make the difference in whether shows are good for you or not. The same show 3 or 4 months back had no good deals, and I walked out without buying anything. It helps and hurts to be out of the market area for the team you collect. You would probably be able to find many more Yankees/Mets/Red Sox items in my area than you can find Phillies items, however, because the Yankees/Mets/Sox are more local, the prices are higher. When I find Phillies cards at the shows by me, they don't hold as high a premium. But if I go to a show in the Philadelphia area, there is usually a higher concentration of Phillies items - but also at a higher price than here. It's a trade off. Good prices versus good items. (The same holds true t owhether to go to a show early in the show or later - early you can find the harder-tofind, higher priced items while at the end of the show, you're likely to find the guys who don't want to haul so much stuff back home and are likely to strike a deal for a large lot.)
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-- Dan -- Note: Please see my profile for more info regarding trading (section updated 3/4/2024). I have added a large portion of my inventory to the site, and currently have trading turned on (details are in my profile).
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budler
Posts: 2,222
Joined: Dec 2017
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022 9:20 AM | |
Due to the narrow focus of my collecting in the world of card collecting. Nebraska Cornhusker football
I quit going to card shows as they all had a hand full of the same dealers/sellers there. They all know what I collected but never would bring them to the shows. (except a few high dollar cards) As they stated it is not worth their time to bring them!! So I figure it was not worth my time to go to them. BUT I loved to just talk about cards.
Awhile back I figure I would try it again. It turned out to be a large show with many dealers/sellers I did not know. Only one big problem no one had any Husker cards unlessthey were in the few boxes. After looking for over an hour Not a one that I need. What I find was: Several tables of just graded cards, a couple of tables just Hockey, some tables with just vintage cards, tables with just Membrila, One table had some 3200 count boxes but priced $0.25, $1 and $5, One guy had only sealed boxes and packs at high prices. No tables of odd ball stuff
The main reason I went was to try to sell my nephew's collection. Talked to most of the sellers. It appeared to be a bad day for most of them. As several guys said: A lot of lookers but very few buyers!! A couple of sellers said they were very interested in my nephew's collection but never show up or called to even look at them.
Good thing there was no fees to pay but I'm out about $20 in gas (it was a lot cheaper then) and no cards purchased.
Edited on: Jun 8, 2022 - 9:25AM
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