::: Question for the EXPERTS :::

bystander

Guys,

I was just checking out prices for boxes, and what I found out shocked me. How come my local card shop sells 02 UD Playmakers (for example) for $70 when I can get it online for $30 something? Is there a difference between these two? What's the deal?

Thanks in advance,
R

Derrick

Because people love to rip other people off, basically. Ebay is probably the best place to find boxes, singles, to know the REAL value of a card or box. Most people are just looking to get rid of their singles and boxes as well, so they'll sell it for a lower price.

playr050

Your Dealer sucks. Just like mine. $150 for a box of 1998 Topps Finest Baseball. It's been sitting on his shelf for well over a year, no takers....

SkiVermont3

no difference....just hobby shops need to make a larger profit cause they are retail stores...some of these big online dealers get discounts, and do such high volumes of business from people all over the country that they dont need to gouge you and make a huge profit off every sale, but since hobby shops only get local traffic, they charge much more...hope i could help.

bystander

Thanks for the replies, guys - I really appreciate it. Based on your replies, online would be the way to go then? Prob'ly a stupid question - guess I just need confirmation.

Thanks,
R

Josher416

yea definetly, only is the best way to buy sports cards

8kobe

Ebay prices are wholesale prices not retail prices. That is the major reason for the price difference. Als you must take account for shipping and if you know your dealer well then you you will know if the box is searched or not.

bystander

How's Dave & Adams Card World? Are they pretty good? Anyone order from them? Do they send out *searched* boxes? Anyone?

http://www.dacardworld.com

bystander

Bumping for the last post in this thread - anyone...?

Thanks,
R

winsarc

I've never bought from those guys but I've bought from Charmcity cards and they have real nice prices. You'll get a good deal there.

NatAker

The cheapest place to get boxes is still ebay.
The reason your dealers prices are so high is not becuase he's trying to rip you off. Your dealer has to pay rent, electrical bills, etc. He has a business to support. He also has to compensate for all of the customers he loses to online dealers. Ebay, and other online, dealers don't have those costs, so they can afford to sell boxes for maybe $10 more than they pay instead of $30 more, or whater your dealers mark up is.
Anyway the point is, the cheapest place to buy boxes is ebay. But if you want a box right away, or want to be assured of getting what you're paying for, it couldn't hurt to support your dealers business every once in a while.
Just my two cents.
-nat

bystander

Good argument - but how do you know if a box has been *searched* or not? Is there a way to *find out*? Also, do online retailers *search* their boxes?

RockTheMic13

you talked bout Dave and Adam's Card World.
on ebay, i have prolly bought cards off them the most. i havent had any problems, and the cards are always in great condition. and im pretty sure i had bought a box of 97 playoff contenders off them last year (i was goin for the set), and i got more inserts than i shoulda, and i got all the good inserts (plummer rc inserts, dillon rc inserts, etc) so if they do search boxes, they do a sh^$*y job at takin out the good cards.

David

p.s. so search for them on ebay
greatboxes - A great selection of unopened boxes and cases

or

dacw4 - A variety of unopened boxes and cases from the 1980's - present (i.e.: sealed boxes, cases, factory sets, traded sets.)

ahendi

Try charmcitycards.com they're great.

bystander

David -
Thanks - I was looking for that kind of input.

Ahendi -
I'll check out their site.

Anyone else? Experiences/suggestions?

Thanks,
R

cpandeaz3

the cards stores jack up the prices on boxes and packs to make some profit of what they sell.....to stay in bizness