Experiences selling/trading at card shows

joker73

Hey gang,

I'm heading to the Labor Day Tri-Star show this weekend in San Francisco, and typically only buy at shows (the few good ones we get out here anyway). However, this year I've got some unneeded cards (all PSA graded 8+), which I usually would just post on eBay. But since the show is in a couple of days, I was thinking about bringing the cards with me to the show as trade bait (or for outright sale). My question (perhaps naive) is this: how "fair" or even interested are most dealers at shows when it comes to buying from show patrons? I'd much rather get rid of the cards at the show, so I'd have even more to spend :-)

Anyway, any thoughts or experiences you've had selling/trading at shows would be greatly appreciated (and sorry if it's a dumb question). I've been itching for a show for a while (last one was Feb. '03 in Cow Palace), so I'm really looking forward to it ...

Robert

marty

I will be set up at the San Francisco show. I should be on the right side of the show, but not against the wall, about 2/3 of the way back. I pay based upon what I feel that I can resell them for. Commons will be at a lower % based upon a slower turn and no access to a pop report. I do not have any interest in cards from the 80's or newer, although there will be many that do.
Do no expect to get offers that match eBay prices, that rarely happens. Dealers can not pay $400 to $700 for a table, plus many will have travel expenses, and pay retail for inventory.
As to interest, the cards must be marketable for the dealer. First try dealers that have cards similar to what you are selling. Most new card dealers will either lowball you on vintage, or just pass. IF I am offered high end new cards, I will not look at them, because I do not know anything about them and I will not buy them, I do not have a market for them. Some dealers are just trying to sell and do not have any interst in buying. You should be able to find several people willing to buy. Have fun and try to avoid getting upset by any dealer that is trying to talk you into a very low offer, that will ruin your experience.
Even if you do not have anything that I may be interested in, please stop by and introduce yourself as a board member.

Basilone

If you want market value for your cards...sell on eBay or privately to another collector. If you do not want the additional funds...then sell your cards to a dealer at a show.


John

marty

Dealers are buying less from the public at shows. EBay is the major reason. It is easy for everyone to become a dealer. You then have to be willing to email buyers, take payments, and package and ship the cards. Selling at shows is less work, and you get paid faster, most of the times less. It is a trade off that everyone has to decide on.

HCS

Trading instead of selling has been more successful at shows for me. The last time I traded some modern wax box for some vintage raw cards. The vintage cards unfortunately didn't grade out as well as I had hoped.

PSAtan

It's difficult to sell at shows. The dealers need to buy cards at a reduced rate to cover overhead and put food on the table. However, there are a number of pseudo-dealers. These are individuals that have their main income coming from another source. They often have nice collections and will trade or purchase on a level with ebay. You have to really shop around. The major dealers can't survive, but this in between niche will trade or purchase if the cards are interesting to them as collectors.

Good luck,

Satan

LuxuryWines

Joker,

Others here made some good points about what you will receive for our cards at shows... I will give you another option ... Post them on the Vintage Trading (or if the they are Modern on Buy Sell trade) Board and take paypal only for the purposes of these cards ... That Way you could probably have the cash in your account in time for the show.... If they sell quickly....

joker73

Thanks for all the insights! Maybe I'll just bring a few of the cards with me for possible trades with any "pseudo-dealers" who have something I want. I guess my desire to sell/trade cards at the show is as much due to laziness (not wanting to spend even more time on eBay) as it is due to wanting extra show funds. But I may post a few on the Vintage Trading board once I finished going through the cards ...

Marty - I'll swing by and say hi either Friday or Saturday (not sure which day I'll be there the longest). I mostly collect graded Rose cards and some Phillies team sets/cards, and have pretty much exited the gambling, er, I mean the modern "high end" market. I'm not expecting to find tons to buy at the show, but I do love looking at vintage dealers' displays and staring at the cards I can't afford. It's like a once-a-year travelling museum that I love visiting ...

Robert