Baseball card show after 15 years away

larryallen73

I went to the Tristar show in SF this weekend. My first real show (i.e. non mall show) in 15 years or so. I wasn't so impressed but maybe it was just me. A little help.....
1) It seemed like the dealers were more there to buy than to sell!? I figure they are buying to sell on Ebay. EVERY dealer had a sign they were buying.
2) I had 10 c notes in my pocket and I wanted to spend them on a couple nice cards from the 50's. Yes, I could have done so as there was tons of nice product but I didn't find anybody friendly/easy to deal with. Actually, there was one couple who was
very friendly but didn't have the product I wanted. Dealers just didn't seem so friendly. No eye contact, busy playing video games, talking, etc.....
3) I haven't been to a show since PSA has been around. Has PSA changed pricing at shows? Made it more SMR based? I guess my question is, are the
best deals still at shows? Or is Ebay better? Or somewhere else? One guy had a '57 Bunning PSA 7 for $175. I asked what SMR was as I thought it was less. He said, "it's $125 but this is a high end 7." Didn't look high end to me and rarely does a "high end" card sell for more on Ebay!?
4) Oh ya, it seems like the autographs were a bigger focus than the cards also. I guess that's normal these days.
Anyway, I came away disappointed but I will try again!

easttexascardsandgames

I am planning on setting up at my first show in about 10 years in April, its a small show. I think that the fact that all the dealers are buying could be a good sign for the hobby in general. That tells me that many dealers are thinking that the market is suppressed and they need to buy all they can before the market comes back.

goudeygold

Card shows are fun for the buzz. With the demise of corner card shops (thanks to ebay) this is the only way you can get the little kid feelings again. I also was a bit intimidated when I came back into cards a couple years ago. One way to make contacts is to talk with the dealer and let them know what your looking for. If your very specific, they will remember you after the 4th or 5th run in. Shows can be quite busy, so sometimes the dealer has things to do, and that is understood. Many times though dealers are just farting around not paying attention so i just yell out to them "Hey! you got any........?" Then move on. Aggresion works well. However, I'll ask to see a couple cards, then comment how nice it is or whatever, then buy something else and they don't mind. I've held a few of Levi's (707 sportcards) 52 mantles (low grade of course) and that was a great feeling. His prices are high, but after talking a bit with him and his helper guys, I negotiated a price on some other vintage cards, and I make it a point to check out his stuff every show. Same thing with wvshoebox cards. Wayne is a great guy and is very informative on pre-war issues. These guys are great to talk to. There are some bargains to be had, but you really have to know what your doing BEFORE you go. You can't always expect to beat ebay prices, but some raw finds are possible. When I was working on my 52 set, I asked every dealer at the chicago show if they had any raw 52 high numbers. If i got the response "52 high numbers?! noooo those are expensive!!" one more time i was going to flip out. I look younger than I am so i don't know if they thought i was jerking them around but i already had half the high numbers and the rest of the master set completed. My best find was a guy that said "yea, i think i might" "#311 and up i replied" he came back with 3 crease free raw commons and after I asked how much for all 3, he looked at me funny (like i wouldn't buy them) and said "oohh...$120" I said "i'll take all 3". Sold one of the 3 for $120 after it graded a PSA 4 and made all my money back.

As for the buying, they are looking to make a buck to keep the margins up. I find it hard to believe, but they say people walk in with huge collectioins and dump them on the spot. This is why Mr. Mint is front center every chicago show. Nothing to show or sell, just sits there with his smile waiting....

keep at it, the next one will be better once you get a feel for it.

GG

RipublicaninMass

<< <i> I look younger than I am so i don't know if they thought i was jerking them around but i already had half the high numbers and the rest of the master set completed.GG >>



Man I know that feeling! But I am young also, and look about 21 or 22! I had a vicious run in with the owner of KurtzKards. I was interested in a 55 Podres PSA 8, one of which has never been offered on ebay. The guy was talking so I waited for him, and he gave me the traditional "can I 'HEP' ya". I said "yeah how much is that Podres" He smirks back and says "that's 1100 kid". Not to mention it is 5x SMR I was so pissed, I will never buy anything from him. I did buy about 2k worth of cards form Tony (looks like a tony?)at Cooperstownsportscards, who was more than nice. I also traded a handful of 50-60's mixed non-sport, that were lying around collecting dust, for a 55 Kluzewski which "looked" like a 7. Klu came back an 8!!! This Klu I haven't seen on ebay yet,(in PSA 8) but would probably go in the high 3 or low 400 range. HOLY COW! Not bad for some junk I had under the glass on my desk at home!!!!!!HA! I am a weird collector, I should be buying auto's and game used stuff, but it never interested me. I have a spot for the feel (and smell!) of the vintage cards. Sure I buy my new wax, and other misc. crap. But I really enjoyed the card show here. I met Jeff Skerbe who was also nice (like these guys are celebrities right?) I saw Levi's table where I was actually in shock and could stop saying, "man you have the best cards in the show" (I didn't realize it was 707 until I looked up past the case of Mantle rookies) Made some new friends (con40 and packcollector), and many of these things the ebay experience just doesn't give you.

boggs301012

I went to a card show in PHX and didnt buy much. I was intrested in a few Aarons A dealer had a 1956 that I was intrested in after standing there for 3 to 5 minutes and was ingnored and grew tired of him talking to his buddy about were to eat at I walked away. Dealers have grown lazy I used to set up and would try to pay attention and when some one came up I would nicely tell feel free to pick up anything or just ask to see something. Just a gripe I wanted to share. Hell they never even mentioned A good place to eat at!

Axtell

I noticed the lack of interest from dealers too...they seemed more interested in chatting with one another, watching TV, anything than helping customers.

A few were friendly and nice, but pricing on raw is ridiculously high, and graded is even worse. Was looking at a group of 1971's and he was $5-$10 above SMR on all of them. I politely declined and walked out with the 3 (three!) cards I bought.

I think card shows are just far too random to be a worthwhile time investment.

larryallen73

Thanks for the responses. Appreciate it!

ROCKDJRW

I hate the fact that so many dealers at shows do not take the time to price thier cards. I will not even stop at a table if the cards are not priced.

Lothar52

ive never EVER been to a card show with national dealers......EVER

loth