The local hobby store? Do you go anymore?

ndleo

I live in a relatively strong card market in Detroit and can't remember that last time I went to a hobby store. Does anyone still go to one? I always thought that a hobby store could make money, but it seems like the guys that run them don't have much business sense.

For any Detroiter's out there - any good stores you can recommend?

calleocho

I live in Miami......No good stores around, actually very few at all and they all deal with mostly new "game cards" and other collectibles

N162Collector

No. I think the last time I went to my local shop was in 2002

bobbybakeriv

1999.

MajorDanby

there's a decent shop in san jose, CA. They sell vintage items to go along with their massive amount of modern crap. The owner is a knowledgeable, but like most shops, overprices his stuff. Shops that sell vintage are very rare these days....the internet has practically shut most of them down. The reason why this shop is still up is because they have a strong owner and a good presence on ebay.

Last time i went to the shop was last year...got myself a quarterly beckett and a ticket holder. Also went there a few weeks before that to buy a pack of topps heritage. Why? Because money grows on trees. Seriously, that pack cost me $20. One pack and 10 cards. I got a tom brunansky auto. At that point, i decided that dabbling in the modern card market is 1.) too expensive and 2.) no longer as fulfilling as it was when i was a kid.

softparade

I don't even know of a decent shop anywhere near me, and I live right between Philadelphia and New York. The only shop I visited was so disorganized and cluttered it made Sanford and Son look like reruns of Dallas.

Lothar52

last time i went i bought 2 boxes of 2000 fleer ultra football for 200 bucks....WAY TOO EXPENISIVE.....that shop is no longer around and i dont even know where one is nowadays.

loth

ctsoxfan

There is really no reason to - unless I need Card Savers or supplies. Even those, I get much cheaper at shows, or online. I don't buy much modern anymore, but when I do buy a box (or case), the local shops are way too expensive.

larryallen73

We have basically NOTHING here in Sacramento. I even think all of the modern crap card stores have closed down. Really sad.

baseballfanatic

Why go to the local card shop and pay jacked up prices for boxes or packs and Beckett high for VG-EX cards?

sayheykid54

The best card store in the Detroit area would have to be Sportscard Central in Shelby Township. He has a great mix of vintage and modern cards. I've purchased from him in the past and i've been real happy with his pricing.

Knuckles

I'll go if I'm in the area and pick up a few packs.. a beckett.. but by no means on a regular basis.

orion9578

I go to my local card shop quite often actually. The owner, myself and probably 5-6 other guys that frequent there do a lot of trading and bs'ing. Also on occasion we play poker tourneys when he shuts down shop at about 6:30, pretty fun stuff. I really do think the only reason he's still in business is because of the other stuff he sells though. I hardly ever see him saling any cards or boxes. He does uniforms for all the local teams of all ages and for all sports. I'd imagine he makes good money doing that, but hardly any off of cards.

RipublicaninMass

Pretty good one here in Mass. Ton of vintage, all priced at beckett but they are in Ex-mT condition. Whole entire display case of red Sox Stuff vintage and modern! Wax packs form 1978 and up, definately not searched. Pulled a henderson rc and puckett rc last time. I just go to BS and buy supplies, and 40-50 bucks worth of vintage wax every week. Really dont know what he sell to stay in business?!!@

Stone193

Good question ndleo

I'm too lazy!!! Small shop near my house - maybe 2-3 miles away - nice guy - but don't take the time to visit. I did buy a 56T #99 Zimmer - paid 16 bucks - got an 8 from PSA.

Coming from the shop explosion era of the 90s to the implosion era - I got turned off by a-hole people behind the counter who showed little respect.

There's a shop in San Antonio called Stats - once in a while SCD ads in the 90s - went in there in 1992 and asked about Jim Palmer cards - the guy reach down and flung a few top loaders at me to view.
I looked at my son and we walked out. Many will tell you - this was not atypical for that period. Now, most all are long gone - where they belonged in the first place!!!!

Most shops seemed long on rudeness and short on ethics!

Glad I got that off my chest.

mike

yankeeno7

There are a couple of guys in the Albany, NY area that have good presence. I go to only one of the shops to buy my supplies and every once in a while I find a card that he gives me a great deal on....usually a Brett Favre game used or set fillers. I think his honesty and personality gives him a great customer base. He has guys that go in and drop hundreds of dollars at a time on opening wax. Once a month they take 2-3 products and have a case opening...something like UD Legendary Cuts so someone has the chance to pull the big one. I dont get involved with those since Topps Heritage is the only modern I collect. But I would say he has one of the few profitable stores in existance. I also think having a pretty large bank account to start with has helped with that....like they say, it takes money to make money.

stevek

I visit a few hobby shops to buy supplies. I can get the supplies a little cheaper on the internet but it's just more convenient to buy what I need, exactly when I want it, and just throw it in my car and take it home.

My take on "hobby" shops that are mainly dealing with cards, coins and stamps...I believe most of their "real" money is generated from getting lucky with people walking in, needing quick money, and selling their collections. Basically the owners try to "steal" the collections off the person needing the cash, and many times they are successful. I'm not knocking them because most if not everyone else if they owned a hobby shop would do the exact same thing.

I can't remember the last time, other than the mentioned supplies, I bought a collectable item at a hobby shop. I buy exclusively at the shows, on ebay, the "major" auctions and do some trading with friends.

Steve

jerster

Comic Archives in Redford MI is ok. I go there every once in awhile. They have comics and cards - I collect both. They have the odd assortment of new and old, and they advertise in the Free Press a lot. They run 25% off specials every once in awhile and some good deals can be had. They also buy and sell on ebay alot, and I've noticed that they have bought some complete PSA sets recently. Not sure if those are showing up at the store or not...

Jerry

SDavid

I don't mind a shop owner charging a high price if he can get it. Hey, more power to him. But if no one is buying cards at these shops and the owners end up selling on ebay anyway, why not charge close to ebay prices? At least when they sell a card in the shop, they don't have to pay ebay/paypal fees, and it's a hell of a lot easier to hand a card across a counter than it is to ship it.

ArchStanton

I was just in a local shop today, and I plan to go to Wayne Varner's Shoebox tomorrow. I get all of my supplies at local shops because it is instant gratification. I also don't like to buy a truck load of supplies at one time. The local guys I deal with all do a lot of business on ebay and online. They know what the market is like.

They can also be a great resource. For example, I'm looking for a ex/mt to nm set of 1971 Topps baseball. That is one set that I don't want to pick up in lots here and there online for obvious reasons. I would also like an expert to look at it before I buy it. I just gave them my condition requirements and price range. They will call if something comes up. They see a lot more product than I do.

I have already made preliminary plans with one shop owner to buy a case of Heritage through him next year at a very low mark up. I don't buy a lot (especially now that I'm no longer a DINK), so these shops are a great place to network and fill in the last cards I may need for whatever set I'm working on. I have some basic rules in no particular order.

1) Always deal with an owner.
2) Always talk about cards and what you are collecting.
3) Always pay with cash.

Sorry for ending so many sentences with prepositions.

zef204

zef204

Stone193-

I agree with you. There are a few shops left in Chicago and in the surrounding area. I went into one last year with my 7 year old nephew and the guy who is also the owner, Bergie, was doing us a favor by letting us look around his store. My nephew asked him a question and I wanted to scream at this guy for belittling my nephew like he did. I didn't though, we just walked out and I bought my nephew the hobby box he wanted on-line and saved $30. Those are expensive! And my dad thought I was getting ripped off when I paid $.29 for a pack in the 70's.

Glad I got that off my chest too abou Bergie. Guy is a jerk and way over priced.

ldferg

i don't know of anything near the Nashville, TN area. however, i stopped by one in Bowling Green, Ky last week and picked up an 86f Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas. i sent them both today to be graded. will let you know the results.

gosteelers

Here in the Scranton, PA area we used to have a handful of card shops that I would frequent. Probably haven't gone to one in about 8-9 years. There used to be about 3-4 local shows a month around here also. Me and a couple friends would even set up shop at a few of them. We're lucky if we have 2 shows every six months now. I really don't see this trend reversing anytime soon...

Mark

jrdolan

It's all modern packs, game cards and NASCAR in my state. A few trimmed vintage cards in GEM holders, some trashed vintage commons in binders, vastly over-priced. I have more vintage than all the shops in my state combined. That's not bragging, that's the true state of the market where I live. If a shop WERE to take some vintage in trade, it would go right out on eBay. The number of shops has shrunk by three-quarters in the past 10 years. The shows have all but disappeared. In rural areas like mine, online is the only way to get nice vintage.

baseballfanatic

<< <i>I don't mind a shop owner charging a high price if he can get it. Hey, more power to him. But if no one is buying cards at these shops and the owners end up selling on ebay anyway, why not charge close to ebay prices? At least when they sell a card in the shop, they don't have to pay ebay/paypal fees, and it's a hell of a lot easier to hand a card across a counter than it is to ship it. >>





When owners start to embrace this idea, the customers, and kids, will start to frequent more.....

TheCARDKid

Santa Monica sports cards is one of the nicest shops in my area. Excellent customer service (friendlier than most regular stores I go to).

I pick up supplies every now and then there, but that's about it.

baseballcardsonly

Just to pick up supplies... I might some storage boxes w/top loades and penny sleaves but thats about it. I know I could save money buying online but I don't want to purchase such large qtys just to save a buck or two. I prefer to buy at shows so I don't have to pay sales tax.

yankeeno7

JR
You're in VT, right? There are 2-3 guys up there with some nice stuff. One guy who has a shop near Burlington...some nice raw vintage though his prices arent always that nice. Sometimes you can get some good deals from him though. Then there is another guy that comes to the monthly Albany, NY show who has some great vintage...and quite a bit of it too. Last year, he even had some Kalamazoo Bats cards that were VERY nice.
Not sure what part of VT you are in but I could get you some names that you may be able to deal with.

goudeygold

It is simply pretty tough for a card shop to compete with the cost of overhead. I don't know why many even try. Another thing I don't get is who the heck actually sells to a store or a dealer?! If I have a vintage card that books for 3200, why in gods name would I sell it to a dealer for 2400? throw it on ebay and boom... 3200. also, if your a narrow minded collector, your odds of finding what you need in a store are zippo. If I can't find my 38 Goudeys on ebay, what are the odds of finding any at the local card store which is full of modern and yu-gi-o?! So I pretty much stick to the internet, ebay, and major shows.

GG

SoFLPhillyFan

We have two stores in my area.

One is too high priced and sells mainly memorabilia and NASCAR stuff (the South attraction). He has the gall to ask $5 for a pack of '05 Heritage.

I learned last week that the other store may be going out of business. Stopped in to pick up two boxes of a small modern issue so that I can assemble a set for my father in law.

The owner told me everything is on sale. Picked up 4 boxes of Fleer National Pastime for $200. Pulled a Nomo auto #1/10 that is going for $250, plus other autos. The kicker is a Gwynn buyback auto from '92 Ultra and a Carlton Fleer 2000 3000 Club diecut GU bat. After they all sell I figure to make $100 profit.

Wish I had the money to buy his inventory.

Robeson

Small store here in the Los Angeles area that I go to when I need that common to finish a set. All my supplies I end up buying at the local warehouse show. Most of the time in the store is spent arguing over what a stack of 1970 commons is worth. High prices, but he has a rent payment of $750/month.

ndleo

Interesting observations. I agree that the selection of vintage at most hobby stores is weak. I remember when going to the hobby stores was a special event, now I have a nicer collection that most stores. It kills me when I hear an owner say he has a really nice Mantle at home. Why doesn't he bring it in his store? He doesn't have to sell it, but it gives something for his customers to look at.

I do believe that pricing in stores should be higher than ebay since they do offer convenience over ebay. Being able to actually see the product first before buying does provide value. I just went through a non-delivered case fiasco with pjsbullpen on ebay that took 3 months to correct, and he has feedback over 99%!

I've seen many people walk into a store and try to sell their collections. Most of the stuff is junk, but sometimes store owners do hit the jackpot. I remember this kid coming in with a bunch of cards from his deceased grandfather. Looked like dear old grandpa was a huge 1955 Topps All-American football fan. The kid must have had at least 3 sets worth of singles, EX-NM range. He dumped them all for $200 and a box of cards. I felt like throwing down the title to my Jeep with 120K miles right there just to take the cards for myself.

Sayheykid - Where is Sportscard Central in Shelby? I can't find them in the Yellow Pages.

RedRomad275

I live in Savannah and we have two shops that cards is a side item for lack of a better term. More like a comic/magic/game store with some overpriced new wax. I do travel to LasVegas a few times a year and made a point to go into Baseball Card Heaven and Dream cards. I wanted to go to get some face time and talk with someone face to face about cards. I miss the one on one interaction with other card collectors. Chatting on the boards is interesting and all but to just stand around and shoot the breeze about this set and that is fun. Matt at Dream Cards was outstanding. He had a lot of new wax and new commons boxes but he also had a few good 70's commons I needed. He was very reasonable in price and just very accomadating. I would definitely recommend stopping in if you are in the Vegas area. Baseball card Heaven I hit on a bad day. One of the owners was away at a show and had a majority of his cards with him so cases were pretty bare. Had a bit of conversation and looked around a while but was a bit dissappointed. I'm going back out in June and will stop in again to see both shops again.

1979COLLECTOR

I used to live in Detroit and would frequent Gibralter quite a few times, I loved to go to the Sports Card shows and meet the NHL players. Great Times!

But now I am in Richmond Virginia...this plase sucks its too plain and nothing I mean nothing to do here whatsoever! There was a Tuff Stuff show a few years back where I met Maurice Richard saw Bobby Hully for the second time - I waited in a line for over an hour in Detroit to see Hull and I was the only one in line here in Richmond to see him, my father and I talked with both Bobby and Maurice for over an hour...great people and a great experiance that could only happen in a "Non-Exhistant Hockey Town" like Rich VA.

My local card shop here in Richmond is one Id rather not shop at - The small shelf beside isle 1 at Target.


Patrick.

oaktown

I'm in Syracuse, and there's not much in the local area. The typical NASCAR stuff, waaaay overpriced new wax, and little to no vintage stuff. Cooperstown has a couple decent shops that have some vintage cards (I got a raw Reggie rookie in a shop there and it graded an 8!!). The monthly Albany shows are actually really good for quality 50's to 60's stuff.

But obviously, the old school days of malls shows every month and a cardshop in every mall are definitely over. I guess it's a shame, but a high percentage of those dealers I had interactions with as a teenager were, umm, rather shady to say the least.

1979COLLECTOR

I agree on the shady part and I have found that most card-shop-owners are a little "stuck-up" and think that they think they are "know it alls"

Ive always had very bad service at card shops, for me im glad that they are just about extinct, its better to buy off the internet (ebay) and avoid all the BS that most card shops offer.

Now dont get me wrong, i know there are very nice card shops out there - however ive never had the opportunity to be in one.

Patrick.

ctsoxfan

A telling sign for me, was the last time I was in a small shop near my house - the owner could barely look up from his computer to help me. As I walked near him to see what he was doing, I saw he was on Ebay listing items. Items that were nicer than any of his inventory, I might add.

ndleo

I also notice that the number of shows is also declining. There were always at least a couple of shows going on during the weekend. Now if I get one per month, that is great. The Gibralter shows are nice (for you non-Detroiters, it is a huge weekend market in Taylor, MI), but they are mostly hockey focused and the dealers there are only slightly above scam artists.

I might try to set-up a table at the next show just to buy. Anyone else tried that with much luck?

yankeeno7

Oaktown
I know one guy from here in Albany that does the Syracuse shows because the Albany show stinks so bad. There does tend to be some nice vintage here but most prices are waaaaay up there. He enjoys the Syracuse shows and does really well.
I dont know how often they have the shows at the state fairgrounds but I hear that one is really good to go to.
Speaking of the shows at the state fairgrounds, do you have a calender listing of the shows there?

oaktown

yankeeno7 - I only went to the Albany show once, but it was nice to walk up to a table and not be blinded by all the chrome, refractored, numbered, and double black refractored cards. The prices were pretty high though as I didn't pick anything up. I usually go to all the shows at the fairgrounds. They're kinda lean on vintage material, but it's worth a visit. The website is CNY Promotions. It says the next show is in late October, but I'd think there would be one during the summer (as there's been one every few months or so for the past couple years).

yankeeno7

Thanks Oaktown

MorrellMan

There are a few good shops in the LA county area and I hit them on occasion just to see whassup, but, for the most part, I do my buying on ebay. From time to time I'll find something in a store, though.