Flea Markets/Garage Sales/Antique Stores

jjgoat

Is it still likely that we'd find anything of value at a flea market, garage sale or antique store? Or is the general public more aware these days of the potential value of that 'old box of cards'? I've always dreampt of making a decent find at one of these places but never actually took the time to go around looking for fear I was really wasting my time. Any thoughts?

jskirwin

My experience has found that people tend to overgrade the cards, calling EX cards Mint for example. They don't get that a piece of 40 year old cardboard must be pristine in order for it to grade high.

Not that it's their fault. When you think about, our hobby is pretty nutty.

bowdowntome

The short answer is YES....and NO.

NO, you're not likely to find shoeboxes full of old (50's/60's or older) cards at these places. Most sellers of this stuff are aware and can easily grab a price guide at a local grocery newsstand.

YES, however, FINDS can still be made, if you know what to look for and what you are looking at when you see it. Regular issue cards are almost impossible to make "finds" on. However, oddball cards, sports related items like magazines, programs, pennants, pinbacks, and other not-so-seldom-seen items can easily be found for little or next to nothing. Why? Because your average antique/flea market seller won't usually take the time to investigate pricing on these items and they don't usually keep specialized price guides for them, just cards usually. Of course, it could turn out to be just the opposite too. Since they don't have anything to go by, they just might price it so ridiculously that you just laugh. However, it's been my experience that you can readily find oddball items really cheap, if you're willing to do your homework and don't mind digging through boxes of junk, asking questions, etc...

I NEVER intentionally look for cards anymore at these places, just oddball stuff.

jlbsquared

I recently went to the local "super flea" to check out card dealers after seeing a 30,000$ card come from one of the local dealers. (there's a thread here somewhere about it.) Turned out to be a big waste of my time. There were a half-dozen or so "dealers", all selling ungraded GARBAGE at above graded prices... Some examples - a 54 Bowman Mantle with a sticker that said "Near Mint ,$900"... The card was centered ok with good corners, but had no gloss left and nasty looking stains all over the card. Would have graded a PSA 1, and just this AM I saw a PSA 4 from 4SC at 350 or so with 20 minutes left to bid... Also saw a battered looking Steve Young rookie for $50, I just sold a PSA 8 for 15 bucks... So many other cards that looked like PSA 3-5 selling for the price of an 8 on ebay....

I think there may still be a garage sale find or three out there, if you can beat the psychos that show up 20 minutes before they start and cherry pick the good stuff. Estate sales often are run by an outside company who assigns bloated prices on everything, especiall any "old" card they might find around the house... That's anpther recurring issue - many times at one of these sales you get people thinking that their cards are worth 10-20x what they really will sell for..o

Stone193

Yes.

mike

Allen

I love flea markets, garage sales etc. You never know what could be there. Sometimes there is someone with nice cards that they collected but they have lost intrest or need the money and don't have time/ access to eBay. In my hometown in southern WV there are few dealers or buyers at flea markets/ garage sales who have any idea to operate a hillbilly miracle box (computer). I have had some pretty great finds in both sports and other things. I know one day I will pickup a box filled with Mantles and Williams, but those are once in a lifetime so I guess I better keep pounding the pavement in search of it.

Robeson

I was lucky enough to find a box of 297 Brady Bunch cards from 1969 and an unopened pack of Flying Nun cards for $6.00 at the local Goodwill store last October. It made close to 2 1/2 sets. Not really worth grading, most would be in the 4 to 6 range. Corner and centering problems. Board members have to me to sell raw on ebay and will make a very nice profit.

alohaet

You never know unless you go.

Ed

stevek

Antique stores - these people know what they are doing - ain't gonna find nothing there.

Garage sales - waste of time and life - loads of 80's and 90's worthless junk cards.

Flea markets - I'll admit that I hit the local flea markets every spring early hoping to find someone doing some spring cleaning and having some decent vintage baseball cards out there at a cheap price. Well...it hasn't worked yet but it's fun walking aroung giving it a go...you never know.

bowdowntome

Like I said, and others seem to concur, hoping to make finds of cards at these places nowadays is a waste of time. Making finds of oddball items on the otherhand, is a very real possibility.

I absolutely AVOID sellers at these places who are trying to be card dealers. And not all antique dealers KNOW what they are doing. I can site dozens of instances where I have found oddball items at expensive antique shops, shows, and malls, for great prices.

If you are expecting to find high grade Goudeys at these places for pennies, expect to be dissapointed. If on the otherhand, you can expand your knowledge of items not normally collected by your average card collector, you can can find all sorts of neat things that you can almost instantly flip on ebay.

The trick is all in the knowledge of the looker, and to keep an open mind on almost anything. When I'm looking around at these places I have one thing in mind...........profit, no matter if it's sports related or not.

Allen

<< <i>I absolutely AVOID sellers at these places who are trying to be card dealers. >>



That is the type of poor attitude that has the hobby on the decline. Some are jerks who have crazy prices, but some are friendly collectors who may be good to deal with. It is unfair to label all sellers the same.

Stone193

Ya never know....

But, do you have the time or energy?

Me? No.

mike

bowdowntome

<< <i>

<< <i>I absolutely AVOID sellers at these places who are trying to be card dealers. >>



That is the type of poor attitude that has the hobby on the decline. Some are jerks who have crazy prices, but some are friendly collectors who may be good to deal with. It is unfair to label all sellers the same. >>



I think you've missed my point.

I AVOID them, not because I think they're "hucksters" or something, but simply because I know I'm not going to make any "finds" at their booths. I save my time and energy shopping for stuff in places where your average collector won't think to look. I have nothing against card dealers/sellers setting up shop at flea markets or swap meets, I've done it myself in the past.