When Was the Last Time....

Stone193

you went to a real card shop?

I stopped in one in Feb to ask about Topps Heritage. There's a shop about 3-4 miles from my house.

The guy that runs it is very nice.

He has a variety of things to include some memorabilia...yet...

I just can't to get off my dead ass and drive over there.

Before ebay/internet, that was the only way to be involved - am I alone? I know a lot of people dropped out of going because the shop owners were a bit crude...but that ship has sailed - a guy can't stay in business today unless he if customer friendly.

The amount of shops left in the country is dismal.
mike

gregm13

There is a card shop about 10 minutes from my office - and the last time I was there was 2 months ago. He really doesn't carry much that I collect (vintage fb) but I stop in and usually spend $50 on odds and ends and chat with him for a while.

The card shop in my wife home town (northern Michigan) finally closed this past January. I stopped in over X-mas and was heartbroken to find out that he was closing. I spent over $100 buying several Marino cards he had plus 2 autographed baseballs (Rollie Fingers and Moose Skowran) plus over a dozen autographed fb cards. I would always stop in when I was up there just to chat and buy a few things.

Regards,

Greg M.

phreakydancin

Mention card grading to a shop owner in Vancouver and you're likely to get a blank stare. They're fine if you want to buy a box of the latest autographed, UV-coated, gold, chrome, x-fractors with pieces of game used socks attached to them, but as Austin Power says, "That's not my bag, baby!" I'll stop by if I need toploaders or penny sleeves, but that's about it.

ldferg

they seem to be closing left and right. at one time we (nashvillians) had a local promoter that would bring in stars such as: mays, aaron, ripken, etc...this guy apparently dropped off the face of the earth. this was pre-ebay as well so maybe he saw what was coming. sorry to divert from the original post.

as far as stopping in at shops....there is one about 30 miles from me that i stop by maybe once every 3 months. the guy carries mostly new stuff. i picked up an 81 squirt set the last time i was there. in a way i felt sorry for him. there is no way this is his primary source of income.

i would love for a decent show to "come to town". the last big show i remember was at our fairgrounds and there were 10-15 hall of famers there. that was at least 15+ years ago (around the time 89 upper deck hit the scene).

ToppsCo1lector

I haven't been in a card shop in close to 3 years. I saw one in FairFax down the street from a house I'm working on, but besides that around my area I haven't found one. The last one I went to was in my hometown and I'd go there 1-2 times a week whether to talk it up, buy/sell, or trade stuff. The owner was a local professor that just up and sold everything. eBay has really replaced the cardshop, as unless you have a brick and mortar you can't sell anything modern near BV. Oh well, more selection online and with what I collect it's cheaper! It's really the end of an era.

Boopotts

I go into our local card shop at least once a month. I made a committment to buy all my Beckett mags and supplies there, since I like the idea of hobby shops and want to do what I can to support them. We had three of them here in Washtenaw County as recently as 2000, and now we're down to one. And if you ask the guy who owns it he'll tell you that most of the money comes from the new comics (I guess the guys who read those never miss a single month, and there appear to be a lot of guys who are still into them) and the Yu-gi-oh/ Magic thing. I think the only reason he still sells cards is because his 24 yr. old son, who helps him run the shop, is still really into them.

Kid4hof03

Mike, great thread. I was actually just at a shop yesterday. I have a great one about 30 minutes from my house, but it was the first time I'd been there in 2 years because they are only open on evenings and Saturdays, not good for my schedule.

When I first moved to the Philly area in 1995 we had a ton of shops. My day off was Thursday, every week I started at the local flea market at 6:30AM and then I traveled south about 30 miles and worked my way back stopping at about 5 shops along the way. The day always ended with a weekly card show that was actually really good. As my wife and I were driving to the shop yesterday she was talking about those days when I'd leave the house before she left for work and I wouldn't get home until about 7:00PM, doing nothing but shopping for cards and memorabilia. Those were the days!

Abe

yankeeno7

I try to make it every month or two. Excellent card shop and owner (Jeff Finnigan) in Albany, NY. He carries mostly modern but has some vintage and has been increasing that stock. You're not going to find a more trustworthy guy.

itzagoner

I stopped in at Valley Baseball Card Store in Tarzana, CA recently to pick up some Card Savers. I got an opportunity to chat briefly with Max Himmelstein, the owner of the store since, like the 70's. Joe O. even wrote a page about him in a recent SMR issue. Max told me that he was leaving Valley Baseball Cards for good at the end of last month. Selling the store. He was an institution in Southern California, particularly to those of us who have collected and hustled cards for all these years. Max, you will be missed. Thanks for being a Card Shop icon!!

Stone193

Nice inputs guys.

Abe

I remember the same thing about the "full day" - back around 1990 - with my son - flea market and all the shops in the county - a full day.

Key: now the high price of gas! That has to be killing the remaining shops. If a guy has to spend 50 bucks to fill the tank - he doesn't want to use it going to card shops and actually has less to spend, now, on packs of cards!

mike

storm888

I only go to buy "emergency" supplies.

The shop owners are "polite," but most just answer "yes/no"
to any questions I ask. They all want to sell boxes of garbage
to kids and their parents. They have ALL told me they "hate
cards." ALL of them sell on eBay, as well.

Things sure are "different" than they used to be.

storm

Stone193

<< <i>They have ALL told me they "hate >>


Interesting Storm

I think they would do a lot better if they respected and enjoyed their own product IMO.

mike

Lothar52

I went in to one back in february...the guy got all ticked when i told him i mostly buy off ebay becuase it is easier and i only pay a dollar more then what whoever else wants it. He got a little testicle-ly with me and I told him id buy some heritage off of him when it came.......that was the last time he saw me as my cases arrived via mail the day it hit the shelf!!!!

Loth

storm888

Stone:

It would be good, if everybody "loved their work."

A lot of bad attitudes can develop when you are in the
"face-to-face" retail business for a very long time. I
understand why so many shop owners are in a foul
mood all the time.

Rising lease-rents, falling profit-margins, erroding customer
base, yadayada, etc.; all contribute to the "sourness" of
today's small retailers.

eBay sellers all know how nasty some customers treat
them. After a while, in the "real store" business, mean
customers can make you hate all of your customers and
the products you sell.

Customers/Consumers have become more and more expectant and
demanding during the past 25-years. Sitting behind a retail counter
and having to deal with them is, I am sure, not pleasant. So,
I try to just grab my penny-sleeves and top-loaders and get
out quickly.

storm

Boopotts

<< <i>

<< <i>They have ALL told me they "hate >>


Interesting Storm

I think they would do a lot better if they respected and enjoyed their own product IMO.

mike >>



I completely agree, although it's hard to respect and enjoy your product when you see customer after customer getting prison-sexed by one box after another of 2006 Sweet Spot. My guess is that most shop owner don't have 'cards', per se, but instead hate what the card companies have done to the market. My guess is you only need so many steady customers to finally say 'no mas' after getting bent over by $1000 worth of new boxes before you start to cast a jaded eye on the products you're selling.

CDsNuts

No freaking kidding. Not like you can walk into a shop with $50 and get anything decent. No wonder kids don't get involved in the hobby.

Lee

Stone193

<< <i>Customers/Consumers have become more and more expectant and
demanding during the past 25-years. Sitting behind a retail counter
and having to deal with them is, I am sure, not pleasant. So,
I try to just grab my penny-sleeves and top-loaders and get
out quickly. >>


Storm
This is true.

I was just talking about this on Friday. People are losing their civility at an alarming rate. They even vent much quicker.

Plus, as you have said - people have a great sense of "entitlement" than they used to - they expect more.

If they go to get their car washed, they expect complimentary doughnuts and coffee.

If they go to the Doctor, they expect to be handed a rose and their ass kissed as they walk out the door.

If they buy a car, they expect a free trip to Puerto Rico and a years worth of gas free.

They didn't do this - it all evolved - but you are correct - the guy sitting behind the counter gets the brunt of this crap.

But, then again, I am amused when I get the "miniumum wage stare" at Target when I try to explain to them that they have to take the individual packs out of the box and scan them since the UPC code on the opened box doesn't work.

Ya gotta love it tho!
mike

Boopotts

<< <i>No freaking kidding. Not like you can walk into a shop with $50 and get anything decent. No wonder kids don't get involved in the hobby.

Lee >>



C'mon, Lee. 50$ wil get you 5 pre-searched packs of Sweet Spot!! Who doesn't need another shiny card numbered to 1000 of Brad Radke?

Stone193

<< <i>

<< <i>No freaking kidding. Not like you can walk into a shop with $50 and get anything decent. No wonder kids don't get involved in the hobby.

Lee >>



C'mon, Lee. 50$ wil get you 5 pre-searched packs of Sweet Spot!! Who doesn't need another shiny card numbered to 1000 of Brad Radke? >>

nightcrawler

All the places I used to buy cards at are closed now, but I still go out of my way and backtrack when I see a SPORTS CARDS sign. The problem is that none of the new card shops I run across have anything worth looking at, and never anything vintage. Oh well, ebay has better deals than any card shop I've been to, and I was tired of shop owners calling every dam card in the place near mint when most were good at best.

bjork73

The two shops that I go to are quite nice... decent prices, the ability to negotiate a little bit at one, freebies thrown in and tax included at the other, both with friendly service and special appreciation for customers that have a clue but still cordial to even the most vapid... I think both of the shops realize that they are doing the right things but that they need to keep on doing them to survive... they're hungry, nothing wrong with that

yankeeno7

It must be horrible being a shop owner though. All of that product..and its not cheap anymore. Cases have 6 boxes that weigh about 4 ounces each!(sarcastic on the weight thing).

How can you guess what your customers will buy? Im sure after being established you can get a "feel" for what sells...but so much product and so pricey. Even when you think you have them figured out, they arent buying from you anymore, they are going full force on ebay.

I dont think ebay is a bad thing to the smart shop owner. Fill your store up with better selling items in your area for a good price and sell the stuff that doesnt move for extra cashflow.

In some ways it would be fun...but in other ways I would constantly have a pit in my stomach.

ctsoxfan

<< <i>I completely agree, although it's hard to respect and enjoy your product when you see customer after customer getting prison-sexed by one box after another of 2006 Sweet Spot. >>





That could be the quote of the week, IMO!

The only card shops near me are a small chain, who set up shop in all the local malls, and therefore charge high prices for their meager selections to pay the high rents they must pay. Though, I have regular business in Albany - and on my next trip there I am going to look for that card shop.

yankeeno7

CT
I believe the address is 1987 Central Avenue.
Feel free to PM me if you need any further instruction.

storm888

nc wrote:

"I was tired of shop owners calling every dam card
in the place near mint when most were good at best. "

The really interesting thing about that is that the average
kid who owns 10-PSA cards is more capable of grading
cards than 95% of "old-time shop-owners." You gotta
remember that the concept of "protecting your cards
from damage" is relatively new. When the now ancient
dealers opened up, there was no such thing as "grading."
The value was based on "star scarcity." That is how I, as
a kid figured out that Snider/Mantle/etc. were "of value."
Condition did NOT mean jack to us.

It is much discussed that some guys still cannot forgive
their mothers for "throwing out" their baseball cards. All
I can say is that if they knew how many PSA 1s were in
that box, they would get over it. We carried the cards
around in our pockets while we played ball in the street;
by our current standards, those cards would be junk on
the "grading scale."

Of course, some kids whose dads came from other "collecting
disciplines" like stamps/coins, took relatively better care of
their "scarcer" cards. But not much better.

I am not saying old dealers do not "overgrade," but I know
that most of them are simply clueless about what "grading"
means to today's collectors.

storm

MooseDog

Three shops closed (that I know of) in the SF Bay Area since February of this year.

Boopotts

<< <i>

<< <i>I completely agree, although it's hard to respect and enjoy your product when you see customer after customer getting prison-sexed by one box after another of 2006 Sweet Spot. >>





That could be the quote of the week, IMO!

The only card shops near me are a small chain, who set up shop in all the local malls, and therefore charge high prices for their meager selections to pay the high rents they must pay. Though, I have regular business in Albany - and on my next trip there I am going to look for that card shop. >>



I can only imagine the stock responses that card shop owners have developed to console those customers who've just endured another nut-crushing box break.

"Hey, man, that Octavio Dotel auto is really clean. His sig looks better than Killebrews!" Or "Wow! Check out that awsome two color patch on that Woody Williams! That blue thread in the upper right just seems to jump off the card!"

As a service to shop owners Beckett should just mail out their list of consolation quotes, because they've got it down to an art form. If you're ever in need of an epic knee-slappin' laugh just pick up an issue of Beckett and see how they spin their latest terrible break. (" It would have been nice to pull an auto of someone with a career BA over .260, considering the box cost $175, but check out this awesome blue refractor of Vance Wilson!"). Once trip through one of their mags will leave you no doubt as to who butters their bread, since any non-biased report would have the guy breaking the box running naked into the hills screaming after p*ssing away half a paycheck on a totally worthless box. But to the boys at Beckett it's all good! Who needs to pull a card worth more than a pack of Marlboros when you've got the thrill of the break to sustain you?

Boopotts

<< <i>nc wrote:

"I was tired of shop owners calling every dam card
in the place near mint when most were good at best. "

The really interesting thing about that is that the average
kid who owns 10-PSA cards is more capable of grading
cards than 95% of "old-time shop-owners." You gotta
remember that the concept of "protecting your cards
from damage" is relatively new. When the now ancient
dealers opened up, there was no such thing as "grading."
The value was based on "star scarcity." That is how I, as
a kid figured out that Snider/Mantle/etc. were "of value."
Condition did NOT mean jack to us.

It is much discussed that some guys still cannot forgive
their mothers for "throwing out" their baseball cards. All
I can say is that if they knew how many PSA 1s were in
that box, they would get over it. We carried the cards
around in our pockets while we played ball in the street;
by our current standards, those cards would be junk on
the "grading scale."

Of course, some kids whose dads came from other "collecting
disciplines" like stamps/coins, took relatively better care of
their "scarcer" cards. But not much better.

I am not saying old dealers do not "overgrade," but I know
that most of them are simply clueless about what "grading"
means to today's collectors.

storm >>



I would amend that to say 'what grading means to collectors of PSA slabs'. Anyone who's been to a card show recently can appreciate the fact that only a very small % of collectors-- be it vintage or modern-- could give three s**ts and a buzzard about what PSA or anyone else says about the condition of the card. To most guys 'card grading' is still limited to three basic catagories: "Very nice," "a little rough" and "totally thrashed". You will search long and hard before you hear the words '80/20 left to right' or 'reverse centering' in a card show. If a guy spends most of his collecting time on Ebay, and gets back into cards via PSA slabs, then it's easy to overestimate the effect that card grading has had on the hobby.

When I was up in Toronto I couldn't believe the number of collectors and dealers who were either indifferent or actively hostile towards PSA. Most guys just want a card that presents reasonably well, and are astonished to discover that there's a clique of collectors would would pay $500 for a mint common from 1971. It's something we all take for granted, but the vast majority of hobbyists have no real understanding of the graded card market, or the varying card conditions that apply to each grade, and moreover have no desire to learn them.

zef204

I used to go to this shop about 10 miles north of Chicago all the time. I think the guy is still open, but I don't go much anymore. He and the staff acted like they were doing me a favor by answering my questions.

I used to by some unopened FB packs from the 70's as he was priced really well. I also bought all my penny sleeves and card savers from him until he stopped carrying the CS's.

I travel for work often and try to go to the local card shops while I am in the town. Most of them know of and sell on eBay and price their in-house stuff at gross prices.

Stone, to answer your question, I was in one in Elkhart, IN 3 weeks ago. Didn't buy a thing either. The guy there was nice and cordial, but the inventory of 60's and 70's fb(which is my main interest) was poo.

CDsNuts

After digging through a guy's 4 dozen or so '79 Topps Burger King Phillies sets in a shop in Philly, the guy comes up to me and sneers "Grade everything, do ya?" like I was some kind of hethon. What the frick do you care? I'm buying your crap, you should be happy.

Lee

CDsNuts

Also, I could care less if the staff is not pleasant. I expect bad service when I go to clothes stores, the post office, any non-fine dining restaurant, etc.... I don't see why card shops would be any different. Once you begin to accept the fact that people for the most part are miserable and hate their lives, it's easier to let bad service slide off your back. As long as they don't offend me I could care less. I'm there to buy merchandise, not to make friends.

Lee


edited to say that this is also why it stands out when I receive good service. Like I said, I don't expect it, but when it happens it's a pleasant surprise and I'm more likely to return.

zef204

<< <i>Also, I could care less if the staff is not pleasant. I expect bad service when I go to clothes stores, the post office, any non-fine dining restaurant, etc.... I don't see why card shops would be any different. Once you begin to accept the fact that people for the most part are miserable and hate their lives, it's easier to let bad service slide off your back. As long as they don't offend me I could care less. I'm there to buy merchandise, not to make friends.

Lee >>

good point.

Axtell

The last sportscard shop closed up here about 2 years ago. There is one that operates, but is so overrun with crap I don't know how he stays open, no organization, nascar boxes of cars everywhere, and overpriced junk too.

There is a 'card' shop, but he deals in overpriced, overgraded singles and new boxes, but primarily the collectible card gaming market, and no graded material whatsoever.

NewJerseyMeatHook

Have two card shops in Woodbridge, VA (Suburban DC). One recently closed, which is sad because the guy had some really interesting things. Located on busy Route 1, so he got the folks looking to dump cards and make a quick buck. Mostly stolen, I suppose.

Another guy is a mortician. Guy that owned his childhood card shop was closing, so he simply bought the place. Insists he only hopes to make enough money to pay the light bill. Cool thing is, the guy included most of his private collection in the deal.

Usually end up leaving this place with stacks of free Score fb and NBAHoops wax boxes. Guy likes my son, so he loads him up with bags of crap, too.

fiveniner

There was a card shop The Scoreboard in Warren Michigan that closed some years ago(pre grading era).He had a good variety of vinatge cards and newer stuff and other memorabilia.I spent most of my free time hanging out in there buying,trading or just plain talking hobby or sports.The owner did not have regular hours so you never knew when he was going to be open but you could bet that he would be open at night.After he closed I have probably gone to less than a handful of shops and only to buy supplies or just see what they have unfortunatley none of these places turned me on(little or no vintage).I rarely go to a shop anymore I would however if there was still a place like Joes Scoreboard around as it exibited a great hobby atmosphere in my opinion.

mafoliq

I am very lucky in that there are two very good card shops in my town. I try to go to one of them at least once a week. I have owned several video stores in the past and are very well attuned to the problems these retailers are facing. Actually, I am amazed that there are still in business. I usually buy a couple of wax packs as I want to support the store, but it is vary tough for me in that I collect mainly t205s and t206s. The wax I open is usually given away to a kid because I do not like having boxes and boxes of cards around the house. I would love to get rid of all the pieces of bats, shirts, seats, gloves and underwear that I have collected over the years.

ctsoxfan

<< <i>CT
I believe the address is 1987 Central Avenue.
Feel free to PM me if you need any further instruction. >>



Thanks! I think I have driven by there before - looking forward to stopping in soon.

onlyanumber

It has been 6 years since I last visited a card shop. I had a regular one on Long Island in Patchogue. Went there every week and dropped $100-200 without batting an eyelash. The owner was good to me--helped me with discounts, tossed me some free packs, penny sleeves, top loaders...then he sold to another guy. The other guy had no concept on making the regulars feel welcome. He raised his prices and stopped the freebies. I stopped going. I'm sure I wasn't the only regular that left as he closed six months later.

I've been in Florida now for three years and haven't found any card shops any where near me. Anyone know of any shops within 30 miles of the Ocala area?

MajorDanby

<< <i> I expect bad service when I go to clothes stores, the post office, any non-fine dining restaurant, etc >>



hmm, well that's one way to live a happy life....expect the worse....so, when you do get good service, you will be pleasantly surprised.

I went to the "local" shop here in the south bay of california just recently to purchase a box of 2002 topps heritage. it's actually a chain of card shops...one located in sunnyvale, another in belmont and the big one in san jose. all are well run...the sunnyvale and belmont shops are mainly modern, while the san jose shop has plenty of vintage. these cards are pretty smart when it comes to grading, selling modern, selling on ebay, etc. they know how to play the game in today's market, that's why they are still afloat. The cards they sell at their stores are usually one grade lower than the listed SMR price. the stuff that is gradeable, they sell on ebay to make a profit. i used to go to these shops fairly frequently, but stopped because of ebay.

storm888

major wrote:

"The cards they sell at their stores are usually one grade lower than the listed SMR price. "


Does that mean they sell a PSA 8, at the PSA 7 SMR price?

storm

MajorDanby

wording probably not clear. they sell psa 6 cards at psa 7 prices.

Stone193

<< <i>Once you begin to accept the fact that people for the most part are miserable and hate their lives, it's easier to let bad service slide off your back. >>

Stone193

Great responses!

For the most part, shops that are surviving ARE offering good service, diversity in products, promotions and incentives to get you in the store.

I would take down the name of every person that comes in shop by having them fill out a card that gets dropped in a fishbowl and every month - have a drawing for a graded card or something.

Then I would send ALL the people a note every quarter with specials and coupons for savings on items.

Get their DOB and send them a birthday card and enclose something with it.

Give children who bring in the report card with so many A's a gift.

This may seem like work - but that's the way it goes these days.

People's sense of entitlement is approaching Mt. Everest!

But ya gotta dance with the partner ya came with!
mike

julen23

there are 2 card shops around my area, both equally priced i'd say. 1 shop has more memorabilia inventory than cards. the other shop is better for cards. they have hockey, football, nba and baseball cards there.

i have only purchased storage items from both joints.

both shops primarily carried only modern stuff also, the vintage cards were way overpriced and pretty weak quality. 1 store was selling a 1961 (oc) mickey mantle for $400, yea right!

Julen