Why is it Dealers don't want to take stuff in trade?

KalineFan

It just puzzles the sh@@ out of me! I understand that some dealers normally work on 1500% markup, but,....okay
give me a price you would take the stuff in trade! If SMR is $500, will you take it at $200? $150? $100? $10 !!!!!!??????

COME ON! Has anyone else noticed this phenom? I have people offer trades all the time on stuff, and I am more
than happy to take it in trade if I think I can make even a touch more by trading, or by getting stuff that interests me.

I have been doing collectibles for over 30 years, and I have never seen such a blatant non-interest. Is it going to
continue like this or what?

The part that really kills me is if I have the same stuff they have and offer it at 25-50% off of what they are asking
in trade and its always NO!

I guess nobody wants to inventory stuff unless they "MAKE IT", because otherwise their % goes way down.

WHEW! There, I feel better now !

Tony
KalineFan

perkdog

They want CASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

cohocorp

cash flow would probably be the #1 reason. in addition, if they already have that particular item in stock, even if you offer the same item at the 25-50 % off their asking price like you mentioned, they may want to stock two of the same item. also, they may be willing to take that same 25-50% off of their asking price in order to sell that item in the first place. just some thoughts.

Buccaneer

Because they already have a LOT of stuff. Plus trades don't pay bills. There are, however, some dealers that are easy to "trade" with but because of the way they have things set up, they pay you for your stuff (usually credit) which you then buy from them. It's easier to account.

nearmint

Dealers who don't trade miss out on a good money-making opportunity. If I can trade 2 for 3 for comparable cards, I can add inventory without outlaying any cash, and I can turn over some cards that I may have had for awhile.

That said, you have to make the trade worth the dealer's time. It takes time to package and mail the trade cards, and it takes time to list the new cards. And you have to have something to trade that the dealer can sell. As cohocorp said, chances are good that the dealer won't want something he already has in stock, even if it's at a deep discount.

Throwing in some cash into the deal always helps, too!

Mike

Morgoth

I think it is the climate of the shows right now. 5 years ago you couldn't walk through a show with a box of cards w/o dealers jumping all over you. Now unless you have key RC's or prewar they could care less. It's funny that dealers would rather have inventory sit until they get their over SMR prices rather then either move it in trades or sell it for a lower price. For fun offer a dealer some good 70's stuff for trade in on a 50's Mantle. You might make one bust a blood vessel in their eye.

jradke4

i have rarely found dealers willing to trade unless you wanted to trade a hot card. most, nearly all, dealers are looking only for the money. most are doing it to supplement or upgrade their own collections.

Estil

They're also much more likely to trade if you're a really regular customer who spends a lot of money there. And as for getting deals like discounts; two things will help. Buying a lot of stuff (especially lower demand stuff) and offering to pay in cash instead of credit/debit card.

perkdog

For the record Mike (nearmint) has always been open to trade and been very fair to me. Thanks again Mike, I think we have exchanged that '52 Large Baugh a few times.

Morgoth

Kurtz Kardz is fun to deal with, he may not take your stuff but at least he won't tell you how much it sucks and why his stuff is so much better.

Fuzz

First to one up the Nearmint comment, he is the most open dealer to trades that I have met in 30 years.
Every time I have tried, it has worked. Just as he said it would. No hitches. Usually from others the offer is awful or non-existent.
Nearmint himself is a good reason to switch over to FB cards.

Then, I also think it might be a matter of inventory positioning. I have looked at a few fixed price lists in my day and I tend to notice that the turnover is very slow. I believe that they would rather hold a card that might sell especially if someone has expressed some interest rather than trade for a card that they are not sure about. These low inventory turn, high margin models are quite interesting. The exact opposite of the DSL and 4sc models which are all about turnover. And Tony, If you have a problem getting rid of those $500 SMR cards at $10, I can give you an email address.

Fuzz

DirtyHarry

A bit of a segway, but does anyone have any positive experiences with dealers or retail shops on a consignment basis? If so, what is the standard percentage? My thought is around 30%. Thanks.

Griffins

Both Paul Moss (Zardoz) and Jay Wolt (QualityCards) are about 20% I think- Jay may be even a bit less. 2 of the best dealers around, and good, honest guys.

GDM67

I haven't traded with him, but my two dealings with Jay (an eBay win a few months ago and a straight up sale from the inventory listed at his site a week or two ago) were stellar. A terrific dealer and an even better guy.

nearmint

<< <i>Nearmint himself is a good reason to switch over to FB cards. >>



Wow, I'm not sure I can live up to that, but thanks for the compliment, Fuzz.



<< <i>I believe that they would rather hold a card that might sell especially if someone has expressed some interest rather than trade for a card that they are not sure about. >>



This is exactly right, and it's the reason I passed on a trade yesterday. I was offered a trade that looked to be in my favor, but I was more confident that I could sell the card I already had, so I let the deal go.

Also, sometimes a dealer might not be familiar with what you have to trade, and so will shy away from it. I've had people offer me baseball cards in trade, quite possibly well in my favor, but I simply don't have much expertise with baseball cards. Plus there's no place on my web site to put them!

There are other factors to consider, too, such as availability (I'd rather have a rarer card than an equally priced common one), number of cards (I'd rather have a single 9 than a pile of 7's), and price stability (the value of a vintage HOFer is more stable than a modern one).

Of course, asking nicely helps, too--but of course everyone here would ask nicely!

Mike

WeekendHacker

Why is it Dealers don't want to take stuff in trade?

It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Unless you blow them ( away with a trade of course ).......................

Estil

It also works best if you have a higher demand card/set that you want to trade for lower demand/value card/sets that you personally would enjoy more. Now, if you wanted to do it the other way around, dealers will insist on your Ben Franklins, General Grants, and Andrew Jacksons, not your commons boxes or high production sets.

shagrotn77

Keppler is always open to taking cards in trade. Of course, as I'm sure was already mentioned, dealers are likely to take cards in trade only if it's something they're confident isn't going to collect dust in their inventory. If you have an item that's a quick move, and you're trying to pick one up that's really not, you might be in luck.

twiley

The only trade I ever could get any dealer to do was back in 1998-1999. I was sitting on 100 extra vending cards of 1985 McGwire topps rookies. All were somewhat centered but none were psa 9 or 10 worthy. I got a dealer to trade my 100 cards for 200 cards modern cards. I got in return 100 of the 93 UD SP Foil Derek Jeter Rookie and 100 of the 94 UD SP Foil A-Rod rookies. What I got was good condition stuff most psa 8s but there are a few 9s in them I just havent gotten around to submitting them all yet. IMO the dealer only did the trade with me because at the time McGwires rookie was super high cause he just beat Roger Maris record. I believe he said he was selling the McGwire card raw for over 150. At the time I really wanted a stock pile of the jeter and a-rod rookie cards I was getting. I knew I wasnt getting the better deal at the time. Now as things have changed over the past 9 years. I definately got the better end of that trade in my opinion. Was the only trade I ever could get out of a dealer and he only did it because he was getting the better end of the trade...

dude

Card dealers are notoriously cash-poor. In fact, I know a local Texan dealer who goes to the Philly-area show 4 time a year mainly to buy. In fact he's built an exclusive relationship with one promotor/dealer who has tons of vintage stuff and buys thousands upon thousands of cards everytime he goes. When a friend asked this Texan dealer why this East coast dealer/promotor does all this business with him and none of the local guys, his answer was, "Because the local guys never have any money".

There seem to be two extreme business models in this hobby. One is the guy who buys and flips it within a few days and makes a decent profit and the other extreme is the guy who buys and marks it up outrageously and sits on it for possibly years. Usually, but not always, the huge mark-up guys tend to be cash-poor.

dude

One more comment. The bigger question that begs to be asked: why even go to a dealer to sell cards? Selling to a dealer would be on the bottom of my list for moving cards or collectibles. Most will not even consider a sale unless its at least 50% market value and thats generous for most. In reality, most offers are more like 20% to 33% of market value unless its something under huge demand.

I sell on consignment myself, but I'm being very selective anymore - mainly pre-1970 stuff, PSA 8 or higher. But if a guy just wants to just get rid of a few cards, he ought to do it himself on eBay.

handyman

Why, So people can talk about how dealers pay so little and how ebay is the way to go.

rbdjr1

<< <i>The only trade I ever could get any dealer to do was back in 1998-1999. I was sitting on 100 extra vending cards of 1985 McGwire topps rookies. All were somewhat centered but none were psa 9 or 10 worthy. I got a dealer to trade my 100 cards for 200 cards modern cards. I got in return 100 of the 93 UD SP Foil Derek Jeter Rookie and 100 of the 94 UD SP Foil A-Rod rookies. What I got was good condition stuff most psa 8s but there are a few 9s in them I just havent gotten around to submitting them all yet. IMO the dealer only did the trade with me because at the time McGwires rookie was super high cause he just beat Roger Maris record. I believe he said he was selling the McGwire card raw for over 150. At the time I really wanted a stock pile of the jeter and a-rod rookie cards I was getting. I knew I wasnt getting the better deal at the time. Now as things have changed over the past 9 years. I definately got the better end of that trade in my opinion. Was the only trade I ever could get out of a dealer and he only did it because he was getting the better end of the trade... >>



Looks like you both got pretty good deals! As that dealer most likley sold off all those 100 McGwire RC's for some nice cash, plus you got what you wanted! (i.e., Jeters & A-Rods)...

Was a good deal!

rd

rube26105

no doubt, i would take apiile of a-rod ud foil rookies anyday of 85 topps anything, to overproduced,youll make out like a bandit on those a rods if you hand on too em long enuff,hopefuly to break bonds record lol