Junk Mall shows vs. Collectors shows...

Guru

I just now got a call from a guy who's setting up a booth at a mall show. He asked me if I wanted to go in half with him because he thought he had more to sell than what he actually has. I asked him for the details. Basically this is going to be another junk sale in a mall and not a true collectors show. I looked it up in Beckett and it says that it's a card show.
This is what I don't get, why does Beckett not screen these things? I've been to mall shows countless times and it ends up being all junk and like one card booth. Anyone else had this happen. I'm definitely not setting up. Just frustrating.

BunchOBull

I can only assume Beckett gets a listing fee of some sort, and doesn't care about the quality of the show. I have no clue if that isn't the case.

yankeeno7

Ive seen both...junk mall shows and GREAT mall shows. It's only advertising a sale/show so I dont think Beckett really gives a crap about how good or bad it is.

BobaFett72

if your going to be one of the only card dealers there, you should set up. If collectors show up looking for stuff, you will be the only one in town. You might make some decent scratch. Whats the table cost?

digicat

I was at a "junk" mall show recently. For a guy looking to buy/sell graded vintage cards, not the place. For someone looking to off-load tons of vg - ex-mt vintage cards, it's the place to be. The place was packed with guys carrying around want-lists, picking through bins of 50s and 60s cards, wheeling and dealing.

larryallen73

About the only shows we have now days are mall shows. I go sometimes. If I find a decent dealer I could drop a grand. I think you are doing at least two things wrong:
1) Actually think Beckett would ever care to distinguish the quality of a show; and
2) Pre-judging who may be at this show regardless of how good or bad it is.

Keep an open mind!

baseballfan

i go to them when i can. around here there is a guy who produces one every 3 weeks or so at different malls in the area. i collect mostly pre-80 stuff so my pickings are slim but once in a while (2 months ago, i picked up 2 55 topps and a bunch of 70 topps i needed) i get lucky and find someone with something i can use. i also once bought a 51 topps (red) raw and it came back a psa 9, so that was nice. i think larryallen is right keep an open mind and you never know what can happen.

Guru

He paid like $600 for the booth for the whole weekend. It's in the middle of the mall and is a stand alone.

Guru

Well, they call it the Vigo County Hillbilly Junk sale if that tells you anything. I'll probably end up going just to see what's out there, but I'm not spending $300 to set up.

baseballfan

that seems like a lot if your just selling baseball cards, but check it out and see what the other people have, if anything.
let us know

CDsNuts

Maybe this guy will be there:

fur72

Mall shows are great to get kids involved in the hobby. I would love to throw out a table of common star cards and put a $1.00 - $.50 tag on each one. It would be inexpensive and I could get rid of alot of stuff I have laying around.

Allen

Beckett does not charge to list the shows in the book/website. They have a disclaimer to call the show promoter and see what the show is about.

rpcoletrane

Well, it sometimes pays to go to these "junk shows". I went to a local one here last month and picked up 2 1978 Topps Molitor/Trammell RCs for $5 and 2 Troy Tulowitzki certified Autos for $5. I also bought an original T59 Flags of All Nations card (A&G modeled their mini flag cards after these) in EXMT out of a dollar box! I think I spent $15 that day and came out with $150 worth of stuff!