Card Show Security (Stealing Cards)

ShoeboxTom

After just attending a card show in White Plains, New York I was wondering how you (the dealers)
protect your inventory from the public. It would seem to me that with a partner you could easily
distract the dealer while the other person walks away with a box of unopened baseball cards.
Or you could just easily palm a baseball card. If I was selling cards that would concern me.

I was also wondering how dealers make a living in these tough times selling baseball cards.

Feel free if you want to answer. I am not a con artist. I was just wondering how you
protect your cards.

Guru

Well, if I sell at a show, I usually have someone with me. There's always someone at the table. There are unwritten rules about selling at shows. One of them is "Don't leave the table unless you have to." At least in my playbook.
There's not much money, IMHO, to make at shows these days. With Ebay, people can get what they want any time without leaving their house.

mtcards

I am always packin' when I set up at shows, just waiting for that little 9 year old to steal that 1987 Don Mattingly.

Allen

All the good cards are under glass and I stay strapped up like I was bungee jumping.

joestalin

yeah most of the higher end singles are under glass, but I guess if someone wanted to take a box they could.

Kevin

pandrews

i always take a ninja with me for security

gameusedhoop

When I set up in 88-92 everything went in display cases or a backup table behind me. Even my game used unis either got rolled with the name showing, I could get 6-8 in a case that way. Always had 2-3 tables and usually a buddy with me. Never had anything disappear. I bailed in 92 when everything was starting to get glossy, holographic, etc...

rise2it

" When I set up in 88-92"

When I set up in 88-92, there was a nice older gentlemen who always set up at large shows with multiple tables, etc...very nice layout...all business, all the time...not friendly to other dealers, the kids, etc.

We finally ran him off from our local area, as a bunch of us finally started comparing notes on kids we had busted stealing from us....

....he was PAYING them to rip off certain cards from other dealers.

TJMAC

<< <i>" When I set up in 88-92"

When I set up in 88-92, there was a nice older gentlemen who always set up at large shows with multiple tables, etc...very nice layout...all business, all the time...not friendly to other dealers, the kids, etc.

We finally ran him off from our local area, as a bunch of us finally started comparing notes on kids we had busted stealing from us....

....he was PAYING them to rip off certain cards from other dealers. >>




Wow, if your idea of a nice older gentleman is someone who is not friendly to other dealers and kids, then everyone must seem nice to you.

Ironmanfan

<< <i>" When I set up in 88-92"

When I set up in 88-92, there was a nice older gentlemen who always set up at large shows with multiple tables, etc...very nice layout...all business, all the time...not friendly to other dealers, the kids, etc.

We finally ran him off from our local area, as a bunch of us finally started comparing notes on kids we had busted stealing from us....

....he was PAYING them to rip off certain cards from other dealers. >>



of course he was

Morgoth

Stealing is a huge issue at bigger shows. Most dealers now keep their cases locked at all times and if they don't know you wont allow you to look at more than one card at a time.