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OT: A major shop closed in my area yesterday

metrothememetrotheme Posts: 548
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Text

I don't know how many of you are into music, but with the decline of local card shops, I think that some of you would enjoy this, regardless about how you feel about the genre of music.

Comments

  • DeutscherGeistDeutscherGeist Posts: 2,990 ✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for sharing. I guess it no longer made financial sense in keeping a brick and mortar store despite its cultural impact on society.
    Cards shops suffered a similar fate for similar reasons.

    I use to like card shops because one got to socialize there and exchange ideas. Now, the PSA message board provides me that and its better in a lot of ways. However, that human touch is missing. It is very likely I will only meet a fraction of the people of the message boards, if that.
    As far as purchasing cards, I think the internet improved the quality of cards I can access and purchase. Sure, there is a social aspect of attending card shows and shops that I will miss. There are pluses and minuses for every era. Savor the memories of the bygone era.

    If one does not miss the days of having at least one card shop within walking distance to their home, one does not have a heart. Whoever thinks that those days should return does not have a brain.
    "So many of our DREAMS at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we SUMMON THE WILL they soon become INEVITABLE "- Christopher Reeve

    BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
  • SportsCardCollectorSportsCardCollector Posts: 320 ✭✭


    << <i>If one does not miss the days of having at least one card shop within walking distance to their home, one does not have a heart. Whoever thinks that those days should return does not have a brain. >>


    Very well said.
    "It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it."
    - John Wooden
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanx for sharing.

    This is hitting home for me.

    A card shop about 3 miles from my house is for sale on ebay.

    image

    He states how this year is picking up a bit but the last 2 yrs have been tough - compared to 2007.

    That mirrors how my practice has been going with respect to the economy.

    I think I'd want to host live rips on Youtube and bring on Rachael the Rip Girl!

    image

    On a more serious note:

    I think the state of the economy is manifest in the woes of the small business who may be the true employer of the US and not companies like GM or Ford.

    Also, the changes in the hobby - as was just discussed - also has affected the small hobby shop - and I agree - it may go the way of the dinosaur with rare exception.
    Mike
  • metrothememetrotheme Posts: 548
    There must be a ton of lurkers on this board because like 300 hits came from here since I posted it.
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    I don't miss the local card shops at all. Hmmm.... let's see.... lots of 10-13 year old foul-mouthed boys opening up packs and talking about overhyped inserts and chase cards with no knowledge of the history of baseball or football. Card shop owners with VG-Ex cards trying to get Mint prices out of them. These same owners telling me about how I should collect and about how valuable these cards are going to be in the future (while pointing to 1987 Topps Baseball wax packs), even though they just started card collecting three years before opening the shop. From 1984-1993 I probably visited 100+ shops, and this was better than 75% of them.
    Now I can look online for whatever I want, whenever I want, and the prices are far better. And no young punks to contend with.
    Successful dealings with shootybabitt, LarryP, Doctor K, thedutymon, billsgridirongreats, fattymacs, shagrotn77, pclpads, JMDVM, gumbyfan, itzagoner, rexvos, al032184, gregm13, californiacards3, mccardguy1, BigDaddyBowman, bigreddog, bobbyw8469, burke23, detroitfan2, drewsef, jeff8877, markmac, Goldlabels, swartz1, blee1, EarlsWorld, gseaman25, kcballboy, jimrad, leadoff4, weinhold, Mphilking, milbroco, msassin, meteoriteguy, rbeaton and gameusedhoop.
  • schr1stschr1st Posts: 1,677 ✭✭
    The problem is that without those young punk kids replacing old codgers like you and I, the hobby ends up dying off. I don't miss the bad card stores from the 90's, where every strip mall had some one shop or another, but I do miss having options.



    << <i>I don't miss the local card shops at all. Hmmm.... let's see.... lots of 10-13 year old foul-mouthed boys opening up packs and talking about overhyped inserts and chase cards with no knowledge of the history of baseball or football. Card shop owners with VG-Ex cards trying to get Mint prices out of them. These same owners telling me about how I should collect and about how valuable these cards are going to be in the future (while pointing to 1987 Topps Baseball wax packs), even though they just started card collecting three years before opening the shop. From 1984-1993 I probably visited 100+ shops, and this was better than 75% of them.
    Now I can look online for whatever I want, whenever I want, and the prices are far better. And no young punks to contend with. >>

    Who is Rober Maris?
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The ones that have been around since the boom and survived are the 'good ones' - affable owners with knowledge - good dispositions - respect for their customers - and get to know their patrons and are looking out for their needs.

    Since let's face it - if they look out for your needs - they will make money. If they don't? They won't.
    Mike
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