Are there any well-known sportscard "pickers"?

llafoe

Are there any collectors or small, personable dealers that act as sportscard "pickers"? Someone that charges 20-25% to "pick" cards for their clients?

handyman

those are very specific questions.
Do you mean that a dealer has a needs list for a group of clients and fills the list at a certain cost? Example, Like certain 1968 commons in Ex-Mt to Nm clients #1 pays 2.00 a card and he/dealer buys them at 1.50? Is this what you are asking?
Are you in need of a service like this?

handyman

Interesting.

llafoe

Most collectible fields have pickers. For example, if I provide a list of $2.50 gold PCGS CAC AU58 needed for my collection, a dealer might offer me what he/she has available once they try to market them at a coin show at a variable mark up. Whereas a picker will literally pick up anything on my want list (knowing my specific criteria) and then sell them to me at negotiated cost plus 20-25%. A dealer may have a list of clients searching for the same coin and an unknown list of buyers for the same coin at a show whereas a picker is searching specifically for me.

A "picker" accepts clients based on available items so as to not offend their clients. If I wanted all PSA 10 1975 Minis, a picker wouldn't accept another client until my want list was filled so they wouldn't offend current clients. If I only wanted PSA 10 1975 Minis from the Yankees and my current client has all the PSA 10 Yankees, there wouldn't be a conflict in contract and I could accept the new client. If a "picker" purchased $25,000 at a show, they would pocket $4-5K for their efforts. This would pay for their time, travel and expenses.

I'm used to this relationship in my other hobbies... I just assumed there were "pickers" in this hobby too?

Edited to add: The true value add of a "picker" vs. a dealer is a "picker" looks out for the best interest of their clients whereas a dealer looks out for the best interest of their business. If someone had a well-centered 1963 PSA 8 Rose rookie for sale for $1,250, the picker would sell it to you for $1,562.50 without thought whereas a dealer might market the same card for $2,500. The "picker" may leave money on the table on this card (but knows he has an instantaneous buyer), but will maintain a long-term client whereas the dealer knows he will eventually sell the card to the right person. The only overhead a "picker" has is time, travel and expenses... and they get to enjoy the shows too. A dealer has to carry inventory, sit at a table the duration of the show and listen to people whine about what they have and don't have in stock. A "picker" lives the dream!

NickM

Mr. Mint is pretty much a picker nowadays.

Nick

WalterSobchak

At least at one time, Steve Miller was a picker- and was six other things as well. Not sure if that's still the case.

Dboneesq

<< <i>At least at one time, Steve Miller was a picker- and was six other things as well. Not sure if that's still the case. >>



'Cause I'm a picker, I'm a grinner I'm a lover and I'm a sinner I play my music in the sun
I'm a joker, I'm a smoker I'm a midnight toker I sure don't want to hurt no one

CDsNuts

This seems like a cleverly disguised poll to me.

thunderdan

There were a couple of really good pickers I noticed at National. They were off to the side, near the drinking fountain wearing corduroy OP shorts, and from the wafting scent, many seemed not to have bathed for several days. They were picking hard, seemingly without any inhibition--oblivious to the onlookers. Digging and picking for that one little nugget that would make their day worthwhile and their attendance pleasurable. I looked away, but I could not get the image out of my mind. It still haunts me.

I did not get any names nor did I get any business cards. But that day I tell you I witnessed picking that only a West-Virginian coal miner could truly appreciate.

llafoe