What would a brick and mortar store need to have for you to become a regular?

TheMick6

I think a lot about this question myself. I think of all the shops I frequented during the 80's boom and of course how none of them are around anymore. What would it take to succeed in today's hobby climate and what would get you offline and actually into the store on a regular basis? Interested in other hobbiests ideas.

orioles93

It would have to have a good mix of cards and the inventory would actually have to change pretty often. I wouldnt want to go in and see the same cards every time. I have a really nice card stand in a local market that i go to a lot. I go because he is always buying collections and always seems to have new inventory to look at. He also works with me on prices pretty well.

WalterSobchak

Vintage baseball cards in a condition higher than EX-MT.

There are two card shops in my area that I know of. 0-for-2. The only reason I'd ever go to one is for supplies.

byronscott4ever

Good selection of packs, commons, supplies and a place that treats you the same whether you spend $1, $10 or $100.

Stone193

I've gotten so lazy - if it wasn't down the block - they'd have to send a limo for me.

Sincerely?

A decent inventory.

Fair pricing.

Courteous service.

And it wouldn't hurt to have someone like Rachael the Rip Girl!

KendallCat

Internet and Ebay have killed the local card stores, and most can make more without having a store. No overhead, no rent, no working 10-6 for 6 days a week with very few customers except on Saturdays. Drawback is it is harder to buy raw items or collections at good prices to increase margins, but adding in several grand a month in expenses hurts that profit margin.

As a collector it was always fun to grab some modern stuff for rips and stuff to flip, but probably saves me $$ from impulse buys. I enjoy hitting major shows like the a National to buy stuff in person, and with Ebay I can get whatever I need to buy or sell. National and Sun Timex are great for buying but prices are higher there versus online.

tennesseebanker

Rachel the Rip Girl would do it for me. I would be there daily.

MrNearMint

I like the idea of inventory always changing, always buying and adding new things. And someone that will work with me on prices (especially if an item has been sitting for a while or is in terrible condition)

There is a card shop near where I live, I go there about 1-2 times a year mainly for supplies. I would go more and spend more money if the owner was reasonable to work with. He's a nice guy and all, but won't budge on anything. I offered $12 on his asking price of $15 for an 89 bowman wax box. I offered him like $9 on his asking price of $15 on a 86-87 fleer Karl Malone that was probably in ex condition at best.
There was another time where a customer asked to see a card that was in a case with boxes and stuff all over it, and the owner basically said no because he'd have to move all the crap out of the way to open the case lol. I almost couldn't believe it.

MrNearMint

<< <i>And it wouldn't hurt to have someone like Rachael the Rip Girl!

>>





I'm not sure I'd want a hot girl watching me drool over pictures with guys on them.

baz518

Other than spectacular inventory, you need a community atmosphere. A place for collectors to meet, mingle and interact as well as holding events like group rips, pack wars, player signings, etc.

MrNearMint

What are pack wars?

vols1

A computer with access to eBay

skrezyna23

I'm a player collector who is stuck in the 80s (aside from collecting Korean KBO and Pokemon since I live here) so it would be hard to get me in there consistantly.

When I was living in Chicago I had a shop I went to several times a month (Heroes in North Riverside on Cermak) and they have a great atmosphere and great employees who enjoy conversation. They have no problem with me bringing in 80s wax boxes and pulling up a chair to break and sort. I bought all my supplies from him. He hosts pack wars, has specials often aside from product releases, and non-sports events that he posts on his FB page.

skrezyna23

<< <i>A computer with access to eBay >>



That made me LOL.

MULLINS5

I can get behind any kind of collecting (modern, vintage, memorabilia, etc) if the customer service and atmosphere is stellar.

stormtrooper80

One thing. Just one thing.

Wes EFFING Spece

PSASAP

I think the reason why it's almost impossible for a brick and mortar card store to make it, besides not being able to compete on prices with eBay, is that if you aren't looking for cards, there's no reason to be there. What if there was a coffee shop that had, instead of the bad modern art hanging on the wall, had jerseys, lithos or other sports related items on the wall? There's got to be a coffee shop with empty wall space. Pay the owner a percentage of everything that sells, you pay no rent, he/she doesn't have stuff on the wall that doesn't sell, a win/win.

aro13

A great question. We have a few card stores in my area left. I like changing inventory, wax boxes and cards priced only 25% above ebay and access to supplies. Plus, it might be nice if the owner is helpful and wants business.



<< <i>What are pack wars? >>



I could be wrong but I believe it is when you and I each buy a pack of something and whomever gets the best card keeps all of the cards. My friends and I used to do that in the late 80's with Fleer basketball and 1980 and 1981 Topps. It was a lot of fun, rushing to the Beckett to see who won.

TheMick6

I think whoever owned the store would need to be independently wealthy and not care much about the bottom line. It would need just the right assortment of graded and decent ungraded worth looking thru. Maybe a section for the owners personal collection or something sometimes I would question if owners I knew in the past even liked cards at all? The owner would need to be willing to discuss why my ravens backfield is so horrible and maybe who was better Mantle or Mays not just what he's gonna charge me for the 5 busted 73 commons I pulled from a box that hasn't breathed fresh air in 6 months. A lot of the other ideas sound great to me. Often wondered why I never seen a shop host a trade night. Just to get collectors together in areas.

Mapleleaf

To be open.
No card shop in my area for at least 10 years.

BLUEJAYWAY

<< <i>Other than spectacular inventory, you need a community atmosphere. A place for collectors to meet, mingle and interact as well as holding events like group rips, pack wars, player signings, etc. >>

Local team players,probably be minor leaguers/college,coming into sign/meet,greet. And a personal favorite for me would be to have a few old style 5/10 cent baseball pinball machines to add a little interest. You could have team tournaments for packs/boxes. Also have TV game viewing nights incorporating pack poker. Register receipt monthly drawings. Points earning credits toward future purchases.

FINESTKIND

I'd like to see a shop with all of the above and more vintage in any sport.

bobbyw8469

I would like to see a shop with prices remotely in the realm of the internet. I understand the need for a markup, I really do. However their prices are in the stratosphere.

mrmopar

A variety of cost options that suit me, from dime boxes to three and four figure cards. I also like lots of oddball craziness lying around. Part of the fun of a shop for me is just looking around to see if there is anything hiding that I would want on a shelf or in a random box. The one shop I still frequent in my area always has new stuff and is buying anything that walsk in for the most part (but he prices to sell) and although it's fairly messy most of the time, that adds to the allure. He also decorates the walls with old posters and stuff that catches your eyes.

Mainly though, I like the bargain stuff. There are plenty of high end items available on line. I can easily find myself spending $100+ just going through quarter boxes, dollar bins (boxed sets, SLUs, trinkets, etc) and such in a good shop.

DanBessette

A discount box of vintage stars in low grade
A decent inventory of PSA graded singles
Unopened packs from yesterday and today, but at rippable prices
Negotiable prices on all of the above
Regular athlete autograph signings
Selection of every storage supply imaginable

There are a couple of shops I go to that each have a couple of the things listed above. But none of them are with an hour's drive of my house and none of them have most or all of the criteria on my list.

Stone193

If you're near Houston?

Here's a deal for you! Only 25K or BO.











Call 832-723-7624 for info

luftmich

Group subs that are competitive with some of the better pricing here and elsewhere. Some shops near me offer this service where they'll go to a card show and drop your stuff off at the PSA booth to be authenticated or graded, but their pricing while discounted is still much higher.