Card Store etiquette, does it exist

RipublicaninMass · February 25, 2008 1:12PM

I hope a few of the previous shop owners can chime in on this. LAst week I went into a store and it prompted this thread. There was some weirdo in there chewing tobacco, spitting in a bottle telling me how there are all these deals on the INNERnet. When I go into a store there is some etiquette I like to practice if there are other customers in the store.

1. Dont mention how ebay has stuff cheaper, or any "deals" you got on ebay
2. Dont mention Dave and Adam's card world, BBCExchange have wax for less than the store
3. Dont drop your kids off like a babysitter for hours

Any others? I was buying packs and this idiot asked me if a Knew D&A had wax cheap. I want my local guy to stay in business! Thanks for the rant

BigDaddyBowman · February 25, 2008 1:15PM

I didn't realize that card stores still existed!

They are pretty extinct in the Cleveland area.

ryaneversole · February 25, 2008 1:23PM

Seems like you could sell way more online and save the brick and mortar costs.

noanswersonlyquestions · February 25, 2008 1:23PM

It is too bad the local shops are going by the wayside. They were the reason I got into the hobby in the first place. Where I'm at there isn't a single store where I could buy PSA graded football cards so I don't go anymore. There are too many different collecting focuses to collect everything anymore, which is what I used to do. It's taken almost 25 years for me to pick an area where I can focus on a single area and go from there. I don't want to chase the big break anymore. It was great when you hit but I would rather hit 10 PSA 9 1973 Topps football for $130 or close to that than take a chance at a box that may yield me nothing. Sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread. Just my thoughts on my local card shops.

ripkenintheminors · February 25, 2008 1:28PM

I went in a shop (The Dugout in Pigeon Forge) last weekend and enjoyed the visit even though I only purchased some random packs. I was really hoping they'd have some signed Unitas stuff.

Allen · February 25, 2008 1:34PM

There is a small card shop 30 mins from me. Most of the customers don't do ebay and they bust overpriced wax and owe the owner an average of $200 each at any given time. I don't think it is a very profitable buisness but it is almost like paying extra for the wax as a club dues to be able to go in there and sit around and BS. I stop by once a week at least and usually sell some singles to the owner and people hanging out in there. The owner does not mind me doin that. I try to cut him a deal on a hot single every once in a while or open $30 worth of packs.

Stone193 · February 25, 2008 1:45PM

Don't interfere with someone trying to sell his cards to the shop owner and offer a "top all" bid!

Don't walk up to the owner and tell them how cheap this stuff used to be in the 1930's.

Don't walk up to the owner and tell him how "your mother threw your cards out when you were a kid."

Don't walk up to the owner and tell them "you could get this item much cheaper at the local flea market."

Don't walk up to the owner - with no intention to buy - and ask to use the restroom!

mike

yankeeno7 · February 25, 2008 3:32PM

Dont tell the owner that you can strike a better deal at a show because people are dumping stuff.

Dont complain about ANY prices..if you dont like the price then move on.

Dont interupt when the owner is dealing with another customer.

Dont tell other customers where they can get the same thing for a better price...at least while IN the store.

Dont bad mouth the owner while IN the store.

One of the best store owners who has a real nice shop is in Albany, NY. Im lucky to live fairly close. Nice, honest, personable, knowlegable, fair, and product variety in there.

storm888 · February 25, 2008 3:47PM

Be polite.

Know that the owner hates almost everybody and is suspicious of ALL new people; do not antagonize him in any way.

..................

The best way to find out if you can make a deal with
a shop owner is to find out if he sells on EBAY. Try to
work your way up to that question. Shop owners who
do not sell on EBAY are usually high-price sellers.

stevek · February 25, 2008 4:03PM

I sometimes enjoy hearing the weasel card shop owners responses when I mention PSA or ebay - they always retort with a canned BS sales pitch which would make a snake oil salesman proud.

Most of the weasels are somewhat friendly when I walk in, probably because I'm middle aged and usually well dressed, and they figure I've got some money to spend. But then I'll mention ebay or PSA and suddenly in their eyes it seems like I've got leprosy. LOL

flash300 · February 25, 2008 4:09PM

For those with no shops in your area let me know have a shop here in town with a good supply of vintage at decent prices if you would like me to look for anything email cards and condition you are looking for i will charge 10% over what he charges me plus $2.00 shipping

Allen · February 25, 2008 5:02PM

I set up at shows and though that is not a shop, I still have a taste of what it is like to be on the other side of the talbe. When someone bad mouths your card or quotes me eBay price that I am already aware of it can be annoying. The past 2 shows I have had someone ask me for a certain year vintage card and then allow me to dig a bunch out only to dismiss them because of condition. I usually ask if they are building a set in EX or EX-MT or whatever and last time the guy told me he was looking for "At least MINT" 1959 topps cards. I politely told him if I had PSA 9 and 10 quality 1959 Topps cards I would likely grade them and sell them through an auction house for a large sum of money. One of my friends who runs a stand at a flea market in Myrtle Beach and deals in cards, coins and antiques has a sign that says "I CHARGE $10 AN HOUR TO LISTEN TO YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT IT IS WORTH."

jay0791 · February 25, 2008 9:29PM

just curious.

where in albany is there a card shop???? name and location if you don't mind.

perkdog · February 25, 2008 9:49PM

The card shops I have been in the past few years always has some Raw Vintage cards overgraded and over priced, I dont bother with it and just buy Wax to overcome boredome. In any situation I dont think its rude to offer less for cards in his case, its all about how you ask IMO a simple "would you take this for that" will do,then its up to the owner to be polite and accept or decline- no need to get into an argument about it. I have done it a few times and got "no I am into the card for x amount" or "Well since you have been buying from me for awhile now-sure" I never had a problem either way in a shop. I have gotten more rude responses at shows.

TonyC · February 25, 2008 10:04PM

If you are ever in Rhode Island please stop by my store Sports Heroes. I opened my store in 1988 in Warwick and moved to Cranston in 2006. I aslo sell on ebay as sporhero and have a ebay store as well.

Thnaks Mike

Sports Heroes
661 Oaklawn Ave.
Cranston, R.I. 02920
401-270-7737

storm888 · February 26, 2008 12:07AM

Mike...

Nice looking storefront.

How many stores are in your strip?
What kind of stores?
Any other strip-malls X the street?
What kind of neighborhood?

Thanks.

CDsNuts · February 26, 2008 12:41AM

I really don't say anything to dealers in shops or shows much past "how much is this" and I definitely don't engage in conversation with other people in the store. I'm not looking to make friends or impress anybody with anything I own or have owned, so I find it's best to not say anything if I don't have to, similar to if I was clothes shopping.

My favorite thing is when a dealer tries to guess what I'm interested in based on what I'm looking at in his case. I will buy just about anything that either fits in my collection and is priced right, or I could make a few bucks on. So when I'm looking at the corners of a 1974 Topps Johnny Bench, don't go into your boxes and dig out every Bench card you have and force me to pretend to look at them. If I have questions, I'll ask them. If I'm looking for something in particular, I'll tell you.

baseballfan · February 26, 2008 12:57AM

it should exist, sometimes i wonder though

storm888 · February 26, 2008 2:15AM

" If I have questions, I'll ask them. If I'm looking for something in particular, I'll tell you. "

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The ONLY greeting after "Hello," that I give to customers in
any retail operation is:

"If you have any questions, please ask."

Once they start asking, I've got 'em.

stevek · February 26, 2008 3:09AM

<<< I really don't say anything to dealers in shops or shows much past "how much is this" >>>

Nah - I'd rather cut right to the chase - let the dealer know I'm an informed buyer which implies not to waste his time, and my time, trying to rip me off. Then if they've got some decent high grade vintage cards, then bring 'em out and let's take a look, and give me the best price right off the bat, no fooling around. I actually bought a very nice 1955 Williams raw, would grade a 6.5, off a card shop dealer about 3 months ago - and it's because he didn't waste my time, he gave me a decent price right away, and I didn't even negotiate - I gave him what he asked for.

Stingray · February 26, 2008 3:12AM

I miss the days of walking up to the corner party, candy and or liquor store (whatever you want to call them) and just buying a few packs of the new stuff.

OSClabs · February 26, 2008 3:19AM

There's two card shops in the Birmingham area.

Double-Header Sports Cards in Gardendale is a very nice shop. They don't have any vintage cards but they carry a good inventory of new product, singles and supplies. I haven't been there for several years until last week. The owner, Greg, and his family were very helpful and I'm looking forward to visiting their store often.

The other store will never get my business again.

CDsNuts · February 26, 2008 3:23AM

steve, I see your point but most guys in my area don't know the difference between an EX and a NM-MT card, so asking them about high grade vintage is pretty pointless because they'll still put a 65 Clemente with 90/10 centering and a worn corner in front of you, tell you it's near mint, and charge full Beckett for it. I'd rather they leave me alone and let me find something at their table/shop. Most of them put their best stuff out anyway.

ripkenintheminors · February 26, 2008 3:25AM

FWIW I'd add that I don't like when either side of the counter (buyer or seller) claims that a card is in "gem mint" condition.

BobaFett72 · February 26, 2008 3:26AM

when i was in high school (1987-1990) and it was the glory days of the card market, i'd go to the (3!) local card stores and hang out, trade cards, bust packs, talk shop etc. it was a fun time.

fur72 · February 26, 2008 4:17AM

I feel very lucky in the fact that I have a local dealer. His prices on hobby boxes are the equivliant to the internet prices plus shipping. So I can order online and wait of I can pop in there an pay the same price as online. He has been in the business as long as i can remember and is very knowledgeable and offers discounts to his regulars. I will be walking out of the shop this Friday with two hobby boxes of heritage in my sweaty hands, not waiting for the post man rules!

yankeeno7 · February 26, 2008 4:42AM

<< <i>just curious.

where in albany is there a card shop???? name and location if you don't mind. >>

Finnigan's Sports Cards
1593 Central Ave Ste 4
Albany, NY 12205

Owner is Jeff Finnigan.

F1ferrari · February 26, 2008 8:20AM

I guess I'm fortunate that I have 2 decently stocked shops and another shop that deals with a lot of vintage in my area. The vintage store is all raw and probably at least 1 condition overgraded. The other 2 have a pretty good selection, and their prices on newer stuff are comparable to eBay plus shipping, but one store will continually mark their product through the year after it's release. For example, I think their 2007 Heritage started out at $60 per box, then $65, then $75 and I think they're still asking $70 per box, with no intention of coming down in price. You can find 2007 Heritage for what, $50 per box now?

plifter · February 26, 2008 9:02AM

One day I went to my local card shop and former Mets pitcher Rick Reed was in there just hanging out. Reed is a resident in my area. It was pretty cool that there was a major league player hanging out at the card shop talking with the owner and customers. It wasn't a paid appearance either.

By the way, Rick Reed is a really down to earth guy. There's not a touch of arrogance because he was a professional athlete. He also works out at the gym I go to. He's just a regular guy.

HighChopper · February 26, 2008 9:24AM

He was just a regular pitcher too.

No, that's really cool!

plifter · February 26, 2008 9:59AM

<< <i>He was just a regular pitcher too.

No, that's really cool! >>

He got to be a starting pitcher in a World Series game. That is pretty cool. I live in a small town, Huntington WV. Rick Reed is from Huntington and now resides just across the Ohio River in a small town. It's about a 10 minute drive from where I live. Troy Brown of the Patriots lives about a 5 mile drive from me. His nephew is a co-worker of mine. I had him get a couple of autographs for me. Also, future NBA player OJ Mayo grew up in the same neighborhood where I live. I saw him play a lot of high school games. Bill Walker from Kansas State is from the same neighborhood. I played in a pick up game at the YMCA with Mayo and Walker about 5 years ago. They were both 15 years old and ran circles around us "old" guys in our 30's.

tedh111 · February 26, 2008 10:03AM

I am almost to my 1st year anniversary of owning my shop, and luckily i have not had any real problamatic customers... I get the occasional seller with the 1988 topps commons or the guy that wants everytihng at ebay prices. I would say that most of my customers are smart collectors and are aware of internet pricing, but also value having a local shop that has fair prices but also cares about them as well. While i would not say that my prices are the same as online, we are generally within 10% or so of the major sellers like DACARDworld OR Georgetown exchange.We try to make up the difference in service. We are a fully stocked shop with vintage, new wax, new singles, supplies, autographs etc... We help fill both new and vintahe wantlists and we are always looking out for things our customers would want. Service and selection are the only ways that a card shop can survive these days, but if they are good at it they deinatly can build a loyal following who would rather shop in person than online...

plifter · February 26, 2008 11:12AM

I spend a lot of money at my local shop on supplies. I use a lot of screw down holders, top loaders, and boxes. If my dealer doesn't have the supplies I need he can usually get them for me within 2 or 3 days. I like to go in on my lunch hour to kill some time. I usually end up buying some packs. He knows I collect mostly vintage and always makes a point to show me new vintage stuff in his inventory. He's a nice guy too.

plifter · February 26, 2008 11:14AM

I have always planned on opening my own shop when I retire. I think it would be a fun way to spend my "golden years".

mrbecker712 · February 26, 2008 11:14AM

One thing that annoys me when I visit my local card shop is people bringing in stacks of cards trying to sell to the owner. Unless it's one or two really great cards that you'd like to sell, why do that? It's just frustrating.

plifter · February 26, 2008 12:35PM

<< <i>One thing that annoys me when I visit my local card shop is people bringing in stacks of cards trying to sell to the owner. Unless it's one or two really great cards that you'd like to sell, why do that? It's just frustrating. >>

You never know what the dealer needs for their inventory. Dealers have to rely on people to sell their cards or else they won't have anything to sell.

Card Store etiquette, does it exist

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