A memorandum to American convenience stores: "Where are your sports cards?"

weinhold · March 1, 2010 9:07AM

Why are sports cards no longer sold in convenience stores in widespread fashion?
What will it take to have cards distributed in this way again?

It appears that outside of hobby shops, only some stores like Target, Wal-Mart and a big box store named "Fred Meyer" in my area sell sports cards.

I think that most agree that sports cards returning to the 7-Elevens, Circle Ks, and corner gas stations of America will do a lot to promote hobby enjoyment. "Out of sight, out of mind"..."In sight, in mind".

In the '80s and '90s and earlier, the widespread availability of sports cards in many retail outlets helped spawn and promote such interest that one generation and more may collect sportscards thereafter. In the '80s, kids that didn't even like sports cards bought them in part due to their ready availability and that their friends collected them, fueling that unprecedented surge in interest.

Consequently, those kids that have turned into young and older adults have helped ensure hobby interest for a long time. Besides helping promote interest, it also created a familiarity and frame of reference such that one might want to pick up the hobby again as an adult later on; I'm one of them. However, in the interest of the very long term, put sports cards back into convenience stores now.

If one has answers to the first two questions at the start of the post, that would be appreciated.

Thanks, Keith

Nugen · March 1, 2010 9:38AM

I think one of the reason is price point. They were chargongf $1.00 more than Target for packs so no one was buying. No one buys, they don't carry them anymore. I agree that conveneince stores need to sell them. Perhaps the manufacturers can wholesale to convenience store distributors at a better price?

Sportsamerica · March 1, 2010 9:38AM

Simple answer.... I work for a major retailer, and we stopped selling them for 3 reasons. 1) too many were being stolen.. 2) Not worth the low margin, and getting "hung" with product once the season was over offset any profit made. 3) The price point at retail are not "impulse" buys, since you need to retail them at $2 or more for a few cards, parents would rather spend the .75 on a candy bar.

Indy78 · March 1, 2010 8:44PM

3) The price point at retail are not "impulse" buys, since you need to retail them at $2 or more for a few cards, parents would rather spend the .75 on a candy bar.

Yep. Back when I was a kid, I could buy a pack of baseball cards, or a "Whatchamacallit" candy bar, or a package of "Pop Rocks," or a package of "Bubble Yum" all for about a quarter. We were given a choice by mom in the checkout line. Invariably, I chose the cards and my sister chose the Pop Rocks. The point being, the pack of cards was priced at the same point as all the other impulse items at the register. Not so today.

72skywalker · March 1, 2010 9:33PM

When I was a kid my grandmother lived a few blocks from a 7-11. When we would visit she would give me 50 cents to buy some packs (1979-1981) or the packs of Topps sticker album stickers. I loved going into the store to see what they had. Now the only place to impulse buy packs is Wal mart and Target and those have already been pack searched probably the day they came out. I still buy them because I collect Yankees cards and still get a thrill to pull a 25 cent Yankee card. If I want an auto card i will just go to a store and buy the one I want.

alnavman · March 1, 2010 9:49PM

when I was in my early teens back in the 60's I remember walking up to the local deli. they had beer, lunch meet, breads and BASEBALL CARDS!!! We used to get our allowance and run right up there each week...back when you could buy 20 packs for a buck. Remember one time getting caught sneaking quarters out of my mother's purse to buy cards....it wasn't pretty.....mom just didn't understand. al.

itzagoner · March 1, 2010 10:30PM

when i was a kid, they sold cards in the one place where traffic was a virtual guarantee, in fact my neighborhood had TWO of them!

it was called a "Toy Store".

1960toppsguy · March 1, 2010 10:31PM

How much for that Mantle?

mexpo75 · March 1, 2010 10:31PM

Its all about the price. Kids now would rather buy a new ringtone or something instead of paying $2-$3 for a few cards.

bziddy · March 2, 2010 12:25AM

I remember buying cards off the Ice Cream truck.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · March 2, 2010 12:28AM

I miss grabbing packs at the convenience store. Although I did so only because I wasn't old enough to drive to my LCS. Hobby odds are worth the trip.

Aside from Wal Mart/Target, my 7-11 had packs 2 years ago, the last time I was in one. I bought a bunch of packs I didn't want just cause. But knowing about pack rapers, curious clumbsy people who dropped the packs before me etc. ...spoils the fun.

sportscardtheory · March 2, 2010 12:47AM

The 7-11 by me has some packs.

PowderedH2O · March 2, 2010 2:47AM

Fred Meyer. Keith, You live in Chico or Alaska?

Garabaldi · March 2, 2010 2:49AM

Price has to be the big sticking point.

UlyssesExtravaganza · March 2, 2010 2:51AM

The 7-11s I see have packs but even as an adult, I am offended by the price/return on investment. I think for most people who see this as an issue, we grew up seeing the wax packs right next to the candy bars. It was cool to choose a pack of M&Ms or cards or both. What I see now at 7-11 is the metallic looking wrappers holding what I assume are $3-$4 packs in this plastic bulletproof-looking structure. I've bought them for kicks at times many years ago and was naturally disappointed to get a Topps Chrome Randy Winn. I think the dilution of the market plays a role too. Back when I collected part of what was exciting was you bought a pack trying to get a player you liked and that was his card. Now if a kid likes Evan Longoria, he might get him in a pack and say so what. It's just the base card. It's not the refractor. It's not the gold refractor. It's not autographed. It doesn't have his stinky sock chopped up and inserted into it. Oh, it's got his jersey in it but it's only two colors. I'd like a three to four color card. Too much variety. Too easy to get a losing pack and be dissatisfied. I know there is the tendency to get nostalgic and think the way you grew up with was best but I can understand why kids wouldn't collect cards today. With the money you have to spend to get a really impressive card and a kid's budget being what it is, it's not a good fit.

Blackborder · March 2, 2010 2:54AM

Card collecting isn't for kids anymore.

Bigjohn69 · March 2, 2010 3:01AM

what i miss is the cards from the cereal boxes, loved eating and reading the cards,,bj

MantleMarisFordBerra · March 2, 2010 5:17AM

<< <i>The 7-11s I see have packs but even as an adult, I am offended by the price/return on investment. I think for most people who see this as an issue, we grew up seeing the wax packs right next to the candy bars. It was cool to choose a pack of M&Ms or cards or both. What I see now at 7-11 is the metallic looking wrappers holding what I assume are $3-$4 packs in this plastic bulletproof-looking structure. I've bought them for kicks at times many years ago and was naturally disappointed to get a Topps Chrome Randy Winn. I think the dilution of the market plays a role too. Back when I collected part of what was exciting was you bought a pack trying to get a player you liked and that was his card. Now if a kid likes Evan Longoria, he might get him in a pack and say so what. It's just the base card. It's not the refractor. It's not the gold refractor. It's not autographed. It doesn't have his stinky sock chopped up and inserted into it. Oh, it's got his jersey in it but it's only two colors. I'd like a three to four color card. Too much variety. Too easy to get a losing pack and be dissatisfied. I know there is the tendency to get nostalgic and think the way you grew up with was best but I can understand why kids wouldn't collect cards today. With the money you have to spend to get a really impressive card and a kid's budget being what it is, it's not a good fit. >>

Man, I couldn't agree more. I think you just summed up why card collecting lost most of the popularity it had in previous generations. sadly I saw/experienced this when I was younger and saw so many different sets being produced. Around the age of 12 or so (this would be 1990) I simply lost interest in newer cards and started collecting vintage exclusively. Yes, Blackboarder, card collecting isn't for kids anymore and that's a big shame.

Overrated · March 2, 2010 7:24AM

Bought mine at thriftys,Sav-on.woolworths,Tg&ys stores! man those were the days.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · March 2, 2010 8:21AM

I remember going into Woolworths once and they just put out around 10+ boxes of 1990 Donruss (IIRC) rack packs out. I was like a kid in a candy store looking for packs with stars and errors on top. As a kid I only had a little $ and remember hating leaving so many wanted packs behind. Good times....

hobart4281 · March 2, 2010 8:40AM

My "I remember..."

I remember collecting up glass Coke/Pepsi bottles and exchanging them for cash that promptly got spent on cards at the local 7-11.

Check out a Beckett magazine if you want to sum up what is wrong with today's hobby. For example, in the Aug 2007 Football edition (just happen to be handy) there are 55 pages of card prices. The years 1948 through 1989 are contained in 2 pages. 1990 through 2007 contain 53 pages of card prices. To sum it up: too many modern issues with too many sub-sets.

Stone193 · March 2, 2010 8:45AM

<< <i>If one has answers to the first two questions at the start of the post, that would be appreciated. >>

If I answer them right? Do I win that card?

hammered · March 2, 2010 10:33AM

<< <i>3) The price point at retail are not "impulse" buys, since you need to retail them at $2 or more for a few cards, parents would rather spend the .75 on a candy bar.

Yep. Back when I was a kid, I could buy a pack of baseball cards, or a "Whatchamacallit" candy bar, or a package of "Pop Rocks," or a package of "Bubble Yum" all for about a quarter. We were given a choice by mom in the checkout line. Invariably, I chose the cards and my sister chose the Pop Rocks. The point being, the pack of cards was priced at the same point as all the other impulse items at the register. Not so today. >>

EXACTLY what my mom did for me when I was a kid. My brother chose candy, I chose cards. 30 cents each.
Of course, as soon as I opened them I shoved them into my back pocket.

weinhold · March 3, 2010 3:58AM

There have been some good answers here. It's encouraging to hear that (at least some) 7-Eleven convenience stores sell sports cards.

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Certainly some forces have diluted the simplicity of 1980s Topps-Fleer-Donruss days. Complexity diminishes collectibility.

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All things considered, it seems plausible that having 99-cent packs containing six or eight no-frills cards would have a sustainable convenience retail market.

It would make me happy to know that a thread like this were read by a managerial level retailer, and that their thoughts were stirred.

TomGshotput · March 3, 2010 5:55AM

The stores stopped carrying them because people stopped caring about them. Not the other way around as you seem to imply

jacksoncoupage · March 3, 2010 6:23AM

<< <i>I remember going into Woolworths once and they just put out around 10+ boxes of 1990 Donruss (IIRC) rack packs out. I was like a kid in a candy store looking for packs with stars and errors on top. As a kid I only had a little $ and remember hating leaving so many wanted packs behind. Good times.... >>

Same thing, but at Toys 'R' Us. I distinctly remember the 1990 Donruss rack packs and hoping to find a Harold Baines or Smoltz error. I also fondly remember those weird grab bags full of miscellaneous 1980's Topps/Donruss/Fleer oddball packs. They has stickers/minis/coins - all sorts of strange stuff.

On the same note, I miss the Thrify/Rite-Aid/Woolworths/Ames exclusive boxed sets. The 1989 and 1990 Topps Ames sets are still some of my favorite designs.

At one point, in early 1991, Sav-On had a 3ft x 3ft x 8" (deep) display of 1990 Pro Set football. I would come back every day and buy as many packs as I could until they took it away.

mittec · March 3, 2010 8:23AM

Kids just don't collect anything any more,when is the last time you saw kids collecting baseball cards,comics,coins,stamps etc they are too consumed with the internet,texting,WII,PS3 etc.I remember growing up in the late 70s with nothing to do other than waiting for the ice cream truck and buying baseball cards.Ahh the good old days....

TheVon · March 3, 2010 9:52AM

Speaking of 7-11 I used to go there and buy their slurpees so I could get the 7-11 baseball discs.

I think one thing card companies could do to get cards back into convenience stores would be to return to their roots and start including collectibles in packages of food - discs with your slurpee, panels with your Twinkies, cards with your Mother's Cookies, etc. That might actually be a reason for me to go to a 7-11.

Hallco · June 2, 2010 5:35AM

I think the last packs I bought in a convenient store was 1998.

gemint · June 2, 2010 7:41AM

I would say price point as well. I believe Topps had come out with a low cost set of cards that were distributed in packs with sub $1 pricing. I'm guessing this was about 10 years ago. I guess it didn't catch on again. If they could offer packs with, say, a $0.75 price tag and sell them through convenience stores, I wonder if it would succeed. I'm guessing not since most of the modern collectors are only interested in the chase cards and not in building team sets or complete sets. Also, it may be tough to get the price point under a buck since the manufacturers probably have to pay a king ransom these days for licensing rights.

A memorandum to American convenience stores: &quot;Where are your sports cards?&quot;

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A memorandum to American convenience stores: "Where are your sports cards?"