Finding Economic Lessons in Fading Era of Card Shows

[HaloFan]

Generally speaking, I don't believe any stories about our hobby have been written in a positive light in the last 15 years or so at least. There is this perverse idea that sportscard collecting is all about the money and kids not being able to afford packs etc...and they never get into the interesting niches or the positive changes that have gone on about the hobby.

One of the problems about shows is that the cost to do and promote them have gotten extremely high and the take back on dealers has sunk. I think it was Rich Klein that said somewhere that when it costs $10 for parking, and $10 to get into the show, a guy is out $20 before he even walks into the show when in the 80s and 90s the cost was much lower. Promoters have to charge these fees because the spaces to have the show are that high. There is also tax issues and insurance fees(I'm guessing) that were much lower or non existent years ago that are now mandatory. I have never promoted a show so I'm guessing here.

The way the hobby is now, the group that you need to attend shows is where it was 20-25 years ago only the costs of doing the show are not where it was back then. There are new collectors out there, but can't/won't spend $20 to get in a show and will only spend $2-$5 on cards. I'd like to think I have a responsibility to move to the dealer side of the table and promote and educate new collectors but the dynamics of selling cards just have changed. The poor economy doesn't help. These days NM or better cards may sell near top $$ levels, but VG or lower stars I've seen sell for 10% or lower. I'm talking guys like Mantle, Mays, Musial and Ryan whose top values are $350-$100 will move only if they are $40-$9. How can a dealer make money when the market is like that??

Getting back to card shows, unless the media changes its bias of card culture based on kids card flipping, penny packs and making $$$$ as a result we will continue to see stories that slam the hobby as worthless. I'm only 34 so my view collecting as kid was very different and I've got friends who are 10-12 years younger that didn't even see what I experienced collecting. The hobby has changed a great deal, I just don't see anyone reporting on it.

Craig H