The Old Brick and Mortar Card Store

[bbcard1]

I went into a nice coin and card shop in Williamsburg VA....it was a little high, but consistent...there were a couple of good buys, just not on stuff I was collecting. We had a great conversation and I bought a $50 card I should have probably paid a little less for. He told me that next time he'd rather me bring some cards in to trade...and I completely believe him.

I also go into a B&M store everytime i am in Huntington...have gotten a couple of good buys over the years.

[cubsfan-budman]

there are 2 card shops by me...i have no clue how they stay in business. one at least has the good sense to sell pok-e-mon cards.

i have to assume they also list their stock on ebay...

[wolf441]

No card shops near me in Mass (as far as I know). But there's an antique/consignment shop in Buzzard's Bay, MA and I'm amazed at how optimistic people are on prices. Nothing vintage, but cards from the mid '80's listed for ridiculously high prices that have been sitting in there for literally years. I can't imagine what the monthly fee must be for a table ($5? $10?) as nothing ever sells.

[frankbmd]

Visited 2 shops on my recent road trip.

Both owners were willing to chat.

Both stayed in business with large framed modern display pieces for affluent mother's and dad's to buy for their kid's bedroom walls. The cards were not their bread and butter.

One guy had a few 50 Bowman FB cards in G/VG condition. I asked him to give me a price on 4 together. He went in the back room to look at the price guide , came back with a $900 figure (NM), but said he would let me have them for $180. The lot included Graham, Groza and two other minor stars. I passed, but he was very close to what I would pay. When I got home, I still had some money in my pocket. Maybe I should have had 4 cards as well.

The other guy says occasionally he gets old stuff in. He said he will email me when that happens. When I said prewar only, he said which war.

[bigwinnerx]

Here in Northern VA, we have the modern equivalent of a card store in Blowout Cards' retail operation. No or very little amount of singles of any kind, tons of wax, and supplies. (Disclosure: I'll buy a box of Heritage, not going to lie.)

That said, at least we also get the Dulles show a few times a year, so, definitely not complaining. Already have my supply shopping list ready to go for April 5-7.

I've looked at prewar at Dulles before and haven't bought, but, maybe will keep my eyes open for some deals this year.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Two shops near me that have each been in business nearly 30 years: Sports Collectibles of Houston and Houston Sports Connection.

Sports Collectibles of Houston has some nice 50's and '60s stuff, but no pre-war. They cater to the set builder. They have boxes and boxes of commons from the '50s on up.

Houston Sports Connection is the same, but he does have some pre-war. However, he doesn't display it in the cases, he keeps it put up. You have to ask to see it and I get the feeling that he just really doesn't want to sell it. He'll pull it out when I'm there to show me any new acquisitions, but I think he really wants to keep it for himself although he might part with something if the price were right. He doesn't need the money - there are plenty of other things in the store from which he generates revenue.

[Oil Can Dan]

Originally Posted by bigwinnerx

Here in Northern VA, we have the modern equivalent of a card store in Blowout Cards' retail operation. No or very little amount of singles of any kind, tons of wax, and supplies. (Disclosure: I'll buy a box of Heritage, not going to lie.)

That said, at least we also get the Dulles show a few times a year, so, definitely not complaining. Already have my supply shopping list ready to go for April 5-7.

I've looked at prewar at Dulles before and haven't bought, but, maybe will keep my eyes open for some deals this year.

Have you ever been to AJ's in Vienna, VA? I worked in that shop when I was 12 years old back in 1983, and my understanding is that it's still there today. I moved from the area in 2004 and haven't been back, but would love to know what became of it. I'm quite sure the owner, Jim, is long gone as he was in his 50's back then and smoke like a carton of cigarettes a day.

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by Oil Can Dan

Have you ever been to AJ's in Vienna, VA?

I've heard about AJ's, but could never seem to locate it. Where exactly in Vienna is it?

[steve B]

There's one fairly close to me in Tewksbury Mass.

At first glance it's not much of a card store, they have lots of stuff like pennants, posters, all kinds of souvenir stuff. And a decent selection of modern cards. They also do some vintage, mostly postwar Redsox. They sometimes have prewar. They have at least one buyer for T206s whenever I'm there they show me the ones they have for him. Priced a bit high, but not crazy.

They also sell pokemon and that sort of stuff, as well as a few kid favorite gag items. I got my nephew a pair of "crazy eye" glasses (Kid size glasses with bloodshot eyeballs mounted on slinkys if you've never sen them)

They also do a lot of internet selling, and were ahead of many places doing that. When Curtis Martin went to the Jets they packed up the whole inventory of his cards and sold them onlline to a dealer in NY in under 24 hrs. They got rid of what would become dead inventory and the NY guy had a nice selection well ahead of the other shops around him. A win for everyone.

Steve B

[Shoele$$]

There's nothing of quality here in Vegas either. I did have a good experience back in Ohio where I came from though. It was around 1997-1998 when I stumbled upon a small brick and mortar on the south side of Youngstown. He's the one who actually got me into vintage. He used to always have a bunch of T206's and E cards available amongst a buffet of the new "shiny stuff". I remember buying a good amount off of him for great prices back then. He also was the first one to turn me on to Ebay back in 1998. He told me that used to sell some of his stock on this auction website called "Ebay".....I quickly went home to discover a whole new world of online vintage cards, lol.

About three years later I sent all the vintage that I had bought off of him to PSA to be graded.....then flipped em on Ebay for a nice profit when vintage cards took off in the very early 2000's. I've been hooked ever since

[ullmandds]

I used to make a habit out of checking for bb card stores when I'd visit a new city...back in 92-93' while visiting cleveland Ohio interviewing for dental college...I found a store...maybe on euclid ave that had tons of vintage. I ended up buying a nice red hindu t206 and 2 e97 b/w's...ahhhhh...those were the days...even though I overpaid for them all!!!!!!

[peterose4hof]

When I used to have a brick and mortar store, I would keep a few T206s and 33 Goudeys prominently displayed in a display case. I priced them really high on purpose with no real intention on selling them. They were great conversation pieces.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Shoele$$

There's nothing of quality here in Vegas either.

A couple of years ago I went to a shop about a mile off the strip in what appeared to be the Chinatown area of LV; they had some decent stuff. I ended up with a Joe Louis item I'd been looking for.

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I went into a nice coin and card shop in Williamsburg VA....it was a little high, but consistent...there were a couple of good buys, just not on stuff I was collecting. We had a great conversation and I bought a $50 card I should have probably paid a little less for. He told me that next time he'd rather me bring some cards in to trade...and I completely believe him.

I go to that shop a few times a year when I'm down in Williamsburg or passing through. I too have overpaid for a card there, but the owner, Guy, is nice and has some good stories. Last time I was in, he wanted to buy my T206 set and went on to tell me a story about when he was bidding on a T206 Wagner.

[bigtrain]

I went to college in Williamsburg and have stopped in that shop when in town for Homecoming, reunion events and the like. It is a nice place to visit. I expect to pay more there as I know what it is to try to operate a small retail business with rent, insurance and other overhead.

[buymycards]

When I go into a shop and see a common beater T206 priced at one hundred bucks I figure that the rest of the inventory will be overpriced so I usually leave without asking about anything else. Sounds like a poor strategy to me.

If it was in the case at a reasonable price I would take a serious look at the rest of the inventory and I would probably spend some money.

Same thing with card shows. I take a quick look at the dealers cases and if things are overpriced I move on quickly.

Rick

[Shoele$$]

Originally Posted by buymycards

When I go into a shop and see a common beater T206 priced at one hundred bucks I figure that the rest of the inventory will be overpriced so I usually leave without asking about anything else. Sounds like a poor strategy to me.

If it was in the case at a reasonable price I would take a serious look at the rest of the inventory and I would probably spend some money.

Same thing with card shows. I take a quick look at the dealers cases and if things are overpriced I move on quickly.

Rick

100% agree Rick. I'm the exact same way, as I have very little tolerance and patience for people who obviously think more highly of their cards and what they think they're worth than everybody else in the market. They should just save themselves and everybody else's time and just keep the damn card, don't even put it out for sale if you have no intention of being competitive in your asking price. Unless you have a VERY rare and low population card that everybody wants, you better keep your prices competitive. I wish everybody in this hobby shared the same mentality. Many card prices would be much lower and some of these jackass shysters would be out of business, and they could take their little cards with them

It's the very reason I don't even entertain card shop, online card dealers or certain ebay prices anymore. It's gotten to be a complete joke and a major black eye for the hobby these days. I sure do miss the simpler times of collecting.

[judsonhamlin]

There are only a couple of real stores in my area. One has been around forever and I can't figure how or why. What little 50's stuff they have is overgraded and overpriced. Their prices on new boxes are even high.
The other guy is nice enough and has some vintage at ok prices, but if I go there once every 6 months, he has the same vintage inventory.
Over in Middlesex Boro, there was a store with the largest inventory I think I've ever seen. His prices were bizarre- the best was an SGC 50 1940 Playball common for 125.00! The storefront was empty the last time I drove by. Love to know where all those cards went...

[EvilKing00]

Originally Posted by buymycards

When I go into a shop and see a common beater T206 priced at one hundred bucks I figure that the rest of the inventory will be overpriced so I usually leave without asking about anything else. Sounds like a poor strategy to me.

If it was in the case at a reasonable price I would take a serious look at the rest of the inventory and I would probably spend some money.

Same thing with card shows. I take a quick look at the dealers cases and if things are overpriced I move on quickly.

Rick

im going to be 39 years old in april, and I have Never been inside hobby/baseball card store. Just isnt worth it. But an antique shop IMO is different, i like popping in them if i have time.

[t213]

AJs in Vienna is still there. Jim died about 4-5 years ago. Gary owns it now and it still looks much the same as it did when I first went there in 1994. There's a large inventory that barely turns over. Many of the boxes on the shelves haven't moved in 20 years or more. I stop by about once a month to check the bidboard.

Andy