So I walked into a card store today, and was puzzled by...

[ronniehatesjazz]

I think this isn't as uncommon as we'd like to believe. When I lived in Dallas a few years back there were maybe 7-8 shops in the metroplex and pretty much all of them catered to the newer stuff... more volume and the prices are sadly not that much different than vintage. The oldest cards I could come across were 50's-60's and they were always low end mantles, mays, etc. Occasionally, I'd come across a few decent prewar cards but it was rare outside of the monthly show that was humorously at the "Southfork" Hotel... Great shows nonetheless and always some nice vintage items.

I think when it comes to the older stuff it's usually best to deal with other collectors at shows or online. TBH, outside of my interest in vintage, if I owned a shop I would be doing the same thing. So much easier to move cases of prizm and zion rainbows lol than sitting on a 55 clemente for months until a collector of means and knowledge walks in and pays you a fair price. That being said, I live in Cincinnati now and there is an amazing shop that caters to all but it's a rarity.

[cardsagain74]

The local longtime shop where I recently lived (big city) catered plenty to modern, but he also told me "I can never keep hall-of-famers in the case".

And that was just before the covid boom, no less

[Rich Klein]

[QUOTE=ronniehatesjazz;2037870]I think this isn't as uncommon as we'd like to believe. When I lived in Dallas a few years back there were maybe 7-8 shops in the metroplex and pretty much all of them catered to the newer stuff... more volume and the prices are sadly not that much different than vintage. The oldest cards I could come across were 50's-60's and they were always low end mantles, mays, etc. Occasionally, I'd come across a few decent prewar cards but it was rare outside of the monthly show that was humorously at the "Southfork" Hotel... Great shows nonetheless and always some nice vintage items.

Hey that was MY show at the "Southfork" Hotel. Glad you enjoyed coming to them

Rich

[GasHouseGang]

A local shop here is sort of the same way. They also sell comics to help make ends meet. I've talked to the owner several times. He's a nice older gentleman that used to deal in much more vintage. Now he has one small case with some 50's and 60's. He said they just don't have people wanting to buy the older cards. I think I'm the only one I've seen looking at the cards in the vintage case. Everyone that comes in wants the latest boxes of the hot cards, the newest comic, or one of the rainbow refractors of the newest rookie.