Using Trade At Card Shows

[parkplace33]

I think most collectors bring cards to trade with other collectors. Dealers probably don't want to deal with the hassle of trading and would only buy outright for items they can sell.

[ClementeFanOh]

Packs- definitely agree it's tough to trade with someone who is merely a
dealer, not a collector; specifically, the dealers who have a limited
knowledge of the hobby itself. I've done it successfully at shows with good
folks, though.

Parkplace33- I think you're illustrating a point for me. Any dealer who thinks
it's a "hassle" to look at a handful of cards- at a card SHOW- is part of the
problem. Lots of savvy collectors know dealers expect to come out ahead in
trades to make it worthwhile and, like me, are willing to take the financial
loss to acquire a card they want more. So if, for example, I'm willing to
trade a $150 card that a dealer can sell, for his $120 card that I need, I'd
say it's not a hassle. It's away for both to win. Too many dealers close off
this possibility from the start at shows, despite being voluntarily present at a
venue where the behavior is historically normal and valid. Trent King

[jcmtiger]

Been going on since the 70’s.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

Lots of savvy collectors know dealers expect to come out ahead in
trades to make it worthwhile and, like me, are willing to take the financial
loss to acquire a card they want more.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. While YOU may understand this, the majority does not.

[ClementeFanOh]

Notfast- what "this" are you referring to? That dealers expect to come out ahead in
trades, or that collectors are willing to take a "loss" in the trade to get what they want?
Both are in fact true- at least, in 40 years of collecting I've consistently observed it.
People (collectors and sellers) know what they have financially in their cards, which gives them room to make deals of all sorts- trade, sale, buy. If the "majority" doesn't
understand this simple concept, then the majority have their heads in a bucket. Trading
is a massively popular way to acquire cards, so those who don't accept it out of hand
are shorting themselves in the end. You can't make someone trade, but when someone
dismisses it from the start, they limit themselves. Trent King

[notfast]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

Notfast- what "this" are you referring to? That dealers expect to come out ahead in
trades, or that collectors are willing to take a "loss" in the trade to get what they want?
Both are in fact true- at least, in 40 years of collecting I've consistently observed it.
People (collectors and sellers) know what they have financially in their cards, which gives them room to make deals of all sorts- trade, sale, buy. If the "majority" doesn't
understand this simple concept, then the majority have their heads in a bucket. Trading
is a massively popular way to acquire cards, so those who don't accept it out of hand
are shorting themselves in the end. You can't make someone trade, but when someone
dismisses it from the start, they limit themselves. Trent King

The majority of people do not expect the dealer to “win” the trade. That’s why trading is very hard.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by notfast

The majority of people do not expect the dealer to “win” the trade. That’s why trading is very hard.

If by win you mean double up. I used to do a lot of trading at shows on both sides of the table. My experience has been as values have gone it has become more difficult to trade. Many people aren't happy just getting the better end of the deal, they are trying to crush the other person.

[Foo3112]

I have been attending card shows actively since 2011 and nobody was carrying pelican type cases back then. Even when I attended the 2019 National, it wasn't enough as to where anyone really noticed. Fast forward to the 2021 National, it felt like everybody had a pelican case full of cards. I would attribute this to trade nights going on all over every night. Even at the small local show I attend, people are carrying them now. The game has changed.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by notfast

The majority of people do not expect the dealer to “win” the trade. That’s why trading is very hard.

From my experience, the majority of dealers expect to win the trade. That's why trading can be hard, unless the collector is willing to accept that.

[Johnny630]

The dealer still has to sell the card he received back in trade that’s usually why they expect to win by 20-30% I get that especially if he is working with the customer excepting trade and cash on an item back in trade that is not as easy a sale as the card going to the customer in the deal.

Also a lot of times dealers don’t even want to entertain they deal when they find out what the attendees says he values his card at. If it’s out of this world price it’s not going to work, it’s just not why waste anyone’s time.

[samosa4u]

You trade with a dealer, then you're gonna' lose badly, period!

[conor912]

It’s easier to throw around stupid prices when no money ever changes hands.

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I think most collectors bring cards to trade with other collectors. Dealers probably don't want to deal with the hassle of trading and would only buy outright for items they can sell.

Yes, and a lot of traders want to trade a bunch of unsellable cards for your quality items.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by CurtisFlood

Yes, and a lot of traders want to trade a bunch of unsellable cards for your quality items.

Exactly

[chriskim]

If I am not mistaken, I think one board member here trade out majority of his collection (probably plus cash) for a PSA2 Wagner when the card was still under quarter Mil$

[kmac32]

I have had cards I traded for cards I wanted at the National. I bring my duplicate cards and If I find something I really want or is on my want list, propose something like a 2 for 1 deal. I have fewer cards to carry around And I get a card I want. They win and I win.

[53toppscollector]

In my opinion, trades work best between two collectors, because collectors are going to be searching for particular things, and if you find someone who has what you want, and you have something they want, it is easier to just swap your products.

Dealers are looking to make profit, because it is how they make their living. Swapping their $300 card for someone else's $300 card, especially if we are talking vintage where the expected growth will be slow, doesn't really make sense for the dealer, unless he is trading a card that isn't very liquid and is more obscure and he'll have a tougher time selling.

I consistently look for cards that are undervalued or priced incorrectly, because if I can pick them up and then either trade them or sell them for a profit, I can use that profit to buy something I am looking to keep permanently in my collection. Cards are my hobby, not my job, but I have a finite card budget, so anything that helps me add money to my card budget is a win for me.

[Rich Klein]

Let's look at the NSCC.

I had a brief chat with one of my dealer friends at the recent NSCC who broke down for me his costs.

Booth
Hotel
Food
Renting Showcases
Travel
MISC

And he's not cheap but for him setting up at the NSCC was approximately 3K and frankly he's doing it at a reasonable cost.

If you are spending 3K for a week any trade better darned well be in your favor before you as a dealer does that trade

Now, if it's a small local show where the tables cost $40-50 then trading becomes financially easier for a vendor.

That's why you always must look at trading from the dealer financial viewpoint not just from what we as collectors wish to do

Rich