better deals at shows or ebay ?

[Northviewcats]

I am most likely in the minority here, but I think eBay is the better way to shop and sell.

As a buyer the prices are about the same, but you have the connivence of staying at home and using their search engine to find exactly what you want. You save on transportation costs, entrance fees, and paying for parking. If the show is crowded it is a pain searching through boxes or albums looking for what you want. Frequently, you have to ask for a price because the items are not clearly priced. To me, going to shows is more about meeting other collectors.

As a seller, I have found that selling on eBay is better. You don't have to lug your inventory around and set up your booth. Once you list an item on eBay your done until someone buys it. I also like that eBay collects the taxes and give vendors a lot of data and information that helps them build their business.

I know that most of the buy-it-now prices on eBay are expensive, but some vendors will negotiate if you ask nicely.

If you are looking for simply looking for bargains, I have found more deals on eBay than at shows, but it does take some work. To be honest if you want to buy cards at a discount off the high prices at shows or eBay, you have to be a flipper. Buy large lots of cards and sell everything that you don't want, the savings will fund your collection. It has mine.

Best regards,

Joe

[hcv123]

I am a dealer and buy and sell regularly at shows and have an Ebay store for 25 years. Most of my sports cards buying and selling happens at shows. With competition so fierce for good quality inventory the margins have been forced ever tighter - tack on 10%-15% depending on your seller status for Ebay fees and there is just not enough margin for that to be viable as an exclusive business model. I find Ebay great for inventory like comic books and magazines. It is also good for the more obscure items that need a very specific buyer - Ebay definitely has a lot of "eyes". So there is a lot of inventory I don't bring to shows anymore and just do on Ebay.
Whether it is shows or Ebay, you will always have a lot of overpriced items to sift through to find the right card at the right price. If you put in the work, they really can be found in both places.