Card Shows: Tech as a servant or master?

[theshowandme]

I am set up at the Shriners show this weekend helping a friend at his booth.

Every… single… card… is being looked up on the spot by potential buyers.

Had one buyer pull 3 stacks of Tom Brady graded cards (15-20 cards in total).

He looked up every one, and along the way made comments about how things were high.

He then offered $175 on a BGS 9 where the last raw one went for $310.

He told me, to my face, the last one did $190

Alright, game on.

I pull the card, look it up on CardLadder, and find the raw sale from July at $310.

The card is numbered to 25 and hasn’t sold since July.

He said, “as a COURTESY, that seller shills their auctions”

We pulled the cards back and put them back in the case.

I could not find the $190 sale. Maybe the last BGS 9 sold for that years ago but who knows.

I do not know what is in the water in Massachusetts, but that is about as dumb of an interaction I’ve ever had in cards.

Great show though overall. Having a ton of fun.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

I am set up at the Shriners show this weekend helping a friend at his booth.

Every… single… card… is being looked up on the spot by potential buyers.

Had one buyer pull 3 stacks of Tom Brady graded cards (15-20 cards in total).

He looked up every one, and along the way made comments about how things were high.

He then offered $175 on a BGS 9 where the last raw one went for $310.

He told me, to my face, the last one did $190

Alright, game on.

I pull the card, look it up on CardLadder, and find the raw sale from July at $310.

The card is numbered to 25 and hasn’t sold since July.

He said, “as a COURTESY, that seller shills their auctions”

We pulled the cards back and put them back in the case.

I could not find the $190 sale. Maybe the last BGS 9 sold for that years ago but who knows.

I do not know what is in the water in Massachusetts, but that is about as dumb of an interaction I’ve ever had in cards.

Great show though overall. Having a ton of fun.

Don, glad you had fun but man, I don’t know how you do it. Some nasty people out there.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Don, glad you had fun but man, I don’t know how you do it. Some nasty people out there.

Please do not read it wrong. Don is right, there are frustrating individuals at every show but I'd say 90%+ of the people I interact with when I set up are nice folks who are passionate about their collections, happy to be at a show, and pleasant to deal with. The schmucks are the ones who make for the interesting anecdotes but they are a tiny minority of the overall community. Like here.

[steve B]

I went for the first time in a couple years.
I had a few things to sell, but it was stuff I hadn't really looked at in years.
When making a deal I asked if we could look up one of the better cards and figure from there. Commonly sold for less than I'd thought. Some quick guessing and Ok, how about X? (probably a bit more than I'd paid years ago, but low enough to leave some room for reselling) Deal.
Same with a handful of nicer cards. Probably could have gotten more selling myself, but a quick easy sale and we're both happy.

Technology can be a very good thing.

The kids have gotten old enough that I can be pretty sure they won't want the bulk of the collection, maybe only a few that are special to me.
So I need an exit plan for most of the rest.
Still collecting, just trying to be a bit more focused, not that I'll ever really get there.