Dealing at shows...

[Kzoo]

I set up once a year at a local show (actually, it was last weekend) and after four years, I've come to realize that hardly anybody wants to spend any money and everybody wants everything for nothing, even when it's already really cheap. That being said, I was shocked and actually did the best this year, selling over $400 worth of......I can't remember.......so it was nice to move stuff I wasn't attached to. In past years, I sold in the $150-225 range. The cheap, oddball stuff always sells the best, but once in a while somebody will surprise you. I've had a showcase full of some nice '50s stuff in past years and I've had the 50 cent and $1 bins at really decent prices, but not much of it ever sells. I've learned to really not get too excited about selling anything at that show. I do much better at a flea market I set up on Memorial Day when I'm selling memorabilia instead of cards. IMO, the cards always sell better, and for more money, on Ebay.

Matt

[skelly]

Matt,

Thank you for your imput. I guess one thing I am still confused about is do dealers really expect to make money, is is setting up at these shows more or less a "guys" day out, etc.. and a chance to network with other dealers? What can a dealer expect to make at the National when I would guess just the transportation/hotel and table fees would run over a $1000.

[HaloFan]

I've been setting up at a local show hosted by my local card shop, and after three experiences of setting up, you really have to lower your expectations if you want to sell anything. I read on boards where guys have tons of PSA graded cards at reduced prices that do not sell. I don't find casual collectors to be too enamored with graded cards even if it's a $1. I've actually been surprised at how many VG 80s and 90s cards I've sold at 10 cents a piece but that's what you will see at these shows. These shows are more a gathering place for local fans(mostly Angels in my area) to meet and intermingle than turn a profit.

It appears(in my area) that players of the local teams, all the auto and relic cards, vintage cards under $5(condition does not matter), and memorabilia will sell. Beanie Babies, Starting Lineups, those plaques with the players card on them seem to be everywhere and they don't appear to sell. The table fees at these shows are really low and most of the stuff I bring are unwanted crap from my childhood. I've talked with the other "dealers" and we agree that if we were paying $50-$100 a table, we could not sell what we've been selling.

I don't make much selling 10-cent cards, but I'm there to meet people/collectors and even educate new ones. A kid about 11 years old offered me a Derrick Rose RC card for my two $5 beaten up 1952 Topps cards and I did the trade because the $$ didn't matter too much at that point and I might have turned him into a future vintage card collector as a result of that.

Craig

[ctownboy]

Years ago (pre-internet days), I was a small time dealer setting up at some small shows. Because I was young, didn't do a lot of shows and wanted to sell as much as possible (so as to get moneyh to go out and buy more stuff that I collected) I would price my items low.

After doing a few shows and not making much money, someone finally clued me in; I was UNDERPRICING things too much. It was BECAUSE I was young, didn't do many shows and had low prices that people weren't buying things from me---they thought I might have been stealing them!!!!

So, after that, I jacked my prices up to where most of the other dealers had them and I sold more stuff. Go figure.

Today, with so many online auctions and eBay, I don't know if that would work or not.

David

[bbcard1]

It all depends on show traffic. As much as you hear griping about the fees on ebay, I think it's the way to go for midgrade names from the 50s. Put rare stuff, even if it isn't nice, in auctions...I listed a rough Mantle StarCal decal from 1952 with Dave from Baggers (no sellers commission) and probably made six times what I would have sold it for outright.

[olrac44]

The market isn't what it used to be. I think the bigger money cards people are comfortable buying online either on ebay or auction houses as it is easier to search for. At shows people are more interested in hunting and sifting through hundreds/thousands of smaller cards, which are easier to look through in person instead of searching for hours typing in search words on the Internet. Also they can search for the best card and the best price that on Internet instead of settling for one or two of that card at a local show.

A dealer I know has 25 cent boxes and dollar boxes. Most people like looking through the 10 and 25 cent boxes so he stopped bringing those boxes and brought more 1 dollar boxes and guys started buying more $1 and $5 dollar cards cause there weren't any quarter boxes. I think shows have just changed due to the internet.

The National is a different story as that is more of an event. I think people are still coming to buy bigger cards.

[Exhibitman]

I set up at a 3 day show recently. I sold virtually nothing except stuff from the $1 and $5 boxes I put out.