Dealing at shows...

[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.

[steve B]

Yep, you did way better than the two shows I did. I split a table with an acquaintance who did autographs. Total take on the day for me - 10 cents.

The other one I had a table to myself. I think I might have almost made back the table price.

At one I heard the stuff was too old, at the other that it was too new.

I have done well at flea markets I've done with family, especially if I leave the table and let mom sell the cards She's tougher on price, and a certain sort of customer likes to think they're geting a bargain of the little old lady while her son is browsing other tables.


I did do some work for a stamp dealer, who did well at stamp shows. He had quite a few regualar customers, but made most of the money before the show. The dealers did lots of business during setup. They all have specialties, and buy collections through their shops. Then they resell the collections largely intact to someone else. Eventually it ends up with a regualr that goes to a dealer for that particular sort of thing.

My favorite sale ever was to a young kid, maybe 4-5. He had a handful of change, probably about 37cents and wanted cards from the commons boxes. And asked how many he could get. I told him if it was ok with his mom he could have as many as he could hold in two handfuls. I think he ended up picking around a hundred or so and I bagged them so he could carry them. I also added a pretty big handful beyond that and a couple better cards. Watching him pickout the ones he wanted and seeing the huge smile was worth way more than the cards could ever be.

Steve B

[barrysloate]

Buyers may need more time to reflect on big purchases. When an expensive card appears in an auction, a buyer usually has a couple of weeks to consider all aspects of the purchase, including how he is going to raise the funds to pay for it. At a show it may be difficult to spend thousands of dollars on the spur of the moment.

As far as the mid grade Topps cards the OP was trying to sell, they are too common and can be bought anytime. It is a tougher market, and despite what some people may feel, shows are not the future of this hobby. People feel more comfortable today buying online. The oversized clear scans most auctions provide are exactly what buyers need, and the often poor lighting at shows is not the ideal environment to make a big deal.

And I should add I haven't been to a show in well over ten years.

[TheHobbyWGR]

Was just discussing this Saturday on my radio show, The Hobby. I agree with the overall point - that walking into a show, setting up and listing low is not enough. My friend Bob and I were expecting a bit of action merely from having nice graded stuff available at eBay prices or lower. Didn't happen.

Doesn't appear that Saturday's episode is up for some reason but here is a link to others, if you're inclined.

http://audio.wgr550.com/the-hobby.htm

Mike

[Tony Gordon]

A couple of comments on trading and buying from customers at shows. As a dealer, there is no benefit for me to trade. Trading does not help me cover table fee. I am also constantly purchasing cards and always have deals in the works and need funds. I regularly buy and sell a large amount of cards and don't need trades to turn my inventory. The only time I will trade is when a regular customer wants to trade and there is some cash in the deal.

As for buying, I will never pay you fair market value for your cards because I strictly buy for resale. You shouldn't get offended either because I can't cover my table fee if I'm paying retail prices for cards. If you want more than 25 percent of book, don't bother trying to sell your cards to dealers, it's just not cost effective for dealers to buy your cards.

And for those who say shows are in decline, you a terribly mistaken. There are terrific one day shows all over the Midwest every single weekend.