Payment at card shows?

[Justus]

This weekend I attended my first card show is at least 12 years. I've always bought cards online (AH's, ebay, BST here, etc) so I was excited to get a chance to go to a real show.

Day 1, I just scoped everything out and looked at every vintage table; I'm not into autos, memorabilia, or new stuff. Didn't buy anything but spotted a card I wanted. I went back yesterday with the intent to buy it.

The dealer and I agreed on a price and I'm pumped. Then he tells me he doesn't accept plastic. Huh? He said he would take a personal check though. Does anyone carry a checkbook anymore? I don't, haven't in years. I had to walk away. I wasn't going to drive the 25 miles back home to get my checkbook when the wife and I had several things to do during the day.

This was a $6000+ card and I guess I wrongly assumed large dealer accepted credit/debit cards.

Is this the norm at shows? In your experience, do show dealers usually accept credit/debit cards?

Thanks,

Justus

[Beatles Guy]

Dealers have been slow to embrace technology IMO. I've found that many times they have the ability to take a credit card, but are unwilling to because of the fees.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

Dealers have been slow to embrace technology IMO. I've found that many times they have the ability to take a credit card, but are unwilling to because of the fees.

Or because of the IRS

[ALR-bishop]

In going to shows I take cash, checks, credit cards and PayPal.

[ValKehl]

Assuming that this dealer didn't know you, I'm shocked that he would accept a personal check for $6+K. I always take a checkbook to shows, as dealers who know me will accept my checks. I don't like to carry a large amount of cash. If a dealer doesn't know me and doesn't accept credit cards, I ask the dealer to send the card to me after my check clears, if I believe the dealer to be reputable.

[Rich Klein]

I take cash checks and pay pal. In fact, at my shows, since I usually have cash from the dealers I will accept checks (made out to my partner in the show no less) to cash for those dealers who don't accept anything but cash or for those collectors ho do not bring enough cash. The hotel does not have an ATM so I offer that to make everyone lives easier.

Granted, we're s show that is between 30-60 tables depending on circumstances but with 3 exceptions (one of which is Leon). the dealers are weekend warriors who work for a living

Rich

[Sean]

I've had dealers tell me that they would take a card, but I would have to pay an extra 5% because of the fee.

[Rookiemonster]

Cash is king .

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I take cash checks and pay pal. In fact, at my shows, since I usually have cash from the dealers I will accept checks (made out to my partner in the show no less) to cash for those dealers who don't accept anything but cash or for those collectors ho do not bring enough cash. The hotel does not have an ATM so I offer that to make everyone lives easier.

Granted, we're s show that is between 30-60 tables depending on circumstances but with 3 exceptions (one of which is Leon). the dealers are weekend warriors who work for a living

Rich

That is very nice of you Rich, not all promoters really give that much help to their table holders.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by Justus

This weekend I attended my first card show is at least 12 years. I've always bought cards online (AH's, ebay, BST here, etc) so I was excited to get a chance to go to a real show.

Day 1, I just scoped everything out and looked at every vintage table; I'm not into autos, memorabilia, or new stuff. Didn't buy anything but spotted a card I wanted. I went back yesterday with the intent to buy it.

The dealer and I agreed on a price and I'm pumped. Then he tells me he doesn't accept plastic. Huh? He said he would take a personal check though. Does anyone carry a checkbook anymore? I don't, haven't in years. I had to walk away. I wasn't going to drive the 25 miles back home to get my checkbook when the wife and I had several things to do during the day.

This was a $6000+ card and I guess I wrongly assumed large dealer accepted credit/debit cards.

Is this the norm at shows? In your experience, do show dealers usually accept credit/debit cards?

Thanks,

Justus

Seems rather dumb that a dealer would let $6,000 walk out the door. At the very least he should have tried to work with you. Even if it were to mail you a check. I know if I had a pending sale for $6,000 I would have. I doubt very much the dealer was driving a Rolls Royce.

That said the only thing I've ever seen and paid with was cash. Only two different shows though.

[packs]

Worrying about chargebacks seems unfounded since nearly every vendor in every industry accepts debit card payments. Also Paypal at a show seems like just as much of a risk since you can't show proof of delivery.

In any case, if you're a serious dealer with serious cards it's worth it to your business to invest in a smartphone and Square. I would never carry around 6K with me on the off chance I might buy something and don't think I'm alone.

[4815162342]

I never have more than $20 cash on me at any given time. I've paid via PayPal a handful of times at the National with no problems. I'm not going to walk around with a wad of $100 bills and get myself killed.

[Justus]

I just had a friendly PM from the dealer. I misunderstood what he said about the Paypal Friends and Family payment. He says I could have done the F&F payment right then (as he's done with other Net54 members) and taken the card with me, no waited until later and had the card mailed. Upfront guy for the way he contacted me, thanks!

The F&F fees would have put my out-of-pocket cost for the card above what I was willing to pay, so guess I wouldn't have ended up with the card anyway.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Justus

I just had a friendly PM from the dealer. I misunderstood what he said about the Paypal Friends and Family payment. He says I could have done the F&F payment right then (as he's done with other Net54 members) and taken the card with me, no waited until later and had the card mailed. Upfront guy for the way he contacted me, thanks!

The F&F fees would have put my out-of-pocket cost for the card above what I was willing to pay, so guess I wouldn't have ended up with the card anyway.

There are NO fees with a f/f payment via paypal

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

There are NO fees with a f/f payment via paypal

It depends on how you fund the purchase. If you send PayPal F&F and use a credit card to pay, you will incur the fees.

[Justus]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

There are NO fees with a f/f payment via paypal

There is a 2.9% on mine.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Justus

There is a 2.9% on mine.

Yes correct if you use credit card or paypal credit there will be a fee that the sender incurs. If you use your paypal balance or bank account there are no fees

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

I'm not going to walk around with a wad of $100 bills and get myself killed.

But how would somebody know how much you have? How do they know if you're carrying $20 or $2000? Whenever I carry large sums of cash, I usually have it in multiple pockets. I try not to 'flash' it in front of other people. If I do have to pull it out in front of others, they only see a portion of what I'm actually carrying because the rest is in other pockets. And it's not distributed equally between pockets. I may have a $500 in my right pocket, $1000 in my left pocket and $2000 in my jacket pocket, etc. Depending on the size of the purchase, I know which pocket to pull from so anybody that's looking sees as little cash as possible. I don't feel any less comfortable carrying large sums of cash than I do if I'm carrying no money at all. I just don't understand the safety concerns.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

But how would somebody know how much you have? How do they know if you're carrying $20 or $2000? Whenever I carry large sums of cash, I usually have it in multiple pockets. I try not to 'flash' it in front of other people. If I do have to pull it out in front of others, they only see a portion of what I'm actually carrying because the rest is in other pockets. And it's not distributed equally between pockets. I may have a $500 in my right pocket, $1000 in my left pocket and $2000 in my jacket pocket, etc. Depending on the size of the purchase, I know which pocket to pull from so anybody that's looking sees as little cash as possible. I don't feel any less comfortable carrying large sums of cash than I do if I'm carrying no money at all. I just don't understand the safety concerns.

I make my wife carry the cash...it's more fun to pull it out of her pocket

[tschock]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

But how would somebody know how much you have? How do they know if you're carrying $20 or $2000? Whenever I carry large sums of cash, I usually have it in multiple pockets. I try not to 'flash' it in front of other people. If I do have to pull it out in front of others, they only see a portion of what I'm actually carrying because the rest is in other pockets. And it's not distributed equally between pockets. I may have a $500 in my right pocket, $1000 in my left pocket and $2000 in my jacket pocket, etc. Depending on the size of the purchase, I know which pocket to pull from so anybody that's looking sees as little cash as possible. I don't feel any less comfortable carrying large sums of cash than I do if I'm carrying no money at all. I just don't understand the safety concerns.

+1. You wrap your two $100 bills around your wad of $1s if you want to show off your wad. You wrap your $1s around your wad of $100s if you want to hide how much you have.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

I never have more than $20 cash on me at any given time. I've paid via PayPal a handful of times at the National with no problems. I'm not going to walk around with a wad of $100 bills and get myself killed.

But you'll walk around with the equivalent in stuff you've bought?

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by steve B

But you'll walk around with the equivalent in stuff you've bought?

Ha! Good point.

[ALR-bishop]

Can picture myself walking back to hotel after a day at the National, having a guy pull a gun and demand money, and me offering him a selection of cards...unless he is willing to take a credit card, check or PayPal

I do not see a right or wrong here, just different preferences and comfort levels

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I do not see a right or wrong here, just different preferences and comfort levels

Exactly! So one really can't fault a dealer either for not accepting CCs if that's beyond their comfort level.

If I were a dealer, I would probably accept CCs for smaller purchases, but no way for a $6K purchase.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by steve B

But you'll walk around with the equivalent in stuff you've bought?

Though I have no personal experience, I doubt that illegal drugs can be purchased with prewar baseball cards.