OT: I miss the 80's/90's...

[4815162342]

I had the day off today, so I decided to search Google to see if there were any card shops in my local area. I found one lone shop about 15 miles away, so I decided to take the short drive and check it out. As predicted, I was very disappointed. The "highlight" of the inventory available for sale was a few post-war commons. I remarked to the shop owner that I missed the 80's and 90's, and he said "Me too."

[Chris Counts]

I miss the '70s. For card collectors, that was like the Wild, Wild West ...

[T206DK]

I miss the 80's and 90's prices on T206's and Old judge cards :)

[albrshbr]

I was traveling on business last week and had a little extra time one day, so I used my GPS to find some cards shops. 3 of the returns were someones house (I didn't know until I drove there) and the other 2 were both closed for good. I put about 120 miles on my car, and learned a lesson.

[Chicago206]

I was traveling on business last week and had a little extra time one day, so I used my GPS to find some cards shops. 3 of the returns were someones house (I didn't know until I drove there) and the other 2 were both closed for good. I put about 120 miles on my car, and learned a lesson.


The demise of the card shop is in direct coorelation to the advent of ebay.

[T206DK]

the 2 card shops in my general area have survived on Ebay sales the last few years I think. Both have downsized considerably, and one of them has more Magic the Gathering cards for sale than baseball cards. It's a tough business to be in these days.

[FUBAR]

the card shop i use has huge magic tourneys and magic nights every Friday. they just pack the little dorks in..... don't get it myself but to each their own.

The selection of card shops have sure slimmed down, that is a given. Ive even been contacted by a couple local guys looking to sell boxes out of their homes instead of a shop.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Which is the better buy. A Tom Barker PSA 8 Jackson for 2495.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1913-Tom-Barker-Game-Shoeless-Joe-Jackson-PSA-8-/380224689312?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Baseball&hash=item58872854a0

Or a Tom Barker PSA 6 Jackson for 2500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1913-Tom-Barker-Joe-Jackson-PSA-6-0113-/370229657733?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Baseball&hash=item5633684085

[MacDice]

I think you need a Hot Tub Time Machine

[ChrisStufflestreet]

Ive even been contacted by a couple local guys looking to sell boxes out of their homes instead of a shop.



Back in the 1980s, I was growing up in a village in Upstate New York. Our only "card shop" at the time *was* a guy selling out of his garage when he wasn't doing his "regular" job.

The nearest card shop was in Watertown, 18 miles away and too far to pedal a bike at my age.

[steve B]

I don't think we'll get back to the late 80's early 90's. Around here though it looks like card shops are maing a bit of a comeback. There was one survivor, who does the shop, and uses the internet very well, offloading dead inventory quickly before it becomes unsaleble locally. Like when a player gets traded or leaves.

And a new shop just opened last week, a show dealer that decided to open.

Steve B

[kkkkandp]

I miss the 80's and 90's prices on T206's and Old judge cards :)

Not just the prices on the Old Judges, but the selection!

I remember going to the old Gloria Rothstein shows in White Plains in the late 1990s and Terry Knouse Sr. would have several hundreds of Old Judges organized in rubber-banded piles of soft top-loaders in his cases. Talk about the good old days! :)

[4815162342]

I think you need a Hot Tub Time Machine

A Delorean will do just fine. :)

[deadballera]

re: The demise of the card shop is in direct coorelation to the advent of ebay.


There used to be card shop in Sacramento named "Golden Era". They specialized in 1960's and older. Had some nice Goudeys, 50's and a few T-Cards too. I miss that store !!!

[Boccabella]

I was in Golden Era a few times before moving away. Also knew Todd, who ran another fairly large shop in town. When did they each go out of business?

[deadballera]

Golden Era probably 10 years ago. One of the partners then helped out at another card store "Dave's Cards" for a while. I do not know when that store closed.