Posted By:
goudey guy This is the first time I have ever been on this website, and have seen some interesting comments regarding sportscard collecting. This is why I wanted to post a comment of my own concerning our hobby.
Alike many baseball card collectors, I have been an active card collector since I was a boy. Although my interests have changed over the years, the level of my integrity and honesty have always been at the same high level when dealing with other collectors. I also have an infinate positive attitude towards fellow collectors, no matter what material they collect or why. This brings me to the topic which somewhat disturbs me about our hobby.
As I am limited financially to my purchases, I usually try to hunt for lesser grade stars and commons. Occasionally, I will save up for a higher quality item, but the bulk of my 600+ card collection is made up of commons. However, my knowledge of card collecting in my opinion, is at an exceptional level with the material in the timeframe which I collect. For the most part, I would state that I am extremely informed and well read with the cards I deal with. I take a great interest in reading and understanding as many details as possible about these cards. My concern with our hobby is that I seem to experience a high number of sellers (both at shows and stores), that have an extremely low level of friendliness and courteousness towards me as a buyer or fellow collector. I know it's not a personal thing as I watch a high percentage of sellers do the same thing routinely to other interested collectors. Over the past couple of years, I too have become a seller. One of the first things I incorporated with selling after professionalism and honesty, is class. I see to it that every buyer of mine is treated with equal enthusiasm and respect, whether or not they want to spend $1000 or $1 on my cards. In my personal opionion, a ridiculously high percentage of sellers in the sportscard industry have very little interpersonal skills and are typically rude to the point that they disrupt the interest in our hobby. These sellers lend a bad side to our hobby as they disuade younger and/or new collectors from gaining further interest in colecting. Many of these sellers have a self belief that because they have been dealing for so long, they aren't subject to giving their customers the common respect that they are due. Although I could site many big names in the industry in this category, I won't stoop to that level. I just think that it's a pity that many major sellers don't have the vision or common sense to extend courtesy to all of their potential clients. They don't seem to understand that the most important thing to do as a seller, is add interest to the art of card collecting, and make people inspired to get more active in the hobby.
This may not be the proper place to announce my feelings, as I'm not sure how many high volume sellers will read my entry. I do know that it can't hurt though, and if my opinions better one sellers attitude, then I have accomplished a great deal.