|
|
View Poll Results: Does allowing card trading at card shows (or retail stores) promote or hinder sales? | |||
It would have a positive impact as it might increase sales. | 82 | 67.21% | |
It would have a negative impact as it would reduce sales. | 15 | 12.30% | |
There would be no net effect to sellers (positive or negative). | 25 | 20.49% | |
Voters: 122. You may not vote on this poll |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
I love the idea and I will discuss it for our culver city show on may 18.
__________________
Read my blog; it will make all your dreams come true. https://adamstevenwarshaw.substack.com/ Or not... |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I proposed this idea to the current promoter of the local North Carolina shows last year and he is open to the idea. He only bought/took over the franchise from the previous, long-time promoter last year and didn't want to "rock the boat" until he was a bit more established as the current promoter. |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
If it was honest
And kept to trading but we all know it would evolve into selling to each other. Plus dealers do pay a fee to set up and part of the set up fee is for the ability to acquire material and I think this may hinder there ability to acquire new inventory, which in many cases is the number one reason dealers do shows.
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Wow, this thread is interesting. Having never been to a real card show,I had just assumed that trading went along with the territory. I figured people may go to the shows with items they intended to try to trade for other cards they needed/wanted, especially if they were low on funds.
I can see how sellers who pay to set up tables would get a little upset seeing someone standing outside the main door hitting people up before they entered-that would seem a bit out of line. But, I figured once you were in and had trade bait that it would just be a normal part of the hobby. Has anyone ever set up a table specifically (at a large show, like the National) just for trading? I know it seems like that person would lose money on the table, unless he/she was able to make some remarkable trades. Sincerely, Clayton |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
I am breaking this down into two answers...one for retail locations and one for shows.
I ran a card store for a couple years and always allowed (even encouraged) my customers to trade cards for cards. As long as there was no cash changing hands, I was fine with this. The net result of this - and other similar policies designed to create a hobby-friendly environment - was a customer base that grew quickly over a relatively short period of time. Others may disagree, and that's fine. However, it was my personal experience that allowing customer trading positively impacted the bottom line. Long story short, it brought people into the store...and once they got there, they had a great all-around experience. Take care of the customers and the sales will follow. As for shows, that's a bit trickier to answer. I have done countless card shows, and always traded with customers. Personally, I found it to be a great way to grow my inventory. It also kept my selection of cards fresh. I also attracted quite a few customers who were thrilled at the trade-in value I gave for the cards I traded for...2/3 of the (condition adjusted) book price. So, if you wanted, say, a $40 card from my showcase (yes, I displayed them with the prices showing) and I wanted a card from you that was worth $60...I would take the trade...every time. Some dealers have given 1/2 the value of a card when taking a trade-in, and I personally think that's fine, too. After all, there is overhead involved on their end, and they are setting up to make money. If most dealers approached trading this way, I might answer differently. My personal experience has been quite different, though. It seems to me (from my limited perspective) that, on the whole, dealers are somewhat reluctant to trade. I have asked quite a few that have flat out said, "no." They don't even bother to look at what I have brought with me. The general gist of their logic is that they will buy something if they want it...and then I can spend that money on what they're selling. OK, I get it; however, when the cash offers come forth, they are usually at such a low percentage of the card's value, I figure it would be much better for ms to sell it elsewhere. I also find dealers who offer to trade...but only offer 5-15% of a card's value when trading for it. This is after cherry picking the 2 or 3 best cards from the box. Again, I stand to do much better selling them elsewhere. So,I personally think trading amongst collectors at shows is fine, if the dealers are not providing this service (at a level which does not resemble larceny) to the customers. I still think no cash should be changing hands...and do admit it would be tough to police. Still, I believe it would boost attendance and positively impact the bottom line for the dealers. Perhaps a dedicated trading section of the show...definitely not amidst the dealer tables. As an aside...halfway through writing this, I realized how much I miss setting up at card shows. Perhaps I might start doing that again. And I would definitely be trading. Sorry for the long post. Guess the topic meant more to me than I thought when starting to write it. Happy collecting, everyone. Best Regards, Eric
__________________
Eric Perry Currently collecting: T206 (132/524) 1956 Topps Baseball (190/342) "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
A few random thoughts
One -- my local card store *Triple Cards in Plano* has a Wednesday trade night. Usually his regulars just trade amongst themselves and they usually end up buying extra boxes or supplies or whatever. For the owner, that type of trade night works but unfortunately he has never figured out a way to increase that for more collectors.
The local show I set up at is really too small for a trade area. Some of the bigger shows back in the day used to set up trade areas and the sounds of silence from those areas tended to be deafening. Usually the real action involved buying and selling and involved the dealers. I never really liked to trade as a dealer, I preferred back in the day to buy cards and then if you wanted to buy something from me you had money to do so and if not, you had money to buy from other dealers. Just easier that way for me. Rich |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
IMO trading, by definition would of course reduce sales.
BUT jike josh said, having a "trading day" maybe once a week or once a month, would likely increace the traffic into the store, which inturn could get you more regular loyal clients comming back over and over, and therefore more sales. So, i could help if its done on a limmited basis.
__________________
Successful transactions with: Drumback, Mart8081, Obcmac, Tonyo, markf31, gnaz01, rainier2004, EASE, Bobsbats, Craig M, TistaT202, Seiklis, Kenny Cole, T's please, Vic, marcdelpercio, poorlydrawncat, brianp-beme, mybuddyinc, Glchen, chernieto , old-baseball , Donscards, Centauri, AddieJoss, T2069bk,206fix, joe v, smokelessjoe, eggoman, botn, canjond Looking for T205's or anything Babe Ruth...email or PM me if you have any to sell. |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Value in VCP showing raw card sales? | brob28 | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 6 | 02-04-2012 04:24 PM |
Baseball team photos to promote newspaper sales? | bcbgcbrcb | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 3 | 01-22-2011 01:53 PM |
Card Stores and the Internet | Archive | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 192 | 12-06-2007 12:35 PM |
Card shows and stores on east coast | Archive | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 0 | 11-11-2006 01:03 PM |
Card stores/shows in Baltimore, Maryland | Archive | Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions | 2 | 03-18-2004 05:00 PM |