It's fascinating to sit back and consider the word choices by people who
set up at shows (Adam is an example, Exhibitman) and people who go to
buy or trade (me). For example, I don't go to shows to "bargain"- I go to
find accurately priced cards. If I do my homework on card "x" and know it's
last 3 auctions have hammered at $500, and a seller has it at $650, I'm
going to (gently at first) gauge his subject matter knowledge and
willingness (or lack) to sell at the card's ongoing value. Red flag comments
such as "I've got too much in card x to sell it for $500" or "I think it has
potential to reach my figure of $650" are an immediate non starter. The
seller's bad buys and crystal ball notions are irrelevant. I may approach the
seller later if the show is ending soon, but I'm not going to pay the $650. I
don't consider this to be "bargaining", I call it proper business.
I'll close with a couple real life, recent examples. In July, I was at a decent
local show- maybe 190 tables, nice mix of vintage and new, many sports.
Two guys were selling Topps Frank Robinson rookies with the same grade
and by same grading company. One was selling for one hundred dollars less
than the other. I took a photo of the lesser price card and showed it to the
higher seller, and asked if he'd reconsider his price. He said no, so I walked
away (shaking my head in my own mind) and bought from the cheaper
seller. The high seller blatantly ignored the Iron Rule (my term) that most
pieces of cardboard don't have a fixed price, and that he isn't "entitled" to
a certain profit margin due to factors beyond the knowledge or care of the
buyer. That's not "bargaining" on my end, it's direct and timely competition
that he blithely chose to ignore...Second example, same show. A seller had
a 72 Topps Fisk rookie in a new SGC 5.5 holder. He wanted $30 (yes, $30)-
I gave him $30 and took it. No negotiation, "bargaining", etc. Here's $30,
thank you very much. I know there are buyers out there who have no
concept of card market realities, but for those who do, the mere act of
trying to get a seller to fair market value doesn't strike me as
unreasonable. Given that many sellers at shows are themselves buyers,
it shouldn't strike them as unreasonable either.
I'm sure some sellers will unleash the hounds on me. Can you give me a 2
minute head start so I have a chance to live, please?
Trent King