Dealing at shows...

[skelly]

I recently set up at a show, looking to thin out my collection a little. I had some nice stuff priced well below ebay / smr prices. Mostly stuff from the 50's. Had some stuff that is hard to come by that was all third party graded. Examples would be 59 bazooka's, Home Run Derby, Lake to Lake Packers cards, etc... Also did the 50 cent box thing with commons from the 50's and 60's in both football and baseball. Had vintage wrappers & display boxes, etc...

My question is, what can a dealer expect to make at
1.) small local type one day show
2.) larger show

I mean I was rock bottom on stuff, but only made a couple hundred dollars. An example would be I had a 52 topps duke snider that was graded a 3 for $40. Also had a clean 52 Hodges for $20. I mean I just can't go any lower than that. Other vendors had these same cards for 30-100 dollars more in worse condition. Overall I had fun, but financially I did 10 times better setting up at my mother in laws yard sale & the local flea market. Thoughts, advice, comments.

[Kzoo]

I set up once a year at a local show (actually, it was last weekend) and after four years, I've come to realize that hardly anybody wants to spend any money and everybody wants everything for nothing, even when it's already really cheap. That being said, I was shocked and actually did the best this year, selling over $400 worth of......I can't remember.......so it was nice to move stuff I wasn't attached to. In past years, I sold in the $150-225 range. The cheap, oddball stuff always sells the best, but once in a while somebody will surprise you. I've had a showcase full of some nice '50s stuff in past years and I've had the 50 cent and $1 bins at really decent prices, but not much of it ever sells. I've learned to really not get too excited about selling anything at that show. I do much better at a flea market I set up on Memorial Day when I'm selling memorabilia instead of cards. IMO, the cards always sell better, and for more money, on Ebay.

Matt

[skelly]

Matt,

Thank you for your imput. I guess one thing I am still confused about is do dealers really expect to make money, is is setting up at these shows more or less a "guys" day out, etc.. and a chance to network with other dealers? What can a dealer expect to make at the National when I would guess just the transportation/hotel and table fees would run over a $1000.

[HaloFan]

I've been setting up at a local show hosted by my local card shop, and after three experiences of setting up, you really have to lower your expectations if you want to sell anything. I read on boards where guys have tons of PSA graded cards at reduced prices that do not sell. I don't find casual collectors to be too enamored with graded cards even if it's a $1. I've actually been surprised at how many VG 80s and 90s cards I've sold at 10 cents a piece but that's what you will see at these shows. These shows are more a gathering place for local fans(mostly Angels in my area) to meet and intermingle than turn a profit.

It appears(in my area) that players of the local teams, all the auto and relic cards, vintage cards under $5(condition does not matter), and memorabilia will sell. Beanie Babies, Starting Lineups, those plaques with the players card on them seem to be everywhere and they don't appear to sell. The table fees at these shows are really low and most of the stuff I bring are unwanted crap from my childhood. I've talked with the other "dealers" and we agree that if we were paying $50-$100 a table, we could not sell what we've been selling.

I don't make much selling 10-cent cards, but I'm there to meet people/collectors and even educate new ones. A kid about 11 years old offered me a Derrick Rose RC card for my two $5 beaten up 1952 Topps cards and I did the trade because the $$ didn't matter too much at that point and I might have turned him into a future vintage card collector as a result of that.

Craig

[ctownboy]

Years ago (pre-internet days), I was a small time dealer setting up at some small shows. Because I was young, didn't do a lot of shows and wanted to sell as much as possible (so as to get moneyh to go out and buy more stuff that I collected) I would price my items low.

After doing a few shows and not making much money, someone finally clued me in; I was UNDERPRICING things too much. It was BECAUSE I was young, didn't do many shows and had low prices that people weren't buying things from me---they thought I might have been stealing them!!!!

So, after that, I jacked my prices up to where most of the other dealers had them and I sold more stuff. Go figure.

Today, with so many online auctions and eBay, I don't know if that would work or not.

David

[bbcard1]

It all depends on show traffic. As much as you hear griping about the fees on ebay, I think it's the way to go for midgrade names from the 50s. Put rare stuff, even if it isn't nice, in auctions...I listed a rough Mantle StarCal decal from 1952 with Dave from Baggers (no sellers commission) and probably made six times what I would have sold it for outright.

[Tony Gordon]

I set up at shows every single weekend and have done so for the past 11 years. Prior, I would set up occasionally going back to the '80s. A couple of things I've learned over the years is that price is only part of the equation. You have to be a regular dealer in order to earn more than just a few hundred dollars at both small and large shows. You have to gain regular customers and foster relationships with other dealers. You also need a lot of patience and a thick skin. Some people just won't approach your table no matter what you have and no matter what the price. They won't give you the time of day. Accept it and move on. Others will get to know you, you'll get to know them, learn their collecting interests, and probably become great friends. I put a TON of prep work all week long filling want lists and pricing cards I know will tempt my regulars. The more I prep, the more I earn.

My best shows are the small ones where I can count on my regular customers. I used to set up at flea markets but never made much money. I now stick with small card shows. There is never a guarantee that I'll have a good show. One week may be terrible while the next week tremendous. The bottom line is to have fun. I love it and am thankful for the outlet. I regularly blog about my shows at www.fatdaddyssports.com.