Using Trade At Card Shows

[Tony Gordon]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

To Tony Gordon, et al-

I am amazed (but not surprised) by your attitude. A potential customer-
someone who could BUY from you in addition to asking to trade- is a
"waste of time"? Hmmm...think I found a problem. Judging a card(s)
before you have even seen it, and telling the holder which words to use
(don't use the word "trade"?) Think I found a second problem...

My attitude is based on my experience. I set up at card shows most every weekend and in my experience the folks that want to trade are almost never good customers. The good customers are the ones that offer cash, not trade. I have a large following at my local shows, no shortage of customers. Thankfully success as a dealer is not even remotely based on whether the dealer accepts trade or not. In my 40 years of setting up at card shows, I found that success comes from inventory and pricing, not trades. Now, more than ever, I turn people away who offer trades and am having a banner year. You can dismiss my advice all you want but if you really want to trade and have a good item, you need to avoid the word "trade" because 9 times out of 10, in my experience, when someone asks me to trade, they are offering me five beat up and water-logged Jim Bunnings for a clean Koufax rookie. You can smell the mold on the Bunnings when they pull them out. No thanks.

[Johnny630]

My usual response when someone asks if I'm interested In trade is maybe, may I please see what you have. When shown I either consider or kindly hand them back and say I'm sorry these are nice cards but not for me. That's all.

No hard feelings it's just business. I'm much more apt to trade or trade and cash when a card has nice eye appeal/centering and is a super star, Mantle, Mays, Jackie ect. I can see both sides from Trent and Tony, as a seller I do agree with Tony that 9x's out of 10 it does not work for me.

[ClementeFanOh]

To Tony Gordon- I found your reply to me almost by accident, assumed
this topic was exhausted and was wrong. This is my final go round...

It sounds to me like you have a grim outlook. At a show, ANY action for a
dealer is better than no action. I've been a collector for 40 years and
attended many shows, and I've never seen a show where a dealer is so busy
he has to beat back attendees with a stick. We have all been to shows where
a couple dealers draw more traffic than the others, so approaching a dealer
with less traffic at his table, is hardly an imposition. It is in the dealer's best
interest to treat a potential customer with some modicum of respect (ie, not
telling them how best to phrase their remarks , or indicating they have
worth only if they ask no questions and give him money). I have also never
approached a dealer with "moldy" cards in the hope of trading for one of his
that is beyond the price point. In other words, your characterization of
people who merely propose trading as being a "waste of time" is insulting,
wrong, and also possibly self defeating (remember, the guy who proposes
trade has money as well- I'm one of them).

So, in conclusion I am definitely dismissing your advice. There's too much
selling competition for me to subject myself to rude treatment by a
stranger. I've said it before on this site in different context, but it merits
repeating- the folks on the other side of your table are a tiny bit important
to the hobby. 'Nuff said, Trent King

[Tony Gordon]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

To Tony Gordon- I found your reply to me almost by accident, assumed
this topic was exhausted and was wrong. This is my final go round...

It sounds to me like you have a grim outlook. At a show, ANY action for a
dealer is better than no action. I've been a collector for 40 years and
attended many shows, and I've never seen a show where a dealer is so busy
he has to beat back attendees with a stick. We have all been to shows where
a couple dealers draw more traffic than the others, so approaching a dealer
with less traffic at his table, is hardly an imposition. It is in the dealer's best
interest to treat a potential customer with some modicum of respect (ie, not
telling them how best to phrase their remarks , or indicating they have
worth only if they ask no questions and give him money). I have also never
approached a dealer with "moldy" cards in the hope of trading for one of his
that is beyond the price point. In other words, your characterization of
people who merely propose trading as being a "waste of time" is insulting,
wrong, and also possibly self defeating (remember, the guy who proposes
trade has money as well- I'm one of them).

So, in conclusion I am definitely dismissing your advice. There's too much
selling competition for me to subject myself to rude treatment by a
stranger. I've said it before on this site in different context, but it merits
repeating- the folks on the other side of your table are a tiny bit important
to the hobby. 'Nuff said, Trent King

No, I don't have a grim outlook. I look forward to setting up at shows each weekend. I usually have a lot of fun, but I am a realist. Most every time someone offers a trade it is not fair. Like I said, I am at shows just about every weekend and this is what occurs week after week. I am often very busy. Many times during each show there is a line of people waiting to speak to me. You can come out and see for yourself this Sunday where I will be set up at the Buenavista Banquet Hall in Milwaukee.

Guys that want to trade are almost always bad customers. It is not just me. Dealers let out a collective groan when they see certain customers walk into the room, these are the customers that want something for nothing. Maybe you have never approached a dealer with moldy cards but I guarantee you somebody this Sunday is going to offer me either moldy cards, creased up cards, junk era cards and the like in exchange for something like a Bob Gibson rookie. It happens at each and every show.

I'm not trying to insult any one. I am just explaining my regular experience as a dealer. You are free to ignore my perspective.

[Eric72]

I found it fascinating to read this thread. The subject matter was almost secondary to the revealing nature of certain members' posts.

[mrreality68]

The conversation is interesting

But I am following 1 of Leon's Rules or Traditions (not sure which)

But Every Thread Needs a Card

or in this case Postcard

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

No, I don't have a grim outlook. I look forward to setting up at shows each weekend. I usually have a lot of fun, but I am a realist. Most every time someone offers a trade it is not fair. Like I said, I am at shows just about every weekend and this is what occurs week after week. I am often very busy. Many times during each show there is a line of people waiting to speak to me. You can come out and see for yourself this Sunday where I will be set up at the Buenavista Banquet Hall in Milwaukee.

Guys that want to trade are almost always bad customers. It is not just me. Dealers let out a collective groan when they see certain customers walk into the room, these are the customers that want something for nothing. Maybe you have never approached a dealer with moldy cards but I guarantee you somebody this Sunday is going to offer me either moldy cards, creased up cards, junk era cards and the like in exchange for something like a Bob Gibson rookie. It happens at each and every show.

I'm not trying to insult any one. I am just explaining my regular experience as a dealer. You are free to ignore my perspective.

Some people think that every post needs a card. I’m of the belief that every post needs the truth. Reality is always something that goes astray when feelings are involved.

Tony thanks for explaining the reality of situation so well. It’s a business decision for you, it’s your prerogative and you have exercised that option by not trading. Good Luck with the show this weekend !!!

[notfast]

I feel like the majority of the people who are on the “pro trading” side of this argument have never set up at a major show and dealt with the people who are trying to trade.

For every 1 person that understands the dealer needs to make money, doesn’t want to waste anyone’s time, understands values AND has desirable inventory…there are 100 that do not.

If you spend a lot of time trying to make trades instead of selling cards, you aren’t going to last long as a dealer. If you’re just there to hang out and add items to your collection, more power to you but that’s not the majority of dealers.

At the National, 99% of the people who wanted to trade had undesirable and hard to move stuff. This is the norm.