My plea to Sellers at the National

[1954 topps]

When cards aren't priced, I consider the negotiation a blank slate meaning I can throw out what I want to pay without it seeming disrespectful at all. When a card is worth around $300 and a dealer has it priced on the front for $650, they aren't going to get a whole lot of offers because nobody wants to offend the guy and the gap is so large that any reasonable offer is way below asking price.

I get the dealers strategy, basically they want you to throw the first counter and maybe his target is 50% of the asking price but hoping you'll offer 75% of his absurd price.

Know your prices in your head without looking at your phone, take the time to study up before the show, review comps and even nice for the grade prices vs. avg. for the grade and pay with cash. This will get you the best deal possible. I often ignore asking prices, especially at the National when most cards are overpriced anyways and say for this example I can do $XXX. It's part of the experience, sometimes you have to pay up, sometimes you get a deal. Just know that when you find that perfect example of said card you've been seeking out for years, you'll never regret over paying.

[Snapolit1]

Americans generally aren’t hagglers in the market place. Unlike a lot of europeans. We don’t usually go to stores and offer less than something is marked. Although I negotiate in the case of professional stuff all the time, I tend not to enjoy it in other contexts. Not saying I don't negotiate on higher end cards, but often times if something is marked $35 or $50 and it catches my eye I will just pay it. Guy selling it has his expenses, travel, etc. so big deal of I am paying $10 more than I had to.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by 1954 topps

When cards aren't priced, I consider the negotiation a blank slate meaning I can throw out what I want to pay without it seeming disrespectful at all. When a card is worth around $300 and a dealer has it priced on the front for $650, they aren't going to get a whole lot of offers because nobody wants to offend the guy and the gap is so large that any reasonable offer is way below asking price.

I get the dealers strategy, basically they want you to throw the first counter and maybe his target is 50% of the asking price but hoping you'll offer 75% of his absurd price.

Know your prices in your head without looking at your phone, take the time to study up before the show, review comps and even nice for the grade prices vs. avg. for the grade and pay with cash. This will get you the best deal possible. I often ignore asking prices, especially at the National when most cards are overpriced anyways and say for this example I can do $XXX. It's part of the experience, sometimes you have to pay up, sometimes you get a deal. Just know that when you find that perfect example of said card you've been seeking out for years, you'll never regret over paying.

Cash is key but it is tough on higher end cards. Not comfortable caring that much potential cash the entire show if I maynot buy something. Would rather pay with a credit card where possible but not sure how many accept caredit cards especailly with the fees

[sb1]

Bring your checkbook and you'll be fine....nearly every pre-war dealer that has the more desirable cards knows all of the collectors that collect them and will readily take a check, even if you have to get a fellow collector to vouch for you, it's a really small pool of buyers and sellers. Very few are set up for cc's or will do PP etc, on any type of large transaction.

Unless you are buying Luka's or something of that nature, that generation's transactions are all electronic..

[cardsagain74]

I'd think that the bigger the show, the better off a dealer would be pricing his cards.

There's plenty of time to see everything thoroughly (and ask about anything) at the local VFW. But when there are endless rows of tables to get through, a buyer's focus can easily stay in a hurried daze that makes them more apt to keep moving past unpriced material

[jefferyepayne]

I don't mind if the price of something isn't on the front. But you better be able to give me a price in real-time if I ask. When a dealer says they have to look up the price, I'm most likely moving on unless it's something really, really special.

jeff

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Cash is key but it is tough on higher end cards. Not comfortable caring that much potential cash the entire show if I maynot buy something. Would rather pay with a credit card where possible but not sure how many accept caredit cards especailly with the fees

Just put a few Bitcoins in your pocket. Flip one if necessary to establish credibility with a dealer. If he says "WTF is that?", just move on.

PS - What's on the "tail" of a Bitcoin?

[Bigdaddy]

What other shopping experience do you participate in where there is no price indicated on what you are shopping for? Would you buy your groceries from a store that did not have the prices on the shelves? Or go car shopping at a dealer that did not list prices on the windows? Or buy your clothes from a place that did not have price tags on the items? Would you go look at a house without knowing what the seller is asking for it?

Why would you expect any less of a dealer for our little pieces of cardboard?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

What's on the "tail" of a Bitcoin?

The ass end of a market crash.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Just put a few Bitcoins in your pocket. Flip one if necessary to establish credibility with a dealer. If he says "WTF is that?", just move on.

PS - What's on the "tail" of a Bitcoin?

Frank, I imagine one would have to be dressed in a Zoot Suit in order to pull off the flashing bitcoin Schtik...