Accepting current card prices

[ClementeFanOh]

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

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

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

Hate to let you down, but honestly I find this quite reasonable.

I go to shows, estate sales, and make offers all the time. I will offer what I consider to be fair value with no argument, insult, or debate. If it’s a no, then it’s just fine with me. I thank them for the consideration and move on with no hard feelings. If the sticker price is fair, I don’t look to scrape more off the top. Just seems to make for a little bit less stress ya know?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

...I gave him $30 and took it. No negotiation, "bargaining", etc. Here's $30,
thank you very much...

Originally Posted by JustinD

...If the sticker price is fair, I don’t look to scrape more off the top. Just seems to make for a little bit less stress ya know?

+1

Sometimes, the best move is to just make the purchase. If it's something I want, and it's priced correctly, why screw around? I might save a few bucks here and there; however, think about the amount of time I'd waste dicking dickering with people over a few percent.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

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

We're not really at odds here; not everyone plays it this way. You seem to be a reasonable person. I am too, but when I am at a show I always (politely) ask for a discount even if I know the item is underpriced. If I don't get it, I simply buy the item or move along. But there are collectors out there who go from zero to full-bitch mode instantly, just no conflict coping skills at all. It isn't everyone or even most people, but it is a large enough subset to merit consideration when pricing stuff. It is the same in any client-oriented business. I actually had a client once tell me that she will never finalize a transaction unless the other side tells her to f*** off and starts to leave the table, because she then knows she got the best deal. Ironically, of course, the worst ones at the shows are the ones buying the least costly items. Discount on a dollar box single card? Are you kidding?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

...Ironically, of course, the worst ones at the shows are the ones buying the least costly items. Discount on a dollar box single card? Are you kidding?

This is unfortunately true. I have set up dealer tables at many a card show. Some people seem to most feverishly collect stories of how they "beat someone up on the price" of items.

The cards seem secondary compared to the psychological "win" they've negotiated.

[ClementeFanOh]

Adam- yes, you are in the right regarding people who are chintzy enough to
protest over dollar boxes. That simply shouldn't happen, and those people
aren't bargaining- they are just morons. I was referring to collectors who
actually know their stuff and, for lack of a better term, refuse to be taken out
to the woodshed on prices. Your example is a horror story, plain and simple.
If I was at your table, I would NEVER presume to behave that way. Trent King

[Chicosbailbonds]

Love reading the war stories of buying and selling. I will say it’s a great time to snipe on eBay now, it doesn’t pertain to vintage. Too many know when to end their auctions on there when dealing with vintage.