Looking for Sports Card Show Guidance

[RCMcKenzie]

Do y'all tip the dealers? I guess they have those portable credit card machines like at coffee shops where they ask you if you want to tip 15%, 20%, or 30% before you can access the screen to purchase an item.

In case you see a T206 Lumley at a show, you'll need to have 8 large ready, which is a lot of dough to be stumbling across an NFL parking lot with.

[rugbymarine]

My thoughts from the Philly Show for the last year and a half:

1) Bring cash. I assume some dealers will take electronic payments, but cash just makes everything easier.

2) Be polite. From what I've seen and heard, the bad experiences people reference stem from someone being rude.

3) From my experience, prices are buffed 20-40% over recent online sale comparisons. In 5 trips around the Philly Show (30-40 hours of walking and browsing), I've seen exactly 1 card that was a priced as a bargain. In general, dealers know that they're asking above comparable sales and are almost always willing to bargain if you follow Rule #2.

4) Don't be afraid to make offers. The worst thing that can happen is they say no, but don't forget Rule #2 when negotiating.

5) Have a way to protect valuables (cash, cards, etc). Some use those big cases, but make sure you are mindful of your surroundings.

6) Kind of goes along with Rule #2, but be respectful of the dealer's time and space. Don't interrupt if they're talking to someone. I also try not to set anything down on their display cases, unless it's absolutely necessary and I ask first.

[JollyElm]

As everyone has said, be polite and respectful...but always keep one foot pointed toward the next table to make an easy getaway.

You'll generally run into two basic types of sellers: the somewhat flexible guy who you can work with on price a bit (or maybe a lot?), and the SHARK who's there to Always Be Closing. His prices (if he even has price stickers on the cards you're looking at) will be in the stratosphere to begin with and there's no room for negotiation. Even if he were to move down in price a lot, it would still be 200% higher than anywhere else. Flee him.

If a card you're looking for is available at a nice price, buy it. You can attempt to get the seller to come down a bit, but if it's already in the right neighborhood, don't pass it up, because the next collector who sees it WILL buy it. Regret sucks!

Oh, have fun!!

[SyrNy1960]

Thank you all for the great comments, advice, and recommendations. Truly appreciate it!

Tony (A Fish Now Back In The Water)

[savedfrommyspokes]

Bundle: If you see a single item that a price can't be agreed upon, try adding additional items to your prospective deal and see if the seller wont discount more on multiple items versus just a single item.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

Bundle: If you see a single item that a price can't be agreed upon, try adding additional items to your prospective deal and see if the seller wont discount more on multiple items versus just a single item.

Oh yeah, the Frank Fritz bundle. Thanks!!

[steve B]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

Do y'all tip the dealers? I guess they have those portable credit card machines like at coffee shops where they ask you if you want to tip 15%, 20%, or 30% before you can access the screen to purchase an item.

In case you see a T206 Lumley at a show, you'll need to have 8 large ready, which is a lot of dough to be stumbling across an NFL parking lot with.

That would be a total deal breaker.

[icollectDCsports]

Even if you don't find anything to buy (and prepare yourself for that possibility), just enjoy being around all of it -- the stuff and fellow collectors. Worst case is that you have fun doing that.

[G1911]

If I don’t know the seller, I negotiate. Few are unwilling to take a fair offer, and most I find are priced a bit high with this in mind. Some dealers are just unreasonable and disconnected from the market, and will not sell at a reasonable price. When they reach for a Beckett and quote a NM price for the VG card in their case, wish them a nice day and move along.

If I know the seller, I know the price discount range they work in and if that range will make a particular card work for both of us. One I just pick the cards I want, he tells me how much, and I pay him whatever he says because I know he is more than fair to me (only dealer who has sold me cards for less than I’ve offered because my offer was too much in his eye) and I trust him. I pay a tad bit higher at shows than online because it is 0 risk and I can see the card. Sometimes it’s worth paying 5% more on item X as part of a deal to get Y and Z along with it.

If I’m buying junk or commons, I offer to buy a lot at a steeper discount because it’s junk they really just want to get rid of. Nobody has yet turned me down for offering 50% of the sticker list price when buying bulk junk wax and factory sets. Quality material, there is obviously less room to go low and you can’t do this.

I never offer a price that is unfair, even if we don’t make a deal I make sure my offer is within normal selling prices and not a lowball. This one deal may not work out, but not trying to cheat anyone or rip them off makes them willing to try again on another item at the next show. The amount of guys I’ve seen offering $20 for Mantles is amazing.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by G1911

If I don’t know the seller, I negotiate. Few are unwilling to take a fair offer, and most I find are priced a bit high with this in mind. Some dealers are just unreasonable and disconnected from the market, and will not sell at a reasonable price. When they reach for a Beckett and quote a NM price for the VG card in their case, wish them a nice day and move along.

If I know the seller, I know the price discount range they work in and if that range will make a particular card work for both of us. One I just pick the cards I want, he tells me how much, and I pay him whatever he says because I know he is more than fair to me (only dealer who has sold me cards for less than I’ve offered because my offer was too much in his eye) and I trust him. I pay a tad bit higher at shows than online because it is 0 risk and I can see the card. Sometimes it’s worth paying 5% more on item X as part of a deal to get Y and Z along with it.

If I’m buying junk or commons, I offer to buy a lot at a steeper discount because it’s junk they really just want to get rid of. Nobody has yet turned me down for offering 50% of the sticker list price when buying bulk junk wax and factory sets. Quality material, there is obviously less room to go low and you can’t do this.

I never offer a price that is unfair, even if we don’t make a deal I make sure my offer is within normal selling prices and not a lowball. This one deal may not work out, but not trying to cheat anyone or rip them off makes them willing to try again on another item at the next show. The amount of guys I’ve seen offering $20 for Mantles is amazing.

These are great rules to follow. A good rule of thumb for me is the heavier or bulkier the item is, the bigger the discount I ask for. Selling those items make packing up so much easier.