How does a new seller get into ANY major card show these days?

[Kutcher55]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

It's pretty much a money loser to display at a show anyways

I was curious about this myself. There's a good local dealer I know who will go unnamed. He has 5 tables every year at the Shriners, costs almost $2K now, plus you gotta haul all that stuff around, stay at a hotel or crash with a friend in the area, cost of travel of course. This guy said he's lucky to break even, and it strikes me that a lot of these folks are in it mostly for the love of the game. Sure, a select group of people are doing well. You need to turn over a good amount of inventory to make it work. Much more $ efficient to run your business over the intranets, that's for dang sure.

I'm also surprised at how a lot of these dealers aren't really up to speed on modern ways of transferring money. Heard a dealer the other day say he didn't accept paypal or venmo. If you're gonna be slinging 5-figure plus cards at these shows you're gonna risk back problems carrying around that many Ben Franklins. It helps to have electronic means, although I can understand how cash is still preferred for obvious reasons. It's definitely old school at these shows when it comes to vintage. It's not just the cards that are vintage. It's the people and the overall scene.

[Johnny630]

Dealers from my experience at shows make their bread and butter through long time-connections, previous customers, and walk ups who bring them stuff to buy. Ever since I'd say 2014/15 with the big spike in card sales through auctions along with all the Majors Setting Up at these shows with Nice Big Booths in Prime Spots it's gotten harder and harder for these dealers to buy collections at shows from walk up's/private collectors. The auction houses get most of the goods at these shows....however sometimes connections matter and these private deals to dealers still happen, many collectors want cash, they don't want a check from auction house. In the long run though AH's usually win out due to the fact that they have been able to accomplish higher returns to the seller regardless of seller/fee's/bp ect. The good good stuff usually goes to them they also have powerhouse marketing, websites, social media, smr, ect.

[glynparson]

Honestly you wait just like many of us had to back in the late 1980s early 90s when shows were tough to get into. Many aren’t totally wrong about shows being a money loser more than winner either. Although you can make money if you whole sale or sell a lot of bargain material. $1 boxes $5 boxes etc. most high dollar cards sell online. There are some exceptions like the national but shows are generally better for buying inventory and making connections than selling.you honestly usually make more before the show starts during setup than you do once the doors open. Many often joke that shows would be better off if they just were for the dealers.

[packs]

I tend to see the same dealers with the same cards at the same shows year after year. It doesn't seem like they've sold anything in 10 years.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by packs

I tend to see the same dealers with the same cards at the same shows year after year. It doesn't seem like they've sold anything in 10 years.

So, exactly like eBay now, huh?

[packs]

More or less, really. I'm sure people do well at card shows. You just have to be realistic and people are happy to buy. But the majority of the tables I encounter are museums and tombs.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

I was curious about this myself. There's a good local dealer I know who will go unnamed. He has 5 tables every year at the Shriners, costs almost $2K now, plus you gotta haul all that stuff around, stay at a hotel or crash with a friend in the area, cost of travel of course. This guy said he's lucky to break even, and it strikes me that a lot of these folks are in it mostly for the love of the game. Sure, a select group of people are doing well. You need to turn over a good amount of inventory to make it work. Much more $ efficient to run your business over the intranets, that's for dang sure.

I'm also surprised at how a lot of these dealers aren't really up to speed on modern ways of transferring money. Heard a dealer the other day say he didn't accept paypal or venmo. If you're gonna be slinging 5-figure plus cards at these shows you're gonna risk back problems carrying around that many Ben Franklins. It helps to have electronic means, although I can understand how cash is still preferred for obvious reasons. It's definitely old school at these shows when it comes to vintage. It's not just the cards that are vintage. It's the people and the overall scene.

I truly believe most of these dealers have a ton of money and really don't need to sell at shows. Otherwise, why would they continue to set up and only break even/lose money? Makes no sense.

[packs]

You would think it's an opportunity to socialize more than anything else but I also find some dealers to be pretty standoffish at the same time.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by packs

You would think it's an opportunity to socialize more than anything else but I also find some dealers to be pretty standoffish at the same time.

Some are nice, but yes, others are standoffish and some are surly. A few months ago, I went to a show and one dealer complained the whole show. I heard him saying multiple times that he didn't have time for this "VCP BS".

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

I was curious about this myself. There's a good local dealer I know who will go unnamed. He has 5 tables every year at the Shriners, costs almost $2K now, plus you gotta haul all that stuff around, stay at a hotel or crash with a friend in the area, cost of travel of course. This guy said he's lucky to break even, and it strikes me that a lot of these folks are in it mostly for the love of the game. Sure, a select group of people are doing well. You need to turn over a good amount of inventory to make it work. Much more $ efficient to run your business over the intranets, that's for dang sure.

I'm also surprised at how a lot of these dealers aren't really up to speed on modern ways of transferring money. Heard a dealer the other day say he didn't accept paypal or venmo. If you're gonna be slinging 5-figure plus cards at these shows you're gonna risk back problems carrying around that many Ben Franklins. It helps to have electronic means, although I can understand how cash is still preferred for obvious reasons. It's definitely old school at these shows when it comes to vintage. It's not just the cards that are vintage. It's the people and the overall scene.

I think you've uncovered the true reason without recognizing it. The reason they're setting up at shows is precisely because they can deal in all cash. These guys aren't selling online because they dont' want to deal with the taxes.

[Kutcher55]

I think the other factor someone mentioned that I agree with is the buying opportunity. The old adage that you make your money when you buy a card holds true. I always see guys trying to sell to dealers at these shows. There’s a benefit to being on the right side of the table and yes cash is always the preferred method.

The other thing I’d say is not all dealers are cut from the same cloth. There are some salty fellas at the Shriners show. That dude with the cowboy hat for example. But there are a lot of easygoing guys as well. Some are making a living and others appear to be retired guys who are for the most part hobbyists killing time in their golden years and making a buck here and there…