Card Shows: Tech as a servant or master?

[steve B]

I generally just buy if I like the item and price, and can afford it. I seldom try to talk someone down.

Those times though....
Flea market

Don't you want that card?
I do, just not at that price.
Ok, why?
Because I'm a cheap **** (He'd used that language earlier so it was ok)

After a good laugh we talked about collecting for a while, and he offered a decently lower price. I bought the card.

Some flea market guys were a bit pushy. And my standard reply was that I already had whatever they were pushing.
One day I casually mentioned that I was thinking of setting up to sell off some extras. That particular guy was a regular, and very pushy. He had me come to an out of the way part of his setup and handed me a couple boxes of Topps minis, the late 80's ones. They were new and selling pretty well.
Yeah, I don't really want these.
They're free, just don't come set up here for a couple weeks.

Ok then....

Whenever I was a bit broke and wanted cards, I'd just mention selling to him and took my bribe.

Perhaps not my finest moments, but he offered.

[obcbobd]

Originally Posted by steve B

I generally just buy if I like the item and price, and can afford it. I seldom try to talk someone down.

Those times though....
Flea market

Don't you want that card?
I do, just not at that price.
Ok, why?
Because I'm a cheap **** (He'd used that language earlier so it was ok)

After a good laugh we talked about collecting for a while, and he offered a decently lower price. I bought the card.

Some flea market guys were a bit pushy. And my standard reply was that I already had whatever they were pushing.
One day I casually mentioned that I was thinking of setting up to sell off some extras. That particular guy was a regular, and very pushy. He had me come to an out of the way part of his setup and handed me a couple boxes of Topps minis, the late 80's ones. They were new and selling pretty well.
Yeah, I don't really want these.
They're free, just don't come set up here for a couple weeks.

Ok then....

Whenever I was a bit broke and wanted cards, I'd just mention selling to him and took my bribe.

Perhaps not my finest moments, but he offered.

We must go to the same Flea Markets. Whenever I see a guy with waaay over priced cards and he asks me what I want, I ask "Do you have any E121s?".

If you ever do set up let us know!

[Exhibitman]

I saw one recently who'd priced all of her raw 1980s and 1990s cards at PSA 10 prices. Must've taken her hours to research it all. After showing me $45 1988 Donruss commons, I declined and offered her a little free advice. I told her that we call those cards "junk wax" and that they aren't worth a dime each except for a few stars who might go for a buck. She wasn't too happy with that.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I saw one recently who'd priced all of her raw 1980s and 1990s cards at PSA 10 prices. Must've taken her hours to research it all. After showing me $45 1988 Donruss commons, I declined and offered her a little free advice. I told her that we call those cards "junk wax" and that they aren't worth a dime each except for a few stars who might go for a buck. She wasn't too happy with that.

I saw somebody today who had posted three 500 count boxes of early 90's at $3000. "I wont reply to lowballers their wasteing my time." Oh boy... No big surprise: profile photo featured a neck beard.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

We must go to the same Flea Markets. Whenever I see a guy with waaay over priced cards and he asks me what I want, I ask "Do you have any E121s?".

If you ever do set up let us know!

That was a long time ago.
Woodbury Ct.
Behind the old A+W,

Sold once for a driving range with a contracted assurance the flea market wouldn't be shut down. Probably the only driving range closed on Saturdays.

Sold sometime in the early 2000s and a strip mall built no flea market anymore. A new one started down the street, but it's very small with maybe 20 vendors on a good day. Did find one cool thing there, but it's pretty sparse the least several years.

[Keith H. Thompson]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

It wouldn't bother me to hear this as a seller if I was someone who had no pricetags on my merchandise!

If the material was visibly priced, I might sing a different tune. Then, it may be more bothersome depending on which word was emphasized!

"How much would it cost me to own this card?"

Hmm. This guy sounds like he really wants the card. I'm listening...

How much would it cost me to own this card

Well, everything's already priced, as he can see...

How much would it cost me to own this card

Well, you.......$50 extra!

I've been around the block a few times, and know full well that some dealers have a fixed price with absolutely no give. I never, ever try to haggle or work the price down. This was my original post. I hope that no dealer has ever had cause to "spit up in his drink" at anything I have ever said to him.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Keith,

My comment was not directed towards you or anyone at all. Only meant as a bit of humor. Forgive the confusion!

[Exhibitman]

I like the euphemisms and double-speak from people who are not comfortable bargaining. My pet peeve is: "What's the best you can do on this card?" My answer is "Well, more than I am asking." Another one I hear a lot at shows is: "Is there any flexibility?" --Yes, I am certain every card bends, but you can't try it until you buy it.

When I am buying, I ask a specific and explicit question:

"What is the absolute lowest price you will take for this?"

I get a surprisingly large number of laughs and double takes. People are not used to a direct question. What's really fun is when the response is too high and I hand the cards back. Many of the sellers offer an additional discount as I start to walk away.

[jsfriedm]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

"What's the best you can do on this card?"

When I am buying, I ask a specific and explicit question:

"What is the absolute lowest price you will take for this?"

I was under the impression that these were the exact same question.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

I was under the impression that these were the exact same question.

I think there's some minor nuances there, although they are definitely variations on the same theme.

And I think for all of us, part of the fun in a healthy market is that sometimes the market doesn't clear. Sometimes it's painful that way, particularly if we're on the buying end, and we really, really want to buy the item, but can't get the seller to come down to our level.

To really know what the market price is for an item, sometimes we don't end up being the buyer. Because if you're the one always paying top dollar, then you're the one setting the market!

And as a seller, sometimes it takes a little while for the right buyer to come along. Just part of the process.

In the interim, there's nothing wrong with two parties deciding to walk away if the deal isn't right.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

I was under the impression that these were the exact same question.

Ambiguous. Depends on whose best it is. The best you (seller) can do on a card is to sell it for full price.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

When I am buying, I ask a specific and explicit question:

"What is the absolute lowest price you will take for this?"

I get a surprisingly large number of laughs and double takes. People are not used to a direct question. What's really fun is when the response is too high and I hand the cards back. Many of the sellers offer an additional discount as I start to walk away.

This is probably the most annoying thing a buyer can say. That’s why people are laughing at you.

So many people say the exact same thing (or a variation) to sellers, all day ever day.

[Exhibitman]

They can laugh all they want as long as they give me a sufficient discount.

[Keith H. Thompson]

but somewhat appropriate for this discussion:

buyer sees a Bob Shawkey card on a dealer's table, commonly valued at $100, but with no price and asks: "how much is this card?"
dealer: "$10,000."
buyer: "that is outrageous, this card is worth about a hundred bucks.
why are you asking me ten thousand?
dealer: "because you look like a guy who would like to brag about owning a
Bob Shawkey card worth ten thousand dollars."

Unfortunately, that guy could be me.

[vintage321]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

I was under the impression that these were the exact same question.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

I was under the impression that these were the exact same question.

They're variations on an age-old theme. Some people approach negotiations by asking sellers to compete against themselves. Some sellers actually play along.