Dealing at shows...

[TheHobbyWGR]

Was just discussing this Saturday on my radio show, The Hobby. I agree with the overall point - that walking into a show, setting up and listing low is not enough. My friend Bob and I were expecting a bit of action merely from having nice graded stuff available at eBay prices or lower. Didn't happen.

Doesn't appear that Saturday's episode is up for some reason but here is a link to others, if you're inclined.

http://audio.wgr550.com/the-hobby.htm

Mike

[edhans]

And I should add I haven't been to a show in well over ten years.

Barry,
What's it going to take to get you to put in an appearance in Baltimore this year? Bribery? Kidnapping? Or just dinner & drinks?

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by edhans

Barry,
What's it going to take to get you to put in an appearance in Baltimore this year? Bribery? Kidnapping? Or just dinner & drinks?

Chloroform.

[David W]

I went to a local show in a motel conference room in Fort Wayne Indiana last month (first show I'd been to that wasn't the National in several years). There were probably 12-15 people set up.

My observations:

1 - 2-3 guys still had boxes and boxes of 87 to 95 crap. It was priced at 10 cents or 25 cents, but I had no desier to sift through thousands of 89 Donruss or 91 Topps hoping to find something I might want.

2 - One guy had several thousand 50's to 60's cards but nothing priced. It was annoying to pull a card out, and wait while he dug through a Beckett guide to tell me it was $1 or $3. If he had priced it before hand, I've have probably bought $50 worth of cards. As it was I spent $5 on 2 cards.

3 - I did spend close to $100 at a tabel sorting through well organized boxes of 50's to 70's cards that were all priced, and bought about 20 cards for $60 or so. He also had decent pre war and graded cards in his display case, all priced.

4 - I like to buy some modern cards of Cardinals or Bears, but no one had it at this show.

5 - One guys display case was full of beat up 70's baseball and football at NM prices. I never saw him sell one thing the 2 hours I was there.

In summary, I'd say organize it, price it low, and don't bring thousands of worthless cards and you can be successful.

[sycks22]

Going to shows is fun when you find the right dealer than will give you fair market value for your cards and will work in some trades. When you show someone a Ty Cobb that sells for around $2k and the dealer knows he doesn't have $40 in his pocket it's always funny when they respond with "I'm looking for higher graded cards" and when you look at they're selling a '66 Topps Snider with 2 corners missing for $25, but list the high book price on the plastic. For every good dealer out there you find 10 that think their cards are amazing and tell you how much they make every show, but still have 99% of the same cards every time you see them. Those are the best dealers.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by sycks22

For every good dealer out there you find 10 that think their cards are amazing and tell you how much they make every show, but still have 99% of the same cards every time you see them.

Really? How do they stay in Business? Bit of an exaggeration, I'd say.

[sycks22]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Really? How do they stay in Business? Bit of an exaggeration, I'd say.

My question to you is: Name 1 show that isn't in the decline outside of the national? I would say that many of them aren't staying in business.

I know a lot of old timers that set up at shows to make a couple bucks, but more to just talk about cards.

[Leon]

A few of my own thoughts. As Hankphenom said, the shows, to me, aren't about just selling and buying, it's the whole experience. I absolutely have as much or more fun after the show, just hanging out with hobby friends, having a few cocktails and dinner. If I buy or sell something at the show then that is the icing on the cake. But for me, the cake is the total experience of the show and all that surrounds it.

Also, there used to be more single, private sales of larger ticket cards. Nowadays barely anyone wants to buy something as a straight private sale. They want it to go to auction where they can either -

1. Hope to steal it (so to speak) for a very low price
2. Feel comfortable they aren't the only idiot willing to pay almost that much (as the underbidder is right there too) for an item.

I love shows and will definitely keep doing them, if nothing else, for the camaraderie alone. I always go to them with the expectation that my money spent doing the show is entertainment. I don't expect to buy or sell anything so I am never disappointed. I guess I am fortunate, every single show I have ever done has been great (from my point of view). best regards

[mintacular]

If you selling/dealing at a small show or flea market here are my observations mostly as a buyer, but occasionally as a seller:

1) Mid-grade or better star cards are difficult to sell for a fair $ unless they are local i.e. pittsburgh/clemente

2) Dollar boxes singles $5 under do fine of mainstream sets if $'d right, same with high #'s like '72s

3) Lower your expectations, have "fun" and think of it as weeding out some extra cards so if you only make a few bucks it doesn't feel so bad

4) The most successful dealers at these venues have been doing it many years and have repeat/loyal customers

5) Pre-war cards in low grade really only way to go, not going to get someone to pay $100 for an ex common

As for flea markets, expect a bunch of fleabags trying to "flip" your cards, these people root around looking for great deals, don't take it personally it's just the type of buyer you see there

[Hankphenom]

As far as making money at shows, that's tough. Most dealers have been around a while and have developed a niche, an expertise in buying and selling a certain segment of the hobby. Very few make a real living at it, most are weekend warriors. But as far as enjoyment of the hobby, there's nothing like them. And if it wasn't so much fun, you wouldn't have nearly as many of the part-time dealers as there are. And shows will never go away for that very reason. There's nothing like the excitement and anticipation of walking into a show, or setting up at one, looking forward to two or three days of action of one kind or another, going out to dinner with other hobbyists, being on the road, all of it. I can't understand why anyone who's into this stuff would forgo those pleasures to sit at home and buy and sell on eBay or in auctions, get your money or objects in the mail, and that's it. Where's the thrill of that? Shows will be around until the day that human beings have more fun being with their personal digital devices than with other human beings. I hope I won't be around to see that day.
Hank Thomas