Observations on the current state of the hobby from a show this weekend

[pewe]

Originally Posted by Astros19

How's your halo fit?

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The pitchforks do seem out in force


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[pewe]

Originally Posted by notfast

This mentality is insane to me.

Why are you worried about what others do with their money? Why do you want to have the government in your pocket more than absolutely necessary?

Cash is easier. There’s no third (or fourth) party involved that takes a cut either.

You start this response by rationalizing fraud…

Why even bother with that argument, if you find the cost savings worth it vs. the benefits of digital transactions?


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[notfast]

Originally Posted by Chicosbailbonds

No argument here. How are people paying for the $1000 and up cards in the showcases though?

Cash.

I mean some are bought/sold via other forms but cash is main way.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by pewe

You start this response by rationalizing fraud…

Why even bother with that argument, if you find the cost savings worth it vs. the benefits of digital transactions?


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The benefits of cash far outweigh the benefits of digital transactions. This isn’t even really debatable.

The risks of cash vs digital also leans heavily towards the cash side as well.

[pewe]

Originally Posted by notfast

The benefits of cash far outweigh the benefits of digital transactions. This isn’t even really debatable.

The risks of cash vs digital also leans heavily towards the cash side as well.

If the benefit is so large, why have most (all?) professionally managed businesses, including the most cost conscious in the world (like Walmart and McDonalds), moved to digital being preferred?


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[Astros19]

Originally Posted by pewe

You start this response by rationalizing fraud…

Why even bother with that argument, if you find the cost savings worth it vs. the benefits of digital transactions?


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Do you ask for tax ID's when you go to garage sales? When frequenting a taco truck? Swap meets? Kool-aid stands?
As others have stated, it's none of my business how someone else runs theirs. Besides, how would I know whether the seller is claiming the revenue or not to begin with, if I pay cash?


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[Astros19]

Originally Posted by pewe

If the benefit is so large, why have most (all?) professionally managed businesses, including the my cost conscious in the world (like Walmart and McDonalds), moved to digital being preferred?


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A lot of businesses prefer digital to eliminate employee theft, but the main reason is out of convenience for their customers. Did Walmart or McDonald's suddenly quit taking cash? Don't think so.
They must be scamming on their taxes then, going by your theory.

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[LVDan]

Originally Posted by pewe

If the benefit is so large, why have most (all?) professionally managed businesses, including the my cost conscious in the world (like Walmart and McDonalds), moved to digital being preferred?


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Because the world of card commerce involves factors like laziness, immediacy and apathy that lag way behind the world of real big business. It’s for this reason that bargains are widely available in cards. There is no bargaining for a happy meal. Otherwise pricing on all cards would be set in stone much like other more widely traded consumer goods.
Merica!!!

[pewe]

Originally Posted by Astros19

Do you ask for tax ID's when you go to garage sales? When frequenting a taco truck? Swap meets? Kool-aid stands?
As others have stated, it's none of my business how someone else runs theirs. Besides, how would I know whether the seller is claiming the revenue or not to begin with, if I pay cash?


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I’m not sure how this has anything to do with the OP I referenced that suggested fraud was a rationale for preferring cash transactions


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[pewe]

Originally Posted by Astros19

A lot of businesses prefer digital to eliminate employee theft, but the main reason is out of convenience for their customers. Did Walmart or McDonald's suddenly quit taking cash? Don't think so.
They must be scamming on their taxes then, going by your theory.

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Perhaps McDonalds marketed it as a convenience to put a friendly spin on it for public relations… but the business case I saw from them emphasized how it would make them more $$ to move away from cash. It’s why they’ve made it harder and harder to use cash.

No doubt shrinkage is another reason businesses also move away… this would be a reason any sports memorabilia business that has employees might also prefer digital, for sure


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[theshowandme]

Not going to make it to Philly in a few weeks, but hoping to go to Chantilly for a few hours.

Card show season is back baby!


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[pewe]

Originally Posted by LVDan

Because the world of card commerce involves factors like laziness, immediacy and apathy that lag way behind the world of real big business. It’s for this reason that bargains are widely available in cards. There is no bargaining for a happy meal. Otherwise pricing on all cards would be set in stone much like other more widely traded consumer goods.
Merica!!!

Oh man… probably very true


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[pewe]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Not going to make it to Philly in a few weeks, but hoping to go to Chantilly for a few hours.

Card show season is back baby!


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Still trying to decide what we hit up in the Boston area…


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[LVDan]

Just spent 90 mins and $40(and a knucklehead $5 atm fee) out at the Sams Town rinky dink show. Place was jumping. Unfortunately it lacked the out of town dealers w more interesting stuff from the show I attended 3 weeks ago.
On the flipside reconnected with an old card buddy I’ve known 25 years but hadn’t seen in almost 10, which was great. Also had a brief but nice conversation with former NFL receiver Anthony Miller. That dude could really take the lid off a defense.


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[pewe]

Apparently card sellers aren’t the only ones having issues paying their taxes: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/25/b...ral-taxes.html


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[notfast]

Originally Posted by pewe

If the benefit is so large, why have most (all?) professionally managed businesses, including the most cost conscious in the world (like Walmart and McDonalds), moved to digital being preferred?


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Are you actually comparing corporations to guys buying and selling at a card show?

Here’s a test…go to a show. Ask people what payment they prefer.

I know what the overwhelming answer will be.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by notfast

This is a horrible negotiating tactic.

Tell Me you never worked a show without telling me you never worked a show.

[cholodolo]

Originally Posted by notfast

This is a horrible negotiating tactic.

Originally Posted by notfast

Just about everyone at a show is going to prefer cash.

And don’t be that guy who wants to swipe a credit card.

Originally Posted by notfast

The benefits of cash far outweigh the benefits of digital transactions. This isn’t even really debatable.

See, I knew you got it the first time.

Originally Posted by notfast

If you’re looking for $5-10k of cards, you’re liking carrying that much cash or more.

This isn’t really abnormal.

LOL -- incredibly abnormal for the general population at a card show and this board as a whole. Probably applies to less than 5% of the posters on BO.

Originally Posted by SpartanWarrior

---------------------------------------

"I only have XX amount of cash on me".

Response - Great that you found some cards to add to your collection. Maybe next show you can head over to my table first and pick it up.

Originally Posted by SpartanWarrior

--------------------

I take an amount of money and that is basically my limit of "off the cuff" purchases. I take a checkbook in case a dealer I know has something that I decide I'd like to purchase. But I don't allow myself to use credit cards at shows.

The reason? Simple to ensure that I limit my spending. The nice things about a Heritage or REA auction is that you have some time to think about whether you really want to spend XYZ for a card. At the show its more of an instinctive reaction - will it seem as neat in a week as it did on Saturday morning?

These comments are at odds with each other.

[pewe]

Originally Posted by notfast

Are you actually comparing corporations to guys buying and selling at a card show?

Here’s a test…go to a show. Ask people what payment they prefer.

I know what the overwhelming answer will be.

Is it because they:
— don’t like to earn more $$
— don’t want a paper trail
— other??? [fill in the blank]


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[mfw13]

Originally Posted by as921011

I went to the LCS trade night last night, there are couple dealer and other shop card owner here. Is kind the interesting they are emphasize they are dealer and therefore they are justified to offer you around 60~70% of lower comp they can found on eBay because they need to able to move the card.

That was standard logic pre-Ebay....hasn't flown since....because thanks to the ability to sell your own cards on EBay everyone is a "dealer".

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by pewe

Is there a good reason that people use cash at shows other than to break the law?

Convenience.

Cash transactions are easier to complete and faster to complete than all other methods.

I don't go to shows very often any more since there aren't any good ones where I live (Seattle), but when I did I always brought a couple hundred dollars in cash to use for smaller purchases (<$50), and my checkbook/credit card for bigger ones.

[theshowandme]

Paying via PayPal/Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp during the 2022 National would have been a nightmare.

The internet literally didn't work for 5 days.

[LVDan]

Originally Posted by pewe

Is it because they:
— don’t like to earn more $$
— don’t want a paper trail
— other??? [fill in the blank]


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Speaking personally from a show I just attended. Trying to process an $8 electronic payment from a cavernous convention space w spotty internet while the vendor is trying to help others with real money- embarrassing to request and frustrating to consummate.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by ewokpelts

Tell Me you never worked a show without telling me you never worked a show.

“Well I only have x dollars” is just bad. It says two things to the other party - 1) I don’t know how to negotiate and 2) I didn’t bring enough money. Now these things may not be true, but that’s what you convey when you use that tactic.

[pewe]

Originally Posted by LVDan

Speaking personally from a show I just attended. Trying to process an $8 electronic payment from a cavernous convention space w spotty internet while the vendor is trying to help others with real money- embarrassing to request and frustrating to consummate.

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Paying via PayPal/Zelle/Venmo/Cashapp during the 2022 National would have been a nightmare.

The internet literally didn't work for 5 days.

This is another good reason


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