Pricing cards at shows

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

I was at a mall show this weekend and overheard the following conversation between a dealer and a potential buyer.

Buyer: Do you mind if I take a closer look at this card for the condition?
Dealer: Really? It's a $2 card.

It was in a team bag/toploader/sleeve.

I can see both sides of the conversation, but tend to side with the dealer.

Thoughts?

Not sure why I as a collector wouldn't be concerned with the condition of cards I buy regardless of value. I don't want poor conditioned cards that are $2 any more than I want poor conditioned cards worth multiple times that.

[Philthy]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

I was at a mall show this weekend and overheard the following conversation between a dealer and a potential buyer.

Buyer: Do you mind if I take a closer look at this card for the condition?
Dealer: Really? It's a $2 card.

It was in a team bag/toploader/sleeve.

I can see both sides of the conversation, but tend to side with the dealer.

Thoughts?

Personally, a $2 card would go in my dollar box and people could handle them to their heart's content. Internally I may think "he's really scrutinizing that $2 card" but it wouldn't bother me.

[Bob Ross]

The less I have to interact with these people the better. Price your cards.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

I was at a mall show this weekend and overheard the following conversation between a dealer and a potential buyer.

Buyer: Do you mind if I take a closer look at this card for the condition?
Dealer: Really? It's a $2 card.

It was in a team bag/toploader/sleeve.

I can see both sides of the conversation, but tend to side with the dealer.

Thoughts?

I had a guy use a magnifying glass on a $1 card before. He didn’t buy it.

[Neal]

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[Neal]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

I think you're in the minority to buy at face, even if it's fairly priced.

But he leaves the show with accomplishment and not complaining about dealer prices

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I don’t mean this to sound too cold-hearted, but again, that’s not my concern. It’s not my job to over pay for something just to ensure sellers continue to be there, so they can continue to overcharge. I’m a big free market guy. The market always finds a balance. If shows aren’t worth going to for the sellers, they shouldn’t go. As of now, it seems like business is good for sellers at shows. Which is great! I’m happy to hear that’s it’s organically working out for them. The free market is saying that there’s a desire for them. But if you told me I had to subsidize their presence just for the sake of their presence, well, for me that means that the market isn’t supporting them, and there’s no need for them to be there. I don’t mean to sound like jerk, and I’m happy shows are doing strong sales these days… but in the end, it’s survival of the fittest for me when it comes to business.

I never said anything about you overpaying. You made it sound like you always underpay.

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by jmarascojr

Went to the local show today, within 5 minutes I overheard a dealer cuss someone out cause the guy said the card sold for 40 on eBay.

He wanted the same and the dealer got agitated trying to explain eBay fees and shipping and handling.

Literally ended with the dealer telling the guy to go f himself…

Sounds like the dealer conveniently forgot sales tax, too. It works both ways for off-eBay transactions and what they save on.

[hanes1111]

This thread has too many tributaries, the buyer is going to try to find the lowest price most of the time and the dealer will try to find the highest price. It's human nature. The only way a deal gets made is if both parties are happy. That takes some dialog most time and were getting away from that in society as a whole. It's a hobby that's supposed to be enjoyed not a one-sided hostage negotiation.

[Raleigh504]

The biggest gains for card shows vs selling on eBay comes for $1/$2 cards.

If a card truly sells just over $1 (say $1.25 on eBay), you would collect about $0.17 after fees (no ads on it too). That doesn't include the envelope/material to send. For me, its about $0.11 to ship a card, could get it down to $0.06 if I go bare minimum on it.

Granted you are paying for a table fee, at a show you will see the entire $1 vs say $0.10 to sell on eBay as well as give deals on bulk at shows.

[clsports]

Originally Posted by notfast

I had a guy use a magnifying glass on a $1 card before. He didn’t buy it.

I guess most people today think that all cards have immediate value out of the pack and have no potential to increase in value over time?

Wasn't the Mike Trout Topps RC once found in dollar boxes?

I recall paying 25 cents for a 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens when it first came out. Distant past I know.

I know in today's market with a flood of cards produced and the only value to come out of packs is the parallels and the base cards have become trash, this is nearly impossible, but a $1 card can potentially increase in value so why not be picky and buy a mint card???

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by jkampis

I never said anything about you overpaying. You made it sound like you always underpay.

As a buyer, I try to pay as little as possible. I think sellers should try to get as much as possible. This allows for a healthy free market to find balance.

[ironfireman]

I like talking to people at card shows. Of course some guys get way to chatty and TMI but lets face it, most of us are kinda weird. We collect little mass produced pieces of cardboard. We're all dorks to one degree or another.
As far as haggling or dickering thats just part of it. I think it's a bit of a cop out to look everything up as a buyer or a seller. Sure, I've wandered off and checked a price here and there just to be sure, but I feel part of the fun is knowing what a card is worth without looking. IF you are a dealer and you don't know what the price is of something you are selling why put it on the table to sell? One caveat is I know an old guy who usually has 2-3 tables and he has endless mixed boxes. You look through make a stack and he looks at what you got and says a price - HE DOESN'T LOOK IT UP. You can counter and he usually comes down a bit and is more than fair. I've chatted him up and he has a few storage units full of stuff. So he just throws a bunch of boxes on the table. That's his process. Though I have had old guys who I've gone to for years look stuff up or get out the Beckett! I like razz em a little bit. "Oh ya gotta look it up? I thought you knew something about cards, Jim?" and I smile and we have a little fun.
One last thing. My wife experiences social anxiety. She has panic attacks and sometimes has a hard time driving. I'm a social guy and can talk to just about anyone so I've learned that everyone is different. The weird kid next to me who doesn't respond when I say something to him might be on the spectrum or be having a hard time or is just inexperienced in social sitiations. I kinda look at card shows like a nature documentery. There are a lot of weirdos out there and it is interesting. I like weirdos. Some I even love. I like people (mostly, to a degree! lol!) and if they do suck I can just shrug or walk away.

[ScooterD]

If I want a card, I pay the asking price. If I’m unwilling to pay the asking price, I don’t really WANT the card

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

The biggest gains for card shows vs selling on eBay comes for $1/$2 cards.

If a card truly sells just over $1 (say $1.25 on eBay), you would collect about $0.17 after fees (no ads on it too). That doesn't include the envelope/material to send. For me, its about $0.11 to ship a card, could get it down to $0.06 if I go bare minimum on it.

Granted you are paying for a table fee, at a show you will see the entire $1 vs say $0.10 to sell on eBay as well as give deals on bulk at shows.

You wouldn't believe the amount of cards I move at the bigger shows that are priced from .25 to $1.

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

As a buyer, I try to pay as little as possible. I think sellers should try to get as much as possible. This allows for a healthy free market to find balance.

Sure, don’t fault you at all. As a buyer, I’d do the same.