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

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by kyle1707

Tons of retail wax everywhere that is not being purchased anymore

Was at a local show 10’days ago

It was a good turnout. 50 dealers no hobby wax anywhere


People buying . Just not spending a lot

Hobby is for breakers, retail is for self injectors

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by kyle1707

Tons of retail wax everywhere that is not being purchased anymore

Retail wax has always been everywhere minus the COVID boom and the front end of this current post COVID boom. Retail was never meant to be so hot that it never sat on shelves. If manufactures do things correctly it will always be available for people walking by. That is the point of having it in that format. For Joe or Jill Jackson to buy a box at checkout for their kids Sam and Sally.

[Clawlectibles]

I went to the Philly Show yesterday.

The show doesn't start until 1pm on Friday, but I took the day off to attend. Which means after dropping my oldest off at school, I spent the morning at a local shop digging through their dollar bins (Randy's). Surprisingly quiet there, usually I have people elbowing me out of the way, but it was mostly me until I left for lunch. Very pleasant.

Anyway, there was no line to get a ticket when I showed up to the Philly Show a little before 1pm. The line to get into the convention center did wrap around the building, but it took only a couple of minutes to get everyone into the building. I've attended every Philly Show over the last few years, and it's as big as ever (the second room seemed more full this time around). I stayed until ~6pm. I think the crowd wasn't as big as usual, but I assume that was because of the lack of any good autograph signings. I'm not an autograph seeker, but it seems like someone dropped the ball if only Rudy Ruettiger is signing at a major show.

I personally skip looking at most cases, which Philly has a lot of. The prices are crazy and the contents don't change much. I also skip all Vintage, which Philly also has plenty of. Not because I'm not interested, but because I couldn't spot a fake to save my life. So I'm basically looking for dollar bins or (better yet) $2-10 dollar bins, as that fits more of my collection style. I'm mostly just adding to my own collection (or for things I think I can trade on TCDB).

I think there were more $2-10 dollar bins this go around, and I felt I had a lot of freedom to paw through those whithout being jostled. There were also more dollar bins (that were more like $0.75 bins after bulk discount), and those were surrounded by people like vultures over roadkill. My lord, I love a dollar bin, but I had to skip a few vendors just due to the sheer volume of humanity around them.

I do think I noticed more Pokemon this time around. I don't know if it's because of reading this board and therefore I was looking for it, or if there truly was more. I think Philly did a decent job of grouping a bunch of these into the new second room towards the kids area. Although there were plenty of vendors in the original space that had Pokemon and sports cards too. I was sort of on the look out to paw through MTG cards, but didn't find any... but maybe I'm blind.

Anyway, I had a great time! I bought maybe 100 cards ranging from $0.75 to $8. Picked up some 90s silver/gold signatures I needed, Harper cards I don't have, a handful of 2023 Archives inserts I've been trying to complete sets for (Baby boomers, '79 comics), a few Thome relics, and a pile of other shiny/numbered cards that I'm a sucker for. Favorite pickups are probably a 2021 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup Holofractor Andrew Dawson (/99) and a 2023 Topps Archives Green Foil Willie McCovery (/99).

I'm attempting to build the 2011 Topps Coganc Diamond and Diamond Anniversary sets, and I swear these cards don't exist in person. I've found one at a show (randomly in a mall), but otherwise can only acquire these via trade on TCDB or ebay.

As a parting thought, one of the best part of these shows is overheard conversations. Caught one dealer complaining to another that he can't sell anything new and has transitioned almost entirely to selling mid-90s cards. Another group of dollar bin heroes were talking about their selling efforts on ebay, and it sounded bleak (basically squeeking out pennies... why bother?).

[JoshMN]

Originally Posted by premium1981

Retail wax has always been everywhere minus the COVID boom and the front end of this current post COVID boom. Retail was never meant to be so hot that it never sat on shelves. If manufactures do things correctly it will always be available for people walking by. That is the point of having it in that format. For Joe or Jill Jackson to buy a box at checkout for their kids Sam and Sally.

There was a time when Joe Jackson might have appeared on the cards in those retail boxes, but he screwed that up didn’t he? Now he’s shoeless and can only afford retail instead of hobby. Sam and Sally probably don’t know any better, but I’m sure Jill is resentful about the whole situation and the life she could have had.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by JoshMN

There was a time when Joe Jackson might have appeared on the cards in those retail boxes, but he screwed that up didn’t he? Now he’s shoeless and can only afford retail instead of hobby. Sam and Sally probably don’t know any better, but I’m sure Jill is resentful about the whole situation and the life she could have had.

If Joe is shoeless, then maybe there is a reason he can't afford hobby boxes and maybe he shouldn't be buying retail at all. He should concentrate on getting his financial house in order starting with buying a new pair of shoes.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by JoshMN

There was a time when Joe Jackson might have appeared on the cards in those retail boxes, but he screwed that up didn’t he? Now he’s shoeless and can only afford retail instead of hobby. Sam and Sally probably don’t know any better, but I’m sure Jill is resentful about the whole situation and the life she could have had.

Mr. Jackson will be appearing in those retail boxes at a big box store near you, in short order.

[JoshMN]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Mr. Jackson will be appearing in those retail boxes at a big box store near you, in short order.

Looks like Sam and Sally will finally be able to obtain a first Bowman of their dad! Hope Topps did the right thing in obtaining the rights from the family.

[NYBBFAN]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

I am actually setting up at the show. Saw a breakdown of the table set up and seems to be pretty evenly split (granted the mixed tables I don't know how much are sports/tcg/other).

There are also autograph signers there (I think both days). Some of the signers are Kemba Walker, Muggsy Bouges, Lawrence Taylor, Doc Gooden & WWE Kelly Kelly.

For VIP I believe they do get a VIP bag or something but again not sure if it is limited to a certain amount of VIP or those that bought pre-sale. They also get free parking too. So honestly doing the pre-sale VIP at $40 seems to be the best bet if you plan on going both days.

How was the show?

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by Clawlectibles

As a parting thought, one of the best part of these shows is overheard conversations. Caught one dealer complaining to another that he can't sell anything new and has transitioned almost entirely to selling mid-90s cards. Another group of dollar bin heroes were talking about their selling efforts on ebay, and it sounded bleak (basically squeeking out pennies... why bother?).

Ultra-modern is predominately subpar in quality, heavily diluted with all the parallels, and overpriced. If you're going to pay good money for trading cards, older cards are the better option.

[Hootiefish]

Went to a show today that is held once a month at our local mall. It usually has a couple dozen tables of dealers, good mix of vintage, modern and junk. Every month or two there is a Pokemon table set up.

Today was different. I hadn’t been since April, so I am not sure how long it has been like this, but there were easily three times as many tables as before. At least 1/3 of those tables were filled with Pokemon or MTG.

Good mix of low dollar cards all the way up to $36k cards (not sure who is traveling to the mall with that much to spend, but to each their own).

Pretty packed with shoppers, too. Most of the younger kids and college age kids were at the Poke tables. Middled-aged men like myself were hitting up the sports cards. Saw a nice older man (in his 70s or 80s) grabbing a vintage Killebrew and checking it off in his little notebook.

All-in-all, pretty good show for Southwest Virginia.

[dmbfanandy]

Philly Show review for Saturday (my 5th year attending):

Brought a mixed lot of low-med end cards (about 400) that comped out around 2k and sold the lot for 1200 within the first hour. Plenty of buyers at the show and piecing out the lot would have taken forever to sell on eBay so I was pleased to move everything at once.

This show case hits, specifically Downtowns, Uptowns and Kabooms were clearly what was moving. One table was only selling the case hits that I mentioned and I watched as they moved card after card, replacing each case hit after it sold with another. They were pricing right at full comps and people were buying card after card at full comps. The volume was unbelievable. I assume the profit margin on each card sold was slim, as other dealers were buying at 90-95% for each case hit. Anyone have more insight as to why these cards are so liquid at the moment?

Heard some rumblings from dealers that sales were slow in the afternoon but the crowd seemed to be there and plenty of deals were to be had. Found a lower grade 86 Fleer Jordan which is what I came to buy so I left happy.

Overall, the show was great. For sellers willing to make deals, there are always plenty of buyers. The liquidity of certain products (ie. Downtowns and the like) seems to be where people are parking their money. Much less prospecting compared to when I first started attending.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by dmbfanandy

This show case hits, specifically Downtowns, Uptowns and Kabooms were clearly what was moving. One table was only selling the case hits that I mentioned and I watched as they moved card after card, replacing each case hit after it sold with another. They were pricing right at full comps and people were buying card after card at full comps. The volume was unbelievable. I assume the profit margin on each card sold was slim, as other dealers were buying at 90-95% for each case hit. Anyone have more insight as to why these cards are so liquid at the moment?

They are being bought up for online repack products, which have become popular in the hobby. Basketball season is also around the corner, which could help explain the fever to them now.

[PuddleMonkey]

My consignor is harassing me to drop off more stuff. I feel like I unloaded most of what I didn't want around, if I've got anything left to move it's probably football. I have way too much football. He's so desperate for it (or maybe he's just kind) he's willing to drive out to me to pick it up.

[PuddleMonkey]

I'm also going to eventually have to break it to him that the Pujols 3,000 hit base is with Heritage.

[hammerva]

I readily admit that what I am looking for is extremely niche (wrestling cards) but this Philly show was one of the more disappointing ones I have had in terms of what I am finding stuff. Oh there was plenty of wrestling but it was a lot of the stuff I have seen at almost every show. Even from the dependable dealers. I was sure that people would have decent supply of 2025 Cactus Jack and nobody had it except for a couple people trying to sell hobby boxes over $350 which is laughable. Still a very good show and maybe if I had more money I could have dived into the football boxes. Seems like there are more dealers but the newer ones are TCG only. We are starting to get to the point where the autograph area is getting crowded with everything around it

I thought it was kind of funny that they said this was the 50th year of doing this show. I mean I can believe 40 but 50? I would love to see what the Philly card show would have looked like in 1975.

[frenchquarter]

Originally Posted by hammerva

I thought it was kind of funny that they said this was the 50th year of doing this show. I mean I can believe 40 but 50? I would love to see what the Philly card show would have looked like in 1975.

I have a couple of old Sports Collector's News magazines from 1977. One of the ads attached below says that 1977 would be the 3rd Philly show, which would mean that 1975 was the 1st.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by frenchquarter

I have a couple of old Sports Collector's News magazines from 1977. One of the ads attached below says that 1977 would be the 3rd Philly show, which would mean that 1975 was the 1st.

$1.50 for the weekend? Pass.

[netmasters]

Set up at a 75 table show today that used to be mostly sports. 75% was TCG and most of the sports table had crap or were just trying to buy.

[timber63401]

Went to a 60ish table show yesterday. 50/50 Sports and Pokémon. Prices seemed reasonable for the most part. Good foot traffic when I was there. At least 3 tables with buying signs on them.

[dmbfanandy]

Originally Posted by hammerva

I readily admit that what I am looking for is extremely niche (wrestling cards) but this Philly show was one of the more disappointing ones I have had in terms of what I am finding stuff. Oh there was plenty of wrestling but it was a lot of the stuff I have seen at almost every show. Even from the dependable dealers.

I noticed this also. One of the guys that always has nice high end wrestling brought only a fraction of cards to sell at this show. I think the wrestling card market is way underserved in general. It’s odd because there is more stability in the cards price wise compared to other sports. I also think it’s kind of unique since a lot wrestling collectors PC their favorites from each set and don’t sell/trade once they buy them (ie. WWE Flawless)

[jmarascojr]

Originally Posted by Boo

$1.50 for the weekend? Pass.

That's like $6 in today's dollars...

[f2tornado]

Sunday Fargo, ND card show was chaos until the Vikings game started and still quite busy thereafter. I probably found just enough stuff to justify the drive from Bismarck (when the potential profit covers the IRS milage rate). Only spent about $50 since the $1 and $2 boxes were meh. The quarter and 50 cent boxes were decent. Several dealers failed to price stuff and I'm not one to waste a half hour pulling out 10 cards and be a mile apart on price at the end. Only have to drive a mile Saturday for the next show.

[Picklepete]

Originally Posted by hammerva

I readily admit that what I am looking for is extremely niche (wrestling cards) but this Philly show was one of the more disappointing ones I have had in terms of what I am finding stuff. Oh there was plenty of wrestling but it was a lot of the stuff I have seen at almost every show. Even from the dependable dealers. I was sure that people would have decent supply of 2025 Cactus Jack and nobody had it except for a couple people trying to sell hobby boxes over $350 which is laughable. Still a very good show and maybe if I had more money I could have dived into the football boxes. Seems like there are more dealers but the newer ones are TCG only. We are starting to get to the point where the autograph area is getting crowded with everything around it

I thought it was kind of funny that they said this was the 50th year of doing this show. I mean I can believe 40 but 50? I would love to see what the Philly card show would have looked like in 1975.

The old Willow Grove show was great back then !

[ironfireman]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

I am actually setting up at the show. Saw a breakdown of the table set up and seems to be pretty evenly split (granted the mixed tables I don't know how much are sports/tcg/other).

There are also autograph signers there (I think both days). Some of the signers are Kemba Walker, Muggsy Bouges, Lawrence Taylor, Doc Gooden & WWE Kelly Kelly.

For VIP I believe they do get a VIP bag or something but again not sure if it is limited to a certain amount of VIP or those that bought pre-sale. They also get free parking too. So honestly doing the pre-sale VIP at $40 seems to be the best bet if you plan on going both days.

Actually, it was $50 for a 2-day - I am driving from an hour aways so I couldn't justify dropping $40 plus weekend Charlotte traffic. Also, I don't care about TCG/Pokemon & paying $$$ for Autos just for a chance to buy from the same guys that are at the other $5 shows only now with a bunch more kids. I'm just not interested in supporting this VIP crap.

Old man gripe over - how'd you do?

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by ironfireman

Actually, it was $50 for a 2-day - I am driving from an hour aways so I couldn't justify dropping $40 plus weekend Charlotte traffic. Also, I don't care about TCG/Pokemon & paying $$$ for Autos just for a chance to buy from the same guys that are at the other $5 shows only now with a bunch more kids. I'm just not interested in supporting this VIP crap.

Old man gripe over - how'd you do?

Originally Posted by NYBBFAN

How was the show?

So there was 2 other shows that week, one in Statesville (TCG only) and another in downtown Charlotte. The one in Charlotte was cheaper to get in but not as big.

The show itself it seemed to run in waves of people, and they seemed to be buying (several flippers/resellers which is fine cause I was able to move old stuff I had, even if it was for under my price listed). The tables were spread out a bit so it didn't seemed as packed as other shows. I think the other two shows that weekend did hurt attendance as compared to other events it wasn't as crowded.

I did well selling, not a ton of baseball moved unless graded for me. My $1 cards were mainly basketball and football. Made a good amount of money but not a lot of my big cards moved. Decent amount of people trying to sell their stuff or trade.

Overall I was happy with it and would do it again. I think the cost for a table and admissions needs to go down. The promoter seems to be focused on bigger shows as I saw in his 2026 calendar for shows they are 400+ tables and a few listed at 600+. When it gets too big it feels like the spending gets spread out too much as a seller with sales coming from other dealers who sold way more than they expected (needing inventory). I am sure football on Sunday did hurt it quite a bit.