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

[Boo]

Originally Posted by tconte

I went to the Brotherly Love Card show yesterday in South Jersey as it is only
ten minutes from home. The card show transformation continues as there was only one vintage (maybe two if you count 1980's cards) dealer.

I would say it was about 50-60% pokemon or related. The Pokemon was hot!
My son came with me and the stuff he was looking at sold quick. I bought
him a couple $7 packs as he was a trooper patiently watching me sell some
more of my collection off. Plus he put up with some bad b.o. in the room!
Not good on a 90 degree day.

Some of the busiest tables were the ones with the signs saying buying.
I sold most of my last PSA submission to Hennessey's Sport Cards in a very
easy and smooth transaction. They will use my cards for repacks and whatever
else the ultra modern gang does. I've slowly sold off everything from the
ultra modern world. So happy and not looking back. A few more things to
get rid of and it's back to my vintage world for me at a much smaller scale.

This new "hobby" aint for me! Hasta La Vista baby!

Saw one guy selling mystery packs or something like it for $199 and $299.

Pelican cases were everywhere! There looks to be a new version of the peli
in a backpack form that I never noticed before.

Hope everyone enjoys their collections! That's what counts.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by premium1981

As I promotor, I would think that the goal is to keep people in the building as long as possible and get them to as many tables as possible.

The flip side is that sports card collectors like me who don't want to wade through tons of Pokemon/TCG tables don't enter the building at all....

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by mfw13

The flip side is that sports card collectors like me who don't want to wade through tons of Pokemon/TCG tables don't enter the building at all....

yes they do

[BoSoxFan1999]

For you guys that have attended recent shows and sold to the "Buying at 90%" tables, have these guys been using realistic comps to base the 90% price on? Or are they the types that want to pull the 1 low sale out of a bunch and insist that is the # they use for their 90% offers?

Similarly, has "buying at 90%" really meant "buying Ohtani/Kobe/MJ/*insert hot rookie* at 90%, lower for everyone else" or has it been a true 90% across the board?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan1999

For you guys that have attended recent shows and sold to the "Buying at 90%" tables, have these guys been using realistic comps to base the 90% price on? Or are they the types that want to pull the 1 low sale out of a bunch and insist that is the # they use for their 90% offers?

Similarly, has "buying at 90%" really meant "buying Ohtani/Kobe/MJ/*insert hot rookie* at 90%, lower for everyone else" or has it been a true 90% across the board?

They are basically looking for cards they can put in repack products - so no bulk commons from 1988 topps, preferably graded modern.

They use reasonable comps as well and carry big cash.

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

They are basically looking for cards they can put in repack products - so no bulk commons from 1988 topps, preferably graded modern.

They use reasonable comps as well and carry big cash.

Considering the cards I usually see come out of repacks that probably means they'll take just about anything

They seem to be the realm of "cards you wouldn't buy as a single" like an eighth year auto of a veteran player or similar

[Philthy]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

I have seen a dealer turn down $400 PayPal/Venmo and demand that it be in cash.

I lost a $1k card because of this at a show. I was able to give him roughly half in cash but offered the rest in PP or venmo. He was insistent that it had to be cash (this was after we had already agreed on a price).

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by Philthy

I lost a $1k card because of this at a show. I was able to give him roughly half in cash but offered the rest in PP or venmo. He was insistent that it had to be cash (this was after we had already agreed on a price).

Should've just asked some neighboring dealer/attendee if you could send them PP F/F for cash. Maybe even give them a couple dollars or buy a cheap card for the inconvenience or motivation.

[Philthy]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Should've just asked some neighboring dealer/attendee if you could send them PP F/F for cash. Maybe even give them a couple dollars or buy a cheap card for the inconvenience or motivation.

In hindsight, that would have been a good solution. I go to shows regularly and have never encountered a dealer unwilling to take any form of electronic payment. Next time!

[ScooterD]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

They are basically looking for cards they can put in repack products - so no bulk commons from 1988 topps, preferably graded modern.

They use reasonable comps as well and carry big cash.

I may be a little disconnected to the re-pack thing. Who is doing this now - under what names?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by ScooterD

I may be a little disconnected to the re-pack thing. Who is doing this now - under what names?

There are so many generica names. I know of shops that make and sell and break repacks on their own.

I don’t participate, so I don’t know any specific names off hand, but they are out there.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by Philthy

In hindsight, that would have been a good solution. I go to shows regularly and have never encountered a dealer unwilling to take any form of electronic payment. Next time!

Haha, I've dealt with such dealers. Fortunately, I've always had enough cash to purchase the card/wax I was interested in (probably helps that I'm not looking to spend more than a few hundred bucks at local card shows though).

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by kipgen

Considering the cards I usually see come out of repacks that probably means they'll take just about anything

They seem to be the realm of "cards you wouldn't buy as a single" like an eighth year auto of a veteran player or similar

I saw one of these repackers at a show recently. He had a table with a case filled with a few 100 dollar bills. I was at a different table when he came by to make a deal on 3 x 1990 Leaf PSA 10 Frank Thomas rookies. That dealer had them in his case for months. Repackers like this will continue to do business as such because the degenerates can't get enough of gambling. I would venture to guess that most of the buyers of the repacked product are losing money while the repackers are laughing on their way to the bank.

[Rooftop]

Rinse and repeat, it's a never ending cycle. Problem is, there are a lot of stupid people out there.

[Sonnys88]

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan1999

For you guys that have attended recent shows and sold to the "Buying at 90%" tables, have these guys been using realistic comps to base the 90% price on? Or are they the types that want to pull the 1 low sale out of a bunch and insist that is the # they use for their 90% offers?

Similarly, has "buying at 90%" really meant "buying Ohtani/Kobe/MJ/*insert hot rookie* at 90%, lower for everyone else" or has it been a true 90% across the board?

It varies from buyer to buyer.

But typically, buyers are paying the highest percent for only certain in-demand cards. And no one is going to use the highest comp they find - they'll usually find the average based on the most recent comps, so it's 90% of whatever agreed upon comp the buyer and seller come up with and that can vary widely sometimes.

If you watch some of the bigger buyers on YouTube they typically pay in the 70-80% range for "common" or lower-demand cards overall based on the average comp they can agree upon.

[hammerva]

Has anyone been to any of the Fishtown card shows in the Philly and New Jersey area? It is too far away for given the national is 2 weeks away but curious how they are. Is it the same people at the Philly show in a smaller way or newer people

[jbriskin05]

Originally Posted by hammerva

Has anyone been to any of the Fishtown card shows in the Philly and New Jersey area? It is too far away for given the national is 2 weeks away but curious how they are. Is it the same people at the Philly show in a smaller way or newer people

Im planning on heading there tomorrow so I will let you know when I get back…

[backtothe50s]

Originally Posted by Rooftop

Rinse and repeat, it's a never ending cycle. Problem is, there are a lot of stupid people out there.

This hobby is just one big game of “hot potato”

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by backtothe50s

This hobby is just one big game of “hot potato”

lol @ "this"

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by Rooftop

Rinse and repeat, it's a never ending cycle. Problem is, there are a lot of stupid people out there.

Yeah but not many are as dumb as you!

[Zauron]

One thing I see from videos that I watch, how the heck do all these young kids have so much buying power. Kids casually paying $300 for cards is wild to me.

[anusinha]

Originally Posted by Zauron

One thing I see from videos that I watch, how the heck do all these young kids have so much buying power. Kids casually paying $300 for cards is wild to me.

Because they know they can find someone to buy it for $320.

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by Zauron

One thing I see from videos that I watch, how the heck do all these young kids have so much buying power. Kids casually paying $300 for cards is wild to me.

My first big purchase was $10.00 and I cherished that card for years. I guess I was one of the 'have nots' growing up. I still don't remember any kids running around card shows or shops dropping three figs back in the day.

[kyle1707]

Good friend owns one of the lcs

Says the last few months is the most stuff he has ever seen come in for sale

Every week multiple people selling everything they have

He showed me a box of 40’uptowns and downtowns and other “case” hits . lol

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by kyle1707

Good friend owns one of the lcs

Says the last few months is the most stuff he has ever seen come in for sale

Every week multiple people selling everything they have

He showed me a box of 40’uptowns and downtowns and other “case” hits . lol

man, that is AWESOME!