Grizzled Tips from a Card Show Veteran

Long before the sun rose Saturday, Nov. 6, I climbed into the car with my brother, Mike, and set out on a road trip from just north of Detroit, Michigan, to a small town in Indiana, Shipshewana to be more exact.

      It had been a very long time for both us since we set out before dawn to head to a sports card show, much less one more than three hours away. But, it was happening this morning and I couldn’t wait to get there.

      The show in Shipshewana, put on by Bee_Sports (IG:@Bee_Sports), was described by friends and colleagues as one of the hidden gems in the community.

      After a quick stop at the coffee shop by the house, and a rest area halfway along the way, we arrived just before 9 a.m.

      Like a pair of kids on Christmas morning, we rushed into the facility, stood just inside the doors and stopped for a moment, looking around and breathing it all in. There are very few places on the planet that I would rather be than at a great card show.

      But, this article isn’t about my day at the card show.

      I will say, though, the show lived up to the hype and was one of the best shows I had been to in a very long time. If you can make the next one, which is slated for some point in early next year, I recommend going. Check out Bee_sports on IG for more information.

      Moving on, his article is a reflection of some of the things I observed during my six hours walking around the show, speaking with dealers and patrons at the event and just being present.

      Being a veteran of card shows, on both sides of the table, since the late 1980s, I’ve seen a lot of crazy things at shows and talked to a lot of interesting and wonderful folks.

      That said, some of what I saw that Saturday in Indiana prompted me to sit down and pen this article.

      Now, I should preface this by saying that I am aware many people joined this hobby community over the last 18 months, most active only behind a keyboard bidding and buying online because of COVID-19.

      The card show is a new experience for these folks, and that’s okay.

      But it’s important we remember what the card show is to the hobby, what it represents and how vital and important it is to the community.

      Simply put, the card show is the lifeblood of the hobby.

      The interactions, the relationships formed (and yes, the hobby is about relationships more than anything else) and the entire experience can’t be replaced by Buy It Now buttons and PayPal transactions between people thousands of miles away.

      Sure this is incredibly cool, and, as a business owner, it’s a game changer, but as a member of the community it can’t hold a candle to a card show experience.

      So, I’m here today to offer some advice to hobby newcomers as well as a brush up to those veterans.

      I saw way too much lack of respect and etiquette at this show, on both sides of the table, and want to believe that it’s a result of lack of knowledge rather than pure rudeness, inconsideration and intolerance.

      So, here are a seven time-tested etiquette tips for both buyers and sellers. And the crazy thing is, the more we adhere to these common-decency traits, the better deals we find and the better relationships we tend to get out of the whole experience.

      1. Say “Hello,” and make eye contact with the person on the other side of the table — Don’t just walk up to a showcase stare at things for ten minutes then walk away. Say hello, ask how things are going, then look at the cards. And dealers, same rule applies. Be engaging. You never know what might come from starting a conversation. We’re a community and communities interact.

      2. Everything is not about comps — If you want to check comps, knock yourself out. I do it at times myself. However, comps are not gospel. A dealer can sell his stuff at whatever price they want, and buyers can buy said stuff at whatever price they want. Don’t act as though everything revolves around the last three eBay sales. If you don’t like the price, engage this person and negotiate. Find out why the pricing is such. If it doesn’t work out, move along.

      3. Lowballs are a low class move and the sign of a true amateur — Want to ruin a relationship before it even starts, insult a dealer with an offer that is, well, insulting. I saw this so many times that I lost count. The card is clearly marked at $100, someone comes along and says I’ll give you $50 in cash. It’s insulting and halts any chance you had at the deal. It may work hiding behind a keyboard once in a great while, and it can be done with bulk deals, but it’s rude and insulting at a card show when it comes to a single card or two. Don’t pay sticker unless you have to, but be reasonable.

      4. Dealers, don’t mark up to knock down — I see this more at smaller local shows than larger regional ones, but I see it nonetheless. Don’t overprice your inventory hoping to con (and that’s what it is) buyers down to market value and present it as a negotiation. It’s a shady way to work, and will eventually lead to people simply walking by your table.

      5. Keep your opinions to yourself when a deal is in progress — I was surprised to see this as often as I did at the show, but it happened. A dealer and buyer would be negotiating fairly and reasonably, then someone would just interject with their opinion. In one instance, this person offered to pay more for a card two others had already started to openly negotiate about. Be respectful of the process. Be quiet and patient and wait until it’s complete, regardless of how it turns out.

      6. It’s not all about the transaction — The cards and price are important components, I recognize that, but don’t turn the card show into a trip to the grocery store. Don’t just walk in, grab the stuff of the shelf, so to speak, and walk out. Start conversations with people, exchange contact information and Instagram accounts, engage other members of the community, become an active part. It makes the who process more enjoyable and strengthens the hobby we all love.

      7. Be respectful of each other — I have a hard time believing I have to remind grown people of such a basic civil principle, but I do. Don’t set down your heavy backpack on the showcase glass at a dealer’s table. Don’t talk down to anyone or be condescending in any way. Don’t (and this actually happened) tell someone their cards are weak and don’t belong at a show because you weren’t able to come to an agreement on a price. And finally, be courteous and kind. Say “thank you,” and “you’re welcome,” and be genuinely appreciative these folks shared their time and thoughts and resources with you.

      Card shows are the lifeblood of the hobby.

      And as more and more things open up, these shows will once again take their place atop the mountain that is this community.

      Despite how many transactions are done online, despite how much money eBay says transacted in sports card sales each quarter — nothing can replace the card show.

      When you feel safe and comfortable — go to a show.

      Whether it be your first one, or you’re a seasoned pro at shows, experience them, enjoy them, and be someone the community would be proud of while your there.

      It’s really not asking much, and it’s really important we all do.