The Whole Story

I’ve been watching a lot YouTube lately, which indicates that I both enjoy watching these “influencers” wheel-and-deal their way around huge card shows, and that winter is here and I have put my golf clubs away for the season. 

Either way, we can all learn a lot from watching these guys (and gals), maneuver their way around a show floor — and then hardly ever use that knowledge.

I am here to tell you, after nearly four decades of attending card shows, negotiating back-and-forth with dealers and sellers alike — I can count on one hand the number of times big deals have gone the way most of these folks seem to have big deals go — and they have it happen multiple times in every show. It’s incredible! 

I’m jealous!

I’m stumped!

I’m leery and skeptical of the validity of some of these multi-thousand dollar deals going so smoothly and so quickly. But, hey… let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.

If I jog my memory, most of the deals I’ve been a part of for the amount of money we’re talking about here in these videos, weren’t quite as seamless, to say the least. 

Math is hard, and there’s always a lot of mathin’ going on in bigger, more complex deals… yet these folks always seem to have the numbers all worked out, complete with percentages and all. It’s remarkable — truly. 

And is it me or do I never see actual cash getting exchanged. 

There’s a lot of “Deal, $25K for the lot” (insert shot or ceremonial handshake answer smile) then cut to the next table and do the same thing all over again. 

I would like to actually see someone pay for these cards or pay a seller actual cash at some point. 

I’m waiting for a Youtube channel that has little more honestly in it, actually. 

Show me a video where a deal doesn’t get done because the valuation is crazy, or the PayPal doesn’t go through, or people argue about comps or a soft corner. I think it’s safe to say more deals not get done than do, if I’m being honest. 

Let’s see deals where these folks do in fact get hosed on a card — hey, it happens to all of us, why not these folks? 

I truly do appreciator the hard work these folks out into producing these videos, and most of these people are very entertaining and border even on inspirational — they really do. 

But, are they a reflection of the hobby?

Absolutely not.

Like most things we watch on television or stream on our devices, they’re edited to appear like everything is well — it’s not always like that. 

So, here’s my challenge to the YouTube community.  — tell the entire story for once, please.