-
Your Personal Show Strategy
The card show question got me thinking about something else…
What’s the one thing you ALWAYS look for first when you walk into a card show?
Do you head straight for your favorite player or team? Hunt for bargains? Look for numbered cards? Dig through dollar boxes? Search for Pokemon? Or do you just walk the entire show once before spending a dollar?
I’m curious because I feel like everyone has their own strategy, and some people probably have a very specific “mission” the second they walk through the door. 😂
What’s your first move?
-
8 Replies
-
honestly im still figuring this out. In october ill be attending what i call my first show. I went to one and its was a bummer that it put a bad vibe to me so i havent gone to one again yet. plus to be honest for some reason i feel intimidated with sports card shows. one of those like what i have isnt good enough kinda mind. thats a me problem to get over.
-
Honestly, I think a LOT of collectors probably feel that way and just don’t say it. There are some incredible cards at shows, but that doesn’t mean you need to have a six-figure collection to belong there.
I’d go into October with the mindset that you’re there to look, learn, talk to people, and hopefully find something you like. Your collection doesn’t have to impress anyone else to be worth collecting.
And honestly, the first bad experience may have just been a bad show. Give yourself another shot. I think you’ll have a completely different experience once you find your comfort zone.
-
thats what im gonna do.. plus hoping some other local people i follow end up going to run into them. Its crazy though that in my normal job of running my own lawn and landscape biz nothing is scary to me or such but enjoying this hobby and trying to make some moves is so overwhelming at times.
And i plan to go the two days and walk it and maybe get a couple cards. for sure going to step out of comfort zone some and talk to people. vendors and even other people there like me. also one of the co host of it told me on instagram that if i wanted they would take a little time and meet up with me and introduce me to some people.. That i wasnt expecting. I think deep down part of it is the drama and some of the negative happening is bleeding over and making me be cautious
-
-
-
With my kids i look for tables that participate in a kids bingo if the show does it or something similar to involve kids. For myself I look for tables that look like they are veteran owned. I also look up vendors beforehand to see if there are any veteran owned going to be there so i can go to those table and chat and share stories.
-
That’s a really cool way to approach shows. I especially like the kids bingo idea because it gives kids something to actually participate in instead of just tagging along while the adults look at cards.
And seeking out veteran-owned tables is a great personal connection too. At that point you’re not just shopping for cards, you’re finding people you already have something in common with. I bet some of those conversations end up being more memorable than the cards you bring home.
-
Yeah I love the kid bingos some shows do cause gets the kids involved like you said. Plus the kids get a prize for finishing the bingo card.
I like doing the veteran based vendors because its interesting to hear their stories and hear how they got into the hobby.
-
-
-
For me, I think it’s important to have a couple of things. First would be a budget. Know what you have to spend and are comfortable spending. Sometimes there are things that can make you go over budget, but unless you find something too good to pass up, set a budget and stick to it. Second would be an idea of what you are looking for. If you are looking for a specific player, team, set, etc, focus on finding those and don’t get distracted by FOMO items that you may regret later. Plus, this gives you something to engage with the dealers about.
On the opposite end, i would say thing it is important NOT to have would be expectations. Don’t expect to find your holy grail. Don’t expect to find things priced under comps. Don’t expect dealers to move on their prices. All of these things can and do happen sometimes, but when you don’t have the expectation, it becomes a great experience when they do.
I would say if you find something you are looking for at a price you are happy with, grab it. More than likely, if you decide to explore the entire show before spending money, when you circle back, it will be gone.
I will say, I think most dealers (not all) look forward to engaging with customers. I would suggest talking to dealers and making interactions, not just transactions. Ask them how the show has been. Talk about current sports or the state of the hobby. Compliment them on their setup. If they have a nice case, beautifully organized with portable lights and nicely sorted value bins, let them know you see the time and effort they put in. This is how you make connections and how you get a richer experience from these shows, imo.
-
I really like the “don’t have expectations” part. That’s probably one of the easiest ways to make a card show more enjoyable. If you go in expecting to find a grail at a steal, you can leave disappointed even after having a great day.
And the point about talking to dealers is spot on too. Some of my favorite show experiences have come from conversations that had nothing to do with actually buying a card. You never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll run into when you treat it as more than just a shopping trip.
-
Log in to reply.