General Forum

Hey guys and gals,

Thanks to the pandemic and baseball games like The Show and OOTP, I dug up my childhood binder of baseball cards and realized I'm now old enough to really appreciate card collecting.

I purchased some blaster/hobby boxes and participated in break-ins and now have a modest catalogue of modern cards. I even found a local card shop and look forward to be a regular customer. I am writing this because I want to ask how can I make the most out of this card shop?

I just want to make sure I don't make rookie mistakes. When I was there selling my Pokemon cards I learned the baseball headperson is a Mets fan so I know if I ever pull a nice Mets card, they'll get first dibs. Outside of that, what does your relationship with your LCS look like? What kinds of cards do you trade and which cards do you sell? If you sell to your LCS, why not just sell on eBay (besides extra cost of shipping/handling)?

Looking to respect the shop owner and the hobby

See how much the card sells for on Ebay and COMC before visiting your LCS. That way you'll see if he's lowballing you or not. You'll also have a better idea what's negociating margin is.

My LCS prefers modern hits so I've traded some MEM, AUTO, SN, etc. for vintage.

My LCS is mostly into wrestling, figures, autographed memorabilia and boxes. They did away with commons about 25 years ago, nothing in the place is under $1, and all the cards in the glass case are overpriced compared to what you can get them for on ebay or Beckett. At this point I only buy binders and pages from them, and if the price is lower or similar to what's online, I buy my Upper Deck hobby hockey boxes from them.

What city is your LCS, Big Ed?  They specialize in wrestling cards, or wrestling figures?  Or both?

I wish I had a LCS, only a SLCS (semi local). You would think that a city of almost 50k would have one... There is one that is games only. I can purchase supplies there but only in bulk. A second store is collectibles and comic books, just no cards. I'm thinking about asking the owner that if someone wants to rid themselves of a collection of cards to offer a minimal price then I would then buy them off him.

I hear you on not having a LCS.  We have a used book store that has very little for new product and supplies.  When something does come in you almost have to be there to buy anything.  I can't fault the owner, he is only a real small business.  I would have to head to the Minneapolis area or Mankato.  Either one is bordering on 150 miles round trip.

 I understand those above- we lost our last LCS a few years ago when the owner- who was a pioneer in the online box breaking game- was offered a relocation deal. We've got over 100k people here in Wilmington, NC and just like Xanadude - we have a small comic shop that doesn't deal with cards or many figures unless it is something newly released eg: Masters of the Universe 

  Apologies as I guess I hijacked your thread and ranted- but everyone gave the same good advice and by the way: Welcome to the Database! 

  Cheers! Becky Elizabeth

Thanks guys for the advice! To those without an LCS, I hope your situations improve.

George's based in the Philly suburbs with two places. They have lots of wrestling figures and memorabilia and get the wrestlers (current and retired) to do autograph shows locally.

switzr1 wrote:

What city is your LCS, Big Ed?  They specialize in wrestling cards, or wrestling figures?  Or both?