Baseball Card Shows

Baseball card shows can be a fantastic place to find valuable cards at affordable prices. While baseball card shop owners are saddled with paying considerable overhead - rent, electric bill, employee wages - the dealers behind tables at card shows are paying only for their table fee. As a result, they don't need to lock in a certain profit margin in order to just pay the bills. Even eBay dealers are kicking around 15% back to the house (depending on sale price, of course). Going to a card show represents an excellent opportunity to pick up cards without spending too much on middlemen.

Tip #1: Bring a Beckett or other value guide. You need to be able to quickly determine the real value of your potential acquisitions. If you don't have one, you can always find one at a bookstore or possibly even at the show. It is important to at least appear educated, so carrying it with you will let dealers know that you aren't here to be duped.

Tip #2: Shop around. You see an old Babe Ruth card you really like? Take a close look at the card, find out if the dealer can be flexible on the price, and move on. You may see the card at other tables, and the dealer may be even more flexible on price if you are the only potential customer who has shown interest in the card. When you return to close the deal, know what you are willing to pay. If you have an entire Saturday to waste, consider coming back later, when dealers find themselves a bit more antsy to make some sales and realize that the cards they are left holding won't move unless they lower prices a bit.

Tip #3: The best values come late in the day. As the day drags on, many dealers (even experienced ones) will decide that they need to make some additional sales or their day was a waste. Find those dealers.

Tip #4: Make a friend. Baseball card shows are excellent opportunities for baseball card shop owners to build awareness and meet potential customers. Chat up those tables owned by shop owners. Their desire to build longer-term customers may be enough to give you the break you are looking for on that 1991 Bowman Pedro Martinez.