What I've Learned From Sports Card Shows

What I've Learned From Sports Card ShowsThe past two months have seen me take the plunge into a new venture. I decided to try my hand at selling sports cards at shows here in the city. Collecting is nothing new to me. I have done it since I was a little boy. The idea of trying my hand at selling had kicked around in my head for some time as well but it was only a couple of months ago that I decided to go for it. The ensuing article will be a summary of my main takeaways and points of learning which can be serviceable in many facets of both my professional life and yours as the reader of this piece.

Scuttlebutt

Scuttlebutt was the pirate's term for rumors, news, Intel etc. Taking this definition I shall submit that scuttlebutt is a critically important part of the sports card business. At these shows, you will encounter many dealers many of whom boast decades of experience in the business. With that experience comes a wealth of knowledge that can be of great use. This can range from price trends of cards, a player who is flying under the radar of the wider collecting community and so forth.

How to go about collecting scuttlebutt? The easiest way is to do what the pirates did. Talk to people. Yes these other dealers were competition in that they were selling cards and so was I, but they were also knowledgeable and enthusiastic collectors and sports fans at heart. Most card dealers are. I found it easy even as an introvert to strike up fascinating conversations that supplied me with ample scuttlebutt and more importantly enriched the experience. It didn't matter that we were of different generations, cultural backgrounds and what not. I highly encourage you to strike up these conversations with dealers and attendees at these shows. You'll come out of them armed with great intel on cards and find it increasingly easy to stumble upon greatly invigorating conversations.

Negotiation Skills

It goes without saying that selling requires the ability to negotiate. This is true as can be at card shows as well. Remember that the attendees at these shows are in the main either dealers looking for items to flip or hardened veteran collectors. Both of these groups are strong negotiators. Your skills in the art of haggling will get a workout and you will find any manner of negotiation tactic used at any moment. You will find the tough, abrasive negotiator, the charmer, and so on. To succeed you must be able to adapt to each style and hold your own.

Now for some advice. First of all, make sure you have a good idea of an acceptable price range for each item and stick to it. You do not have to say yes to every deal. In fact, walking away can sometimes be the leverage you need. That said, keep an open mind. You may be offered a trade, or a cash and trade arrangement and if there is opportunity pounce on it. Be flexible in that sense because it gives you more options to find a mutually beneficial deal. Also, do not be afraid to instigate a negotiation. Some people may show interest in an item but may not like the price and simply walk away. Before they have a chance to walk away a quick "if you're interested in those we can work out a deal" may be the opening needed to work something out. Be proactive in this sense. Finally, be courteous and professional but also firm. Bring your knowledge to bear and establish right off the bat that you know your craft and are not going to be suckered into a bad deal. All the while, always treat your interlocutor with respect and show an open-minded attitude. It will win you respect and get you a deal.

Organization and Attention To Detail

I found that people would often ask, "do you have so and so?". Do you have player 'so and so'? If you are disorganized you may but not realize it and miss out on a potential sale. A messy and badly presented table also repels customers. There are many other vendors there that do have their items neatly organized so naturally they will go there instead. That said, organization is more than just how your table looks. Do you have a clear record of what you sold? For how much? Can you clearly and easily assess how you did? How do you store your cards? Are they well protected or do you often damage them inadvertently and so diminish their value? Ask yourself all of this. It makes a big difference between success and failure.

Attention to detail also matters. When you buy cards do you pay attention to surface wear, how the corners look, whether or not the card is off center, asking price versus book value etc.? If not you will often find yourself overpaying for items and so sabotaging your own chances at profit. Also, do you do your homework and research your cards? What do you know about the players, the set the card belongs to and so on? Does it have an error? Ask all of these questions and be prepared to use this knowledge in negotiations as discussed earlier. Always be well documented about your cards because it will allow you to be more authoritative when negotiating and fascinating when people talk to you. This is how you get steady customers. When people admire and respect your knowledge and find the interaction with you pleasant and stimulating, they will want to come back.

Conclusion

Everything I have outlined above is of vital importance in the card business. These points however also have implications in one's other professional endeavors. We have all heard that knowledge is power. It is in any walk of life. It is also true that much knowledge comes from people. This means one must be able to reach out, to have meaningful interactions with others and exchange information effectively. Remember, to get one must also give.

I have also heard it said that life is a negotiation. Many of us negotiate in some way in our day jobs. We negotiate deadlines, project costs, salaries etc. To do so effectively requires the ability to defend a position elegantly but firmly. It requires a strange mix of rigidity and flexibility that is so familiar to the vendor. It requires keeping knowledge and the ability to articulate it effectively. Whether it involves negotiating with the children at home or with clients, bosses and so forth at work life is an extensive set of negotiations.

Finally, being attentive to detail and well organized is the hallmark of the professional. People trust those who show they can administer small things like keeping a clean desk, knowing where important files are etc. People grow to admire those who can see little things that others miss. To grow in life requires careful accumulation of knowledge in one's chosen subject areas and a well planned, well defined approach to life and its challenges.

I hope you have seen the great value which I have derived from my experiences at the card shows. I hope you will find them rewarding also through the article which you are reading now. I hope you see the immense opportunities for learning that can be derived from a childhood hobby and other unexpected avenues.

I hope you have seen the great value which I have derived from my experiences at the card shows. I hope you will find them rewarding also through the article which you are reading now. I hope you see the immense opportunities for learning that can be derived from a childhood hobby and other unexpected avenues.