What's wrong with the Vancouver Hobby market?

[neilnijjar]

posted this on a different forum and am curious to see what members here think


Today when I went into OT Cards to grab some boxes I got to talking with Derek about the hobby and collector show (see old thread about the most recent Bossa Show) market in Vancouver.

And we both agreed that the collecting market in Vancouver is a tough one. Collectors (myself included) are very specific in their wants and what they are willing to pay and a lot of dealers are un-willing to bring their prices down to reasonable rates. So both sides are always after a "steal".

Picking up cards for sticker price is very uncommon - is this because dealers know the collectors are looking for bargain prices and need wiggle room or is it the collectors think every dealer is over priced?

Personally I think it all has to do with no legitamate card show on a regular basis. I know we have the monthly Bonsor, but it seems to be on the down turn. But I think it also has promoted this "poor hobby market" culture as well. With no option of wax other than the one table who has a monopoly on wax in the show, and not many dealers having new or even different inventory it makes for a real dull show and the collectors know it (how many Bonsor roll call threads are full of "I'll show up but have every reason not to" posts). With less and less collectors coming to the show it seems as if the community is shrinking or everyone is just keeping to themselves.

Also now with OT Cards opening shop we finally have a decent hobby shop as well (collectors den and pastime sports don't cut it for me). And I think it was great he is trying to do trade nights and group breaks, as to me this is a way for the hobby community to engage with each other.

Sorry for the rant style post (my body clock is still on India time and I end up getting up at 3am for no reason and just stay up all night

Any other local collectors want to chime in?

[RGM81]

Come on down to Kelowna, there's a great shop here.

It's strange to think that in one of the largest cities in the country, that has a very popular team where the loyalty among the fan base is deep (though sometimes fickle, right Roberto?), and all of that stuff going for it just doesn't have a thriving hobby culture.

There's certainly enough collectors in the area but it seems like there's no central thing that everybody can get behind and support. Having a great store helps. Having good shows where there are good cards available for good prices helps tremendously. My LCS guys here say that they used to go down to the Bonsor shows and they were basically rock stars because they had great inventory and could work with people on pricing. But they haven't been to the last couple and by the sounds of things they aren't too worried that they "missed" them.

There's never a "magic bullet" solution to issues like this - people just need to work to build a foundation and get things rolling. Maybe one of you intrepid folks can organize a trader night at some venue and get the word out.

[87sluggo]

There ARE certainly enough collectors in the the area, but we're just a little sick of the same-old-same-old at the shows and the stores. Most of the stores that are still around year after year devote a lot of their space to gaming, but who can blame them, you gotta pay the rent, yes?

And the area is quite large, from Vancouver all the way out to Chilliwack. If you're using transit, you can kiss any hope of visiting more than 2 shops in a day hahahaaa. I live in Maple Ridge and I drive so I'm good...... the closest shop to me is Wiser's in Langley, me and Chris get along pretty ok, but yeah his prices are a little up there. Sometimes I stop in for supplies, sometimes I stop in because he has a card up on eBay that it just seems silly to buy on eBay etc...........

Down the road is Pastime Sports in two locations in Surrey and Langley, they bring in autograph guests on occasion and they have blowout sales and they do framing, but for some reason I can never get myself motivated enough to go, they're just far enough away that it's a chore.

I work in Richmond, I used to go to Collector's Den for my supplies and boxes after work, but they closed down.

There's Wally's in East Van, Wally is a super-nice guy, reasonable prices & good selection and I drive by his place at least every other weekend two hours before he opens :(

Then there's Derek at OT Sports Cards in South Van, just across the bridge from work. Derek knows my name and he saves me Canucks base cards (he's got a 3200-ct box of free base cards sitting there) and he's doing this because......he wants to? His prices on boxes are about as good as you'll get. He's there pretty much 10 or 12 hours a day and he just did a trade night the day UD1 was released. If there's any hope for hobby shops here, he's it.

Are there other shops around here??????




And then there's the monthly card show / semi-annual big card show. Holy crap. I can tell you where every dealer at the Bonsor show is located and what they have for sale. The guy with the binders full of over-priced inserts and jerseys and autos. The guy with the 70's and 80's OPC in piles and piles and piles. The scruffy guy with the stuff with no prices on it and you'd ask how much but in the back of your mind you're thinking "Is he going to ask me to join his motorcycling club?" The guy with the portable table-top display cases full of a wide assortment of junky programs and cards and Hollywood stuff and (once) a Nazi armband?????

I miss Bruce. Remember Bruce? I'd spend $20 or $30 bucks every time on 5 or 6 or 7 cards, he had new singles every time, he looooved to chat. Brain cancer, figures.






The "BIG" show I've mentioned before, it had everything but the BIG. $8 to enter and see......what? The same old sellers plus West's from Calgary and a guy from Kennewick WA, who was the best part of the whole show. $94 to get Pavel Bure's autograph?? THAT will really attract the kids. $40 for Yvan Cournoyer?? $15 for Valeri Bure......the man needs to eat I guess. Free autos from Kirk McLean and Carl Valentine, sooooo ok whatever. There's your entire lineup for the biggest show in Western Canada.





I try to do my bit, I go to the shows (mostly to see the SCF people now) and I go to the stores if they're open and I'm driving by. But geeeeeez, there's a whole eBay store open for me 24 hours a day, and I can shop in my underwear.

[pur3strpker0]

I miss Bruce. Remember Bruce? I'd spend $20 or $30 bucks every time on 5 or 6 or 7 cards, he had new singles every time, he looooved to chat. Brain cancer, figures.

Ah yes. I am saddened by this but I agree that Bruce's table had plentiful of choice ! I spent a good chunk of change everytime I went, never regretted it!


And my contribution:

Ever since OT/Derek has opened for business, I've gone there many more times than any other card shops combined. It takes approximately 1-1.5 hours to get there by transit and roughly 30 minutes by vehicle. I have 3 other card shops around me that are within a 15 minute walking distance that I have not visited in quite some time.

The Bonsor monthly has steadily been worse in my experience. In the past years I would bring X amount and come out with 0. Too much of the same old same old as mentioned above. I spend more time talking with friends than I do buying! I do try to talk to some of the dealers and create a relationship.

It is also pretty obvious which tables are the most popular (excluding Wisers since he technically is the only one allowed to sell wax).

[Gallinator]

I'm stuck here in hockey h-e-double-hockey-sticks Phoenix, but I've loved dealing with Derek at OT - super-friendly, professional, good pricing even with all the extra costs involved, ships quickly and safely. Definitely a plus for Vancouver!

[DnJcards]

At least you guys have a hockey market!! Lol Being a hockey fan in Florida sucks

[87sluggo]

At least you guys have a hockey market!! Lol Being a hockey fan in Florida sucks

It's four degrees celcius here right now. Please......tell me how bad your life is :D

[Gallinator]

It's four degrees celcius here right now. Please......tell me how bad your life is :D

That is why I live in PHX! Ontario-born but can't take the cold!

[DnJcards]

Come on Ed, it's only 21 celcius down here haha and

Paul my wife is from Ontario as well and she is definitely happy to be away from winter!!!

[Kessel_fan_87]

It's four degrees celcius here right now. Please......tell me how bad your life is :D

Come on Ed, it's only 21 celcius down here haha and

Paul my wife is from Ontario as well and she is definitely happy to be away from winter!!!

lol poor guys -21 right now without the windchill. -33 tomorrow with the wind chill. And to too it off no cards in the mailbox today lol