What does your LCS do?

[Qwikflipz]

So when to my LCS in Lake Orion, MI. Called Prime Time Cards & Comics (I think). And the owner is nice, prices aren't. he had Ultimate at 100 a box, but Ultra at 90 . I spent 40 bucks on 4 packs of 07/08 BD and 2 on 08/09 Masterpiece. Now I understand he needs to make a buck, problem is, there is no like sales, or small cuts of a price. I have bought 13 packs of 07/08 BD from the same box since 2008. He hasn't sold his 1999-2004 packs in over 2 years. Kind surprising he wouldn't just get rid of them for cheap.

So, does your LCS have sales? Or will cut a price down? Or anything.

[MasonRaymond0320]

Mine has sales of cards...if they are in their old uniforms.
But my LCS has made quite a lot of money. They recently expanded the store and made it larger a couple years ago. The owner is nice, but the prices are nearly always pricey. I mean I wouldnt pay $50 for an OPC Premiers of Mason Raymond, when I could buy it for like $25 on here...

Well, the members on SCF always price their cards reasonably cheaply :)
That is also another reason why I love this site.
Andrew

[Qwikflipz]

What about packs? Boxes? I'd love to buy out his 1999-2004 stuff

[rainman67ko]

The overhead on owning a shop is high compared to the margins on new product. These guys have to make money on the turnover of buying/selling collections and singles.

I'm in Pittsburgh, the South Hills area.

The 4 LCS I go to in my area are all distinctly different.

1st and Goal is in the Century III mall and he has great Steelers and Pens Auto's, a decent selection of singles, and the latest Wax product. Mark does what you'd expect a store owner to do... he takes care of repeat customers. Loves to talk sports and sports cards, has a big screen tv with the game on, and runs signing events, card shows, and has packwars and fantasy leagues.

Another is called Sports Cards Etc. This place is like Heaven! They have it all. Singles, Set needs, Vintage, 10 years or more of Wax, Mcfarlanes, Autos, High End graded (new and Vintage). They are a big Becket on line seller, and super high on everything except supplies. I get packs and singles only from here. Sometimes I stop during lunch or on a Sunday. They are in Robinson Twp just west of the city.

There is one in Greentree with some new product, few singles, good deal of supplies, and lots of Magic and Magic gaming events. I don't go here much even though I pass it almost every day.

Then there is my favorite. Collectors Den. John has been in the business since the boom (89-90) and has some inventory to prove it. We went into his basement and he showed me boxes of rack packs with Matingly RC's showing. These old Topps racks were packaged and sold in clear cellophane if you didn't already know. Upstairs he has Cases and Cases of new product delivered alomost every day. He does tons of wholesale distribution. He also has many, many, VHTG Crosby's and Steeler cards in a case. He will probably never sell them, until it's time to check out! What else do you do with Art Rooney 1 of 1 and 1 of 3 cut autos? Display them! How about the elusive Crosby RC NHL Sheilds? Crazy stuff! Lot's of people bring stuff in to sell him. Sometimes there are some gems. I get my best deals here, and it's because I am a regular and have built a good relationship with him. He's a good guy. I help him out sometimes. His store is a mess because he also owns like 10 apartments so he always has Home Depot stuff cluttering the place up. There was actually a toilet on the floor for almost a year. No lie, I could not make that up.

[sko789]

ya, my LCS has scarcely any hockey to start, mostly a big baseball store. I went in couple weeks ago and he had a box of SPA for $130, i was like.....um no... Blowoutcards has it for $101 delivered or something like that, sometimes patience can save you like 30-40 bucks. but i do try and buy from him every now and again, i got a box of champs for like $86 tho i know i could have gotten it for way cheaper on blowout.

[Qwikflipz]

ya, my LCS has scarcely any hockey to start, mostly a big baseball store. I went in couple weeks ago and he had a box of SPA for $130, i was like.....um no... Blowoutcards has it for $101 delivered or something like that, sometimes patience can save you like 30-40 bucks. but i do try and buy from him every now and again, i got a box of champs for like $86 tho i know i could have gotten it for way cheaper on blowout.

They have to be worth more. They need to make money.

[Qwikflipz]

I just wonder why someone wouldn't sell packs cheaper when a box of 24 cards hasn't sold in two years, and shelves of older packs haven't sold in a year or so.

[Goose97]

I just wonder why someone wouldn't sell packs cheaper when a box of 24 cards hasn't sold in two years, and shelves of older packs haven't sold in a year or so.

This may be a preference of your LCS. I know that the three I have three to chose from, all know I could go to their competition if they don't give me the "best price" possible. I'm not out to make them go broke, but I do know what they can do so they don't lose, and I win. If I were to make a point that I've seen things sitting on their shelves for a while, then usually they cut me a deal. If not, oh well.

[doniceage]

Cheryl,
since you mention Lake Orion how come your not going ot Gibraltar it like only 30 miles from where you at right? It all express way pretty much to if I remember right. As my parents lived up in Waterford for 10 years. I don't know why anyone would buy packs when they can get boxes at half the price of LCS dealer. That show boxes have the best prices in the nation about half the time. Not many collectors can get so lucky.

Don

[RtdRSuperstar]

I think a lot of people are very hard on LCS...... at least you have them. Where I live, I have to drive 35-40 minutes just to get to one that sales SOME recent wax. Luckily I have built a standing relationship with the guy who owns the place I go, and he usually calls me first when he gets new stuff in. He'll hold on to the stuff for me. Not to mention that he cuts me a deal (usually 20-40 bucks) when I buy more. It's easier for an owner to do that when you buy more stuff. He doesn't eat so much of a loss.
I think that since there's not that big of a market for sports cards any longer (at least not as big as it was 10 years ago) the owners have to make up for it by making their prices higher. So that when they don't sell a pack of 07-08 BAP they can make up for it for the ones that they HAVE sold.

* THE BIG KEY: Build a good relationship with your dealer... they're a LOT easier to work with that way.