Tips for New Card Show Vendors?

[Mike Bray]

I've never done a show as a vendor, but Paypal makes this little credit card reader that plugs into your phone. A couple of other companies make them too (square is one). They're free to get and it Charges the same fee (I think, believe it's 2.7%) paypal normally does but let's someone pay right there with their credit card. Seems like a no brainer for a rookie dealer to me!!

Yes - be able to take credit cards -- you just dont know how many additional sales it can bring you until you get a card reader --

[grandmastablank]

Organize your cards!! They don't have to be in numerical order, but I'm a big fan of team sections, rookie sections, game used, etc. I hate walking up to a table and seeing 30 boxes I have to dig through just to find out you don't have anything I want. I'm more than willing to look for a while if you can show me where I need to go, though.

[cujo31ne]

I'm not a fan of prices on cards, or at least from the shows I've gone to, people price them according to the Beckett magazine (which I think is a crock), and they expect triple what I can get it for on ebay. If I see a card I want, I usually look on ebay and offer what they've sold for, especially if it's not a rare card.

Maybe I'm just cheap, but if yours is more than the cheapest buy it now on ebay (including shipping fees), I'll be buying on ebay.

I have all my cards entered into an excel sheet, so it's easy to add and delete cards that are bought or sold. I can do quick searches on whether or not I have that card, that set, that year, etc. if I were to set up at a show I'd bring my laptop so if someone asks if they want any Jake Allen cards, I can search and tell them an easy yes or no.

[Cartophilium]

Valuable advice has been offered about the basics of selling BUT before selling you have to define yourself as a seller at card shows. Is your intent to become a regular card show vendor, an occassional card show vendor, a social card show vendor?

Do you sell online, including eBay, operate an ongoing retail store or define yourself as a collector dealer?

You should have clear answers to these questions before trying your hand at selling at card shows.

[FrankToronto]

This is great stuff, guys! Thanks!

Once I put this all together, I'll share with you to review.