Category Archives: Local Shop

My Surprising Flea Market Experience

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Today was an interesting day. My wife got a tip from a friend that we needed to check out the Texas flea market scene if we want to walk around somewhere and get outside. Naturally, she wanted to go on one of the hottest days of the year, but I relented under the fact that I figured there wasnt much else to do. We ended up at two different places that were close together, and I ended up with two vastly different experiences, one that legitimately surprised the hell out of me.

The first place we ended up at was exactly what I expected a flea market to be like. Dirty sheds with people peddling their junk. There were all sorts of people selling there, and we ended up staying about an hour. There were a few tables I looked at mainly the ones with cards, sports apparel or toys. I found some awesome starting lineups from the early 90s, but they were incredibly over priced. I also found a few interesting McFarlane figures that I wanted, but the Favre that they had was priced 15 bucks above ebay. The funniest shed I went into had a few toys and a case of cards, but the prices were borderline insane. The best of the worst was a Jamarcus Russell Chrome refractor priced at a miniscule $25. This card is now selling at $.50 on ebay regularly. Awesome. After walking around a bit more we left to check out place number two.
Flea Market #2 was actually indoors and a completely different experience than the first. Rather than people who drove their trailers to a designated spot, this place was permanently set up with vendor “shops.” We walked around for a while, stopping at a “store” that was selling kids room decorations, and me finding an awesome place to go when looking to decorate my future man cave. When we thought we had seen it all, I noticed that there was a small door opening into a ridiculously large building that the rest of the market was in. In the middle of this large building, there was a walled off “shop” that I could see hundreds of jerseys hanging on the wall. I made a bee line for the store and walked into a virtual paradise that was completely unexpected. There were authentic jerseys from all four sports lining the walls, and in the middle, there were rows and rows of shirts, accessories and other licensed stuff from just about every team under the sun.
As I walked through the rows, I found a whole row of stuff dedicated to the Vikings, and I started thumbing through every thing I could get my hands on. My wife gave me the stink eye like “ill leave you alone with your stuff” and took Noah to get a soda at the snack bar. After finding a few shirts and stuff, I made my way to the back of the walled off area. Thats when I saw exactly what I was looking for. Case after case of singles and a wall of wax from the three main sports. Expecting ridiculous prices I approached with caution, only to find a ton of high end cards at practically eBay prices. The cards were arranged by draft class, oddly enough, and I started at 2006 and made my way to the present. He had multiple three color Exquisite patch autos of Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin, among others, that I almost jumped on, but I figured that with Topps hitting shelves next week, I could always come back when I had more money on me and more time to look. He had a ton of Emmitt Smith autos and Troy Aikman autos that were cool to see, and even a few Peterson autos that I didnt have. If you are a cowboys fan, this would have been your graceland, and I am dumbfounded why someone like him exists in a market surrounded by fake gucci sunglasses and bootleg DVDs. Funny enough, he had three or four of the dual and quad red ink 2007 Rookie Premiere autos, all legit. Right there, he had earned my respect that just about every show dealer had lost.
My wife came back about 15 mins later expecting me to be done, and was not happy that I had found cards to look at. Noah was getting fussy, so we had to move quickly, and I decided to buy a cool Vikings sideline hat from last year at half price, and come back for clothes when my weight had stabilized. I almost bought some of the massive amounts of current wax he had at just above Blowout prices, but settled on coming back later when I had an idea of what I wanted.
It was impressive and completely shocking that a place like that could exist in a market like it did. He had a TON of customers, more interested in his sports apparel than anything, but his cards were enough to make any collector swoon at what was available at the prices he had. This begs the question of success in an unfavorable venue, especially when you consider that most of the people walking through that market had no interest in what he was selling. Its actually too bad that this place is 30 mins from my house, because I would easily return frequently.
I guess this serves as a lesson to collectors, one should never judge a book by its cover. I did, as I usually do, and I am glad that I gave it more of a shot.

My Reflections on Visiting a New (Horrible) Shop

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Here is a look at my thoughts for finding a good shop – it may benefit you to read the post before continuing here.

I had an experience that I would like to share, one that I regret having. I know there are a lot of shop owners that read this site religiously, so I want to speak directly to them with the hopes that they can avoid this situation.

First a little background for everyone, because I don’t discuss it much here on the site. When I was living in Los Angeles, I made it a point to visit as many shops as I possibly could. Although I don’t really think there is a better marketplace for singles than eBay in the world (likewise with Blowout and DA for wax), convenience is key with a good local shop, and it can be a fun way to kill some time on a weekend. The first store I went to was Santa Monica Sports Cards, which was probably the biggest and most well known shop in LA when it comes to more modern stuff. I liked the size, but the prices were close to outrageous. I only went back once simply due to that Best Buy sort of experience. There were lots of boxes and wax, but the staff wasn’t too interested in me, the one person in their store.

The second place I went to was Beverly Hills Card Shop, and from the get go, I could see that they were more of a place for vintage collectors than anything. They had new stuff and new boxes, but I felt like I really didn’t fit with their target audience. Again, prices were ridiculous, more so than Santa Monica, so I only went back each time the Rookie Premiere rolled around.

The third shop I took a look at was Baseball Card Company in Chatsworth, and I can say that it was definitely the best shop in the area without a doubt. Not only did they have a great selection of wax at close to blowout prices, but the people were nice and interested in establishing me as a regular customer. The staff was chatty, something I valued, and the shop was well kept and usually filled with customers. They also had a “bid board” which allowed customers to consign their cards for auction within the store. It attracted a bunch of people, and was a great place to unload your cards as well as get some great deals. After leaving LA, this shop was my template, as I had spent enough money and time there to feel like they had the business model for others to emulate.

When I arrived and got set up here in San Antonio, I knew I wanted to find a shop here that mirrored at least some of my experience in LA. Even if it was some small shop, I just wanted everything to be good with me showing up to buy some recently released product just to see what was up. I searched on google to find places that peaked my interest, but there really wasn’t much going on. There were a few comic shops that listed sports cards, and there was one particular shop that was listed as an actual card shop. I searched on the forums and found some good reviews of the place, so I thought I would check it out. It was a terrible mistake.

First, the shop was not in the best area of town, and in a very dingy strip mall. The kind you would expect to find a payday loan place residing in. As I walked up to the door, I didn’t actually think there was anyone inside because the windows were practically blacked out. I realize now it was probably for protection against window shopping theives, but after going inside, there wasn’t much to steal anyways. When I opened the door, I was greeted with a foul stench of mildew and some godforsaken scent. It was noxious to say the least, and without even thinking “Is something burning?” shot out of my mouth. “Yeah, incense.” was his response, and I immediately started breathing through my mouth. In fact I think that smell has penetrated my pores because I still get a whiff periodically despite 10 showers in the last few days due to the new baby. Strike one.

As I waded through boxes of old starting lineups and odd action figures, I found it tough to navigate to their small area of display cases because it was so dark in the shop. Obviously the guy had not understood that sunlight helps with bad smells, and was also quite important for customers not looking to kill themselves by tripping on crap. The display cases themselves were filled with all sorts of cards, but when I say display cases, I don’t mean actual installations, but card show displays on a folding table. Yeah, not good. I don’t even think the cards were his, because someone’s business card was all over them taped to the plastic window. I started looking for wax, but all I saw were old boxes of action packed football, some 2003 Topps baseball, a few factory sets, and a sealed box of Chrome from 1999. There was not a recent box in the entire shop. Not one pack. Im not sure if they were sold out of whatever, or if the guy just didn’t buy new stuff, but it was terrible. I had intended to buy a box of something, but that was out of the question without anything recent to buy. Strike two.

Owners, if you have invested the money in a storefront for some reason only you and god know of, at least do your part to make it worth my while to come there. Why would I show up if you arent going to stock recent stuff for me to buy? Yes, keeping a stock of product is time consuming and expensive, but this is a business, and you have a responsibility to get your shit together. What if your local grocery store only kept food from last week? They wouldn’t have any business. What if that store was gross and smelly? Same result. I just don’t understand how anyone could spend that kind of time and then expect people to keep spending their money when the store looks to be in shambles.

The worst part of everything was the prices. Not only were the prices on the old boxes set to prices of recent stuff, but they had to look up every single in the Beckett before selling. I didn’t ask for a price on anything, but the one other person there had a barrage of them. Each time he asked, the guy there would say, “it goes for X in Beckett, so ill give it to you X minus five dollars” or whatever. Give me a break, seriously. Price out the damn cards and label them clearly. If the shop can stand to drop the price on a card or two, say that in the sale. Don’t pee on my leg with Beckett prices and tell me its raining when you chop five bucks off high book. That is highway robbery, especially when you consider the state of that shop’s business store front. Strike three.

On a side note, I didn’t even venture into the back area of the store because there were so many cardboard boxes piled haphazardly on the floor to the ceiling. It looked like war torn ruins, not kidding. It made me wonder why this guy even bothered to come into work every day, maybe because there arent any good options in the city. I actually saw he responded to criticism that was posted on SCF back in 2008, mostly defending a stance that no one made. Someone said the shop was disorganized (it was) and had nothing worth buying (it didn’t), and he created an account to say that none of it was true and that he had just organized and priced thousands of jersey cards for people to buy. He said they bought lots of collections and that he didn’t always have time to get them out in a normal way, but after seeing the store first hand, there was no way any of it was true. I could have been in someone’s garage who just happens to set up at shows once in a while, and I wouldn’t have known the difference.

Lastly, im not sure where the positive reviews came from. I really don’t. There is no way that place could be considered to be a good shop, and I guess will focus on finding another place to buy on whim if and when I actually need to. Speaking of that, I think I owe the guys at the Baseball Card Company an email to thank them for being awesome.

Finding a Good Shop

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Shops do serve a unique purpose in our hobby, mainly because of the assumed retail expertise that they are supposed to carry with them. People like to go to their local shop, hang out, open some packs, and really just take it all in. The problem is, not everyone has the luxury of knowing how to find a shop that is worthy of spending your time in. I have gotten many emails over the years of people asking me what shops they should check out. I think its about time that I list my criteria that I look for, especially when I just want to spend some time around people with similar interests.

Find a Shop In a Good Area

For a lot of people out there, there arent many choices in terms of what local shop you can frequent, even more so now that so many of them are closing their doors. If you live in a big city, there should be more than one, so I would not venture into “that part of town” just to buy a few packs of cards. When I got to California, I searched on google for shops in the area, and boy did I find some that were not in great areas. I drove by a few of them, but I didn’t stop. Why even waste your time? At that point, waiting the few days for your stuff to arrive from eBay or the internet is well worth the inconvenience.

Find a Shop That Takes Care of the Storefront

If the shop owner doesn’t care about his store, why should you? I went to a shop in Minnesota a few years back where I had to step over trash to get into the store. That is unacceptable. Then, the guy had old empty boxes strewn across the store, with his display cases in shambles. I didn’t even say hello before I walked out. Seriously, if I am going to spend more than five minutes in your store, its got to be clean and in tip top shape.

Find a Shop With A Nice Staff

This is almost the most important thing on the list, because without a nice staff, its almost impossible to have a good time. I have said before that shop owners fall into two categories. Old curmudgeons and nice people who will bend over backwards for you. There is no in between. I frequently stop by the Baseball Card Company in Chatsworth here in California, and the guys there are awesome. They know the ins and outs of the business and have really made an effort with each person that comes into the store. They will not hesitate to shoot the shit with you, and they are surprisingly good at remembering repeat customers. On the other hand, I worked a summer at a store in Minnesota that I thought would give me access to good prices on the stuff I liked, but the people who worked there with me were such jerks that I couldn’t stand it. Another store near where I used to live was owned by a guy who was infamous for being an asshole. I didn’t want to give him business because he sucked so much ass. If you are a shop owner reading this, be nice to your customers, even if it seems to be without benefit.

Find a Shop With Current Product

If the shop cant stock the latest releases for whatever reason, its tough to find justification not to go to another store that does. There is a shop in Woodland Hills here who only had wax from two years ago, and it was all way overpriced (ill get to that in a second). If you are going to force me into deciding between 2006 Triple Threads at 300 bucks a box or 2007 Topps Jumbo at 30 bucks a pack, im leaving. If you cant sell what you bought for your store, it’s a you problem, not a me problem. Slash the price, get some money out of it, and stock new stuff. Bottom line.

Find a Shop That Doesn’t Jack Up Prices

There is a difference between a premium retail price and charging way too much. Ill pay a 10-20% premium for retail shop wax because I know people gotta pay rent. But I am not paying 50% more than I would normally spend just because the shop owner thinks he can take me for an idiot. There is no reason for me to be punished for shopping at your store, especially when I can go a plethora of other places that don’t do it. Blowout cards is one click away, and I can order on my cell phone. You may cite that Panini is instituting a minimum retail price point, but I don’t think that will happen for the same reason why I wont pay a ridiculous price for wax or packs that shouldn’t be sold at that price. People hate high prices, so figure out other ways to make money elsewhere.

Find a Shop That Doesn’t Go By Book Value

I hate book value because many of the prices are drawn out of a hat by a disconnected person in texas. That person also answers to a bunch of other factors, like their advertisers, so BV becomes completely irrelevant. A card is worth ONLY what someone will pay for it, so don’t thump your price bible when you want to sell me something. I have gotten emails from numerous shops that have stopped carrying Beckett for that very reason, and they are much happier because of it. Customers are much more willing to barter on sell value than they would be on book value, and most of them think poorly of Beckett these days anyways.

Find a Shop That Treats Its Regulars Like Royalty

Its nice when you find a shop that understands that repeat business is the key to success. I have come across a lot of different people in my quest for a home shop, and I always go back to the ones that help out its repeat customers. A soft price on wax here, free supplies there, etc, etc. All of that is important with building a customer base, because people like feeling important, and people LOVE good prices. I was talking with an owner here in LA that actually would drive cases out to his “whales” when they couldn’t make it out to the store. THAT is customer service.

Find a Shop That Keeps Its Packs OUT OF REACH

This goes double for stores that sell more than cards. People like to search packs, find the thick ones, really get down and dirty in the box. If the boxes of packs are behind the counter, its much better. I think its also important to make sure that the shop doesn’t search the packs itself, as that is always a concern of those tiny shops in shadyville.

Find a Shop With a Communal Area

I have seen shops with leather couches, shops with HDTVs, shops that hold super bowl parties. All of these things are awesome. Couches cost nothing when you have the space, and makes everything seem like that much better of a place to hang out. Plus, with customers hanging around the store, they usually buy stuff, too. Win win situation.

Find a Shop With Food and Drinks

This is playing off the communal area thing, because having a fridge of soda and snacks can be really handy when hanging out. It prolongs my visit, and when you prolong my visit, my credit card takes a few extra punches. This isnt essential, but its nice.

Find a Shop With Events

Events are fun for everyone. Player signings, parties, pack wars, release events, all of these are fun to go to because there are usually a lot of people all there for the same thing. Here in LA, there are shops that have entire weekends built around the rookie premiere, and it is fucking sweet. Last year I met Beanie Wells, the year before, DeSean Jackson. This year should be no different, and I hope I will still be around when it happens again.

That’s what I have for now, but Im sure there are more reasons to go to your local shop. In all honesty, places like Blowout have made retail shops look silly with their prices, especially because they do so well with advertising. I will never hestitate to buy my big orders online, but when I just want a few packs and a place to hang out, the LCS is a much better solution. Im not going to go and spend hundreds of dollars there, but Ill spend enough to make it worth MY while. Plus, its torture to not walk out of the store with a few packs when you have to stock up on snap cases or something similar.

Autograph Opportunity At Beverly Hills Card Shop

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As most of you know, the Beverly Hills Card Shop had Beanie Wells at their store this past thursday, and it was amazing to get to meet him. 

I just got a call from Matt over at the shop, and he said that if any of the SCU readers wanted to go check out the store, he would be happy to give them one of the Rookie Premiere signed photos. 
So, if you are a Cardinals fan, OSU fan, or you just want a free autograph of a top draft pick, head over to Pico and Robertson in Beverly Hills. Tell Matt you read it here, and the pic is yours!
Big thanks to Matt for that!

Special Thanks To Extra Innings Sports Cards

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Last night was a blast, and I want to personally thank Mike and Mitch from Extra Innings. I had one of the best times I have had in a while playing poker with the customers there, and though I didnt win, I came away with some nice stuff.

We played poker for 2-3 hours, with the Top prize being a Panini black box, and second Prize being a box of threads. There were about 6-7 people including people of all skill levels, me being of the lowest talent. The winner’s box had a Mark Hammill Auto from Americana out of 4, a Michael Irvin auto plate from Limited, and 3 or four other cards. The Threads box was sparce, but had two autos in it – no letter. EI will be having stuff like this periodically, ill keep you posted.
Mike and Mitch’s store hasnt been there for quite as long as the Beverly Hills card shop, but it may become my store of choice if I can continue to make the 30 minute drive from the valley. Mike has a lot of wax for you gambler types out there, and may have a few surprises up his sleeve in weeks to come. I always said that there are two kinds of shop owners with no middle, the nicest guy in the world, or the jerk who couldnt give a shit about his customers. Mike is the first one. If you guys are ever in LA and just want to shoot the shit with a guy who knows his stuff, or if you want some packs, boxes, or singles, Extra Innings is a great set up from two guys who are actually up on the goings on of the industry. 
As soon as they get a website, ill post it here. Thanks again for everything Mike, you have my seal of approval any day. 
FYI, Ill have a comparison up on monday, as I was lucky to experience two different kinds of shops this week. Keep a look out for that, as shops have been a focus lately on the blogs. I spent about an hour talking with Matt and Zack from BH card shop and similar with Mike from EI, both with contrasting approaches to their businesses. It should be a fun post to write.