Your first card show: what to bring and how it works
A card show is a room full of tables, each one a dealer with cases of cards for sale. Some sell sports cards, some sell Pokemon and other trading card games, many sell both. Admission is often free or a few dollars. Here is how to get the most out of your first one.
What to bring
- Cash in small bills. Plenty of dealers take card payments or apps now, but cash is accepted everywhere, makes small purchases easy and gives you a little leverage when you ask about a price.
- Your phone, charged. You will look up prices constantly. A small battery pack helps at all-day shows.
- Supplies for what you buy: penny sleeves, top loaders or a small box, so a new card does not ride home loose in a pocket.
- A want list. Players, sets or Pokemon you are chasing. It keeps you from wandering and spending on impulse.
- A bag or backpack, water and something to eat. Show food is often limited.
- Cards to trade or sell, organized, if you plan to. See how to sell at a show.
How prices work
Most cards are priced with a sticker or a note in the case. The price is the dealer's asking price, not a law. Check what the same card has actually sold for recently (sold listings, not asking prices) before you pay a lot for anything. Dealers expect this and will not be offended if you check.
Many tables have bargain boxes: dollar boxes, quarter boxes, discounted bins. They are a good place for new collectors to build a collection without much risk.
Grading basics
Graded cards sit in sealed plastic holders ("slabs") with a label from a grading company that rates condition, usually on a 1 to 10 scale. The best-known names are PSA, Beckett (BGS), SGC and CGC. A higher grade can multiply a card's value, which is why the same card can sell for very different prices raw (ungraded) and slabbed.
- Compare graded cards against sales of the same card, same grader and same grade.
- Raw cards may be cheaper, but check corners, edges, surface and centering yourself. Ask before you handle anything out of a case.
- Some larger shows have grading company booths that take submissions on site. The promoter's page usually says so.
Etiquette that makes dealers like you
- Ask before touching cards in a case or removing them from a sleeve.
- Do not block a table while browsing for a long time if others are waiting.
- Make offers politely. "What is the best you can do on this?" works better than a lowball.
- Do not pitch your own cards for sale to a dealer while another customer is buying.
Timing
Early in the day has the best selection. The last hours of the final day are when dealers are most open to deals, because packing inventory back up is work. Arrive early for a specific card, late for bargains.
Quick answers
Do card show dealers take credit cards?
Many do now, usually through a phone card reader or a payment app, but plenty are cash only and some add a fee for cards. Bring cash and treat anything else as a bonus.
How much money should I bring to my first card show?
Set a number you are happy to spend before you walk in and bring it in cash, in small bills. Most first-timers do fine with a modest budget: dollar boxes and discount bins are where a lot of the fun is.
Is it rude to negotiate at a card show?
No. Polite offers are normal at most tables, especially on cards over a few dollars and late on the last day. Ask what the dealer can do on the price, make a fair offer and accept a no gracefully.