Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ EBay vs Card Shop: Good, Bad & Ugly

Fifteen years ago, it was the card shop, the show or the mail order dealer. Then came eBay, rocking our world. So what's your move these days?

by: Patrick Noll

Chances are if you collect sports cards, your source for picking up new items starts (and ends for many) with eBay. After all, why would you seek out a card shop or show to feed your addiction when it's so convenient to buy online?

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Sports Collectors Daily
Sept. 3, 2008

I really only use eBay to shop for singles of maybe 1-2 players I collect and buy my boxes from Blowout Cards, my hobby shop I have nearly stopped going to since they sell their singles for full bv and their boxes are nearly $40-50 more than Blowout so it's just not even worth it to waste my gas anymore

I have been to one hobby shop in erie. and the only reason i have gone there again is because of the decent prices on supplies. but boxes i won't buy there cause as also the boxes are around 20 dollars + over what i can get it shipped from blowout. I don't mind paying around 10 dollars over what the box sells for online. but when it gets crazy i just stop. Aslo the singles are high. and not many of them. i admit i have overpaid for two but that is about all i am buying ever.

Well the card shops in my area are pretty bad. Both are big into Magic, Pokemon, etc. And, the one that actually has a decent supply of football stuff specializes in UGA alumni and Falcons players. The only thing I get from there are supplies and the occasional pack.

I like to support the local shop. Lucky for me, his prices on new stuff are just about dead even with dacardworld.com and blowoutcards.com. When a new product starts to take off, he's actually cheaper at times. However, as prices drop like a rock (most basketball products), it becomes much cheaper to buy online.

I get new products and supplies from the shop. Singles I get off eBay. And older products usually come from dacardworld.com or blowoutcards.com

Actually I use TCC

But seriosuly, I don't use ebay that much i use sportlots.com more often than that. However, i'm on a buying hi taus from the hobby. Now since i have more of a social life I really don't want to spend as much money or time at my card shop. I'll still go to his packwars but not much more than that.

My local shop is very small but the owner has a lot of stuff, is personable, and very fair on most things. I buy boxes from blowoutcards, the occasional auto, patch, or last few set fillers on ebay, and the rest from my local shop.

I was in another city over the weekend and checked out a card shop. It was the second time I'd been in there and the experience was the same. No one spoke to me, there were no customers in there, cards were being sold at or near BV, but they had a ton of nice cards. Too many nice cards if you ask me. I find it hard to believe they all came from randomly opening boxes if you know what I mean. I just had the feeling they were searching cases/boxes. I'd be willing to bet no one has ever pulled a letterman auto from that store. I'm not basing it on any first hand knowledge. Just a gut feeling...

For singles or set fillers I need I usually hit sportlots or the bay!

For boxes and unopened stuff I stick with the people I know.

Diamondcards and Shawn would be prime examples. Even today I have expanded to him mailing boxes as opposed to my semi-monthly visits back home!

Locally there is one good shop left in st Louis and he will usually be competitive to within $5.00 which is not that much to pay! But if you do not tell him you want something in advance odds are there will not be any left for you! (he doesnt overbuy and set on inventory)

AceCards I didnt know you lived In Mo I live about one and a half hours away from Stl what all good things do we have around up there Like any flea markets or anything that sells sports cards or what ?? LMK if you want through a PM thanks

I get most of my singles from Ebay now. I have 2 shops that I go to in my area (there are more I havent visited yet), but they both carry about the same cards. My main shop never has any highend FB and the prices are usually 10-20 higher than anywhere else. Shop 2 carries a few different things, but specializes in comics, pokeman, etc. Between the 2, I find what I need, but I'm going to look at buying boxes online from now on. More selection, better pricing, and home delivery. The only drawback is that I will have to wait on the delivery.

I prefer to go to the local card shop b/c he goes to shows and gets really good deals on stuff and doesnt mind selling it to me for $10-$20 more than he paid for it. Then I usually selling about 10 cards out of the lot he sells me to get all my $ back, then the rest are considered "free".

will never buy boxes from ebay again here is a "Factory sealed" box i bought a while back

i do support my local shop owner although his prices are a little higher i dont have to wait around for shipping and dont have to pay shipping.

as far as singles it is either the shop, he is very easy to work with, or ebay, can sometimes grab some great deals

will never buy boxes from ebay again here is a "Factory sealed" box i bought a while back

I am HOPING that was a joke!

If not, I would definately file some Paypal charges on that clown.

I am HOPING that was a joke!

If not, I would definately file some Paypal charges on that clown.

Claim was filed then the seller turned it into a dispute or whatever way it goes.

there were some lose cards in the box but i wasn't taking the chance on opening it up to find some base cards or whatever he/she threw in it

I hit up ebay for singles and that is it... boxes would be from Blowout... used to go to the shop for supplies and boxes, but his prices were a ripoff... But its nice to go in and chat for awhile and hang out a bit.. usually when I do that I grab a box or so.

Ebay def changed the way we buy cards. Now everytime I go to the card store, I would look at the price and then subtract $3.00 and see if the new price is comparable to what I can win on ebay. But card stores are still good for bargin bins and card protectors. The best thing also, is that you can see first hand the card that you want. Also, some card stores have experts who knows a lot if you wanna talk.

Ebay is definately good for singles that you can't find in your local stores. I would utilitze both options.

i happen to love ebay, i find local dealers are selfish and rude
but that just might be where i live

One have 1 good shop in my area. Nice to deal with older owners then some on epay. Like going to the mall shows area conventions in Philly area to see what they got in person & not get that feeling of getting ripped off over the web like some do.

God!, I miss the shop.

Collect Hard!,
RGBII