General Forum

After years of lockdowns, mandates, masks, silly...silly rules, and utter idiocy....today I went to the Winter Expo in Toronto. For those outside of Canada, and especially the states that don't know, the Expo is basically the Canadian equivalent of The National. I was so looking forward to a day of digging in boxes, looking for mass lots, and pleasant interaction with vendors. Some of which I remember and to my shock they remember me (in particular two guys who always come in from Philadelphia - All Star Sports Cards - , and when I walk up to their table they always greet me with "Hey Tigers guy." Unbelievable when you think of it).  What I got instead was as unrelenting display of absolute corporate excess, seeing vendors taking advantage of kids, and an explosion in pricing that made me do a double take. Hobby Boxes of 2022 Topps Archives, $450; wax packs of late 80s Donruss for $30; boxes of inserts/commons you could dig through for $5 a card; blaster boxes $50-$100. Entire sections of corporate booths and vendors selling extravagant items at even more extravagant prices. I was at a booth where one guy was trying two convince to boys of about 13-14 that they should go get their parents and buy as much from his as they could because years from now all the cards would be worth soooooooooooo much money. I met eyes with one of the kids and just shook my head "no." One guy was selling "Mystery lots" of envelopes for $10 a piece. He asked if I wanted to see a sample of a baseball envelope after talking it up big time. I said sure and he proceeded to open up an envelope that had a few inserts and parallels. He said if I buy 3 I would be guaranteed something big.  I politely passed as his example envelope had in true world value about $2 worth of cards.   By the time I made my way to the 2nd hall (yes this used to be a one hall event at the Toronto International Centre...but more room needed for more corporate extravaganzas) I came to a booth that had a shoe box of baseball among the couples many many hockey. Not a large dealer from the looks of it but a small side business type booth run by a couple. I enquired about buying the shoebox as a lot...something that before the world went to bleep I could get for $40. I plan on starting to trade again soon and wanted some fresh trade stock.  The gentleman said he couldn't let it go for minimum $200. I again politely passed. He asked if my day was going well and I told him basically what I just typed, and that it made me sad. He looked at me with a look of understanding and shook his head yes. I left soon after.

During this time I decided I would only deal with smaller dealers and ignored all the HUGE shops and businesses. Picked up some bags full of random cards for $2 a piece (of which were some nice cards that I will scan in and place for trade over the next few days) and about 10 hand signed Tiger cards from one booth. But overall the experience was a little...soul crushing. I hope to hit a smaller area show soon and see if my experience is any better.

Well...I was thinking about going this year....glad I didn't from your experience.

That's the way I feel about any card trade show.  Sour taste. $$$$$$$. Only $$$. I had fun with a Facebook but.  Drove 40 miles for a binder of Packer cards.  Many Favre and plenty of insets he promised. 

He started at 250.. when I found the post. It was promised at his low price. 150. Final mark down.  Lol

I bought it for $75. Haven't gone through it totally yet. But added 15 cards to my personal collection.  Lots of neat, worthy cards outside of my Topps brand s. I'll use for trade or my charity albums the fun of scavenging home sales. 

Pretty similar experience at the National in Atlantic City back in July. I did buy stuff from 3 or 4 booths, but that was it. The smaller, local shows have been the same - 1 or 2 tables with "my style" and the rest is slabbed or unopened, usually in the 3 figure range.

Looking forward to bubble burst #2 (like the first one we saw in the mid-1990s).

I had wanted to make it up to the show, but alas, my son's soccer team decided that making progress in the state playoffs was more important. Sarcasm, I wouldn't have missed those matches for nothing and bossman didn't exactly like me missing a few hours in the middle of the afternoon so I could attend.

Hearing this just means that going wouldn't have been worth the cost anyways, outside of meeting some members up there. Guess I shouldn't try to make the Spring show. The small shows around here have also fallen into what Dan described. I have a few trusted dealers and I stick to them. They all do vintage. The bling crowd has pushed out several of the other dealers that used to go (my dimebox fix and some vintage) and that makes me sad/mad. Nothing like seeing tables of blasters at 3x cost and their hyping that they can't be found anywhere hence the premium. 

Was debating a Philly show in the spring. 

Like you all I have complained about the shows and dealers around here.     No one bring any Husker cards even thou they know I'm coming and that is what I buy.     Like Dan 95% of the table are not my style.  The others have set their prices way to high if I find a card or two.  The last 4 shows that I have gone to I have only purchased 2 cards.     Long drives/high prices/no cards for me   That is why I have not gone to any shows lately.

Another vote for "I'm glad I stayed home".

Never been to a card show.. They weren't prevalent in Thunder Bay when I was a kid and the closest place for them now is Toronto.. I don't think I would enjoy the Expo or the National just for a people aspect. 

Years ago I went to several shows in a row where I found nothing resembling dime or quarter boxes.  Those were the last shows I ever went to.

Just wanted to say nice move in trying to help those young kids out with a silent warning about the charlatan. Anyone trying to use that old 90s line of cards and money definitely isn't looking out for anyone but himself.