August 12th was Topps' proclaimed National Baseball Card Day, and people who visited card shops on that day could get packs from a special set Topps created for the occasion. I didn't visit my local shop on that day, as my local shop is inconvenient to visit and I have a hard time justifying the markup they charge over internet prices. I also get a weird vibe from the owner that I don't like. The best thing about visiting the local shop is petting the dog, but sometimes the dog bites me.
Anyway, I bought a set of the 2017 National Baseball Card Day cards from an eBay seller. There are 30 cards in the set, one for each team in Major League Baseball. There were also stadium giveaway sets and autographs seeded randomly in packs, but I only picked up the base set. Carlos Correa was the Astros' representative in the set.
The checklist contains an assortment of veterans and rookies. I picked a few of them to scan here. Most of these guys have completed their season for the 2017, hoping for a better run next year.
The representative from the Angels, Mike Trout, wasn't available from packs. You had to spend $10 on Topps products at the card shop to get this card. I got it as part of my eBay purchase. This is a pretty neat little set. I sometimes feel guilty for shopping online instead of supporting the local shop, but maybe if I fit in better with the owner and clientele I would feel more motivated to pay the premium for their products.
If the best thing about your LCS is the dog, which sometimes bites you, then yeah... I think you're decision to by on Ebay is justified.
ReplyDeleteI'm just not a social guy, and I feel weird in the shop. Usually when I stop in, I'm the only customer, and the owner hovers over me in a way that feels antagonistic. He must have enough regulars who spend a lot of money to keep him in business. I remember going to the same shop with the same owner when I was in middle school.
DeleteI went to check out an LCS near me a few days ago. Junk wax cards that I routinely find in dime boxes at shows were $1 each. Relics that show dealers sell at $2 or 3 for $5 were $5 a shot. Why would I want to support that?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like there are still a number of shops that are stuck in the 90's. My local shop is like that. I guess there is still a crowd of collectors here who trust in Beckett and don't do the internet thing, or who get along well enough with each other and the shop owner to justify the premium pricing.
DeleteIt's been a long time since I've purchased cards at a shop. It has recently only been supplies. Cool cards though. I wrote Topps and complained that they left their international customers hanging this year. logistically it would have been too hard and the National piece to NBCD was really focused in the States.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that it would be hard to coordinate things like this across the world. Unfortunately it usually comes down to dollars, and the logistical considerations probably outweigh the benefits from Topps' perspective.
DeleteI don't like the card shops in the US very much TBH. Not enough variety, overpriced, messy, and you often only find one in one city. I kinda miss my time in Japan where I had access to at least 4-5 shops in a single city.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to hear the perspective of someone who has spent time in another country's card shops. That does seem to match the description of most U.S. card shops I've been to.
DeleteIt's somewhat comforting to know that I'm not the only one who feels this way about the local card shop.
ReplyDeleteI can attest to this.
ReplyDeleteThe Astros are off to a good start.
ReplyDeleteThey are, but Cleveland looks pretty tough right now even if the Astros manage to close out this Boston series.
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