Card Shop Frustration

[thebear29]

Alright, I am going to vent a little....My wife and I went to Charleston this weekend and while there we visited a card shop....I went in looking to buy a couple of boxes, because I rarely get to visit one. So I go in and notice the prices are quite high. So I'm talking to one of the guys that works there about Mountaineer football and the upcoming basketball season, and a guy checks out and he gets 20% off his purchase of a box of Threads priced on the box at 119.00. So since he got his box for less than a Franklin, I decided to go with 2 Threads and 2 Topps Update Jumbo which was priced the same at 124.99. So he rings me up and gives me the total of over 500. And I ask they guy if I got the 20% off. He responds with...Since you are not one of our regular customers I can't, but if you come back in the next couple of days and buy more boxes I can give you 10% off. I then ask him....Why did they customer who checked out 2 minutes ago get 20% off?...He responds...He was my buddy.....Now I'm all for everyone making money....And I will overpay for convenience...But I will not be *itch slapped by another man in public....So I didn't buy any of the boxes....I own two businesses and I know this is no way to run a business....

[hockeyjunkie99]

Well, my LCS shop has the option of having membership fees. They price boxes, packs and their cards that are for sale three ways. Regular Retail/Gold Member 10% off/Platinum Member 20% off. I am a Platinum Member because I frequent so much so its worth it for me to get the better discount. I think its $15 to be a gold member & $25 to a platinum member and its a yearly membership fee.

Now if I spend $500+ at one visit I'll get 25% off.

Now if the only reason the guy gave a 20% discount was because it was his "buddy" that is bad business. Good thing you didn't buy anything. That is a $100 difference. Plus Tax of course....lol

[mrhuffman85]

Originally Posted by thebear29

Alright, I am going to vent a little....My wife and I went to Charleston this weekend and while there we visited a card shop....I went in looking to buy a couple of boxes, because I rarely get to visit one. So I go in and notice the prices are quite high. So I'm talking to one of the guys that works there about Mountaineer football and the upcoming basketball season, and a guy checks out and he gets 20% off his purchase of a box of Threads priced on the box at 119.00. So since he got his box for less than a Franklin, I decided to go with 2 Threads and 2 Topps Update Jumbo which was priced the same at 124.99. So he rings me up and gives me the total of over 500. And I ask they guy if I got the 20% off. He responds with...Since you are not one of our regular customers I can't, but if you come back in the next couple of days and buy more boxes I can give you 10% off. I then ask him....Why did they customer who checked out 2 minutes ago get 20% off?...He responds...He was my buddy.....Now I'm all for everyone making money....And I will overpay for convenience...But I will not be *itch slapped by another man in public....So I didn't buy any of the boxes....I own two businesses and I know this is no way to run a business....

Does this certain card shop start with Col? If so I know the one that you are talking about. I happen to get %15 off of my stuff there, but its only because when I first started going, I dropped a few hundred every week. It is overpriced, but they are competitive on a select few items. When I first started going I didn't know about the discount, but it would be a slap in the face if something like that happened on my first visit.

[thebear29]

Huff...I knew you would be on that one....Good call....Looked like their football was priced better..But I'm a baseball guy.

[jacobbigshow]

Here is a good question, why buy the boxes at the hobby store? Doesn't blowout have better prices on bascially everything? I haven't been to a card store in probably 10 years.

[mrhuffman85]

Originally Posted by jacobbigshow

Here is a good question, why buy the boxes at the hobby store? Doesn't blowout have better prices on bascially everything? I haven't been to a card store in probably 10 years.

That is what I have been doing lately. In fact, Chad (the guy who owns the card shop in question) actually called me the other day asking where I have been, because I haven't been in in about a month. I just picked up 6 boxes of TNA wrestling for $37 each while he wants $70 each for them at the shop. I am not usually good at waiting for shipments, so I would usually bust at the shop.

[hockeyjunkie99]

Originally Posted by jacobbigshow

Here is a good question, why buy the boxes at the hobby store? Doesn't blowout have better prices on bascially everything? I haven't been to a card store in probably 10 years.

I haven't been ripping too much lately. I think its more convenience than anything else. Since I rip mostly hockey the prices are pretty competitive, especially after my discount.

[Zerokruel]

Originally Posted by jacobbigshow

Here is a good question, why buy the boxes at the hobby store? Doesn't blowout have better prices on bascially everything? I haven't been to a card store in probably 10 years.

I dunno, I like the environment of hanging out cracking with guys and having a good time. Seriously, it's like cheers but without the alcohol at the one I go with. But, since I'm a former employee and have kwown everyone there for over 20yrs my pricing is very competitive. So I have no complaints.

[thebear29]

Yes they do....But when I go shopping with my wife and you have the urge to buy a box... Blowout can't deliver it within the next 10 minutes....It's just it's there and you buy...sort of like an impulse....My complaint isn't actually the price because I would have probably bought two boxes until he gave me the my buddy reasoning. I probably make 85% of my card purchases through BO because of the price and confidence in the product....But they can't be there on the shopping trips.

[Highcheese4U]

We have shops like that here too. Thing is, its really hard to trust anyone nowadays... Hobby shops can be great if you are long-time friends with one or you buy a ton but if you aren't-forget it because you probably won't ever get any inside info/perks like the 'regulars' do. The honest ones are very few and far between if you ask me.