And why should i support my local LCS

[ts-jersey1]

I am all for supporting my LCS really i am, but i am getting more and more frustrated with doing so.

I am wanting to buy another 10 Boxer of ITG Used, my LCS is $1XXX a case and $150 a pack, im sorry but that is just insane!!!

Why would i buy from my LCS when i can get it online, yes in Canada for $200 cheaper for a case, yes that would also include the tax and the delivery.

Ive had this issue for some time with the owner and im more and more frustrated.

Supplies are more $$ but heck i don't have a choice on that one, cuz really it doesn't make much sense to buy them online (unless i buy bulk) which i really
don't want to do.

Yes i know 1 benefit for buying at the LCS is i get the product same day, but i also know i can buy it from another spot 1 hr away and save $100 on anything.

And then there is online, i can buy it coming from across Canada and i could have it here within a week.

This makes me wonder as to why exactly should i support my LCS:foottap:

 

[99wgretzky99]

I understand your frustration but I'd have to think there are many factors involved.

I'd assume most LCS follow a suggested retail price as requested by the manufacturer of cards. Plus you could add overhead and rent too.

An internet business (assuming it's not an actual store front) has fewer expenses.

 

[FrozenInferno]

I live three hours away from a card shop and aside from a few packs I've never busted a box at a brick and mortar store. I might get to an LCS once every couple of years, and each time I tell myself I'm going to try a box of something, but when I stand in front of the shelf and see the prices I just can't pull the trigger.

I'm sure there are more than enough reasonable shops out there with prices I could stomach, but not this particular one near me. I can get Product-X online for $120 delivered, while the same box is $170+ taxes at the shop (just a rough example). Factor in the three hours driving and gas money and it's just not reasonable.

I absolutely believe in supporting your LCS. Ten years ago when I was a poor student I had a great LCS about a half hour from here and if it was still around I would gladly support it (within reason), but I missed out as it shut down long before I had disposable income. Sometimes, in a small town especially, it's a catch-22: shops have to charge a lot to pay the bills and at the same time there aren't enough people willing to pay that price so the doors close. It's too bad.

 

[Leafsfan1967]

I don`t feel obligated to support any business, especially if I`m a frequent, good customer, and they don`t recognize that at all. This has happened to me a few times over the years with different LCS. I`ve always been loyal to a certain couple stores, but when I found out they were gouging me horribly, I walked out, and never went back to either of them. Imagine buying all your wax, supplies, singles, and Becketts at one store, and then walking into a weekly card show, and seeing SP Authentic at $110-$115 a box, and you`ve been paying $175-$180 for the same thing from your LCS? I know the card store has more overhead than a guy renting tables every week, but charging a customer that much more a box, when they buy every release, and all the other goodies is just stupid business sense. That idiot is no longer in business, and hasn`t been for years, and I don`t feel a bit sorry for him. You deserve that fate when you bite the hand that feeds you with greed. There`s other stories as well, but I don`t feel like typing anymore.

 

[BravesFan4Life]

I will open stuff or buy singles even if slightly over paying. I opened almost 7 boxes of Totally Certified...at 80 bucks a box compared to 72 online but i figured i will support the LCS even if I am out almost 60 bucks. Good people trying to earn a living. .

 

[FrozenInferno]

I will open stuff or buy singles even if slightly over paying. I opened almost 7 boxes of Totally Certified...at 80 bucks a box compared to 72 online but i figured i will support the LCS even if I am out almost 60 bucks. Good people trying to earn a living. .

A differential of eight bucks between the online and in-store price is nothing, I'd buy lots of wax from an LCS for prices that good too. The LCS near me would probably charge over $100 for the same box.

 

[ts-jersey1]

And i would do the same, if i just bought 1-2 boxes $5-10 more per box fine. But when i want to buy a case of something and i know i can get it up to $200 cheaper well, that $$ is better in my own pocket

 

[FrankToronto]

Looking at the first example, I don't think it's a question of choosing LCS versus online. It's a question of whether that LCS charges ridiculously more than other LCSs. That's when you order online if you don't have another LCS as an option.

When the price differential is marginal then buy from your LCS. That little extra goes a long way and you can rip your wax that very same day.

 

[mikeydcalgary]

Your LCS is at the going rate for the product. Don't expect your LCS to be able to match the prices for these guys who sell out of their basements with no overhead to deal with. There are other online sores in Canada who are going out of there way to undercut the brick and mortars.

I will break this down for you guys:

Wholesale cost on a 10 box case of ITG Used: Approx: $1205 inc GST

So if online store is selling it for $1250 inc GST that means they are making $45 on a case before shipping. Lets say shipping is $20. That means the profit is now $25. Divide that by 10 boxes per case and the online store is making a whopping $2.50 per box.

How can you expect a brick and mortar store to match those prices and survive? So keep that in mind if you think your LCS is being insane with their prices.

I honestly am getting sick of the lack of support for the LCS. They are part of the lifeblood of the hobby. Other than card shows they are the only real place where you can interact in person with other collectors. Without them and card shows we are just going to be a bunch of guys sitting behind computers collecting cardboard and opening boxes in our living rooms.

 

[oilerfan71]

Well said, Mikey. With instant access to online pricing and availability, it's getting tougher for an LCS, or even for a show dealer to compete. I try to support my LCS as much as I can, as they have overhead that comc or ebay does not have. For the dealer at the show, it can cost significant money to have a table to set up. I believe it's important to support the LCS and dealers at shows. On the flip side, however, keep in mind that there is a limit to what dealers set their prices. When dealers jack up prices to levels where buying online can be 40-50% cheaper, they are only hurting themselves when sales dry up. Using Stickwork as an example, the original price was $150, but people are now asking up to $300 for a box. I realize this was an extremely limited product, but I can't see how that's justified.

 

[FrankToronto]

Without them and card shows we are just going to be a bunch of guys sitting behind computers collecting cardboard and opening boxes in our living rooms.

At the risk of sounding biased, that would be completely awful. I started off collecting in person with kids in my neighbourhood. Evolution isn't spending 100% of the hobby online. All mediums can co-exist amongst each other.

That's why we're doing an after party at a local bar a block away from the show for our Anniversary next weekend. While we get to chat and enjoy the hobby together with friends and fellow collectors at the show, it's also another opportunity to socialize with those same friends and collectors. (Plus I really need a beer after running the show all day! :beer

 

[Kard Sharks]

Your LCS is at the going rate for the product. Don't expect your LCS to be able to match the prices for these guys who sell out of their basements with no overhead to deal with. There are other online sores in Canada who are going out of there way to undercut the brick and mortars.

I will break this down for you guys:

Wholesale cost on a 10 box case of ITG Used: Approx: $1205 inc GST

So if online store is selling it for $1250 inc GST that means they are making $45 on a case before shipping. Lets say shipping is $20. That means the profit is now $25. Divide that by 10 boxes per case and the online store is making a whopping $2.50 per box.

How can you expect a brick and mortar store to match those prices and survive? So keep that in mind if you think your LCS is being insane with their prices.

I honestly am getting sick of the lack of support for the LCS. They are part of the lifeblood of the hobby. Other than card shows they are the only real place where you can interact in person with other collectors. Without them and card shows we are just going to be a bunch of guys sitting behind computers collecting cardboard and opening boxes in our living rooms.

Thumbs up !!! Why do you think a lot of stores have went under. We make brutal money in this business on wax. Most of my business friends ask me how do I make money, if I ran on those margins, I would be out of business within a month. The biggest problem is there is no rules in this business, wholesalers selling to the public, manufactures selling to the public, the public under cutting store owners. Maybe down the road there might be very few card stores & shows to go to. Then what. Enjoy your retail boxes from Wal-Mart !!!!

 

[bamlinden]

I honestly am getting sick of the lack of support for the LCS. They are part of the lifeblood of the hobby. Other than card shows they are the only real place where you can interact in person with other collectors. Without them and card shows we are just going to be a bunch of guys sitting behind computers collecting cardboard and opening boxes in our living rooms.

THIS!!!!^^^^^^^^^IN SPADES!!!!

I cringe at the thought of a completely online collecting world. Having local B&M shops and local card shows are something we should support more. Because the day they are gone....I highly doubt they would return.

I don't open a lot of wax so I can't comment on the case buying scenario, but the question of "Why should I support my local LCS?".....I guess quick answer is "You don't have to." But by not doing so I feel that we get one small step closer to losing another store.

Just my opinion.

 

[ts-jersey1]

I am all for supporting a LCS, ive been around this hobby for 30 yrs. Ive know personally people in Ont that a had a shop and they had to turn around and close it, so i do understand the importance of the mark up's. I also agree with the fact that with out the LCS what kind of a hobby would it really be, after all it is another great place to meet others interested in the hobby.

Maybe for me i just haven't found a LCS within a 1/2 hr on me that i want to help support.

I know others with card shops that i wouldn't have an issue buying from because i think they all good people.

Maybe i will just go that lil extra bit out of my way to support the shops/people that i want to deal with and help support.

 

[MMarch]

I started out buying from my LCS, keep in mind, I'm getting "older" so when I started there were no online sellers like we have now. Once the online wholesalers got in to the game, I quickly realized with how much wax I was buying I could save a ton of money every year buying online. So, I stopped buying from the LCS and bought exclusively online. After years of this I realized it wasn't really a fun hobby anymore. All my hobby interaction was done on a computer and it became boring. I became discouraged and stopped collecting a number of times. Recently I made a large purchase with one if the biggest online shops in the US, one of many large purchases from them over the years, probably $40 thousand spent with these guys in total the last few years. And you know what, they couldn't care less and they screwed me out of a "case exclusive" offered by Panini to anyone buying a case of a certain product. Instead of giving me the stupid free pack of cards, they lied and told me they never got them from Panini. Yet, if you checked their website, they were selling the "free packs" for $40 a pop. You have a customer who just dropped $2 grand with you, but you lie to them and screw them out of a pack of cards?

That was it for me, they lost thousands of future dollars for that move. I went back to my LCS now, and they are happy to see me, treat me like family, and I enjoy spending time there. I would rather pay him a bit more then deal with online people who couldn't care less about you. My LCS is a good 30-40 minute drive depending on traffic, but I would still rather drive there, spend the time and money on gas, and pay a bit more for the wax. Why? Because I like to feel the appreciation, the in person interaction, and that they actually care about me as a person and collector. I really wish they would do away with these companies who wholesale out and under cut the brick and mortars. You know how many card shops went out if business because of these on liners? It really is sad in my opinion.

 

[vonkale]

If everyone gets everything from where it's the cheapest, eventually everything comes from china.

I pay abit more if it helps some locals keep their jobs or the businesses I use support local sports and kids hobbies or so. Real shop owners use part of their profit for local comminity's benefit.

 

[Kard Sharks]

I started out buying from my LCS, keep in mind, I'm getting "older" so when I started there were no online sellers like we have now. Once the online wholesalers got in to the game, I quickly realized with how much wax I was buying I could save a ton of money every year buying online. So, I stopped buying from the LCS and bought exclusively online. After years of this I realized it wasn't really a fun hobby anymore. All my hobby interaction was done on a computer and it became boring. I became discouraged and stopped collecting a number of times. Recently I made a large purchase with one if the biggest online shops in the US, one of many large purchases from them over the years, probably $40 thousand spent with these guys in total the last few years. And you know what, they couldn't care less and they screwed me out of a "case exclusive" offered by Panini to anyone buying a case of a certain product. Instead of giving me the stupid free pack of cards, they lied and told me they never got them from Panini. Yet, if you checked their website, they were selling the "free packs" for $40 a pop. You have a customer who just dropped $2 grand with you, but you lie to them and screw them out of a pack of cards?

That was it for me, they lost thousands of future dollars for that move. I went back to my LCS now, and they are happy to see me, treat me like family, and I enjoy spending time there. I would rather pay him a bit more then deal with online people who couldn't care less about you. My LCS is a good 30-40 minute drive depending on traffic, but I would still rather drive there, spend the time and money on gas, and pay a bit more for the wax. Why? Because I like to feel the appreciation, the in person interaction, and that they actually care about me as a person and collector. I really wish they would do away with these companies who wholesale out and under cut the brick and mortars. You know how many card shops went out if business because of these on liners? It really is sad in my opinion.

I wish there was more guys like you on here & online that understand the hobby shop benefits. Yes, I know about 75% of my customers by name & what they collect !!!!:dance:

 

[bamlinden]

I am all for supporting a LCS, ive been around this hobby for 30 yrs. Ive know personally people in Ont that a had a shop and they had to turn around and close it, so i do understand the importance of the mark up's. I also agree with the fact that with out the LCS what kind of a hobby would it really be, after all it is another great place to meet others interested in the hobby.

Maybe for me i just haven't found a LCS within a 1/2 hr on me that i want to help support.

I know others with card shops that i wouldn't have an issue buying from because i think they all good people.

Maybe i will just go that lil extra bit out of my way to support the shops/people that i want to deal with and help support.

That's a big point there. The hobby is definitely a two way street. The moment that either side (customer or owner) rides a sense of entitlement or places a level of expectation on the other that isn't reciprocated.......then the question surfaces.

I think the "building a relationship" component between B&M shops and customers (or potential customers) is huge......PARAMOUNT. And it's something that doesn't come with a quick visit or a ton of ka-chingle. It takes time.

Unfortunately in our world these days, time is something a lot of people do not want to dole out.

But if the effort is put in - honest and authentic - I have a hard time believing that it wouldn't be returned.

 

[Kard Sharks]

That's a big point there. The hobby is definitely a two way street. The moment that either side (customer or owner) rides a sense of entitlement or places a level of expectation on the other that isn't reciprocated.......then the question surfaces.

I think the "building a relationship" component between B&M shops and customers (or potential customers) is huge......PARAMOUNT. And it's something that doesn't come with a quick visit or a ton of ka-chingle. It takes time.

Unfortunately in our world these days, time is something a lot of people do not want to dole out.

But if the effort is put in - honest and authentic - I have a hard time believing that it wouldn't be returned.

You nailed it !!! 110%.:beer:

 

[tiger tiger]

There's going to be both good LCS and online sellers, and bad LCS and online sellers.

If you find a good LCS or online seller, then support it whole heartedly. They're trying to make the hobby more enjoyable. With that said, I don't know why an online seller would leave money on the table. They are trying to operate a business too, or fund their own collection. Also, I think it's pretty low for wholesalers to undercut their own customers to prevent themselves from taking a loss on some dead product.

Over the years, I've seen guys just plain rip off collectors, even kids. Just totally taking advantage of a person's enthusiasm for collecting cards.

Then I've seen guys who have been incredibly generous and fair to collectors. I have to give a shout out to Derek at OT Sports cards. He always lets my son pick out some base cards to take him home, and it makes him so happy. If my son is happy, then so am I.

Before OT, there weren't any good LCS near me at all. It was absolutely brutal. Having a place to hang and meet other collectors, even just to chat is pretty nice to have. Plus with 3 kids, work, and trying to keep the wife happy, my attention to the hobby fluctuates. So it's nice to have someone like Derek who I can trust.

I've seen some other shop owners that trick unsuspecting customers into trading something like an unlisted SSP for some card that's a fraction of it's value, and all sorts of other questionable tactics to make money for themselves.

A stong benefit I do see with a LCS over online, is timing. When a product is in, I can get it the day it arrives. If I buy online, I have to wait a week or two. That one week could make a huge difference in re-sale value. Lose $10/box hit x 10 boxes = $100.

It also depends on how much you value your time or what your time is worth. If I have to drive an hour to save $100, plus another hour back, and spend $25 on gas. It's only $75 savings. If I hang around for another hour b/c I get sucked into looking around like a big kid at a candy store, then I'm saving $75 over 3 hrs. Personally, my time is more valuable than that and sometimes it's a rare commodity.