Your first card show

What to bring

• Cash in small billsMany tables take cards or payment apps, but cash is quickest and some small sellers take nothing else.
• A charged phoneTo look up recent sales of a card before you pay, and to pay by app.
• Sleeves and toploadersSo what you buy goes home flat and unscratched.
• A want listThe players, sets or Pokémon you’re after, so you don’t spend it all at the first table.
• A bag or boxSomething rigid to carry cards in. A backpack is easiest in crowded aisles.
• Cards to sell or tradeSorted and sleeved, with your best ones on top and a rough idea of what each sells for.

Before you go

Check the show’s hours, admission and parking on its page; every show we list links to the organizer’s own page. Bigger shows list their dealers, autograph guests and grading companies in advance. Set a budget, and if you want to sell, look up recent sales of your best cards so you know what they’re worth.

Buying

• Walk the whole room once before you buy. The same card is often at several tables at different prices.
• Ask before you handle a raw card, and hold it by the edges.
• Check recent sales on your phone. Graded cards sell by grade, so compare the same grade from the same company.
• Asking for a better price is normal, more so when you buy several cards from one table.
• Bargain bins (“dime boxes”, “dollar boxes”) are the cheapest way to fill sets and find players you like.

Selling and trading

• Many dealers buy as well as sell. Expect offers below what a card sells for online; the dealer has to resell it.
• Get offers from more than one table before you sell anything valuable.
• Trading is usually by value: both sides agree on what each card is worth, using recent sales.
• Some shows hold a trade night after the floor closes, for collectors to trade with each other.
• Thinking of grading a card first? See what grading costs.

When to go

Early, for the best selection before the rare cards sell. Late on the last day, for deals from sellers who would rather not pack up. The biggest show of the year is the National, five days every summer.

Quick answers

What should I bring to a card show?

cash in small bills, a charged phone, sleeves and toploaders, a want list, a bag or box, cards to sell or trade.

Should I bring cash to a card show?

Yes. Many sellers take cards or payment apps, but cash is quickest and some small tables take nothing else.

Can you haggle at a card show?

Usually, yes. Asking “what’s your best price?” is normal, more so if you buy several cards from one table. Marked prices on graded cards are often close to recent sales already.

Can I sell my cards at a card show?

Yes. Many dealers buy as well as sell. Expect offers below what the card sells for online, since the dealer has to resell it. Know your cards’ recent sale prices first.

What time should I go to a card show?

Early for the best selection, before the rare cards sell. Late on the last day for deals, when sellers would rather not pack cards back up.

Are kids allowed at card shows?

Yes, and many shows let children in free. Check the show’s admission on its page before you go.

Find a show