I’ve been to several shows over the past two years and have noticed a general change in vibe (most notably buying and selling behavior from vendors.)
I have my theories but don’t want to steer the conversation, just curious if anyone else has noticed something similar? Or do you avoid shows like the plague?
I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with shows but I do usually avoid them. It’s just not my scene.
To say the bare minimum; It’s for the extroverted hobbiests
Same as the last cardshow topic, I hate the vendor cameras for content (security I understand). And the general idea that a vendor should get more for a card just because theyre a vendor, regardless of how in demand the card is.
But I havent gone to many shows recently and Im still stuck on junk product I wouldnt pay $100 for being sold for quadruple that to a kid who wants to hold for a year and flip.
Closer to a month or 2 max
I go to a couple a month and I feel like it’s pretty much the same for core people but there are new vendors that clearly just are there to make money. Pretty much anyone with additional reseller items like Labubu, Magic Final Fantasy, etc will not be a great experience.
My coworkers confronted me the other day because they saw me on tiktok buying Pokemon cards from someone’s booth. I didn’t even notice the camera when I was buying. Luckily I don’t mind too much, but it feels weird to be made into content without me knowing.
‘Well I have to make money!’
Well I have to save money, idiot.
Coin Flips and Trade Up Challenges. Its a YouTubers dream. Everyone is a youtuber and it seems everyone wants viral content.
I’ve been going to shows for a long time in the UK and I have to say that I’ve noticed a few things:
Are card shows just the ebay garbage thread personified into a local card event?
Sounds like a really scummy place lol
Vendors or who ever is saying TAG slabs are worth more ? They are dreaming lol
More common than you think unfortunately.
A lot of new gens nowadays (just look at trick or trade thread in pokebeach)
For me I really enjoy the social aspect of meeting my friends, helping them with trades etc. But I haven’t really picked anything major up at a card show. I’d say the majority of people are still really lovely and have passion, but for me the vendors are the worst part 
Wow this is a good list. I miss seeing slightly older stuff mixed into binders that isnt all junk quality.
Everyone has a brand, of course they have ai logos.
Graded guards are such a random accessory to “add value”.
Filming onsite is usually in the events disclaimers but being made into specific content for a vendors social media is abusing that in my opinion.
Junk slab companies are also a surprise that ive seen them at even medium sized shows. I dont mean in vendor product but literally the company doing onsite slabbing
I used to do them every month out here in the northeast in the US about a year ago and was always excited for them. Definitely noticed a shift in the overall environment though over time and it lost that fun aspect. It went from $5 for early entry as VIP and barely anyone there that early and easy to trade with friends, etc. to the whole world being there shoving each other around just to get one card and others stealing from vendors/attendees. It’s insane here nowadays lol. Haven’t gone near em in a long time since the first show that was like that
Last time me and my wife went to collect-a-con (about a year ago). Something I found frustrating was vendors were watching us look at something, and then chime in with a “oh you got a good eye, that card is going up so fast”. Meanwhile its like a $5 card lol, or not even what we were looking at.
They usually say that as a prelude to insert overcharge with the idea being that they can fall back to their last statement as defense.
Omg yeah they’ve been doing that so much lately! Here as well. Some guy tried to get me to buy the Kecleon illustration rare from surging sparks I think it was? He was selling it for $20 and kept saying you should buy this one, it’s DEFINITELY going to jump in price over the next year. It’s now only a couple bucks at most 
I also want to chime in with a dash of positivity. I’m new to going to card shows regularly, but I’ve had many great conversations with vendors who have been extremely friendly and passionate about what they do. There are still plenty of great social interactions and fun to be had at shows.
Vendor behavior is somewhat a reflection of consumer behavior. This forum is not representative of the average consumer.
I’m personally bored of card shows. Rows and rows of all the same cards. Flexing literal cash in display cases kill me now 
That said, the game of the top vendors has increased dramatically. I spent about a year in this game full time. It’s good to see good people blow up online and do ethical sustainable business. The cash flashing modern vendors, the guys that smoke up before during and after the show, nothing priced, no knowledge of cards pre-tag team etc… these dudes will be gone when the market turns.