Generally, I don’t like large crowds, but Card Shows are an exception. When I’m vending (a couple shows per year), I don’t really care about making sales, but simply enjoy talking with people about Pokemon, sharing collection stories, and helping educate others that visit my table. It’s the social element of collecting that I like to focus on, and there are always some great people that I meet. I can always list the same cards on eBay, but getting to socialize with others who share a similar passion is rare and should be prioritized.
If anyone is going to the Minnesota Card Show in June 2026, come find me and sign a card for my personal binder!
I had never been to a card show until 2025 actually. There were just never any in my area at all.
Then the mall in a town over held one march 2025 and it was actually pretty cool.
I ran into a lot of vendors that were overpriced but also ran into quite a few who gave me good deals and helped me try and complete mastersets.
I found vendors with cool plushies and other non card merch that made great gifts.
Since that show my local mall has had 3 pop shows. There two I meant I mixed group of people some were outright scalpers, others were the absolute GOAT and were selling stuff for at or just above MSRP and cards at 15% to 20% under market to try and combat scalpers.
I’m in smaller city so there were no real YouTube fanatics like you might see at the huge shows in the giant cities. But I have seen all those cringe YouTube vids.
I’ve really enjoyed going to my local card shows this past year, especially with my partner and friends.
We’re all species collectors and my partner and I play the game competitively, so going through bulk bins and finding a random bulk card for the species binder or some playable cards under market that vendors assume are “junk trainers” can be just as fun and rewarding as big-ticket buys.
Most of what I personally want isn’t available at shows, but I love window shopping and hanging out with friends, and I also love a good hunt if any of us are on the search for something specific. I’ve also found some unexpected great deals that I had been on the lookout for, which are a bonus for me.
There are some of the “camera content” people yes, but for every one of those, I’ve met dozens and dozens of genuine vendors who have a real love for Pokemon. Walking into the monthly shows now comes with a “Hey Citri, how are you? I set this card aside just in case you still need it!” and the irl camaraderie is something that’s difficult to get through something like eBay.
Shows can be very hit or miss, and I’ve had to shop around the local ones to find the scene that I like, but it’s absolutely been worth it for me to get out of the house for a weekend or two.
I preferred card shows before the commercialization/TikTokization of buying/selling/trading. If you can find a smaller venue with local collectors, you may be able to skirt by the cameras in your face, stream chat on screen, insane prices, gambling games, etc.
Regardless of the venue, expect bright lights, crowded spaces, loud talking, violent body odor, and the scent of cigarettes or pot. Card shows truly assault the senses.
I love going to card shows. I am also in SOCAL and there are usually multiple every weekend. The best and most lively seem to be Front Row. But I enjoy it and I have made a lot of in person connections. Also, modern seems to dominate at card shows. But it also shows the hobby is alive and well.
I went to my first card show yesterday. It was a great experience! I’ve been collecting for 5+ years, but this was the first time actually connecting with other collectors in real life. Also brought a friend who recently started, so it was great to help him and share the hobby.
The setting was a lot more peaceful than I expected. No loud music and the people were friendly.
But if you look purely at the cards: they were overpriced and I couldn’t find any surprising cards.
So for me it’s a positive. But mostely from a social point of view.
Personally I always found the recording your customers very cringe and forced, but after all the theft and fake cards…
I am going to buy a 360 camera for any shows in the future… Can’t risk it at these high interaction and busy shows. Someone can really pull the wool over your eyes
I just got back from a UK one. I booked an afternoon ticket as going in the mornings is chaos. The afternoon was a lot quieter so could actually look at things. I only intended to find some bulk errors. Found one for a £1 and couldn’t resist the 50p 1st ed. Some of the prices made me laugh and even pulled out (looked so obvious) some fake cards from vendors binders to their shock when I told them.
This was my same experience at a recent show too. Fun to browse, pick up a bunch of binder cards in the sub $5 range, and talking with collectors/dealers.
But for anybody who has the ability to easily buy and sell cards on eBay, there wasn’t a deal to be had in the entire show for anything $20 and up. Too many dealers trying to offload junk on to people who just don’t know any better. And I’ll never understand dealers wanting full eBay comp for a card at a show, when if they sold it on eBay, they would lose roughly 15% off the top of that price.
I’ll be going to my citys first ever card show later this year! I’m really excited and not quite sure what to expect or what it’ll be like. I don’t think I’ll find anything I need for species collecting, but I’m sure it’ll be fun!
