Maybe I’m a Timmy for feeling this way, but the environment felt very toxic and inauthenic. Everyone there seemed like a gambler or just in it for the money, got into the hobby 2-3 years ago types. Mostly young adults fresh out of college who watch hustle content and view regular people who work 9-5s as “brokies”. Also feels like we’re never going back to reasonable prices for boxes; no matter how much TPC prints there are too many people with a vested interest in making sure sealed product is always priced as an ultra-luxury item for the wealthy. Really depressing, too - I miss cracking packs for fun and not paying obscene amounts. But maybe I’m just a “broke-minded Timmy”.
It is what it is, Cards shows are great for collectors to pick up cheap cards where I’m at, See a lot of families and young children. Definitely a lot of people in it for just the money, those tables I just don’t do business with them. I think it’s a plus for the hobby as there’s more liquidity as well. But yea some of the scalper vibe bros just really leave a bad taste in my mouth but I just avoid them.
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Card shows are good for the raw binders, not much else
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This was my experience too. 
Validating. Sad.
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You’re making a lot of judgements and assumptions of other people, whilst victimizing yourself.
I promise the world is not as shallow as you percieve it. Try another show in future with a more positive mindset
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You just joined the forum a month ago and I’ve noticed the vast majority of your posts consist of you complaining and/or judging other people.
If you don’t develop a healthier attitude, you are not going to make it in this hobby.
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i don’t believe that jumping to conclusions about others is going to be beneficial to you. Not everyone’s in it for the money at shows and it’s easy to just avoid the ones that are. A good part about the shows is that you get to pick who gets your money.
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Have you tried being a Tommy instead?
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I’ve been in this hobby since the DP era. Sorry for dooming so much, the hobby just feels pretty much unrecognizable from what it used to be and it’s a bit disenfranchising. Has definitely made me more cynical.
Some parts of the hobby arent for everyone and if it isnt your vibe then you shouldnt force it. Cardshows might not be your vibe if you arent a fan of that “grind and flip for max profit” mindset that is currently popular.
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I think what was previously just a section of the hobby of negotiating prices is much more prevalent and part of the fun for a lot of people now. I think the card shows bring a lot of that out nowadays
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Tbf, I was talking to one vendor, a younger guy, looked like he was in his early 20s, who was talking about how $300-500 is “fair” for modern in-print boxes and “if you don’t like the prices I’m sorry you don’t got game” (this is literally what he said BTW which was definitely a tell that this guy was barely older than a teenager). He was also talking about how “MSRP doesn’t exist anymore, it’s a made-up number, this is a luxury like Louis Vutton”, “this isn’t a hobby anymore, it’s just stocks but tangible”, “eww I don’t play the TCG I’m not autistic”, “the Pokémon on the cards matter about as much as the presidents on dollar bills”. These were all things either he or his 2 friends who were with him actually said, by the way. I think talking to that guy for like 15 minutes really soured my mood. He also said he got into the hobby in late 2024.
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You stayed and talked for 15 minutes to the guy. Why? I am no longer all that young myself so as I meet and deal with younger generations who know it all and say some silly things I just smile, nod and keep walking. Maybe it’s my age but I can’t stay and fight or hear nonsense anymore, my feet get sore.
I wish it never happened. But unforunately, it did. Sorry if I sound like a bitter old man, but…gen z is truly insane.
I’m sorry that happened to you but one interaction with a bad vendor and his friends doesn’t determine what the rest of the room will be like. I get it’s hard to be optimistic quth how the hobby is nowadays but again, as previously said, why do you let them sour your mood? It’s easier to walk away and not give a bad apple a second thought.
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the gen z collectors I know are some of the most passionate truly in it for the love of the game hobbyists out there, and the scalper & investor bro types I see are middle aged men
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Fr skibidi, amiright fam?
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Maybe it was just that dude. Tbf he wasn’t a collector, just a crypto gambler who got into cards as a hustle because he heard they were going up.
Frfr! Skibidi Toilet is peak, Gojo no diffs Goku, lil bro!