The National Sports Collectors Convention is the biggest trading card show in the country.
So, if you're heading out to Chicago this week, you'll have a prime chance to find those rare cards you've long been looking to add to your collection.
What's the proper etiquette for buying and trading cards at the show? How much bargaining can you do on the price?
As always, cllct has you covered:
1. Cash is king
Many vendors will accept credit cards, debit cards and third-party payment services such as PayPal or Venmo, but paying cash is heavily preferred by most. In fact, paying cash can even get buyers discounts because other payment methods come with additional fees.
Carry cash but always do it carefully. Cash might get you access to better deals, but it can also be less secure to carry around in large amounts. Having cash can also be good as a sweetener during trade nights if a deal is close in value but needs a small adjustment.
If nothing else, cash doesn’t require WiFi or cell service to make a deal happen. The National has improved its internet in 2025, but there’s always a chance your phone will struggle to push a transaction through when you need it.
2. Haggle respectfully
Though some dealers might remain firm to their sticker prices, most are willing to negotiate in order to make a deal happen.
For buyers, consider haggling to get yourself the best deal possible, but do it respectfully. If a card is already priced at fair-market value, additional haggling might do more harm than good.
Immediately asking for a dealer’s “lowest” is a great way to not get a deal done.
Asking for “room” on a purchase can often get sellers to bring the price down some, but ideal scenarios typically feature a buyer and a seller meeting in the middle at a price point they are both happy with. Remember, the best transactions don’t have winners and losers — both parties should come away pleased with the outcome.
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Positive outcomes can also result in future deals now that both parties know the other is easy to work with.
For show attendees looking to sell items to vendors, remember that dealers will want to make money too. Getting 100% of recent sales value is unlikely, and most dealers will prefer to offer between 70% and 80% in order to make a profit.
3. Stick to your game plan
Most collectors at the National will be operating with a budget, so it’s important you create a specific set of goals ahead of time that align with it.
Consider making a list of the items you’re hunting for and know in advance what the fair market value is for each. The show can be overwhelming at first, and it’s easy to get caught up in how impressive everything is, which can lead to purchases you’ll regret later on.
If possible, take a lap at the show to see where everything is before making any major purchases. This lets you take stock not just of what’s available, but it lets you grasp which deals might be the best. You might see a good deal at Table No. 4, but there’s an even better deal at Table No. 500.
A similar sentiment can be true for those looking to sell to vendors. Don’t try to sell your ultra-modern cards to a vintage dealer when the show has hundreds of vendors who might be willing to offer more for your cards.
The first table isn’t always the best, and just as you can shop around for better deals to buy, you can shop around for better deals to sell.
Staying within your budget might be the single most important tip for buying at the National. Know your budget ahead of time and stick to it, because overspending or putting yourself into unnecessary debt is not worth whatever you’re hoping to purchase.
4. Combine resources
Being flexible in what resources you have to work with can be an extremely powerful bargaining chip for buyers. In addition to having cash, bringing cards to trade or sell can be a difference-maker.
If you have cards at home that no longer interest you, consider bringing them to the National to sell or trade as part of a deal to get something you’re excited about now.
“Trading up” is also a good practice when trying to improve your collection. One way to do this is to bring a card you do like to the show and attempt to trade it, along with cash, for a better copy. This is a great way to slowly turn a low-grade example into an eventual high-end grail card.
Though the show itself is the major draw, the evening trade nights are great places to make deals directly with other collectors. Showing up to these events with a combination of cash and cards to trade creates a number of possibilities that you might not otherwise have access to.
5. Be patient
Having patience can be the difference between a good National and a great one.
As a buyer, some of the best deals can arrive later in the show Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday especially, vendors might be willing to offer deals they weren’t comfortable with Friday in order to liquidate inventory. Use that to your advantage, especially if you’re willing to buy with volume.
It’s also important to remember dealer inventory can turn over rapidly at the National, so don’t walk past an interesting booth just because you’ve been there already — they might have new cards they recently acquired as part of another deal.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the Collectibles Editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.