Retail Markups.......at LCS

I had my yearly checkup yesterday. Since the local card shop was nearby I stopped by to pick up a few supplies. While there I noticed a shelf rack of cards. The cards were retail packs, hanger, and blaster boxes of their year's baseball set from their flagship to Heritage and Archives as well few Panini football stuff. They were marked up by 20-30%. What was selling at places such as Target and Walmart for $3, $10, and $20 now at LCS for $5 (packs), $30 (hanger), and $35 (blaster). Feels like the shop owner went to retail stores and bought all the supplies to resale at mark up prices at his shop. Was dishearten by it and made me saw the future of the hobby. While the pandemic drove up interest it also caused greed for demand of it. Every visit to Target or Walmart the shelves still sat bare and empty while gaming cards are plenty. Not sure how's its going be with companies. They might printed up few extra thousands in upcoming year to keep up with demand. It's possible the next junk wax era is coming.

That was depressing visit

Yesterday I drove up to panhandle Texas city with my mom on a day trip. While there I decide visit local card shop and all I can say it was depressing. They are filled with autograph jerseys, pictures, funko pops, single cards, and coins. What I usually go for are packs and so much for selection of it. I went gone through their selection of packs from early 90s to mid-90s of baseball, football, and basketball. Current stuff? Just only hobby packs of this year and last year's Topps, no jumbos. Bought myself handful of junk wax era because I'm still a sucker for those. Just can't help but feel how much depressing visit that is. Still its not bad as the one store around southwest of Pittsburgh few years back.