For the third year in a row, the Simpsonville Cards & Collectibles Show lined up perfectly with my birthday weekend — and my brother‑in‑law’s too. We always meet up in Greenville afterward, so this show has become part of the celebration.
This year, I went in with a very specific plan:
- Dollar‑box hunting for Gunnar Henderson, Julio Rodríguez, José Ramírez, and Bobby Witt Jr.
- Add a few new pieces to my Roman Anthony PC.
My thinking was simple:
If I could scoop up cheap color, rookies, and inserts of players I expect to come out blazing this year, I could quick‑flip them for small but easy gains.
Low risk, fast turnaround — the kind of hobby strategy that makes dollar‑box digging worth it.
🏟️ Arrival & First Impressions
We rolled in around 10:30 AM, and entry was easy — no real line, just a quick $3 admission. Parking, however, was the usual Simpsonville headache. Once the senior center lot fills up, you’re basically navigating a residential maze and hoping for the best.
Inside, the show felt bigger and busier than ever. The energy was great, but the crowd density hit you immediately.
🧭 Layout & Flow
This is where the show struggled.
- Aisles: Tight. Very tight.
- Flow: Easy to understand, hard to physically move through.
- Bottlenecks: Everywhere — especially around dollar boxes and any table with real heat.
It wasn’t impossible to navigate, but it was definitely frustrating at times. You’d find a table you wanted to dig through, only to get bumped every few seconds.
💬 Vendor Interactions
Despite the crowd, the vendors were solid.
- Most were fairly priced and willing to talk.
- A few were slammed and couldn’t chat much, but that’s expected at a packed show.
- No bad interactions — just a lot of busy tables and quick conversations.
📦 Inventory Quality
This year leaned heavily modern, with noticeably more TCG and memorabilia than last year. Sports cards felt roughly:
- 35% vintage
- 65% modern
Nothing felt scarce, but the balance definitely shifted toward TCG and pop‑culture items. Overall, it felt more dealer‑heavy than collector‑driven, but still approachable.
💸 Pricing Trends
Pricing was mostly fair, with a few pockets of “show tax” but nothing outrageous.
- Modern football was mixed.
- Baseball color was priced reasonably.
- TCG was all over the place depending on the table.
Most dealers were open to bundling or negotiating, which helped.
🔍 My Buying Experience
My wife and I spent most of the day dollar‑box doggin’ — she comps while I dig, and it works beautifully. Since my whole strategy was built around cheap buys of players I expect to spike early in the season, the dollar boxes were exactly where I wanted to be.
I only spent $190 total, but made two “big” deals (big for me, anyway):
🔹 Deal #1 — The Roman Anthony Trio + Skattebo
- Roman Anthony & Kyle Teel Dual Auto /10
- Cam Skattebo Orange /849
- Roman Anthony Donruss Fuchsia /99
Dealer started at $65 + $20 + $20 = $105, but worked with me down to $90 total.
Later I saw Skattebo comps around $8 (he priced it during the hype), but honestly — still a great bundle and I’m happy with it.
🔹 Deal #2 — Bobby Witt Jr. Purple Refractor
- 2020 Bowman Chrome Purple /250
Sticker was $30, but I bundled it with some dollar‑box finds and got it for $20. Clean card, great shine, and one of my favorite pickups of the day.
Update: Currently watching one of these on auction. 4 days remaining and it’s sitting at $18.50. We’ll see how close (over or under) I came in comparison to what the market thinks.
🖼️ What I Bought (Full List)
- Bobby Witt Jr. — 2020 Bowman Chrome Purple Refractor /250
- Pete Crow‑Armstrong — 2024 Bowman Chrome ROY Favorites
- Ichiro — 2024 Topps Chrome Silver Pack Mojo
- Cam Skattebo — Orange Parallel /849
- Roman Anthony — Donruss Fuchsia /99
- Roman Anthony & Kyle Teel — Dual Auto /10
- Roman Anthony — Pulsar Prizm /499
A fun, colorful mix of PC pieces and low‑risk buys.
👥 Crowd & Atmosphere
The show was packed — more crowded than last year by a noticeable margin. Lots of families, lots of kids, lots of casual collectors. The vibe was welcoming, but the physical space just couldn’t keep up with the attendance.
🧠 Organization & Show Quality
- Check‑in: Smooth
- Signage: Fine
- Lighting: Good
- Temperature: Comfortable
- Noise: Loud but manageable
The only real issue was the overcrowding, which isn’t the organizers’ fault — it’s just a sign the show may have outgrown the venue.
⭐ Final Verdict
I’ll absolutely go again — this show is part of my birthday tradition now. But I’ll be honest:
I hope it doesn’t get much bigger.
When a show becomes so crowded that you’re getting bumped every few moments, it stops being fun to actually shop. The energy is great, but the space needs to keep up.
Still, for $3 admission, friendly vendors, and a chance to dig for deals, it’s a show I’d recommend to:
- Dollar‑box hunters
- PC collectors
- TCG fans
- Families and casual hobbyists
If they can expand the space or widen the aisles, it could easily become one of the best regional shows in the Carolinas.