Bullpen Sports HQ — Local services in El Segundo

This place feels like where degenerate gamblers have converted from buying lottery tickets to chasing case hits. I went there to buy a box one day and a dude ripped 3 boxes of Bowman Draft in 15 minutes, like he was taking shots at the bar. Left all the paper on the counter...felt like an opium den.

Everything about the shop is oriented toward their IG breaks and not the in-store experience. It's a mess: narrow and cluttered. Ownership and senior staff show no interest in supporting the hobby, only how much boxes of cards sell for. They look at their computer every single time you ask for a price, like there is a live ticker tracking price that you as a customer have no visibility into. Single card selection is a minimal. There's a lazy boy recliner where the owner crashes and snores while customers are shopping. They're unashamed about how overpriced their product is, even when brought to their attention! Example: 2022 Bowman quoted to me over phone for $800, eBay had multiple listings for $600. Bought 2021 Topps Chrome Hobby box for $300 and later found for $225.

In short, don't go here if you're looking to get back into the hobby or get a fair deal. I spent thousands of dollars here out of convenience and would have spent more if I were treated better as a local customer. eBay all day for me now! I recommend you...

I've shopped here a lot, mainly because it's really close and sometimes I just want wax in hand to rip that day. That being said...

Pros: Generally helpful and friendly staff, entertaining IG breaks (even if just to watch), great selection of product, occasionally they'll have a good product way under market (even eBay) value, but you have to dig for it

Cons: Flux of prices is insane, it moves daily. Literally $100+ above eBay sale prices usually and can move hundreds in a day for no apparent reason. Example today: 2021 Topps Triple Threads $450 at Bullpen...$379.99 at Jaspy's in Hermosa. Small, often pretty crowded, and cluttered. Hours from 2-7 are odd with Covid protocols stable now, they prioritize IG 100%.

BIGGEST CON: I have spent thousands of dollars here and literally NEVER have been offered any kind of deal, discount, free product, or anything. Never. I've had other shops I show up twice, they remember me, and value me as a return customer. I don't get this sense at all here, seems like they just want business with little care of me returning or not. I prefer to support local over eBay, but at a certain point, it's just not worth throwing hundreds of dollars in the toilet to do so and they know it, but have a big enough following...

Resale prices, so Do Not be surprised. Crowded narrow store with many cases all over. The 2 main guys that run it have a demeanor that seems exhausted, nonchalant, somber...but I don't blame them.

Many overly eager ppl, new and old, that may be trying to get back into the game, can come off demanding in a way. But at end of day it's your business to run and have a good attitude, proactive to help and answer questions, because we're spending luxury like amounts on luxury memorabilia, so IMO great service should be the minimum (for all to remember a great experience with so many new people getting into the hobby).

Another critique of the situation - prices on cards fluctuate very often. Subsequently, you get everyone asking you about prices on hundreds of different producta you offer (which is GREAT) maybe get an iPad screen or some device connected to a monitor to show current prices. Then people don't have to ask multiple times what prices are since we are typically curious of 5+ packs brands sports sets etc. while each box and product's appeal and aesethics provide no...