Definition
A dealer is a professional collectibles merchant. Dealers buy outright at below-market prices and resell at retail (or near-retail) margins. Specialist dealers focus on specific categories — sports cards, autographs, vintage posters, comics — and accumulate expertise that generalists don't have.
Why it matters
Dealers offer speed and certainty in exchange for accepting a lower realization. They're a legitimate selling route, but rarely the highest-price route.
Example
A dealer specializing in vintage Star Wars action figures buys a sealed 1978 Boba Fett carded figure from an estate at $5,500 and lists it for $9,500 at the next major show.