Gabe, my last job was a sales rep for soccer equipment and sold to soccer clubs all over the states. I had to do a lot of research to find these clubs and their contact information to offer our products. I have turned this ability towards looking for information on products and how/where to find them. I do quite well.
There are small shows that are in my area from Portland, OR to north of Seattle that I attend for both sales and purchases. Just to reiterate, I have found at these kinds of shows, for $1 or less, NM 87 & 98, Nyx 3 & 4, and much more. I have also set up at these shows to sell. Tables only cost me $25-35, but I make $300-500 in sales, and pick up a lot of great books.
This last Saturday I set up in a mall that was running a sports card collectible show. I sold almost $350 in merchandise, bought some things, and made so more contacts. I pass out by card and talk to people for networking.
At one of these show a man walks in with two tubs of books to sell them for under $1.00 each and he had ASM 121, 122, 129, Hulk 181, and more.
I have people all over my area who know me from years of being in the circuit of collectibles.
I agree that we can't go head on with most of the dealers on this board, or the like, so I look elsewhere and it works.
Last summer I went to a 304 community sale in Seattle where one house advertised comics. They were 3/$1.00 and I walked out of there with a lot of great books, The best one was ASM 300 in NM/M condition. I must have bought around 100 books from him and none of them valued at less than $10.
I found this, while researching for you.
West Toronto Card & Collector Show
1677 Wilson Ave in Toronto, Ontario
www.westtorontocardshow.com/
www.facebook.com/pages/The-West-Toronto-Card-Collector- Show/674859219203750
Looks like this is a once a month that features all kinds of collectibles. This is a great start to networking. Once you become a regular you should be able to get in on some inside tracks to where people may get their books and make some great contacts as you converse with other dealers and customers. I belong to a great network here and greatly cherish it.
At the shows that I set up at there usually is a table where fliers are that advertise other shows.