ABOUT US

Bay Area Bargains started long ago, in the bustling aisles of baseball card shows during the 1980s and 1990s, where the art of buying and selling first captured my imagination. Those weekend gatherings were more than just trading venues—they were classrooms where I learned the fundamental principles of commerce, negotiation, and the thrill of discovering hidden value.

My entrepreneurial journey started shortly thereafter. At just 12 years old, I was standing outside FAO Schwarz on Christmas Eve, selling Tickle Me Elmos to frantic adults rushing to find that last-minute present for their kids—kids who were probably the same age I was at the time. Even then, I understood the power of being in the right place at the right time with exactly what people needed.

Walking through convention centers filled with folding tables and passionate collectors, I absorbed lessons that would shape my entire approach to business. I watched dealers evaluate cards with magnifying glasses, negotiate prices with the precision of Wall Street traders, and build relationships that lasted decades. The baseball card world taught me that every item has a story, every transaction is an opportunity to create value, and success comes from understanding both what people want and what they’re willing to pay for it.

Over the years, I’ve developed what I can only describe as an eye for things that appeal to different audiences—that indefinable quality that makes an item special. Whether it’s pulling a $500 Paul Robeson “Songs of Chee Lai” vinyl out of a stack and immediately knowing its significance without knowing anything about it at the time, or recognizing the value in two stunning Robj art deco decanters worth $200-450 each that were still available at an estate sale one hour before closing, I’ve cultivated a knack for spotting treasures that others might overlook.

One of my most memorable finds came through Craigslist back in the 90s—a complete collection of Playboy magazines from the late 1950s through the 1990s, all meticulously preserved in collectors’ binders. While others might have seen it as just a box of old magazines, I recognized the historical and collectible value, especially those early issues from the late 50s and 60s. The real work came afterward: carefully sorting through decades of issues, cataloging each one, and methodically listing them for sale. It was painstaking work, but I loved every minute of it. That collection taught me that sometimes the most rewarding finds require the most dedication to properly present and sell.

This ability has served me well across decades of collecting everything from Silver Age comic books to sterling silver, from pottery to fine art. I’ve been dabbling in this world ever since, each collection and each find adding to my understanding of what makes items truly special to collectors.

But it was a chance encounter at one of these shows that would change everything. I noticed a dealer hunched over what looked like a primitive computer terminal, typing messages that seemed to disappear into the digital ether. Curious, I approached and discovered he was using something called a bulletin board system—a BBS—to communicate with another dealer on the opposite coast. In real time, they were negotiating trades, sharing inventory lists, and conducting business across thousands of miles as if they were sitting at the same table.

That moment was my introduction to the internet, though we didn’t call it that yet. The concept was revolutionary: the ability to connect buyers and sellers regardless of geographic boundaries, to access markets that had previously been limited by physical proximity, and to conduct business at the speed of thought rather than the pace of postal mail.

When eBay launched in 1996, I was among the first wave of users to recognize its potential. Those were the pioneering days of online commerce, when the platform was still rough around the edges and the entire concept of buying from strangers on the internet seemed radical to most people. I remember the quaint ritual of mailing checks to a post office box in Texas to pay my seller fees—a far cry from today’s instant digital transactions.

Those early eBay experiences were both exhilarating and educational. Every listing was an experiment, every sale a small victory, and every interaction with buyers and sellers added to my growing understanding of how digital marketplaces could transform commerce. I learned to write compelling descriptions, take photographs that showcased items effectively, and build the trust that is essential for successful online transactions.

The lessons from those baseball card shows proved invaluable in the digital realm. The same principles applied: know your market, understand value, build relationships, and always deliver on your promises. But the internet amplified everything—the reach, the speed, the opportunities, and yes, sometimes the challenges.

Over the years, as e-commerce evolved from a novelty to a necessity, I continued to refine my approach to buying and selling. I witnessed the rise of Amazon, the proliferation of online marketplaces, and the gradual shift of commerce from physical stores to digital platforms. Through it all, the fundamental truth remained constant: success comes from connecting people with things they want at prices they’re willing to pay.

This journey has been shaped by decades of diverse business experience across multiple industries and ventures. Like many entrepreneurs, I started in retail, learning the fundamentals of customer service and operations. An unexpected opportunity arose when I met a musician, which led me to become a producer with a distribution deal through Universal Music—all by age 22. From there, I transitioned to running the video content department for a magazine, gaining insights into media and content creation.

Returning to San Francisco, I discovered the tech industry and became a digital project manager, learning how technology could transform business processes. Simultaneously, I launched a successful but short-lived online t-shirt company focused on licensed merchandise—my first taste of combining digital platforms with physical products. I then worked in-house at a major tech company, gaining valuable corporate experience before making the bold decision to give it all up and focus on printing custom designs on apparel en masse.

Each venture taught me something new about markets, customers, and the art of creating value. From music production to tech project management, from content creation to manufacturing, every experience contributed to my understanding of how different industries operate and what drives consumer behavior. Bay Area Bargains represents not just a new chapter, but the culmination of all these lessons learned across multiple business landscapes.

Today, Bay Area Bargains represents the evolution of decades of experience in both traditional and digital commerce. We understand that behind every transaction is a person with specific needs, whether they’re looking for a rare collectible, a practical household item, or something special for a loved one. Our mission is to bridge the gap between buyers and sellers, creating value for both sides of every transaction.

Born and raised in San Francisco and now calling the East Bay home—having lived in Oakland and Richmond for over a decade—I understand this region’s unique character intimately. I remember buying office furniture during the first dot-com boom in the 90s, witnessing firsthand the explosive growth and entrepreneurial energy that defined that era. The Bay Area, with its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, provides the perfect backdrop for this mission. This region has always been at the forefront of technological advancement, from the early days of Silicon Valley to today’s cutting-edge startups. It’s a place where people appreciate both quality and value, where they’re willing to embrace new ways of doing business, and where the spirit of discovery that drove those early internet pioneers continues to thrive.

At Bay Area Bargains, we’re not just facilitating transactions—we’re continuing a tradition that began with that 12-year-old entrepreneur outside FAO Schwarz and was refined in those baseball card show aisles decades ago. We’re helping people discover treasures they didn’t know they were looking for, connecting collectors with their holy grails, and ensuring that great deals don’t go unnoticed in our fast-paced digital world.

Every item we feature, every deal we highlight, and every connection we facilitate carries forward the lessons learned from those formative years: that commerce is fundamentally about people, that trust is the foundation of every successful transaction, and that the thrill of finding something special never gets old, whether you’re flipping through cardboard in a convention center or scrolling through listings on your phone.

This is our story. We can’t wait to help you find something special that will become part of yours.

– Mike C, Founder – Bay Area Bargains