I have seen many top quality cards out there still ungraded that could easily fetch a 7 and you could probably pick it up for next to nothing. Always try to bargain down the dealer. Come to the shows early and stay late. If you see a card you must have and the dealer is sticking to his price, wait him out. Come back to his or her table at closing time and maybe you can pick it up cheap.
Dealers hate packing their cards back up and taking 'em home.
Always buy cards from a dealer who is willing to trade with the kids. If you spot a dealer making trades to kids, buy his cards. Say no more. But a bunch of Michael Wiley rookie cards or someone at his level. Don't waste your money on the top notch rookies coming out, there cards are already over priced.