Walgreens has a smaller trading card selection compared to CVS, but they do maintain an area dedicated to sports cards near the front of most stores. They usually stock recent retail sets from the major card companies like Topps, Panini, and Donruss. Popular regularly released sets that can commonly be found include Topps Series 1, Topps Heritage, Donruss Optic, and Allen & Ginter. In terms of vintage cards, Walgreens only occasionally has repack items like factory sets and mini packs containing older cards.
Individual single cards are not for sale loose at Walgreens, they only offer pre-packaged items. Price-wise, newer retail sets range from around $5-15 per package depending on the set size and parallel/insert hit odds. Their selection tends to rotate regularly with the release of new products throughout the baseball season. An associate is usually available to assist with locating certain sets if needed. During the peak season from March to August, Walgreens aims to keep their card area fully stocked.
In comparison, CVS has significantly larger and better organized trading card departments that resemble a small card shop. Both new and vintage baseball cards are offered in a variety of product forms. When it comes to newly released sets, they carry the exact same major brand options as Walgreens but with better stock levels across multiple stores in a local area. Individual loose packs, boxes, and sometimes even case breaks are commonly found at MSRP depending on the product popularity.
But what really sets CVS apart is their vintage selection. In addition to repack sets from the junk wax era of the 1980s-90s, they sometimes have wax boxes and unopened cases going back decades that are priced reasonably according to market trends. Singles, graded cards, and entire vintage collections are also regularly consigned by customers looking to sell. A knowledgeable staff member is usually on hand during business hours to assist with card inquiries, questions, and purchases. High-end vintage cards are posted in protective sleeves with accompanying COAs and pricing.
Both retailers run frequent in-store promotions for collectible products too. Common offers include “buy 2 get 1 free” on packs/boxes, bonus packs added to set purchases, and coupon discounts. During major card release weekends, Walgreens and CVS both aim to have adequate stock available at opening to meet collector demand. Their non-sport trading card areas with Pokémon, Magic, and comics are similarly sized.
While Walgreens maintains a basic assortment, CVS has established itself as more of a destination for both casual and dedicated baseball card collectors. With much larger inventories, a versatile vintage selection, and staff with trading card expertise, CVS provides a satisfying in-person shopping experience beyond just the latest factory sets. Both chain pharmacies continue expanding their card product lines, making them popular local options for today’s players as well as reliving childhood favorites from the past.
