yes...sv is extremely hard to monitor for the very reasons you listed...they are influenced by very recent activities, maybe the player just threw a no-hitter or got blasted in the world series, and since neither of those just took plave, maybe we should throw out those anomolaies..or the product just came out...or the player played due to someone else being injured they played one game and went back on the bench..or maybe that particular auction was messed up by the seller by not listing something correctly..or that ONE person who is putting together a master set and paid a ridiculous amount for the card ONCE..there are just too many reasons to monitor why a particular auction shouldn't be used in a proper analysis...and so yes, it does take alot of effort...and honestly, the cards just aren't that important to me to make that kind of commitment.

As far as BV being a poor baromoter..i say hockey sticks..I may not agree with the value of a card being worth $20, but I can look at it and determine that two cards have an equal BV or which is more sought than the other...

well said

BV is only a good reflection when it's just released in the beckett it's fresh and reflects true value...

in football they only update SPA/Contenders/Exquisite...which sucks because values of those cards will plummet and the other lesser known RC's will stay the same...

I don't mind what someone uses if it's a fair trade then I'm game..but what bothers me is when people flip flop and use SV or BV to their advantage.

that is why I started this thread Marcus

ah sorry

I did read your first post, but decided to post today, sorry

All you did here is explain why BV is a poor estimation of value. If a player throws a no hitter, why would I want to see what his "value" was 3 weeks ago (if we say that beckett actually displayed true value)? That is an outdated source. I want up to date value.

Now, thats only a situation if the book values were in any way correct - they arent even close.

You can compare hundreds of cards that have the same book value, but have very different actual value. So, in reality, all you have is a flawed system. If you want to compare real value of a card you have to see where they are in the free marketplace, and then compare. If both cards book at 250, but one sells at 200 and the other at 100 (something that happens ALL THE TIME), they arent a representation of being of "equal value" then are they? Would it be fair to trade one for the other? In terms of BV, yes, in terms of actual value, no.

Now, lets say that the 200 sv card that books at 250 is of a player that has a injury the next day. The actual sell value drops to 50 dollars, but the book value stays the same until the next update, but in your mind, its still equal to the other card until beckett changes the price.

Lets go the opposite way. Lets say that the 200 dollar card is of a player that is inducted into the hall of fame. His actual value goes up to 300, but the book value stays the same until the next update, which wont come for a month. In your mind the two cards at 250 are still the same, but in reality they are not. Would you trade one for the other? I wouldnt.

In fact, per your last statement they arent even a representation of which are more "sought after" either. There are plenty of cards that are worth less that are more desired than those worth more.

Like I said, book value is as far from a barometer as you can get.

I will never respect the hobby intelligence of someone who still uses book value as their pricing agent.

well cards are they kinda like a trucks Value to you because they go by book too

I dont have any idea about car value.

Do you want to take the time to find a "sale value" for every card out there - including a low-end game-used card that likely doesn't have much sale data?

I mainly trade low-end cards for low-end cards (usually at most $250-40 BV per card), so I mainly use Beckett value. I guess I have little "hobby intelligence" by your standards.

Seems simple to me. Use sell value for cards of the hot players and book value for those that suck.

Of course I am kidding but it does seem that there are people like that out there. They will insist on using whatever benefits them.

Beckett prices are at least one month old at best.

Just my thoughts...


A. My definatition of 'HTG' is this: Basically, I want to trade for something I WANT. Example, I have received many offers on an Emmitt Smith auto/jersey that I have. However, rarely any of those offers have had Steelers in it. Steelers are my main WANT. In my mind it doesn't make any sense to trade it for something else I can use as tradebait. Don't get me wrong, I would think about something like a Jim Brown, Dan Marino, John Elway, other HOF. But, why would I want to trade it for Trent Edwards, Reggie Wayne, JaMarcus Russell, Larry Johnson, etc?


B. If you are trying to trade, why use sell value? Why not just sell it and buy something with that money instead?


C. I have a spreadsheet at home that I keep track of my buying/selling on Ebay. I do it for no other reason than to see how much I am spending. Obviously, I buy more, because nobody seems to have much Acie Law Anyways, last Feb. or so, I sold a card on Ebay for $125. Now, the 'BV' pricing was not out at the time I sold it. However, by looking at the cards from the same set, it looked like there was somebody trying to put together a master collection. This card was the first of the player on Ebay. A couple weeks later, 'BV' came out and the value was $25. Knowing that 'BV' is only $25, who in their right mind, would pay or TRADE a card by the value of the sale of $125?


D. Read my signature...that basically sums up my thoughts of buying/selling. How many people that sell their cards on Ebay actually make money? Have you ever went to a card show and asked a dealer about a particular card? Let's say he has a card that has a BV value of $100 and he is asking for $75 on it. Would you ask him to sell it for $25 because that is the price it is selling for on Ebay?