Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Beckett removes Free Card Lookup tool

Well, it appears that the Free Card Lookup tool is now officially gone from the Beckett web site. Click here to view the OPG "preview" that now exists in its place.

How many of you had used this tool in the past? How frequently did you use it? What do you plan to do now - purchase Beckett OPGs, subscribe to a magazine, etc.?

-Bob

I've had the OPG for about 15 months now. I don't use it that much. I'm more into vintage cards, rather than modern cards. I do buy a few new packs every few weeks just to hopefully get something for trading. And everyone loves busting packs. The OPG is a lot easier to use, because the printing on the other guide is way too small. I get a wicked headache trying to figure out what I have. Beckett is giving us New Card Pricing with the OPG. Big deal ! Beckett sent a lame cute email about the OPG changes and all. I deleted it after I read it. It was about their bean counters need more money or some crap. I'll post it if I can find it. If anyone is interested. I'm not sure if I want to renew my OPG subscription next year. I know theres a lot of other people that bust a lot of packs. It might be a better deal for them.

I had been getting my OPG's on a monthly basis....if I continue to do that I will no longer get the Basketball and Hockeys OPG's for the simple fact that I don't come in enough contact with those products to justify the expense. As far as football and baseball go, I'll probably continue to get those two but I might consider doing a yearly or six month membership just to save the money. I didn't like the E-Mail either...the guy who wrote it came across like a used car salesman throwing that pitch out there like he did. (No offense to any used car salesmen we might have on the boards )

This is going to make it very tough to get bv for trades if both parties dont have a price guide in front of them.

Beckett sent a lame cute email about the OPG changes and all. I deleted it after I read it. It was about their bean counters need more money or some crap. I'll post it if I can find it. If anyone is interested.

Actually, click here for a separate thread about the OPG price increase - including the text of the e-mail.

-Bob

This is going to make it very tough to get bv for trades if both parties dont have a price guide in front of them.

Very true. I imagine that quite a large number of traders were relying on the free lookup. Now, they'll be forced to purchase some form of a price guide.

So, 3 of the 4 of us on this thread so far have already been purchasing the OPGs. What about you, aceecards? What guides, if any, do you purchase?

-Bob

Three points.

First, why use the OPG when you can just review what folks are selling the card for? I did not use their OPG because I could find almost every card I needed to in their marketplace section.

Second, do a google search and look for what others are selling their cards.

Last, now that I have this card collector software program, I have a general idea what my cards are worth (with the understanding that their program BV is a bit high).

Now that I have been around the card block for a spell, I don't understand the BV thing. I think it is a scam perpetrated by Beckett. I mean, what is a card worth? It is worth what the going rate sellers are selling (not asking) for the card. I venture to say that FEW CARDS ARE WORTH THE BECKETT BV.

Therefore, it doesn't really matter that the OPG is gone and, frankly, I don't understand why folks would pay for it. You can still get pricing information via a number of other free sources, pricing information that may be more indicative (actual selling/asking prices) than an inflated Beckett BV.

Overall, I think the general point is why do we check BV anyway?

I collect to collect as my hobby. I hope my kids/wife will get some value out of my cards, but I hope they keep them and remember me more because of those cards, than cashing them in.

We all want to know BV so we feel like we are getting a deal but we will pay what we are willing to pay for a card, no matter what it books for. So if my limit is $20 and a dealer has a $100 BV card will I pay BV, probably not. As Sheesh pointed out there are other places to find that card, so I will check there for the cheapest prices first then decide how much I really want to spend and then BV does not matter.

Before the days of EBAY and their super cheap deals on cards it was a lot easier to sell a card for Beckett Value in my opinion. I remember when I first got into the hobby, there were certain players that I was able to sell for more than the beckett value...such as the Emmitt Smith #101T. I wound up with four of them and at the time they were selling for around $40 BV. I sold two of the three for $75 each and sold a third one for $90 in a "shop auction" that the shop I used to go to held. With the advent of EBAY and their effect on the market its much easier to go on line and find a card in a bulk lot of cards (especially for game used) and pay $1.00 to $3.00 per card to get a large amount of cards with a becket value of 50% to 150% of what you pay.

You can still get pricing information via a number of other free sources, pricing information that may be more indicative (actual selling/asking prices) than an inflated Beckett BV.

You've made a number of valid points. My only real argument for the OPGs is that they are convenient, relatively fast and comprehensive. When something similar or better becomes available that is based on actual transaction data, I'll be the first to sign up for it though!

-Bob

Overall, I think the general point is why do we check BV anyway?

For me, it's mainly to 1) make sure a trade is mutually beneficial and 2) somewhat justify the expenses.

-Bob

With the advent of EBAY and their effect on the market its much easier to go on line and find a card in a bulk lot of cards (especially for game used) and pay $1.00 to $3.00 per card to get a large amount of cards with a becket value of 50% to 150% of what you pay.

Not that you and I are complaining about this.

-Bob

this is bad. very bad. any chance this is temporary?

this is bad. very bad. any chance this is temporary?

I would expect this change to last. At this point, you'll have to wait and see if any new tools surface. I know that Tuff Stuff has been working on a new version of their online price guide for some time now.

-Bob

Not that you and I are complaining about this.  

-Bob

Complaining....definately not.

Another good reason to have the "inflated" values as listed on EBAY is if you somehow loose your collection due to flood, fire, or something else and you happen to have some type of insurance on the collection or if it's covered under your home owners policy there's a chance to get back the entire BV of the cards because the insurance company will use Beckett (they usually use some type of guide) when they are assessing your damages. I can tell you now that I would much rather receive beckett value in a case like that than the EBAY value of my collection.

I can tell you now that I would much rather receive beckett value in a case like that than the EBAY value of my collection.

Very true! Might get back something somewhat close to what has been paid.

-Bob

So, 3 of the 4 of us on this thread so far have already been purchasing the OPGs.  What about you, aceecards?  What guides, if any, do you purchase?

I dont use anything. I rarely sell anything..If I do sell its started for 3.99 on ebay and whatever it gets to so be it..

I use the Free lookup to examine trade offers.
and to do my indexing. (guess thats a thing of the past )

I really dont care what the value is, if I like it Im keeping it (or if it has no value to me Ill let it take up space anyway)

If I want something Id trade just about anything to get it...

Well, I'll jump onboard with "that stinks".

Guess I nearly exhausted my tradelist at about the right time...since that was the only pricing source I've used this year. More food for thought...

QUOTE ME:
BECKETT TRULY SUCKS!
JIMI

QUOTE ME:
BECKETT TRULY SUCKS!
JIMI

Ok, Jimi. Tell us how you really feel.

-Bob