80’s stickers vs base?

nickvelo

I am curious why RC sticker cards (more rare - at least, less pop) sell for less than the base RC with more pop.

1986 Jordan or Isaiah Thomas for example.

Is there a reason other than emotion?

DBesse27

I think emotion is it. Some people only like “real cards.” I’m not one of them, but I’ve heard that a lot.

LarkinCollector

Inserts aren't considered "real" rookies, just "rookie year" issues. Official RCs will always sell for more, regardless of sport, set, etc.

ETA: Subset cards within the base set sell for much lower prices also. A quick study of 2001 Upper Deck Tiger Woods using Pop/APR ...

#1 Base (official RC) Pop 8693 Avg 10 $203.98
#90 Base (Leaderboard subset) Pop 427 Avg 10 $39.81
#124 Base (Defining Moments subset) Pop 635 Avg 10 $30.37
#151 Base (Victory March subset) Pop 1439 Avg 10 $43.24
#176 Base (Tour Time subset) Pop 793 Avg 10 $38.71
#GG4 Insert Pop 747 Avg 10 $58.12
#E-TW Insert Pop 154 Avg 10 $27.26 (recent @ $159.95 though)
#SL2 Insert Pop 224 Avg 10 $14.07
#SL7 Insert Pop 222 Avg 10 $31.24
#SL11 Insert Pop 319 Avg 10 $27.47
#SL17 Insert Pop 353 Avg 10 $43.72

I'm sure I've left out a few and intentionally ignoring the Tiger's Tales insert set. Even factoring in insertion ratios, I can't make any sense of it.

jordangretzkyfan

The demand for the base as the “true” RC has always outweighed demand for the greater rarity and condition challenges of the stickers in your example of 86/87 Fleer. I have been buying the stickers for years waiting for the sticker demand to catch up, but so far it hasn’t happened. I have always felt the stickers have greater upside, but time will tell.

blurryface

Cards didnt originally come with stickers. Plus theyve always been deemed as freebies therefore subliminally deemed as “ehh”. But I love them.

And something just doesnt sound right with “Can I show you my sticker collection”.

hyperchipper09

I like them. They are the Sundance Kid to the Butch Cassidy main RC

saucywombat

I'd say somewhat obviously that most people don't collect stickers. Objectively it is a seemingly arbitrary distinction (both cards and stickers are pictures printed on small pieces of paper) but an important one.