Here's a weird perspective. Make sense of this.
ElMagoStrikeZone
Posts: 607 ✭✭✭✭
If you really need to "make sense" of what happens in the world of cards, don't. It won't help. There's nothing else I can say other than point out the examples. First is a 1972-73 Topps #183 George McGinnis Rookie card graded BVG 8.5 and it was a nice looking card as I could see it. So I bid on it, but regrettably, I missed on what seemed to be a really good score. The card sold for $89 on January 18th.
The second item is also a 1972-73 Topps #183 George McGinnis Rookie card graded PSA MINT 9. Now, keep in mind that this IS a rather tough card to acquire in high grade if you're so inclined. The PSA example closed last nite at $6,355. That's SIX THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS! 
I'm absolutely floored by the hammer price. The seller is consignmints, who is quite reputable, and he also unloaded some other examples in high grade from the same set. The prices were just......insane. 
I tried to post links to the auctions, but I must dumb or numb, or both. Anyways, go have a look on eBay if ya wanna.
Bundalay, sahvay.
Comments
I just always tell myself that there are times when you'll win some, then there are times when you'll lose some, and then there are times when it rains.
Irrational exuberance in action perhaps. I'll also admit that I do enjoy hearing when a card sells for way more than we might think it should have or when a raw card sells for more than a better already graded example. I think there are a lot of new collectors in the hobby, with more still being drawn in, that are transitioning or expanding from modern to vintage.
I would never be able to explain why that PSA 9 sold for what it did.
Here's a tidbit. Another PSA 9 example sold in a Heritage auction in early December for more than twice the amount - over 14K. What kind of exuberance caused that?
Our hobby has jumped the shark, shifted to reverse, and jumped it again so many times that the shark has become a bobble head with a broken neck.
Bundalay, sahvay.
Spot on. This is a sport card message board and discussing the prices cards sell for should be discussed. If some people don't like it they don't have to read it.
Pop 22, None Higher. Even in a highly sought-after set for set collectors I don't really get it. Most of those PSA 9s are probably PSA 7s today which means that there's lots of equivalent cards out there for much less. So, is it Registry competition? No idea. Keep track of the cert and see if it pops up in a registry set. Otherwise probably level 3 hijinx.
When it comes to true market value, the argument could go on forever. The pricing anomalies we witness these days I believe are attributable more now than ever to the fact some people in the bidding wars have disposable income to shake out. A lot of easy money. They don't worry about price, value or resale, only competition. WINNING. That is why prices are so f'd up. And I can't compete with them. So I don't.
Bundalay, sahvay.
An old saying of sort for going traditional ebay auction over ebay buy-it-now is "it only takes 2 id10ts" . Now couple that with George Carlins observation of the average persons intelligence
Of course if you’re just entering the hobby then no sharks have been jumped yet and it all seems as normal as the sun setting in the west.
Anything pre 1980 is graded by Beckett with different grading standards (BVG vs BGS). That is why vintage PSA cards will always go for more than their BVG counterpart grades as they are held to the same high standards as a card that was printed last week.
Shows an SGC 9 sold for $3000 on January 14th and another PSA 9 on the same date sold for $5100