Commons pricing: SMR vs Beckett High

Buccaneer

As I am working on my raw 1960s sets, I am a little confused as to the basis for pricing on commons between the SMR and Beckett. For example, 1965 Topps NM commons in SMR lists for $8 (lower series) but in Beckett (and in online dealers), $2. Drop down to EX and the difference is $3 vs $1. Is the slab (and the inherent cost of grading) factored into the SMR price? For star cards, I see a very close parallel between the PSA 7 prices and the NM of Beckett High but it the commons pricing confuses me. Also, it seems that those that are selling commons (like the 1965s), it drops from $2 for NM to $1.50 to $1.00 to $0.75 and to $0.50 for VG. This is different than the usual 40% drop between conditions I see elsewhere. So the dumb question I have is what is the true price of a EX 1965 low# common, for example?

Virtualizard

Check ebay, it's the only true "guide" to pricing. Price guides are just that, a guide. The only thing that you can really derive from "guide pricing" is the relative difference in pricing between commons, minor stars, semi-stars, stars, and HOFers. Changes in supply and demand will always make these values basically useless.

That said, pay what you are willing to pay for cards, regardless of what some guide says. Most of us could produce a much more accurate guide to pricing for the small % of cards that we collect, but Beckett and SMR are much more general in their scope of pricing.

JEB.

toppsgun

"question I have is what is the true price of a EX 1965 low# common, for example?"

Answer: Not Much.

Buccaneer

I don't think I was clear on my question. Basically, is NM card in a slab worth more ($8) than the exact same card unslabbed ($3)? On eBay, I see 65 psa 7 starting at $6 with a buy now at $8. I picked up this card in the same condition raw from a 9 card NM lot (from a seller who frequents here) for the average of $2.95. Again, I see 1960s NM stars being the same comparable price between SMR/Beckett but commons I see a big disparity. I'm just looking to pricing my collection for buying, trading and selling purposes.

srs1a

Yes, I think a card (no matter what condition) is worth more is a PSA (or SGC or GAI) slab than it is raw. You are basically buying an insurance policy that the card is un-tampered with and graded by a qualified third party. How much more?...and does this justify the fee for grading? This is the tricky part.

I think you are mis-guided (pun intended) using Beckett's high value for 60's commons. I'd start with low book for a NM example, then divide by 2 for each grade lower. So for a low number '65 in EX, I'd start a $1 for NM, then 50 cents for EXMT and land at a quarter for an EX example....and this is probably on the high side.

gemint

I think it depends on the set. I've had little success moving 1969 PSA 7 commons with most not even garnering a $3 minimum bid. Some of those same cards in NM+ condition in raw form would sell for about the same in raw form, especially if sold by a dealer with a good reputation selling accurately graded raw vintage cards on eBay.