What makes a common? AND! SMR seems a tad off....

daverint

Mornin' Folks. I have a question and a comment.
The question: I see that the CC special for this month is 50's commons....When I was younger, the definition of a common was pretty much a card that didn't have a listing of it's own in whatever price guide you were looking at....I would like to send in a stack of '58 Parkhurst and '59 Parkhurst hockey cards. So what makes a common? I was thinking it should be all of the cards that are listed in the SMR as the same price as "single". Is this how PSA looks at it?

The comment: The 1959 parkhurst cards in Denver's auctions that ended recently wiped out the SMR values. I knew a few were going to go high (A. Provnost to Tigertown because he needed that in an 8 and a few others like that) and they went for several times SMR. But, EVERY one went big. Denver made a good haul. It just seems to me that the SMR is not a very accurate reflection of pricing.....And, after thinking about it while writing this, I guess it doesn't matter much to me. I'm trying to complete some nice sets, not make a portfolio. I just think it need to be a more accurate reflection of the market for cards...

Thanks for listening.

-Dave

scottsusor

I think we've been over this pretty thoroughly recently but the short story is that it would be close to impossible for anybody to keep the SMR updated for common cards. I'm reasonably certain that whoever invented the SMR never imagined the impact of common card values, once it was discovered that some common cards are quite scarce due to a variety of factors, which we've also discussed. At this point, it would almost make more sense to simply delete all the common card listings from the SMR because they are totally meaningless.

Scott

daverint

Hi Scott. I agree with you. I wasn't really trying to stir any pots. I would just like to know how I am to determine whether or not I am sending commons to get graded. I know Richard is not a common. I know Plante is not a common. Is Price a common? Is Chadwick a common? Considering this makes a difference in what I pay to get the cards graded, I would like to know....And you are right, if the were out of the SMR altogether, it would simplify the process.....

Vargha

Cards not listed in the SMR are considered "commons". When in doubt, submit. It's much easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.

scottsusor

Oh, now I see what it is you're asking about. I don't think there's really ANY clear line between what is a common and what is not from the standpoint of what you can submit under PSA's "Vintage Common" grading fee structure. I've made several submissions of 50 commons where maybe 3 or 4 were higher "book" than a standard common price, but not too much higher. I'd think that as long as they're not recognized "superstars" PSA will let 'em go through without complaint, and as long as these "semi stars" don't dominate your submission, you should be OK.

Scott

daverint

daverint

Sorry about the last one...I haven't got the hang of this stuff yet.....

Vargha, the only problem with your idea is that your interpretation means that there is not a single common Parkhurst from the 50's. I like a combination of my idea and Scott's better....The cards listed at the "singles" price are commons and any other ones that are close enough to sneak in without being noticed will be priced the same......I just hope that's how the guy that figures out what I owe looks at it.....

-Dave

goodriddance189

dave, please please please send in all your Parkies, especially '55's and any Jacques Plante cards