Something to remember when reading the latest SMR

jrdolan

The veterans here know this already, but ... 1970s basbeball didn't just hit the skids the month before the June SMR went to press. Those minus signs really reflect a year's worth of market trends (or they should; some SMR values continue to be for some planet other than Earth). SMR seems to update a set or group of sets every year or so. After an update it's like watching paint dry for the next 12 months even if a particular card or set takes a drastic turn up or down. It takes that long for market reality, or a fraction of it, to be reflected in SMR values.

Anyway, with certain exceptions, 1970s baseball has been much cheaper than SMR for more than a year now, maybe longer. SMR just got around to noting that fact with the June 2005 issue. Also it's worth noting that from 1948-72, almost nothing was updated except 1963 Bazooka. And it ain't because none of those thousands of cards changed in value. It's just Bazooka's turn this month. It's a question of updating, which I assume is because limited resources are devoted to that laborious task.

I do think that SMR is the best printed guide available. Beckett and Tuff Stuff, etc., are just hilarious. But like we keep saying, the best indication of true market value is the completed listings on eBay.

carew4me

I still dont get the point of an SMR that doesn't reflect true values?

koby

Is there a more accurate printed priceguide?

julen23

"And it ain't because none of those thousands of cards changed in value. It's just Bazooka's turn this month."

Token changes from month to month in SMR estimated pricing? I believe it is necessary, if just for saving face w/ subscribers and rival rating's companies.

ZodiacMindWarp could print off his detailed listing of e-bay sales and probably be the MOST accurate estimator of TRUE card values then huh?

Julen

RipublicaninMass

<< <i> It's just Bazooka's turn this month. >>



Rather than what Dr. Beckett wants to unload...lol

Buccaneer

I would agree that the SMR is the best we have for graded cards. It's worthless for raw cards.

We have noticed in the past that the SMR is very formulaic in that there is a simple calculated difference between the grades, depending on year and type. They do not have the staff to track the market, except for high-end sales, so it becomes nothing more than a "guide" in comparing relative "values" between grades and years.

TheThrill22

I just hope they keep printing the same values for the Stooges cards every month.

Stone193

<< <i>Is there a more accurate printed priceguide? >>


I pretty much use ebay as my guide - all the price guides are off one way or the other.

mike

CDsNuts

I like the prices for cards that don't exist, like a PSA 9 1948 Leaf Satchell Paige. This makes it seem like they're just pulling numbers out of thin air. Also, I don't believe they really do a lot of market research when it comes to prices of the more abundant issues like 70s and 80s.

Lee

koby

<< <i>

<< <i>Is there a more accurate printed priceguide? >>


I pretty much use ebay as my guide - all the price guides are off one way or the other.

mike >>



I rely on ended auctions on ebay too. Just wondering whether any publisher put out a better printed guide.

ctsoxfan

The SMR is the best resource for something that is tough to accurately track. I agree, the prices listed for some late 70's and 80's PSA 10's (for example) are way out of touch with reality, but it is still a good guide for the cards that are less volatile (like 50's and 60's).

Buccaneer

Would any of you agree that the prices in the guides (including the SMR) are purposely inflated to create a market? I don't want to get into trouble with PSA (or any of the graders) but I perceive that the base prices are set so as to justify grading fees. When I see 1960s PSA 7 commons go for $3-$5 on eBay, they can't put those kind of prices in the guide. Instead they have to state that the prices are at least $8 for 1960-1965 (those are the years I have in my database).

jrdolan

I don't think they're purposely inflated. I just think they haven't been accurately updated in a dog's age, and a boatload of material has been graded since then, resulting in lower real-world prices. Of course we can all tell about the PSA 9 Brett rookie or whatever that sold for MORE than SMR, but in general I think a lot of high-grade '70s material has poured into the market since the last time SMR looked at those years.

goudeygold

their formula for pre-war is retarded in nearly all instances. supposedly PSA 3 1938 goudey commons aren't worth the grading fee, so everybody send me theirs i'll gladly take them all. while if you can find any star or semi star in that set PSA 1-2-3-4-5-6 for SMR i'll take them too. PM me, I want them all. Levi was the only dealer in ALL the dealers in the new SMR that has a single 38 goudey PSA graded.

Overall I think the prices at 8 and above are fine, but the demand for this set at 4 is way over 60% of PSA 5, or 40% of book for the 3s.

nothing is perfect I agree, but I still think all POP zeros should be "N/A" in the SMR. This came up before a few months ago...

GG

Carew29

Hey Randall--your Carew's are on the way--- I am sure you saw the 75' Kelloggs Carew PSA 9 that sold for $76 . SMR is $24 . Talk about out of whack. The card was won by Alfaro, who has the # 1 collection. I was the losing bidder at $75 . PSA is not going to take into account the 4 or 5 of us that are going to be outbidding each other to complete their Master Set. Also check out the 1977 Carew PSA 10 for sale on Ebay.
It is at $191 and there is no price column for 10's. Last PSA 10 sold for $213.00 .

gemint

If there is a card that is way off in SMR, I encourage you to email PSA. I've been able to get the SMR adjusted for specific cases. An example is the '69 Brock. Funny thing is that the moment the SMR was updated to reflect the high value of the card, eBay sales results immediately doubled. Where PSA 8's were originally selling for $225 on eBay, they immediately started selling for $400-$500 after the SMR was updated.

If you provide auction links, it will improve the chances of getting the SMR updated as opposed to just giving your word.

earlycalguy

does anyone look at Thepit.com null - not sure if I did the link correctly - it's like a stock market ticker for cards. kind of interesting.