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Is eBay the market price?

merbzmerbz Posts: 17
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I'm starting to collect data on Gretzky rookies (both Topps and OPC) for a hopefully soon purchase, but I can't tell if eBay is the real market price or if the auction format puts most cards over market. I'm just getting back into the hobby so I haven't had a chance to go to any shows or anything like that. In the past, the shows were always overpriced and eBay was the cheapest place to get anything rare or big. Is this still true?

Definitely happy to be back in the hobby and hoping to score an OPC Gretzky RC either a great example of a PSA 8 or a PSA 8.5; trying to keep it less than $1500.

Comments

  • BrickBrick Posts: 4,999 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi, hello, how are ya? image

    Patience is a virtue. When I decided to expand my collection I decided to be a spectator for a period of time to get a feel for the marketplace. VCP is a good tool to use. Personally if I were going to spend a large amount on any card I would get one already in the holder of my choice and my choice would be PSA or in some instances SGC.Good Luck and welcome aboard.
    Collecting 1960 Topps Baseball in PSA 8
    http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/

    Ralph

  • NickMNickM Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭
    eBay is a big chunk of the market, so eBay is a big part of the market price.

    Nick
    image
    Reap the whirlwind.

    Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
  • rlange5rlange5 Posts: 228
    I agree that Ebay is a big chunck of the market price. With that being said there are still highs and lows for Ebay prices, It all depends on the time and who's bidding.

    Bob
    Not an alt, just a lurker

    Looking for Bob Uecker cards

    My Ebay Auctions
  • bobbyw8469bobbyw8469 Posts: 7,139 ✭✭✭


    << <i> agree that Ebay is a big chunck of the market price. With that being said there are still highs and lows for Ebay prices, It all depends on the time and who's bidding. >>


    I agree with this. How else can you explain a card being sold for one price, and then the exact same card being sold a month later for $100 or more in profit. All depends on the eyes that see the card.
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭
    VCP on an "8" is a little over one grand, with the past three each selling for under a grand.
    Edited to add: VCP = www.vintagecardprices.com ... it's a great place to look up the recent prices of actual sales. If you don't want to subscribe for an entire year, you can do it on a daily basis for a very reasonable $4.00. I definitely recommend the site, especially when making a large purchase.
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • Sean1125Sean1125 Posts: 3,479
    The $4 vcp gold one day subscription is pretty awesome for one time things like this.
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    Is ebay the market place? Answer : no, sometimes it's higher, sometimes it's lower. There's a lot that
    factors in to what constitutes the market place. The time and day something ends, how many day's
    is an item listed, seller's rep., pics/scans provided, shipping cost, did the higher paying buyers see the item
    listed for auction, auction vs. BIN, etc....

    I use VCP myself, but remember VCP only captures partial sales figures from ebay.
    So the VCP average is usually on the low side of the equation. It doesn't record BIN
    from 30 day store listings. Those type of listings are a huge portion of graded cards sales.

  • BobbyVCPBobbyVCP Posts: 755 ✭

    I use VCP myself, but remember VCP only captures partial sales figures from ebay.
    So the VCP average is usually on the low side of the equation. It doesn't record BIN
    from 30 day store listings. Those type of listings are a huge portion of graded cards sales. >>



    Yes we do record BIN's
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    Bobby, you're saying VCP now records 30-day BIN ebay listings? Since when?
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    I recently sold a card out of my ebay store on a 30 day listing for
    over $700 ABOVE VCP average. I just checked your site and it wasn't recorded
    as a BIN sale.

    Something's missing.....
  • handymanhandyman Posts: 5,391 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Agree. I see several going unlisted in VCP that were sold via BIN.
  • ToroToro Posts: 1,515


    << <i>I use VCP myself, but remember VCP only captures partial sales figures from ebay.
    So the VCP average is usually on the low side of the equation. It doesn't record BIN
    from 30 day store listings. Those type of listings are a huge portion of graded cards sales. >>



    Yes we do record BIN's >>



    I agree that 30 day store listings are a huge chunk of sales. Many people do BIN or Best Offers. I know the OP isn't in it for a PSA 9+ but I would include latest auction house prices on a card like the Gretzky.
  • BobbyVCPBobbyVCP Posts: 755 ✭
    We are picking up all BIN sales but only after the time set by the seller expires.
  • fiveninerfiveniner Posts: 4,111 ✭✭✭
    image
    Tony(AN ANGEL WATCHES OVER ME)
  • GarabaldiGarabaldi Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭
    I think EBAY is a very good place to get a decent idea as to how much you might have to spend on a card. If it is a rare grade or a card that does not get graded much, it will not be a great indicator.
  • TonyCTonyC Posts: 1,399 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I think EBAY is a very good place to get a decent idea as to how much you might have to spend on a card. If it is a rare grade or a card that does not get graded much, it will not be a great indicator. >>



    +1

    That is a very good way to put it.
    Collecting Tony Conigliaro
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