How often does PSA update vintage prices in the price guides?

vbacon · July 12, 2023 12:56PM

I collect mainly vintage (1910-1960) PSA graded hockey cards. I've noticed that the prices in the last few years have increased significantly. Several years ago, I used to be able to bid at 110-120% of book value and get the items. Now, I'm seeing auctions regularly fetch 150-200% of book value. This is especially true of pre-WWII cards.

However, the PSA price guide hasn't moved on these items in years. Does PSA ever change vintage card values very often on other sports? I know vintage hockey is kind of a niche area. Still, it would be nice to see the price guides updated at leave every few years.

smallstocks · July 12, 2023 12:58PM

I think they update it about once every 10 years!

brad31 · July 12, 2023 1:16PM

Subscribe to VCP - I finally did and wish I had a long time ago.

Vagabond · July 12, 2023 3:24PM

I've also been a VCP subscriber for about 8 years now and it's certainly informative and worth it.

DBesse27 · July 12, 2023 5:44PM

Printed price guides have been irrelevant and worthless for years.

Cakes · July 13, 2023 12:34PM

@DBesse27 said:
Printed price guides have been irrelevant and worthless for years.

I disagree, I think it's a good resource, I agree that strictly on pricing they are way off.

DBesse27 · July 13, 2023 2:55PM

@Cakes said:

@DBesse27 said:
Printed price guides have been irrelevant and worthless for years.

I disagree, I think it's a good resource, I agree that strictly on pricing they are way off.

That’s what I meant. The pricing.

CardGeek · July 13, 2023 4:01PM

Where do you find pricing history going back 20 years online?

Cakes · July 14, 2023 6:07AM

@DBesse27 said:

@Cakes said:

@DBesse27 said:
Printed price guides have been irrelevant and worthless for years.

I disagree, I think it's a good resource, I agree that strictly on pricing they are way off.

That’s what I meant. The pricing.

I need something else to read at the Beach besides Fantasy Football Mags!

80sOPC · July 14, 2023 6:49AM

I see this come up regularly and I must be missing something. Why do we need an old school price guide when PSA publishes all sales for PSA graded cards online. If I want to know what a PSA Stevie Y rooks are selling for:

https://www.psacard.com/auctionprices/hockey-cards/1984-o-pee-chee/steve-yzerman/values/323739

That is essentially your price guide.

vbacon · July 14, 2023 9:19AM

@80sOPC said:
I see this come up regularly and I must be missing something. Why do we need an old school price guide when PSA publishes all sales for PSA graded cards online. If I want to know what a PSA Stevie Y rooks are selling for:

https://www.psacard.com/auctionprices/hockey-cards/1984-o-pee-chee/steve-yzerman/values/323739

That is essentially your price guide.

I guess that's my point. I can see that in the auction prices that certain cards or sets are regularly selling for 2x (sometimes 3x) book value. If you maintain a 'price guide' as a part of your website shouldn't that guide somewhat reflect what the market is actually doing? Or are the values in the price guide just some numbers someone came up with years ago that don't reflect any current reality?

vbacon · July 14, 2023 9:25AM

Thanks for all of the comments!

I did try VSP and that was indeed a very good suggestion. I would subscribe to their monthly plan but I'm not that active of a buyer to justify the expense. I buy mainly rarely traded pre-WWII hockey cards. It was funny to see how many of the latest prices on my cards were the ones that I bought a couple of years ago.

The PSA (and maybe VSP?) doesn't seem to record auctions from PWCC marketplace. Is that an attempt by PSA to ignore that PWCC has become a fairly viable alternative. (Still not sold on PWCC overall but they do have some good cards.)

How often does PSA update vintage prices in the price guides?

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