Honest Question: Trading - BV or SV?

[JayT_59]

I seem to be in the minority here and it is really affecting my ability to trade, so please help me understand.

There seems to be 2 schools about trading and values. Trading using Book Value and trading using Sale Value. And the difference seems to be about what is the authoritative value, actual cash (or paypal), or the value Beckett places on cards. As one coming from the school of SV, to me cash is real, Beckett values are theorhetical. So cash being actual buying power should be authoritative.

To BV enthusiasts:

This is an honest question because I really don't understand.... Can you please explain to me how you use BV when trading single mid to high-end cards? In my opinion isn't real cash more authoritative than a Book Value? So how can you justify trading a card BV $50 that sells for $40 for a card BV $50 that sells for $15? To me, I see it as there is a $25 cash discrepancy in the trade. Would you personally make that trade on either end of the trade, would you make the trade if you were received the $15 SV card? I would not, and I seem to be offending people, despite trying to respond to offers professionally and courteously. Please do not be offended, I am just really curious how the BV mindset works.

I understand that there are other factors to include when judging a trade, but can we just isolate this issue apart from everything else just for this discussion.

Thoughts would really be appreciated. Please let me know if you are BV or SV oriented and explain why.... And please let me know if I am out to lunch.

-Jason

[RGM81]

Rather than re-type things I've said a bunch of times: https://www.sportscardforum.com/artic...%80%99s-value/

In sum, go with what feels best and most fair to both parties.

[sephiroth]

Very interesting question and debate.

I just read what RGM81 wrote and I'm in line with it. For me, it will always be a mix of ebay, common sense and BV. The problem seems to occur when someone is exclusively relaying on one of the afro-mentionned. For example, a card that sells for 22 and have a BV of 50 will for me be treated that way: if I sell her, I will probably ask for 25. If I trade her, it's gonna be for a card listed is the 40-55 range in BV.

There are a lot of advantages at first trading in BV. Most of yours cards acquired for say, 6 $ on ebay are now 12-18 $ commodities. Seems a good idea. But when you try to put a trade together involving money, the other part seems sticky to the say 18 $ BV of the card, and ask for the same amount in $ value. Problem here.

I made a great trade last week. I had for like 25 $ cards in BV, the other guy had a 50 $ BV card. He proposed me I will give 18 $ and deal done. A mix of common sense and BV. If the trade was based exclusively on cards, we surely have tried to select 25 $ of things in my bucket.

There is also the case when someone is using BV to acquire one of your cards that have best SV. I wanted last time a 40 Bv card, but she is selling with regularity at 10. Why not be logic and say: oh, my card is 40 BV, but I can trade it for say 20, according to the sales.

Excuse the wall of text and I hope to be correct in my trading attitude, mix of common sense, ebay and BV.

[htram9]

BV is good for common low end stuff. Like common rookies, jerseys, autos and of course even lower end stuff. But when it comes to higher end stuff SV just makes more sense. Throw out the two outliers and figure out an average. Why would I trade a 300BV card that sells for 250 when another 300BV card sells for $150? Common sense says I'll sell my card, buy that card and pocket $100.

[Habitforming]

I rely mostly on SV, but not just the last sale, because it can be irregular.

BV is all over the place and rarely accurate so I tend to stay away from the favors they do for some companies

[Tivo32]

I've found a pretty good system for myself in determining value of cards of looking at 5 of the most recent sales as well as looking at the LOW BV. I've found the low column to be much more consistent and within range of ebay sales.

[adamslogik]

I've found a pretty good system for myself in determining value of cards of looking at 5 of the most recent sales as well as looking at the LOW BV. I've found the low column to be much more consistent and within range of ebay sales.

People seem to forget that the low value exists. They would rather point at the price guide and complain about it, rather that to actually learn to use it properly.

It would stand to reason that ebay would be in line with the LOW value in the guide, since it is pretty much the cheapest place to get singles. The reason why the High BV exists, isn't to keep up with ebay, but with private and card shop sales, which tend to be higher.

I swear that some people in this hobby don't realize that there is a world outside of ebay.

[Tivo32]

People seem to forget that the low value exists. They would rather point at the price guide and complain about it, rather that to actually learn to use it properly.

It would stand to reason that ebay would be in line with the LOW value in the guide, since it is pretty much the cheapest place to get singles. The reason why the High BV exists, isn't to keep up with ebay, but with private and card shop sales, which tend to be higher.

I swear that some people in this hobby don't realize that there is a world outside of ebay.

You are 100% correct my friend. :)

[htram9]

People seem to forget that the low value exists. They would rather point at the price guide and complain about it, rather that to actually learn to use it properly.

It would stand to reason that ebay would be in line with the LOW value in the guide, since it is pretty much the cheapest place to get singles. The reason why the High BV exists, isn't to keep up with ebay, but with private and card shop sales, which tend to be higher.

I swear that some people in this hobby don't realize that there is a world outside of ebay.

eBay is also the biggest market for cards and it isn't even close, hence why people use it. It is a lot more fair then me saying, "Well my shop sold a Carey Price YG for $75.. so I want $75" Beckett doesn't really have a system on how they price cards. It has gotten better, and beckett online is better, but how come this happens on a regular basis that a new product comes out, sales are great and then the BV comes out and it is so low that sales die. I know many people who try to sell anything they break before BV comes out, because it just drops sales sometimes greatly. How is that determining the market value? I'll still always believe (as many do) that beckett throws darts at a price board and there is the price.

Regardless, using common sense should come first, then whatever system suits people and hopefully an agreement.

[Tivo32]

eBay is also the biggest market for cards and it isn't even close, hence why people use it. It is a lot more fair then me saying, "Well my shop sold a Carey Price YG for $75.. so I want $75" Beckett doesn't really have a system on how they price cards. It has gotten better, and beckett online is better, but how come this happens on a regular basis that a new product comes out, sales are great and then the BV comes out and it is so low that sales die. I know many people who try to sell anything they break before BV comes out, because it just drops sales sometimes greatly. How is that determining the market value? I'll still always believe (as many do) that beckett throws darts at a price board and there is the price.

Regardless, using common sense should come first, then whatever system suits people and hopefully an agreement.

Are you sure it has to do with the BV coming out on the new products or that the first wave of crazed buyers has passed thus dropping the values. I do not think BV is what drops the value. The first week after release prices will always be the highest as there are the most buyers bidding for the cards. After the first week, two things factor into the decrease in sales. 1.) There are more of the cards available - spreading out bids and consequently lowering sale price. 2.) There are less buyers because people have already purchased what they need - less buyers = less bids = lower sale prices.