How does Beckett do their pricing?

[AuthenticF00twear]

I have some concerns on current sports cards values. For example, how can people justify a 2010 National Treasures Sam Bradford/99 is worth more than 2010 Topps Five Star/50 or<? How does Beckett determine the pricing on these cards when there are scare print runs? I just do not understand where they are getting this stupid quoted "BECKETT" pricing. Lets say we take Sam Bradford's National Treasures RC Patch Auto (*/99) as an example, how much can this card be worth when a box is $400+~. I feel if a top rookie performs well, rookie cards should be worth 3-5 times more than the box value or they can also use the print run to determine pricing as well. I am not sure how they determine these pricing but they need to take a big population and see how many collectors are truly out there and if there are low print runs the value on cards should be worth more.

Anyone feel after a product is released and when the product has slowed down, BECKETT always drop the prices? Just because people do not trade the cards, does not mean they need to devalue the card of the players. Any disagree with me on this? Someone please shed some light, BECKETT I hope you guys are reading this, we spend arms and legs, give us better PRICING on the players since we are spending thousands and thousands of dollars!




Allen

[DaClyde]

Popular opinion is that Beckett pulls their pricing out of thin air. How else can they justify prices of $5-$10 for GU cards from 2011 sets before they've even hit the market? And a couple of months later, when said cards are selling in the $1-2 range, Beckett will take years to change the prices.

Oh, and don't expect them ever to correct pricing mistakes on products that are more than a couple of years old. The 1985 Thom McAn/JOX discs are a perfect example. Most of the cards in the set are priced in the $2-5 range. However there are about 6 cards that are priced at over $30-40, even though they are no more rare than the rest. Clearly a mistake with a decimal point, but they haven't adjusted those prices in 15 years. Those $40 cards can readily be picked up on eBay for about $1-2.

[THE_BEAST]

They get their pricing from some Brick And Mortar shops. And also online (high end ebay sellers).

[jyosi]

They get their pricing from some Brick And Mortar shops. And also online (high end ebay sellers).

If this is true, then that has to be the worst system ever. I own a card shop and Beckett uses me as a reference to price cards. I have a large amount of Sam Bradford cards (I use him because he was the first example in here). I obviously want top dollar for my cards so I tell Beckett an inflated price on all the Bradford stuff so I can justify marking it higher in my shop.

Also, this is why Beckett is a price GUIDE. The numbers in a Beckett shouldn't be used for anything except gauging what you might want to be paying or selling for and making your own decision. Personally Ebay's completed items section is my price guide.

[spuds1961]

They throw darts at a board and whatever they hit is the price of the card,ebay is more of an indication of what a card is truly worth than some magazine that hasn't had a clue for years.

[pwaldo]

I remember Tuff Stuff use to LIST the card shops in their magazine where they got their information from....don't know if Beckett ever did that.

[INTIMADATOR2007]

Racing has the same problem. Press pass released the Highest of highs in racing cards with Five Star at $550-$600 per box (5 cards per). But the prices of the cards listed in beckett are so close to the Showcase release at $200 per box , some as low as $150 per box. But the popular drivers Dale Jr. , Danica , Jimmie Johnson are priced the same as showcase cards , Why spend 5-6 hundred for a box , when you can get comparable prices on a much cheaper to by box ? Danica showcase auto/metal card books for $300 while the Five Star auto/metal book card of Danica list for the same $300 .

[sixersnation]

I think they look at the clock when determining the price of cards. So if its 6:15: High 15, Low 6. Still think there should be a daily price guide like the stock market-people in general would respect the card industry more. There is no rhyme or reason to Beckett and after dealing with a few of their reps, I think they are more concerned with grading than determing fair market value on cards.

[pack9001]

They throw darts at a board and whatever they hit is the price of the card,ebay is more of an indication of what a card is truly worth than some magazine that hasn't had a clue for years.

Darn - you beat me to the "dart board" joke.

[twinsfan48]

I think they look at the clock when determining the price of cards. So if its 6:15: High 15, Low 6. Still think there should be a daily price guide like the stock market-people in general would respect the card industry more. There is no rhyme or reason to Beckett and after dealing with a few of their reps, I think they are more concerned with grading than determing fair market value on cards.

Completely agree...I think that would be way cool.

Kinda like the old fantasy sports site "protrade"...something along those lines.