How does Beckett determine prices?

[RGM81]

Some would make a joke about a dart board. Me...not today.

Beckett collects their data from a number of sources, including a network of hobby shops, eBay, deals made on their site, and others. They do what they can to give an accurate range for people to use as a guide. Sometimes there will be cards that completely defy the "book value" they specify, and for others they will be more-or-less bang-on with their listings.

[jordan23]

Beckett prices were only relevant 20 years ago. Not now with ebay down the corner.

[Hilfiger1975]

Ebay is a "guide" also considering one day a card can go for 5.00 and a week later it can sell for 75.00. Not too mention shill bidders in auctions. There's also "other" auction places besides ebay. Ebay is not the "holy grail" of pricing by a longshot. I've noticed a lot of people use either ebay or beckett whatever helps them sell the card higher.

Jason

[Simi Card]

Is Beckett really irrelevant? I have just started trading and I have found it a good tool for this. Seems perfect for both parties to use BV to determine the equality of a trade.

[Hilfiger1975]

Is Beckett really irrelevant? I have just started trading and I have found it a good tool for this. Seems perfect for both parties to use BV to determine the equality of a trade.

For collectors yes...for dealers no...

[So.Tex.Collector]

I always thought Beckett used a majic 8 ball that they would shake and it would give them the price they so much desired.......

Kidding aside, I think the best tool today is the internet. Ebay being the best option for actual pricing on cards and memoribilia. It also depends on the buyer and how much they are willing to pay. As an example, I collect Morris Almond and Jermaine Taylor(Yeah, not to many scrub collectors out there) cards and if I like a card of theirs that I want and I have the extra cash , I'm getting it regardless.

[Simi Card]

The problem with ebay is it can give such a wide range of final sell prices based on numerous factors. Something as simple as the time of day an auction ends, or giving it a bad title or a bad photos or incomplete description, or if there just happens to be another of the same card listed at the same time. Even seller ratings and size of their ebay store. All of these things can dramatically change the final price. So to go back and find recent selling price, there is almost always a low ball or super high end price that messes thing up.

Example, I wanted a graded Kobe RC. I decided the one I wanted and there were several listed on eBay. Most every PSA or BGS 10 for this card was selling for between $60 to $80, some over $90. The BCCG's were all selling for around $15 to $20. On a budget and not caring about which company graded it I got the $15 card. Then a few weeks later I saw a PSA 10 sell for $12.

It's just all over the board, how can you use this to determine the value of a card?