trading bv vs sv

[centrehice]

For the first 47 years of my life, I collected cards because I was devoted to players, hooked on the novelty, and loved my Sport of choice above all others. Now because of eBay I only collect cards because they have finally become a commodity.

That may sound a little harsh, but back in 1966, I had about 10 friends that would pay attention to my Hockey cards, now with eBay, the World pays attention.

[13stepper]

I recoup 50-60%.

eBay dictates where the market flows. You can choose to ignore it and be left with an unmanageable inventory of epic proportion. You can embrace it, and sell all your cards.

But it's not going away anytime soon as the trend-setter for pricing of any card on the market. BV is only a suggestion, nothing more. That is why busting new product has never been more of a losing proposition.

Beckett will tell you that card X is worth such a price in BV, you bust a couple of boxes and get 2 of them, both on paper worth more than you paid for the boxes, when you realistically try to sell them, you end of with 20% of your box purchase price, if you are fortunate.

People that play roulette with boxes over time, lose so much money that after 2 seasons they will never recoup even that low 20% return that I stated above.

[centrehice]

I recoup 50-60%.

I recoup well over 100% as I don't bust. My return on singles re-sell from boxes that other people bust is Keystone +40 over the entire history of my sales on eBay the last 14 years. Each year it gets slightly lower because of the glut of cards in the marketplace.

[michaelpatko]

The reverse is also true.
I may tell you "Oh I saw that card sell for less on ebay" But I see that yours did too.
If the recent sales are comparable in price, it's a good trade for me.
Plus, If I REALLY want/need a card, I'll pay OVER book value.
Just gotta find the right buyer at the right time.

[RGM81]

Rather than trying to impose one way or another (and I find that people usually pick whichever is more convenient for them) try working on what it takes to make a deal happen with someone where both sides come away happy.

If I have a card that you want, and you have a card that I want, why get hung up over a $3-$5 disparity in either method of gauging value? It's one thing if we're talking high-end deals where there's a big gap, but I see so many people out there that won't make a trade on their $15BV YG for someone's $10 Black Diamond RC because "the book" tells them it's not a fair trade.

There's so many cards out there on the market, and I see people complaining regularly about how hard it is to make a trade. This is why people end up with a trader's box full of cards they've had for 3 years. If you want to get rid of that card, if you truly want to trade it, you'll work with someone who comes along and says that they're interested in it. It may not happen immediately, as they may not have the type of card you're looking for, but if they have one you want why fuss over "value" to the extent that you'll scuttle the deal? Is getting exactly a certain value for a card that's been in that box for two years that important?

[CoolHandLuke]

Both BV and SV can be really useful. None are the perfect way to evaluate all the cards there are on the market. First having one sale on eBay is not in my book a good gauge of a card value. But when you have 20 sales then it's definitely THE best gauge of cards that are worth more money for sure.

Now some mention that for lower end cards that BV are useful and I do agree as it does make trading more useful. This is why I use the BV. As for cards over 20$ or more, while I do maintain BV in my inventory it's more to get a idea but I don't mind to trade with sale value as well. The problem I do see at time is that many that do use sale value often try to get the better end. Also what do you do when no sales are around?

It also take a lot of time to track down the sales of many cards and does make the trade harder to gauge. When you have half the cards with no sales, what do you do, would be my question to those who strictly trade with SV?

To me trading with BV when possible and that any high end cards make sense in the deal then I am all for it because it make it easier to trade. I also do give good trading value when I do trade for older cards I need that no one need because it not the recent stuff that is hot.

I think both have flaws and this is why not all trade can be done so easy. Sometime I will just say I pass even if the BV are equal because like some say the cards SV are really not the same.

In the end there is not one perfect way to evaluate a card and everyone can simply say I pass. I do hate it when someone just go off with statement saying you use BV no way I will trade with you and just cut the discussion short. A simple say I will pass can do it. I don't understand at time how some are so passionate about SV or BV and will not even take time to see a actual trade proposition or do one suggestion. It always seem that those who do trade with SV what me to make the suggestion and will not make their trade suggestion. What do they know if I will say yes or know.

I do agree that BV have always been a gauge and for many I do understand why they say it's not accurate. But ebay is probably where the cards sell the lowest but by far is not the only place cards are sold. Beckett remain only a guide and not a bible but is certainly helpful. But sales can really be more on the lowest end of the BV and many times way under.

At the same time in any market some won't let go their cards at the lowest prices. But when it come to trading using the lowest sale value does not always represent the real card value. Someone talk about a averages price and when many sale are on ebay then yes this is accurate if you make a averages. If you say that you can buy it for the lowest price on eBay and this is what it's worth, then I do disagree as often these are not buy it type and are auctions. we all know that auction at time have a bad timing that do make low sales and that at time you want it, bid on it and still can't get it unless you pay more. SO the cheapest price is not the sale value either.

I trade with both depending on the members. Only if they don't turn me down because I do use BVat time LOL

In one word both do work and I would say that more, in my opinion still use BV but more and more use SV

[pwaldo]

There needs to be a big steel cage PPV match between BV and SV with the winner determining what stands for all of eternity

[RGM81]

"By gawd they've killed BV! That man has a family!"

[FanOfSpeed08]

its pretty simple. People want to use the factor that favors their deal.

[sedinfan]

To me, I don't get hung up at all on whether someone wants to use bv, or sv, or they want to value cards they pulled themselves higher, or whatever... you've got your criteria, I've got mine - if we're each able to get cards out of a deal that make us happy, great! If not, no hard feelings, just move on. I don't think it's anyone's place to tell someone else they are using the wrong criteria to value cards - those who are rigid about using bv when the book is stale and out of touch, or cherry picking only sales that make their case, will learn quickly that trades will be few and far between.