The Devil's in the Details

(An expression of the concept that many things seem straightforward on the surface, but difficulties, problems, and obstacles are later discovered while trying to implement or execute a task or plan)


Vol. 2: The Price Guide


If there’s one question I get asked more than any other it has to be “How much is [insert item/card] worth?” I should point out as well that my stock answer involves grabbing a price guide, looking up the price of said item, or something close to it, and shooting the person off a note quoting the price of the item in pristine condition. Is there anything inherently wrong in doing this? Not really, as when people ask me this what they are really requesting is the book value. But then I have to ask myself: Am I being entirely up front with this guy/gal? That’s where I’m nailed because I know damn well I’m not! Why? Because there’s only one true answer to this question. When someone asks you “How much is [insert item/card] worth?”, the only possible answer is:


The item you asked about is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.


To be married to Beckett/Tuff Stuff/Charlton pricing is to miss a fundamental factor in the collectibles market. This factor is really hidden in plain sight in as much as many people tend to ignore this basic "elephant in the room" once any of these publications indicates a favourable price for their item! This oft ignored fundamental factor is that each of the aforementioned documents function as nothing more than a guide in assessing value. They are not a firm evaluation of a definitive price. A quick scan across these price guides is sufficient to support this, whereby the same cards can elicit different prices across them, albeit likely within a certain ballpark range. The intent of these guides are to give you a general sense of what the market is on these items. No more, no less.


Even if one assumes that th price guide provides a "ballpark figure" for the price of said item, do not make the further mistake of assuming you will get book value if trying to sell it. Conversely, as a buyer one needs to recognize the faulty approach taken by the individual who insists that since a Beckett says a certain card is worth X amount they cannot be expected to accept below that for it. This is not to say that any one person cannot ask book price, or even more, for an item if they choose. All the power to them if they are able to get it! The point is that as dealers and consumers one needs to be aware that there is an exceptional amount of fluidity around these values, and recognizing this allows us to function more adaptively in the market.


Example: Wanting to unload your collections at a card shop? Your collection books at $1000? Be aware that the chances of you getting the full value when selling them is slim to none. Many stores tend to use a benchmark of approximately 50% of Beckett listing price on cards when purchasing them, with some offering slightly more if the transaction is for store credit (note, however, that it can also fall lower than the 50% mark!). Conversely, when buying cards be aware that if someone is insistent on selling at 100% Beckett value you are likely to be able to purchase for lower than this elsewhere, especially in the EBay era we are in now.


The Devil in this detail is: Published prices are guides, not set values.


Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
BBM: 311A4F7D
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Previous "Devil's In The Details" Articles

#1: Beware the "Factory Sealed Box"!

Ultimate Set Build

INDEX


Previous “Who Am I?” Articles

#1, #2, #3, #4, #5


Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles

#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?

#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?

#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?

#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?

#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?

#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?

#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?

#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?

#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?

#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?


Previous “Devil's Advocate” Articles

Gary Bettman and the Phoenix Coyotes


Previous “According to Twitter” Articles

Olympic Gold Medal Game

Olympic Hockey

Kovalchuk Trade


Previous “Humpday Hockey Videos”

January 20, 2010: Pain for Pleasure

January 27, 2010: National Anthems

February 3, 2010: Dion Phaneuf

February 10, 2010: Hockey Fans



Previous “Who Knew?” Articles
#1: Gordie Howe

#2: The Zamboni

#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

#4: Ron Hextall

#5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility

#6: The Puck

#7: Don Cherry

#8: Cam Neely

#9: The Early Years of Les Canadiens

#10: Hockey Superstitions!

#11: Olympic Hockey Pt1



Previous “Town Without A Team” Articles

Booger Hollow, Arkansas

Hell, Michigan



Previous “Hockey Psychology” Articles

State Dependent Learning

Arousal and Performance

Depression