Buying strong
 

I wish there was a "like button" for this thread.

Yep, when someone says they are paying strong is usually some reverse phsycology to make seller think this guy is gonna pay more than anyone else.

I've always understood it to be used when someone is looking for a hard to find card and is willing to pay "strong" in a private sale rather than it going to auction. But yeah doesn't make much sense for cards that are readily available so I'm not sure

They are running a business, and looking for collections / desirable cards to obtain. Like ANY business, I would not expect them to buy at what they would sell an item for. They would soon be out of business.

Obviously they would like to be the first ones contacted if someone is selling.

Nit picking over terminology. Must be a slow day for everyone.......

My version of paying strong is this- I am looking for several nearly impossible John McGraw T206 backs and I will overpay to get them due to rarity. This is the only context I understand this phrase. Paying strong for a readily available card doesn't mean much to me.

That makes sense. I will pay strong for a Gehrig Rogers Peet of Gekrig kut out because I've never seen one.

I guess I don't understand the confusion here. My presumption is that if a collector is "paying strong" they are willing to pay above the VCP average, the idea being that they are trying to buy a card not currently for sale, and they need to compel a seller to part with a card.

I'm not sure if the reference to All Star Cards is a joke or not, but their buy price on a 41 PB Teddy is $550. If I found a centered example in the same grade, I'd probably pay double that. I'm not sure it makes sense to compare the dealers who are "paying strong" vs. the collectors doing so.

Ha. $550? For the right one, I would happily pay double that, maybe more.

Paying strong
 

I believe that it means that you have strong desire to own the card and you will buy at fair price and will not try to negotiate a lower one . I have seen the term used for beaters when trying to complete sets. I may be wrong ???


Sharing my Yankee’s
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151843924@N04/albums
Share your Yankee’s
https://www.facebook.com/groups/554519474738304/

The key word is 'fair price'.....fair to the buyer? or fair to the seller? I have had GREAT transactions on here. However, when someone reaches out to me looking a particular card, their expected "buy prices" are seldom fair - they are usually wanting them for less than Ebay.

VCP can only get you so far. If the last sale of a particular Ruth or Cobb card in that grade was $1000 in 2014, what's a fair price now?