Do VCP and CardTarget show a better picture than POP reports?

[AMBST95]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

I was only using this one card as an example. The other reason I brought it up is because I have seen auctions lately saying "1 of 3" known from population reports, but you can go to VCP and/or cardtarget and see that several raw ones have sold, or maybe even PSA ones prior to the back tracking. Since Cardtarget even keeps a database of photos wouldn't it make sense if a company is going to list pop reports that they should also look at the info given by VCP and Cardtarget to give a more full picture of the market for any given card?

Why would it be in an auction's or seller's best interest to make a rare collectible appear to be less rare? Could they use these sources for more accurate descriptions, sure. Is there an incentive to not do it, sure. Is the seller being inaccurate by using the population reports to make an item sound more appealing, no.

I think as a buyer, scanning multiple auction listings and comparing photos on VCP and Cardtarget makes sense if trying to compile the most accurate sales history for a specific card, but if selling, that's a lot of legwork to make your item less desirable. The number of raw cards basically throw most of it out the window though as you never know for sure how many are out there. If you found 2 raw cards and the 3 graded, now you have 5 that you know of. There are still going to be others you have no clue about. Look at the new T206 discoveries still happening 104 years after production. We will never know for sure.