Just how much does condition affect value?

I would think, supply and demand, the known pre-existing conditions of the card or cards from a set or being the first card in the set.

[Leon]

The more I need or want the card the less the condition I will accept, especially for super rare ones. If it is a fairly common card then I want one with great eye appeal. I am not worried about technical grades and would just as soon have all of my cards look ex+ but be in 1-2 holders (if graded).

[ullmandds]

I agree w/leon 100% on this one.

This was a tough thing to get used to...for me...having to settle for beaters at times.

I used to disagree with The phrase..."its better to have a hole in my card...than a hole in my collection"...not anymore!

[thehoodedcoder]

condition doesn't affect value. supply and demand does. how many people want the card in that condition and what are they willing to pay for it?

kevin

[obcmac]

Originally Posted by thehoodedcoder

condition doesn't affect value. supply and demand does. how many people want the card in that condition and what are they willing to pay for it?

kevin

Well, condition directly impacts demand, so it does affect value. As for collecting...I always describe myself as a low to ultra-low grade collector. I don't know that I've ever not bought a card for condition reasons...only for price reasons. I don't collect memorabilia at all, but I understand that people want their game used stuff to look game used...that's sort of the way I feel about cards. Cracker Jacks are a good example...I want them to look like they came out of a box of cracker jack.

To get back to the question...condition is much more important on cards that are easy to find. VG may get you 10-20% of book in common post-war and poors may get 50-1000% of book in rare pre-wars.

[drcy]

A really beat up example of a premo card, like a 1933 Goudey Ruth or 52 Topps Mantle, can sell for a surprising amount of money. I figure that, for those on a limited collecting budget, they consider it their rare chance to own a dream card like that.

[Republicaninmass]

Seems like some, if not most autographed cards 1952 and earlier sell for the same price regardless of grade. If it is a tough one I dont have or have never seen, generally condition doesnt matter

[thehoodedcoder]

Originally Posted by obcmac

Well, condition directly impacts demand, so it does affect value. As for collecting...I always describe myself as a low to ultra-low grade collector. I don't know that I've ever not bought a card for condition reasons...only for price reasons. I don't collect memorabilia at all, but I understand that people want their game used stuff to look game used...that's sort of the way I feel about cards. Cracker Jacks are a good example...I want them to look like they came out of a box of cracker jack.

To get back to the question...condition is much more important on cards that are easy to find. VG may get you 10-20% of book in common post-war and poors may get 50-1000% of book in rare pre-wars.

i disagree. most people would love to have a higher grade card, if they could afford it. more people want a nicer card, then a lower grade card. that is why nicer cards go for more money. they are more desirable.

the price, affects demand at that price. the condition that they buy is a bi product of the supply and demand curve with respect to the price at the given condition.

there are however, people that believe beaters have character. so obviously it needs to be said, that not everyone thinks the same way. your example of a rare prewar card and the value for it, is really driven by the number of them. the fact that they are rare, and the number of people want them, is high when compared to the quantities.

as an extreme example and also highly unlikely: a card could be very very rare, if no one will buy the card, then its 'worthless'. you can't sell it or trade it, and consequently it has no value.

kevin

[Mikehealer]

Originally Posted by thehoodedcoder

more people want a nicer card, then a lower grade card.
kevin

I don't know of many people who have a nice example of card that get a lesser condition example of the same card unless they are hoarding. Does this really happen?

[obcmac]

Originally Posted by thehoodedcoder

the price, affects demand at that price. the condition that they buy is a bi product of the supply and demand curve with respect to the price at the given condition.

kevin

I think that's technically incorrect. Price impacts quantity demanded, not demand. If you change the condition of the card, you're technically shifting the demand curve out, not moving along the demand curve. Where you draw the demand curve depends on many things, but one of those things is condition. If you're thinking of the intersection of supply and demand determining price, a higher grade card has a demand curve to the right of a lower grade card (greater quantity demanded at all prices).