Auction house prices vs in person prices

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I agree but could I get what the auction house sale price was in a non auction house setting?

Most certainly, yes. I have bought serious cards privately and often I have had to pay what is “fair market value”, which would be what we determine would be final hammer price plus buyers premium at auction. That said, it’s a private deal, so sometimes I get the card for less. Note, however, that these are often pretty rare cards, where I don’t have a ton of leverage. A 33 Goudey Ruth is not a rare card, and that may impact a buyer’s motivation. Also, private deals often originate as the result of longstanding relationships. The wider the potential buyer pool, the more likely you get top value. Other times, private deals are brokered, by longtime dealers, collectors, or auction houses. In that case, the broker needs to make money. Sometimes the seller pays and sometimes the buyer pays.

I do not believe you will get auction house prices at a card show. The “buyers” at card shows are dealers, not collectors, and dealers buy to sell- so they will not pay FMV/top dollar.