Setting Definitions for Rarity of Cards

[HRBAKER]

I generally don't look at threads on this board through the prism of my Intermediate Logic class. Also, threads aren't generally over when one participant declares them to be. Maybe a new trend has started.

I did shave with Occam's Razor this morning.

All in good fun. Nothing wrong with a more scholarly perspective, it's just another POV.

[Exhibitman]

Rare is when you look for comparable sales on a card and your only reference point is an auction from 2008 for another card from the set in different condition. Rare is when you get pestered repeatedly by type/player/set collectors to sell the card. Rare is when the TPG calls you up and says they can't slab it because they don't know what it is. Rare is when you pass a card around a table of collectors and dealers at the National and no one has seen it before. Rare is when you have had the card on your want list for years and haven't seen it anywhere. Most of all, rare is when I am selling it.

[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Rare is when you look for comparable sales on a card and your only reference point is an auction from 2008 for another card from the set in different condition. Rare is when you get pestered repeatedly by type/player/set collectors to sell the card. Rare is when the TPG calls you up and says they can't slab it because they don't know what it is. Rare is when you pass a card around a table of collectors and dealers at the National and no one has seen it before. Rare is when you have had the card on your want list for years and haven't seen it anywhere. Most of all, rare is when I am selling it.

[cyseymour]

While it is certain that prices depend on the demand of the card, I do think it would be nice to have a more precise scale that simply refers to absolute rarity. The coin world has a number of different scales to express that, the Sheldon Rarity Scale, the Universal Rarity Scale, and the Sholten Scale.

It would be nice if someone in the baseball card world created a rarity scale for cards, as it would hold auction houses accountable for how rare they describe a card. I think nowadays, auction houses often exaggerate a card's rarity, to the detrimental effect of the collector.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Rare is when you look for comparable sales on a card and your only reference point is an auction from 2008 for another card from the set in different condition. Rare is when you get pestered repeatedly by type/player/set collectors to sell the card. Rare is when the TPG calls you up and says they can't slab it because they don't know what it is. Rare is when you pass a card around a table of collectors and dealers at the National and no one has seen it before. Rare is when you have had the card on your want list for years and haven't seen it anywhere. Most of all, rare is when I am selling it.

Rare are buyers of cards, for what I paid for them from certain auction houses.

Rare is rare..."scarce" has to do with demand, as has been stated. And both are actually relative terms, so have different meanings to different collectors.

[Theo_450]

Originally Posted by Leon

Rare are buyers of cards, for what I paid for them from certain auction houses.

Rare is rare..."scarce" has to do with demand, as has been stated. And both are actually relative terms, so have different meanings to different collectors.

Leon has nailed it here. "Relative" semantics cannot (or rather SHOULD NOT) be legislated.

If i am trying to sell you a duck, and I call it a turkey, then you, as the buyer, should educate yourself as to what ducks (and turkeys) look like. For example, I recently bought a Puma knife. They are a well respected German knife company. But the Puma I bought was their "new price point line" made in China. It was horrible. I am stuck with it, but I am educated now.

Noone needs a governing body to legislate for their protection. Governing bodies suck at this sort of thing. Making false claims is different than stating a relative opinion.

[ValKehl]

IMHO, the terms unique, rare, and scarce pertain ONLY to the SUPPLY of an item, and NOT to the DEMAND for an item.
Val