How do you mentally adjust on pricing?

[Yoda]

One thing that constantly amazes me is the deep pools of capital, whether it comes from dealers, collectors, investors private equity groups or Chinese tongs in Taiwan. And the market is so fluid, especially Ebay and the Web, it is almost like buying stocks and bonds, with settlements nearly instantaneous. I am not sure I like this "Brave New World" so much.

[puckpaul]

A few quick thoughts:

Not always the case, but grading standards for psa and lately SGC have tightened, so that EX card from 6 years ago might be a 3-4 today, so buying lower grades isnt such a compromise. Look for the card not the grade.

The SP500 comp is a poor one, unless you are talking about some incredible spike, the SP500 can be valued relative to earnings, and they usually move up over time. Cards are pure speculation where supply and demand determines “value”.

I paid up for an Erving rookie in Ex-Mt recently, it was newly graded 6, looked better than that to me! Sorry i didnt buy a 7 or 8 a few years ago, for sure, but it fills a hole in a set…so be it!

If you are set collecting…buy the expensive big cards FIRST!

[mintacular]

Originally Posted by puckpaul

A few quick thoughts:

Not always the case, but grading standards for psa and lately SGC have tightened, so that EX card from 6 years ago might be a 3-4 today, so buying lower grades isnt such a compromise. Look for the card not the grade.

The SP500 comp is a poor one, unless you are talking about some incredible spike, the SP500 can be valued relative to earnings, and they usually move up over time. Cards are pure speculation where supply and demand determines “value”.

I paid up for an Erving rookie in Ex-Mt recently, it was newly graded 6, looked better than that to me! Sorry i didnt buy a 7 or 8 a few years ago, for sure, but it fills a hole in a set…so be it!

If you are set collecting…buy the expensive big cards FIRST!

Not sure I agree SGC has changed, to me they are exactly the same as they have always been, which I love. PSA however do appear to be less lenient, i.e. harsher. JMO from a couple recent subs.