An eBay problem and call for advice from a quasi-neophyte

[H_T_Davis]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Actual past selling prices show you paid a fair price for that card. A real PSA 6 would have set you back far more than $100 most of the time, according to VCP. You ultimate price was a little higher than, but closer to, a PSA 4.

You may be right, as I haven't bought a PSA-6 of this card before, but for Mays cards (around 1957) purchases made this month, I've paid (based on the prices in the March/April Becket Graded Card Collector that I've using):

1954 Bowman 89 PSA5 - 53%
1958 Topps 5 PSA4 - 55%
1959 Topps 563 PSA7 - 44%
1959 Topps 50 SGC 86 - Hard to say, as there is a big jump between 7 and 8, but no worse than 79% and probably around 65%
1960 Topps 200 PSA5 - 55%

These percentages include shipping/handling/insurance. 1956 and before cards go higher (and exponentially so), mid-60's thru 73 go lower and weirder stuff much higher, usually.

Based on that, and a dozen or so more buys, if I was getting a deal, I didn't realize it at the time. It looked like I was right where I aimed to be - around 50%. My max bid was $88.89.

I'm on a HOFers from Alabama jag right now, working on the the post-war players since they have so many different cards. I have most of the Manushs and about half of the Sewells already, but am always on the lookout for more.

[Jim VB]

Beckett's is nothing more than a guide. And printed guides have built in problems with being timely.

I suggest you either search closed Ebay auctions (which only gives you 15 days of data) or use one of the services that gathers all that data and sorts it for you. I mentioned vintagecardprices.com, only because they are an advertiser here. There are a couple of others. They are a subscription service however.