Whats the point of the SMR?

[bbsports]

The SMR & VCP and you can add Beckett in that mix are only used as guide prices and nothing else. The prices are not set in stone. For example, certain VCP cards may be marked down cheaper than other VCP cards because perhaps that cheaper PSA 5 had a wrinkle in the card compared to another PSA 5 of that player priced by VCP card in the same grade that was a nicer looking card. If a card has great eye appeal, matches the grade, & even if the price is over the price guide price or VCP price, that person will buy the card, especially if that person hasn't seen that card available for a long time.

[drc]

I used to use Beckett and SCD as general pricing references. No one took the prices as literally correct. They did tell which cards in a set were more expensive than others.

Though with modern cards at least, Beckett prices were directly used to determine listed sales prices.

I don't think I've ever looked at an SMR.

[sycks22]

SMR is a shot in the dark. Some cards sell for well over such at many OJ's and a bunch sell for under. I picked up a E92 Young PSA 5 (SMR $4,000) for $1,250 and looking at a Delahanty OJ the SMR is about 30% of what the cards usually go for. The post war cards are a little closer.

[HRBAKER]

Does the SMR still list prices for cards in grades that haven't been graded yet?

[drc]

I'm a regular lurker on the PSA board, and it doesn't appear that even PSA enthusiasts take the SMR prices seriously. They often criticize and joke about the prices.

In short, when someone asks why do people advocate SMR prices, I'm unaware that anyone sincerely does. As a marketing and sales tool, maybe, but I said sincerely.


Though, as I mentioned with the Beckett and SCD price guides, a price guide doesn't have to be accurate to be useful in some way.

[kcohen]

As a price guide, I think SMR is crap, at least for pre-war. But my personal opinion is irrelevant inasmuch as others use it as a resource, which gives it "validity." What Cy wrote is reflective of my experiences as a dealer at shows. Many dealers and customers cite SMR prices. So whether they are based in any market reality or not, they can definitely have an effect on the price for which you may be able to buy or sell a given card.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by kcohen

Many dealers and customers cite SMR prices. So whether they are based in any market reality or not, they can definitely have an effect on the price for which you may be able to buy or sell a given card.

Dealers cite it to get more money for their items...Customers cite it to bring outrageous prices down to a more realistic level.. Basically, it's only cited by people who know that the SMR is BS, but use is as fact when it's beneficial to them..

[T206DK]

I'm just curious if anyone on this board has ever been solicited by PSA for information regarding sale prices of cards. I have a pretty large network of dealer friends nationwide in the card and memorabilia sectors and not a one has ever been asked to submit any data to PSA; Not even the ones that were able to send in customer cards for grading. I don't use the VCP so I can't speak about that really. Other than to say it probably offers more real time sales information than you'll ever get from PSA.
In my opinion the prices are a bunk!! I rarely sell anything for SMR value, and I rarely buy anything for SMR value. The SMR is mainly for the advertisers you see who pay for space in the magazine. They have the $$ and the inventory to drive the market wherever they want it to go, whenever they want ....all with the help of the SMR. If you look at the prices in the SMR for certain sets they haven't changed much since SMR has been in existence either, which tells me that they are not a good guide for what a person is willing to pay for a particular card in 2012. ( In my opinion cards have only intrinsic value and are not really worth the prices you see in the guides. they are only "worth" what someone is willing to pay for them at a given moment. It's unfortunate that loads of dealers don't get this fact, thus we have massive amounts overpriced inventory clogging up Ebay...some of which has been for sale by some dealers since 2002 according to my brother....thats 10 years to you and me .

[kcohen]

I agree that that is often the case, David. More than once, a potential buyer has cited a SMR quote on a particular card. My reply is to ask them to bring me as many as they can find of that card and I'll buy them all at the SMR price.