Comping cards is one of the most important things in this hobby. In the digital age, it’s fairly simple. You can checkout eBay sales history, go to 130pt, or if you want a one stop shop you can pay for a variety of price tracking services out there.
But picture this.
You’re at a card show and out of the corner of your eye you spot the exact card you’ve been looking for over the past year and a half. The price looks steep, so you pull out your phone to check the comp.
Crap!
The card show is so full of people that the WiFi is moving at a snail’s pace.
It’s impossible to have every price of every card memorized. But it doesn’t hurt to know a few simple rules before trying your luck negotiating at the table.
Today, we’re going to see if we can craft one of these rules.
It’s not a secret that people are paying a premium for cards in a PSA slab these days. It doesn’t matter that Beckett is the tougher grade or if SGC slabs look better. People want their card encased with that little red label. We’re not here to answer why.
But how much more do you really have to pay to get the slab that everyone wants? Is it really worth it? Is there a way collectors can use it to their advantage?
By looking at several cards of various grades and eras, we’re hoping to get these answers to take with us to our next show.
Let’s rip in.
