How to put cash value on cards

[Leon]

I agree on the pricing. It's best to get your own data.
As a rare-type-card collector valuation is one of the most difficult things. Many times I have bought cards with no comps in the last 10+ yrs. At that point it's just how much am I willing to pay. I would rather overpay, than not ever own a card, in a lot of circumstances. Of course, generally, things need to be close.

I am absolutely sure I overpaid for these (shown many times). But the alternative was letting them possibly go to auction and having 2-3 deep pocket collectors go after them. I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing them in my collection, so even if I ever lose money on them it's still worth it to me. But then again, I love cards more than investing. I try not to make it a habit of overpaying but I am sure it will happen again....and probably soon. And sometimes I will have a card, sell it, and make a few bucks so it's all good.

E221s.

[Vintage Vern]

Originally Posted by Leon

I agree on the pricing. It's best to get your own data.
As a rare-type-card collector valuation is one of the most difficult things. Many times I have bought cards with no comps in the last 10+ yrs. At that point it's just how much am I willing to pay. I would rather overpay, than not ever own a card, in a lot of circumstances. Of course, generally, things need to be close.

I am absolutely sure I overpaid for these (shown many times). But the alternative was letting them possibly go to auction and having 2-3 deep pocket collectors go after them. I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing them in my collection, so even if I ever lose money on them it's still worth it to me. But then again, I love cards more than investing. I try not to make it a habit of over overpaying but I am sure it will happen again....and probably soon. And sometimes I will have a card and make a few bucks so it's all good.

E221s.

I'm buying them for me, not as a investment for profit, but an investment to bring it back home. My kids may sell them for profit, but I'm buying them for display at our local city hall. Anything I purchase goes on display. I live in a small town of at best 140 people. We had 2 locals that made names for themselves. The first being Verne James Clemons who played most notably for the St Louis Cardinals the 2nd Sherwood "Sherb" Dick Noble who opened the first Dairy Queen.

[EddieP]

You could do what they do on the Antiques Road Show: they use the last known price and date that the item was sold and plug the numbers in an inflation calculator.

[BobC]

When you are looking for rare players/cards, you also have to remember that even if there aren't a lot (or any) recent sales you can look at for comparisons, that doesn't mean private sales aren't going on behind the scenes that don't normally get reported anywhere. In which case you may also need to expand your your contacts and where/how you look for such cards. Always just going to a mainstream site like Ebay, or the major auction houses that are out there may not yield you the opportunities you want. In which case, coming to a forum like this, and posting what you are looking for on the B/S/T forum, may generate some contacts and opportunities you would not otherwise come across.

Take Leon's story for example, where he says he paid up so the previous owner wouldn't put those items into a public auction. Or even closer to home, you can go to our own B/S/T forum and see members making private sales, or even trades, for certain rare and unusual cards/players. Those kinds of sales and trades normally don't get reported anywhere.

Plus, you also have to be careful that there aren't people out there trying to manipulate the market on some cards. It is fairly well known that on occasions, we have witnessed some rather obvious fake sales on platforms like Ebay, that then get reported on some valuation sites, and make it look like certain cards are currently going for way more than they should be.

Bottom line, as others have opined, is to offer what you feel comfortable with paying. Absent ongoing and numerous sales comps to view and go off of, that is the best you can do when it comes to rare and obscure cards. Good luck.