Beckett

[zenmastermatt]

I stopped collecting trading cards sometime around 2005-2006. In 2008 or '09 me and my friend bought and split an assorted lot of sports cards at the local card shop, and that was the last time I bought or thought about sports cards, until last month.

My peak collecting years were 1999-2003, when I was 11-15 years old.
I mostly just traded with friends and worked on my personal collection. But in 2005-06 I used the internet and sold some of my collection, for poker money. I can't remember the site I posted on, but it was always cash in the mail + SASE.


Back then I remember everyone trusting in Beckett. I loved the magazines of course, but by 05-06 they had a good online database built, and I knew the Beckett Value of all my cards.



Now my question, are the Beckett prices still relevant and meaningful?

Ive been looking through this forum for a couple weeks now, and I never see the BV mentioned, and a lot of cards I see for sale on here, have asking prices that dont sync up at all with the BV.
I understand sales history and recent COMPS are the most common way to determine value, but I am just wondering how Becketts pricing is regarded in todays market.

[Flkrsn5]

It’s not regarded at all IMO. Maybe at some sellers’ table at your local card show (still highly doubtful), but definitely not on the internet nor on Blowout.

[SupermanBrandon]

Non existent in todays hobby


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[PeteD]

Still remember in the mid '80's crossing the Rainbow bridge in Niagara Falls to a comic book store on the US side to get our Becketts. There was a wholesaler a couple of stores over that we bought our wax from. Yankees were king, especially Mattingly.

[hche]

Beckett value is only used when a card company tries to undervalue its own redemption when you asked for a replacement.

Just check eBay recent sales for prices. Book value means very little now.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

I’ve been seriously collecting since 2015 and not once has BV value meant a thing or been a number used when determining value.

[ObanMontecristo]

I have a beckett subscription primarily to track my collection online, or to look up cards more as a checklist for my PC. I occasionally look at the Beckett values if I want to get a sense of the higher-priced cards in a particular set. But if I want to see a specific card’s true current value (ie, if I’m looking to buy or sell), I think most people (including myself) look at recent comp sales on eBay or places like 130point.com, since they provide a more accurate, real-time picture.

[sdsportscards]

| Now my question, are the Beckett prices still relevant and meaningful?

Nope. The internet (eBay sold comps) changed that game.

I still love Beckett grading, especially for 1st Bowman Chrome Autos. Love the subgrades and the slab even feels sturdier than PSA.

They definitely lost credibility with their '21 Bowmans Best fiasco though. Unforced error.

Otherwise, they're still somewhat relevant, aside from the Beckett Values.

[cardsin47]

Before the Internet / eBay …. Beckett was THE go to for pricing and set info. The Magazine may still be printed, but is now as utilized as a horse / buggy in a world full of Cars

[sak0309]

For older "seasoned" sets/issues, cash value generally runs around 10-20% of Beckett BV. Of course, this would not apply to outliers like hot rookies, super stars, super short prints, low #'d, etc.

[willcurt76]

As far as prices they are pretty much irrelevant. Mostly grading and tracking your collection now is about all anyone uses them for.

[phdbeckett]

Great in terms of card lore, manufacturer info, obscure checklists, and variations lists. Also the listed odds on packaging (underappreciated now). I speak mostly of the annuals, especially the pre-panini era.

Not useful in determining modern values.

[mallowciraptor]

I still love Beckett grading, especially for 1st Bowman Chrome Autos. Love the subgrades and the slab even feels sturdier than PSA.

I have always preferred the Beckett cases as well. PSA's just have a cheap feel to me.

Beckett's book values are pretty much to the card industry what Sears became in the post-Amazon marketplace (i.e. irrelevant). I still have a lot of old Beckett mags and do like to peek through them from time to time.

[gresh87]

At a small card show last fall, someone was honest to God consulting his own COMPUTER PRINTED Beckett values.

This was because he balked when I asked if he would take $15 for a decent sized lot that contained a few cards with price stickers that made no sense whatsoever. Among them was a 2016 Heritage chrome Aledmys Diaz RC that his Beckett guide listed at around $30.

[azbaseballfan]

Welcome back to the hobby! The standard for evaluating cards value has shifted away from BV and is now "eBay comps". 130point.com is the best tool that I'm aware of to check on eBay's completed listings in order to evaluate the value of a card.

[Frankp2311]

Currently only referenced on Craigslist and Market Place. HUGE BV $$$$$$$$$$$$

Otherwise obsolete unless used for checklist purposes.

[jduds]

Beckett prices are referenced when a dealer wants to justify a high price or when they are slow to move and a buyer tries to talk you into a low price.
Beckett exists today as a decent enough hobby news site. Opinions on the board tend to be either that the site is THE authority or the site is irrelevant. Which camp you are in seems somewhat dependent on the number of 2021 Bowman's Best cards you own, but really it's fine, but no longer near any kind of industry standard.

[zenmastermatt]

Can somebody direct me to the "I collected cards years ago, and just got back into the hobby" thread?

[Retired hobbist]

I stopped collecting trading cards sometime around 2005-2006. In 2008 or '09 me and my friend bought and split an assorted lot of sports cards at the local card shop, and that was the last time I bought or thought about sports cards, until last month.

My peak collecting years were 1999-2003, when I was 11-15 years old.
I mostly just traded with friends and worked on my personal collection. But in 2005-06 I used the internet and sold some of my collection, for poker money. I can't remember the site I posted on, but it was always cash in the mail + SASE.


Back then I remember everyone trusting in Beckett. I loved the magazines of course, but by 05-06 they had a good online database built, and I knew the Beckett Value of all my cards.



Now my question, are the Beckett prices still relevant and meaningful?

Ive been looking through this forum for a couple weeks now, and I never see the BV mentioned, and a lot of cards I see for sale on here, have asking prices that dont sync up at all with the BV.
I understand sales history and recent COMPS are the most common way to determine value, but I am just wondering how Becketts pricing is regarded in todays market.

Once Ebay and other online markets started up Beckett went the way of the transistor radio.

[Retired hobbist]

Before the Internet / eBay …. Beckett was THE go to for pricing and set info. The Magazine may still be printed, but is now as utilized as a horse / buggy in a world full of Cars

This about sums it up, it's similar to the death of other monthly magazines when the internet could give up to the minute updates.

[seanrs1]

Bought a Beckett baseball price guide (June) for the first time since I was kid (I do not use Beckett for comps). But there are a few dealers at shows (and on ebay) that still use it to price their cards. Based on the ultramodern cards I collect I could not believe how much higher the Beckett price was compared to the prices the cards actually sell for on ebay. How does Beckett even come up with their prices? They do not seemed to be in tune with actual sales.

[Tumba]

Bought a Beckett baseball price guide (June) for the first time since I was kid (I do not use Beckett for comps). But there are a few dealers at shows (and on ebay) that still use it to price their cards. Based on the ultramodern cards I collect I could not believe how much higher the Beckett price was compared to the prices the cards actually sell for on ebay. How does Beckett even come up with their prices? They do not seemed to be in tune with actual sales.


Yea never used them for prices, interesting. If you sell off eBay just remember take off 10-15% of comp pulling from eBay bc that’s eBay fees…I’d rather at times sell on FG or IG and use PayPal which I think is 3% or round there than eBay fees…it’ll save ya some buyer grief. I’m not sure there’s a thing more annoying than someone using straight comps without the fees.

And if you knew that already I’m sorry It’s a pet peeve haha.


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