Price Guides, are they worth it?

[mcsyankees]

Are price guides worth it? I have a giant almanac from 2010 but was thinking about getting a $10 one from recently or a combo sports one. Do you guys recommend it? I know this seems like a silly question but I've been out of the hobby for a year or two now and don't know if they even matter anymore.

Thanks

[duwal]

At least for me its a good idea to get one about every year from each sport that I collect. Its a good guide to see what is new or what estimated valued have changed

[CincinnatiReds]

No. Use ebay.

[death2redemptions]

I would never spend money on price guides anymore, the values are way off. E-Bay is the best indicator of value.

[Raysfan16]

People at the shows I visit trade by book value. I agree with duwal--maybe one every year, just for a quick reference.

[CharlieHustle]

Are price guides worth it? I have a giant almanac from 2010 but was thinking about getting a $10 one from recently or a combo sports one. Do you guys recommend it? I know this seems like a silly question but I've been out of the hobby for a year or two now and don't know if they even matter anymore.

Thanks

The big Beckett Almanacs are extremely valuable, in terms of checklisting and just getting a general sense of what has been made. I wouldn't buy the regular $9.99 Becketts, unless you really love magazines and like holding something that you're looking through, like on a plane or train or something.
You're money would be better spent subscribing to the Beckett OPG for a couple months a year, just to keep yourself in the loop.

[shayscards79]

As a price guide, no. But I like to buy a football and baseball Beckett every so often to use as checklist or buying guide for specific cards.

[ballahollic2]

One a year I always like just to stay current. Like everyone has said the prices are off but I still like to keep track of my stuff using it.

[aMinors]

HAHAHAHAHAHA no.

[mcsyankees]

As a price guide, no. But I like to buy a football and baseball Beckett every so often to use as checklist or buying guide for specific cards.

this was definitely my thought process. I'm aware that for selling prices, price guides are extremely off but for trades and just to see what was made I felt like they could still be useful

[RelicCollector]

Nope.

10 charectors

[jmscoggin]

Yes, they make great kindling. Definitely worth it. :D

[shayscards79]

this was definitely my thought process. I'm aware that for selling prices, price guides are extremely off but for trades and just to see what was made I felt like they could still be useful

Yeah, especially with football, I like to go through the listings to see what cards were made from year to year.. base, GU, inserts and autos and what not. I collect Colts stuff so it's nice to go through all the listings to see if there is something I'm missing in my PC that I didn't know about. Maybe get a print run or find out if there are variations of it, etc.

Or sometimes I like to add a random card that isn't Colts and like to dig through to see what I can add before I look for it on eBay.

[ddearing]

I have a very active eBay store and set up at the national every year. I have not bought a Beckett in probably five years.

[crazy4kinsler]

Depends on if you're talking sale value or trade value. Yes, if looking to sell/buy, then ebay is the best indicator. But if you're looking to trade, you'll need the book to trade by BV.


I would never spend money on price guides anymore, the values are way off. E-Bay is the best indicator of value.

[elijahdf11]

Depends on if you're talking sale value or trade value. Yes, if looking to sell/buy, then ebay is the best indicator. But if you're looking to trade, you'll need the book to trade by BV.
Why do you need BV to trade? If there are two cards that book 100 each but one sells for 70 and the other 40 is that a fair trade? No. Trading by bv makes no sense. I used to do it when I first started trading online but that is because the groups I were trading in did it by that so I just traded like that too. Thankfully, I realized that ebay was much smarter. you should trade by sale value to make the most fair deal.

[death2redemptions]

Depends on if you're talking sale value or trade value. Yes, if looking to sell/buy, then ebay is the best indicator. But if you're looking to trade, you'll need the book to trade by BV.

Yeah maybe. I don't trade so I wouldn't know anything about that.

[37Jetson]

The Almanac is valuable for getting a general range of pricing and rarity. This in conjunction with a once a year Beckett Baseball Monthly and you will have all that you need. Hot cards should be priced by Ebay research.

[Nyfancam01]

No they are not....

Use EBAY completed listings