Selling: How do you keep from competing with yourself,get the best sale prices

bojesphob · 03-12-2025, 08:54 AM

Just to note before asking this, I'm not trying to pump listings that I have, as I have nothing listed right now, this is a conceptual question. I might be in this scenario in the near future, but I won't be selling anything myself, and I don't want to potentially spoil any listings that come out of this if it goes beyond conceptual.

Here's what I was hoping for some input on:

Two cards, same set, same variation, same player, same team, and (hopefully) same PSA 9 or 10 grade, also will be the only graded copy for both from any grading company, just two different years. Highly collected player and team (although NOT top tier for the player). Card 1 is the most sought after year for that set, Card 2 is from the next year and also highly sought after but not quite as much as Card 1's year. They are both also the second most sought after packed out variation from the set (just behind the 1/1). Neither card has been available in any online marketplace for at least 11 years, although it could be longer than that, so neither will have a hard time attracting buyers nor interest. It boils down to Card 1's value > Card 2's value due to Card 1's year being more in demand than Card 2's, all else equal.

If both are listed at the same time, I would basically be competing with myself - the same collectors will bid on both, and having two listed at the same time makes people decide between the two. Definitely don't want that, so avoid listing them at the same time.

Now, would listing Card 2 first and letting it finish before listing the other maximize the sale price of both? This would have people bidding like it's the only one going to be available, and then those that missed out on that one will possibly be excited to bid on Card 1 and be willing to bid more?

OR, would listing Card 1 first get more people interested in Card 2, as they would be disappointed that they missed out on Card 1, and would know this would be one of the only times these will ever become available?

TL: DR - same cards from different years, relatively high demand, would it net more to list the card in higher demand first and list the lesser demand one second, or vice versa? Listing at same time would probably limit value on both, because they would be competing with each other.

I'm leaning towards Card 1 first, as I don't think the demand for that is going to increase all that much more than where it's already at, I think that missing out on that one could drive the price up higher for Card 2 than it would have been.

I know I am probably overthinking this, as I tend to do that, but figured I'd ask in case anyone has had a similar experience, what way they handled it, and how it worked out for them. Thoughts?

03-12-2025, 08:54 AM	#1
bojesphob Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 3,533 bojesphob	Selling: How do you keep from competing with yourself,get the best sale prices Just to note before asking this, I'm not trying to pump listings that I have, as I have nothing listed right now, this is a conceptual question. I might be in this scenario in the near future, but I won't be selling anything myself, and I don't want to potentially spoil any listings that come out of this if it goes beyond conceptual. Here's what I was hoping for some input on: Two cards, same set, same variation, same player, same team, and (hopefully) same PSA 9 or 10 grade, also will be the only graded copy for both from any grading company, just two different years. Highly collected player and team (although NOT top tier for the player). Card 1 is the most sought after year for that set, Card 2 is from the next year and also highly sought after but not quite as much as Card 1's year. They are both also the second most sought after packed out variation from the set (just behind the 1/1). Neither card has been available in any online marketplace for at least 11 years, although it could be longer than that, so neither will have a hard time attracting buyers nor interest. It boils down to Card 1's value > Card 2's value due to Card 1's year being more in demand than Card 2's, all else equal. If both are listed at the same time, I would basically be competing with myself - the same collectors will bid on both, and having two listed at the same time makes people decide between the two. Definitely don't want that, so avoid listing them at the same time. Now, would listing Card 2 first and letting it finish before listing the other maximize the sale price of both? This would have people bidding like it's the only one going to be available, and then those that missed out on that one will possibly be excited to bid on Card 1 and be willing to bid more? OR, would listing Card 1 first get more people interested in Card 2, as they would be disappointed that they missed out on Card 1, and would know this would be one of the only times these will ever become available? TL: DR - same cards from different years, relatively high demand, would it net more to list the card in higher demand first and list the lesser demand one second, or vice versa? Listing at same time would probably limit value on both, because they would be competing with each other. I'm leaning towards Card 1 first, as I don't think the demand for that is going to increase all that much more than where it's already at, I think that missing out on that one could drive the price up higher for Card 2 than it would have been. I know I am probably overthinking this, as I tend to do that, but figured I'd ask in case anyone has had a similar experience, what way they handled it, and how it worked out for them. Thoughts?