Monitoring the fluctuating value of your sports cards is one of the most thrilling aspects of either collecting or investing. Traditionally, the pricing and trends of a card were determined by referring to a monthly price guide, with Beckett being the go-to name in the field.

Fortunately, Beckett has transitioned into a digital price guide, albeit as a paid service. In this article, we’ll introduce some lesser-known methods of assessing the worth of a sports card, similar to utilizing a free sports card price guide.

Checking eBay’s Completed (Sold) Listings 

While the eBay completed listing trick has gained recognition over the past decade, many fresh collectors might still be unaware of its availability and user-friendliness.

For instance, when you initiate a search on eBay for something like “1986 Fleer Michael Jordan RC PSA 9″, the default search displays results for active listings (auction or buy it now format).

To get a true representation of the card’s value, you must refine your search results to include Completed Listings and Sold Listings. Then, organize the results based on the most recent sales to gain the latest pricing for this card.

You can review all the listings that matched your search to determine the selling price of the Michael Jordan card. You can also assess the picture quality of the listing, the grade of the card (PSA 9), and the seller’s feedback — all factors that can influence a card’s selling price.

However, please note that Sold listings only display the last 90 days of activity and do not reflect the actual selling price if a “Best Offer” is accepted. Therefore, they provide a good snapshot of recent market trends but may not capture the full picture of a card’s value trajectory over extended periods. Instead, look at auctioned cards like the copies seen above. You’ll see that the current value of a PSA 9 Jordan RC as of July 2023 is roughly $15,500. 

Check eBay for current card prices 

Tracking Cards on eBay 

As you browse eBay for potential purchases, you’ve probably noticed the heart icon next to a listing, allowing you to “watch” or follow it. This means that eBay will notify you when significant changes occur in the listing or when it’s about to end.

The challenge with ‘Buy It Now’ listings is that eBay doesn’t display the selling price in the Completed/Sold listings. This makes it crucial to follow cards, even those you’re not planning to purchase immediately, to track price movements over time.

By following a card, eBay will notify you about important changes and send you an email once the card sells, revealing the selling price in the email subject line.

Using PSA’s APR Pricing History 

As we mentioned, eBay only provides data for the last 90 days. However, the PSA Price Guide offers a broader historical perspective of sports card sales. Although the PSA price guide only tracks PSA graded collectibles, it can be a useful resource for comparing cards graded by other companies like BGS or SGC.

In a nutshell, you can use these techniques to accurately determine the worth of sports cards you own or are considering buying or reselling.

Further Methods:

• Facebook Groups and Online Forums: There are countless sports card collectors groups on Facebook and forums online where collectors discuss and trade cards. Some groups focus on specific sports or card brands, which can provide more targeted information. Members often share the prices at which they bought or sold certain cards. These discussions can provide real-time, market-driven data.
• Card Shows and Hobby Shops: If you have a card shop or a sports memorabilia store near you, consider taking your cards there. Owners and employees are often knowledgeable and can provide an estimate of your card’s value. Similarly, card shows and conventions can be great places to see what cards similar to yours are selling for.
• Auction Houses: Large auction houses such as Heritage, Goldin, and others deal with sports cards and memorabilia. These websites provide historical auction data, which can give you an idea of how much people are willing to pay for similar cards. However, keep in mind that cards sold through these services often tend to be higher-end cards.
• Card Grading Companies’ Population Reports: Companies like PSA and BGS offer population reports that detail how many of a specific card they’ve graded and at what levels. A card that has been graded fewer times or has fewer high-grade examples can be more valuable because of its rarity.
• Sports Card Price Tracking Apps/Websites: There are also dedicated platforms like Card Ladder, Market Movers, or Terapeak for eBay that specifically track sports card prices and provide a detailed analysis of price movements.

Remember, the value of a card can vary based on several factors, including its condition, rarity, the player depicted, and the market demand. It’s wise to use a combination of methods to get the most accurate assessment.