I talked recently about how much serial numbered cards have been downgraded by the fact that just about every card has one. As I said, even the base cards can now be numbered
, and in most cases, perceived rarity no longer dictates value for cards. Don’t get me wrong, having a low serial number on a card cant HURT value, but it no longer gives the ridiculous bump in value that it used to. This value disease is something I have come to call Triple Threadsitis Syndrome.
Although there are exceptions to the rule, the overuse of contrived scarcity has made every rare card seem like it isn’t that rare anymore. Cards out of 50 and 25 litter the landscape of our collecting habits to the point that its expected that your box hit be a low numbered card in every case. The result of this overabundance is a situation that has made itself very well known around the hobby in the last few years. Basically, if a card is just a regular card or a regular autograph, having a serial number OTHER than 1/1 isnt really going to make it that much more valuable. It may add 10% or 20% if lucky, but other than some very unique situations, serial numbers don’t matter anymore. Rookie year cards tend to play by a different set of rules, but even in that case, its not like it used to be.
That doesn’t stop people from still trying to sell you their low numbered cards like the ridiuclous premium of the past still exists, and what these people don’t understand is that there needs to be something else for a card to be valuable. Lets use the recent release of this year’s Triple Threads as an example. Cards in this set are often numbered very low, but unless there is some amazing swatch on the card, the serial number rarely means anything for the value of the item. In fact, Triple Threads cards out of 99 often sell for similar amounts as the ones with half the print run. The reason is that collectors rarely put the number on a card above anything. If the serially numbered cards werent used as often, this may not be the case, but we all know that every innovation in this hobby gets exploited like a Central American child laborer.
So, next time you pull your super-dee-duper rare normal autograph card out of a pack, most of the time you wont have something to scream about unless you are just generally happy with your pull. That’s the point we have gotten to, so do not let manufacturer contrived scarcity blind you from paying a unnecessary premium on a card that shouldn’t have a premium. As always, the goal of the eBay sellers is to make as much money possible, so its not a surprise that they will do anything in their power to make their item more valuable. The fact remains that most of them don’t have something any more special than a regular auto would sell for, unless there is something else that makes the card desirable. In other words, a 2010 Peyton Manning auto /50 is probably going to sell the same as a 2010 Peyton Manning auto /10 with few exceptions.
I saw an auto/patch card of a 2nd stringer for a team i collect that i Just really like. I like the player because hes from my state and plays for my state team. The guy wanted a BIN price of 175. When I asked him about the price and made the mark that it seemed a bit high he told me that “there is only 10 of these made! They are very rare and should have no problem getting this”…the card has been relisted twice b/c no one will touch it…
Only the highest priced boxes should have low numbering. boxes between 50-100$ should have 2 or 3 total numbered cards with only one reaching 250 or less. This would help make base cards more valuable, and numbered cards below 250 have some value unlike what it is now were cards #red to 5 sell for 5 bucks.
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To some extent, I think that this is because most people do not understand the laws of supply and demand, specifically the fact that it doesn’t make a difference how low the supply of an item is if demand is even lower.
With respect to the hobby at large, the problem lies in the that so many auto/patch cards have been produced recently that demand for 99% of them is virtually non-existent. With the exception of hot rookies and major stars, demand for other players is minimal, even for the lowest-numbered cards and 1/1’s.
Or as the saying goes, just because something is scarce doesn’t mean it is valuable.
I have a Bernard James auto numbered 2/5 Panini Signatures,not listed in price guide
What if i was to buy all serial number card of what ever player, lets say 1/50 & was able to buy them all & then kept one & burn the rest of them, would that help boost the value of the card?
This article is aproaching a decade old and it’s more relevant than ever. After a long hiatus from the hobby, I sucked back in 5 years ago. When I left there were no relics, guaranteed autographs, and serial numbered cards abound. It took me a good 2 years until I slowed down and took stock at what I’d accumulated. Although I had an absolute blast finding all these “rare” cards with low print runs. I had more autographs and tiny pieces of uniform worn by some sweaty guy stuck to cardboard than anyone I knew. But I made a mistake and started looking up card values. I was crushed. But that didn’t stop me. Today I sell a few cards here and there just to support my habbit. And I still like finding the low, low serial #’s. Experience has made me a more saavy and aware collector. Luckily I’m still a happy collector.
So this is what makes me not even want to collect I just started back up at the time I didn’t know not only they make that same card but they make it 10 of the same card but now ones green or orange or silver on and on of the same stupid card at the time I’m like sweet I got a good card….. Um no I got the basic print that’s garbage a throw-a-way junk pile of crap then oh I got a reflector… nope garbage it’s not the rare reflective or I got an auto sweet eel it’s not the numbered one it’s not special only the numbered one holds more value it’s all bullshit it’s all garbage they need to separate the hood from the bad and the rare from the good and the super star athlete if you pull it that should be a valuable card if it’s a rookie not over printed and the same card printed 20 different ways of the same stupid card it’s straight up bogus and it’s very scandalous and greedy when you think about it like we’re all suckers willing to buy hundreds of packs to get 2 cards that’s worth sending off to grading it creates frustration and it’s becomes not desirable and really I’m not sure I want to even buy anymore because I know 99.9 % is all throw away garbage cards because of the over print and 20 different colors of the same card it makes it not fun at all that I’m think I’m done collecting because of that.
A numbered card should be more valuable than a regular card