DiscoverSports Cards LiveComps vs. Collectors: Who Really Sets the Market? + The Comp Conundrum – Input, Output, or Both?
Comps vs. Collectors: Who Really Sets the Market? + The Comp Conundrum – Input, Output, or Both?

Comps vs. Collectors: Who Really Sets the Market? + The Comp Conundrum – Input, Output, or Both?

Update: 2025-08-14
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In Part 4 of our post-National discussion, Josh Adams, Chris McGill, and I dive into one of the hobby’s most debated topics: comps. Are they the foundation of the market, just one input in a bigger decision-making process, or both? We explore how comps are created, their limits, and why some of the most memorable purchases happen without checking them at all. Plus, a look at the role of repackers, flippers, collectors, and underbidders in shaping prices — and why certain sellers hold more power than ever.


Highlights include:




  • Why comps aren’t always the final word — and when to ignore them entirely




  • The “input vs. output” theory of comps and what it means for market movement




  • How the underbidder can have more influence than the winning bidder




  • The impact of repackers, flippers, and institutional buyers on modern card prices




  • Kabooms, Downtowns, and other repack staples that have surged in value




  • Challenges of comping rare or long-untraded cards (and creative ways to do it)




  • Why sellers with great items can command a premium regardless of comps




  • 90s Auctions’ successful National and Josh Adams’ standout pickup




  • Comparing Strongsville to The National as a future show destination



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Comps vs. Collectors: Who Really Sets the Market? + The Comp Conundrum – Input, Output, or Both?

Comps vs. Collectors: Who Really Sets the Market? + The Comp Conundrum – Input, Output, or Both?

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