What happened with Lebron James Topps Chrome RCs?

[Thirsty Whale]

This card is on my list since a while, my plan was to buy a PSA10 about a month ago, but I didn’t have the money at the time. BGS 9.5 was selling for 1K-ish, and PSA10 for 2K-ish. They were selling for these prices even 2 weeks ago

Finally I have the money and I was just about to pull the trigger, and I just saw the recent prices and I don’t want to believe my eyes:
BGS8.5 $1,3K
BGS 9.5 $2-2,4K
PSA10 $3,775

What?!

Do you have any idea what happened in the past 2 weeks, that I’ve missed? Did Lebron win another Championship, or what? I’m kinda new to the hobby, but never thought this card is a sleeper which can double in value in about 10 days without anything happening with Lebron or the Lakers. Maybe Kobe’s death is causing this? Or just a classic pum&dump? I would be really curious what you think?

I’m very sad as this card was really on my bucketlist. But no way to pay $4K for it. Do you see any chance to dip anytime in the near future ir is this another boat I’ve just missed???

[Justin7]

What happened is Kobe Bryant died and his Topps Chrome RC's went way up, so everyone figured if that happened for Kobe then Lebron was undervalued. Sorry.

[Rucchin]

His TC rookie is his 86 Fleer Jordan. I’ve been saying since $600, “it’s too high! I’ll buy on the dip.”

[Ferg1945]

Originally Posted by Rucchin

His TC rookie is his 86 Fleer Jordan. I’ve been saying since $600, “it’s too high! I’ll buy on the dip.”

If that's the case... 1986 Fleer Jordan's should take off.

[deemsterz33]

Originally Posted by Thirsty Whale

This card is on my list since a while, my plan was to buy a PSA10 about a month ago, but I didn’t have the money at the time. BGS 9.5 was selling for 1K-ish, and PSA10 for 2K-ish. They were selling for these prices even 2 weeks ago

Finally I have the money and I was just about to pull the trigger, and I just saw the recent prices and I don’t want to believe my eyes:
BGS8.5 $1,3K
BGS 9.5 $2-2,4K
PSA10 $3,775

What?!

Do you have any idea what happened in the past 2 weeks, that I’ve missed? Did Lebron win another Championship, or what? I’m kinda new to the hobby, but never thought this card is a sleeper which can double in value in about 10 days without anything happening with Lebron or the Lakers. Maybe Kobe’s death is causing this? Or just a classic pum&dump? I would be really curious what you think?

I’m very sad as this card was really on my bucketlist. But no way to pay $4K for it. Do you see any chance to dip anytime in the near future ir is this another boat I’ve just missed???

To me it looks like shilling/price manipulation. Lots of bids and all auctions sitting at the same prices. There's a BGS 8.5 sitting at $670 OBO right now.

[KhalDrogo]

Yet the refractor has barely budged. Funny how that works.

[pcptrade]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Yet the refractor has barely budged. Funny how that works.

Low priced/affordable cards will have a big jump in prices compared to the high end cards. There are more collectors for the TC base, hence the higher percentage appreciation compared to the refractor. If one had invested 5K in TC base PSA 10 one year ago, its worth close to 20K now, whereas the same 5K in TC refractor would be worth around 12K now.

[shrevecity]

Lebron passed Kobe on the scoring list then the next day Kobe was killed so that combined to add interest in Lebrons stuff.

[Deadshot]

A little suspicious that an 8.5 sold for $1.3k and you can get another one for $750obo right now. That should tell you that number isn't entirely accurate.

[Rucchin]

Originally Posted by Deadshot

A little suspicious that an 8.5 sold for $1.3k and you can get another one for $750obo right now. That should tell you that number isn't entirely accurate.

Last night a 96 topps Kobe psa 10 sold for $880. Probstein has an auction for a 96 toppps Kobe psa 10 currently at $7000.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by pcptrade

Low priced/affordable cards will have a big jump in prices compared to the high end cards. There are more collectors for the TC base, hence the higher percentage appreciation compared to the refractor. If one had invested 20K in TC base PSA 10 one year ago, its worth close to 80K now.

I agree, but this is obviously manipulation of the PSA 10 base. You don't even have to look at numbers. Just know who is doing it. A doubling of a $2000 base card should give a meaningful bump to the refractor. We'll get to see this week as there are finally a few PSA 10 refractor auctions.

A min gem BGS refractor wouldn't even buy you two PSA 10 base. That's absurd.

[Fratboy]

Lebron passing Kobe on the all-time scoring list, the day before the tragedy, contributed to the rise.
Lebron now has the Respect & Trust of Laker nation, after his amazing tribute to Kobe speech, before the Laker's game Friday.
There were many Laker fans not willing to embrace Lebron, prior to the tragedy. Lebron's words and emotion, in that difficult moment, cemented his Legend in L.A.

[pcptrade]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

I agree, but this is obviously manipulation of the PSA 10 base. You don't even have to look at numbers. Just know who is doing it. A doubling of a $2000 base card should give a meaningful bump to the refractor. We'll get to see this week as there are finally a few PSA 10 refractor auctions.

A min gem BGS refractor wouldn't even buy you two PSA 10 base. That's absurd.

Affordability and wider collector base in one answer. I also agree that there is a possibility of price manipulation.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by pcptrade

Affordability and wider collector base in one answer. I also agree that there is a possibility of price manipulation.

I'm not going to put a number on it, but $4000 certainly passes the threshold of what most here would consider "affordable" and appealing to a larger audience.

I will give you that the game has changed drastically in the last year. And if anyone believes these prices are legit, there is a wealth of opportunity sitting on eBay right now.

[pcptrade]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

I'm not going to put a number on it, but $4000 certainly passes the threshold of what most here would consider "affordable" and appealing to a larger audience.

I will give you that the game has changed drastically in the last year. And if anyone believes these prices are legit, there is a wealth of opportunity sitting on eBay right now.

I meant relatively affordable compared to the refractor. Lebron RC's are priced out for most investors which is why collectors are speculating on Luka, Trae, Morant etc hoping to make similar ROI.

[initialD]

It doubled......again
I’ve been trying to land a nice PSA 9. It’s tough to find one with centering that I like. What was unreasonable yesterday seems like a deal now
I don’t believe in every eBay price but when the water rises it seems to find a nice new level. Keep grinding.
If the Lakers win it all this year, it may be unobtainium

[ThoseBackPages]

Buy a nice 9 and be happy!

[brothertona]

This looks like a good candidate for a regrade and it's in your price range it seems (This is not my posting) https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-04-Top...EAAOSwA-VeMvvM

[messier2]

Originally Posted by brothertona

This looks like a good candidate for a regrade and it's in your price range it seems (This is not my posting) https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-04-Top...EAAOSwA-VeMvvM

The back, bottom left corner is dinged badly. No chance for a grade bump.

[ThoseBackPages]

BGS 8.5 on corners means it s PSA 7

[Cheken]

personally I think logical thinking kicked in (if there is such a thing in this hobby) - I'm in the market for a 9.5 + topps chrome rc refractor and let's just say when I look at luka/zion's prices, I make myself feel better justifying the purchase

[titletowncards]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

BGS 8.5 on corners means it s PSA 7

This one had BGS 7.5 corners and I was hoping to turn it into a PSA 8. Well did a little better. There's no consistency whatsoever.

[IMG]2020-01-16_01-52-54 by Chris Orgeman, on Flickr[/IMG]

[RogerGodahell]

Originally Posted by Cheken

personally I think logical thinking kicked in (if there is such a thing in this hobby) - I'm in the market for a 9.5 + topps chrome rc refractor and let's just say when I look at luka/zion's prices, I make myself feel better justifying the purchase

I don't know if there is such a thing in this hobby. You could play the what if game all day and then be back to square one and still not feel like things are fairly priced.

If i were to guess there's price manipulation going on. There's people buying in volume which is driving the price up. People are looking at current wax prices and going "F that, i'll just buy this card instead." And some of the things mentioned already.

But yeah you can play the well if this guy is valued at this price then this guy should be valued at X game all day and never make sense of things..

[KhalDrogo]

MJ 86 Fleer PSA 9 or LeBron 03 TC PSA 10 and $2500?

[6celtics33]

Originally Posted by titletowncards

This one had BGS 7.5 corners and I was hoping to turn it into a PSA 8. Well did a little better. There's no consistency whatsoever.

[IMG]2020-01-16_01-52-54 by Chris Orgeman, on Flickr[/IMG]

You could bury tbp under a mountain of evidence like that and he will say the same thing the next day