Overview
We display an estimated fair market value, or FMV, for every slab. The estimate is built from two market data services, Card Ladder and Card Hedge. Our FMV estimate establishes the basis for any Ripit sell-back offer to you after purchase.
Where the data comes from
Card Ladder: its estimate for each card, plus average sale prices over recent weeks and months.
Card Hedge: its record of past sales for the same card and grade, plus comparable sales when there are no recent ones.
Both services build their numbers from eBay and auction sales, so they are two views of one market rather than two independent markets. Neither one sets the price. Their data is the input, and the checks below decide how much weight each number gets.
What is weighed
Identity: a sale counts only if it is the same card, with a matching set, number, variant, grade, and grader. With no recent sales, we use the closest comparables, such as the identical card in a nearby grade.
Volume: more sales mean more confidence. A few sales this month say more than one sale last year.
Recency: newer sales carry the most weight, all else being equal. A single sale can run high or low, so we consider earlier sales too.
Validity: not every listed price is a real sale. We filter out fake listings and asking prices.
Agreement: when Card Ladder and Card Hedge disagree, we check which one matches actual sales before relying on either number.
Volatility: some cards sell across a wide range of prices within a short time. We treat those values as less certain and leave more room for error.
Is the FMV guaranteed?
No. The displayed FMV is an estimate based on available market information. It does not guarantee what Ripit or anyone else will pay for a slab.