What is the best tool for tracking eBay auction price history?

Question

im so excited to buy vintage pokemon cards for my nephew's birthday next month but i have no clue if the prices are fair!! sorry if this is basic but is there a site that shows what stuff actually sold for lately?

needs to be free

easy for a total beginner

how do i even check this...

ElmerWex · Accepted Answer

Re: "Honestly, getting back into vintage Pokemon is a..." - honestly, it really is a mess if you dont know where to look. In my experience, the simplest way for a beginner is just using eBay's own Sold Items filter. Over the years I've tried all sorts of paid trackers but nothing beats checking the source directly. Just search the card name, scroll down the left sidebar, and click Sold Items. That shows you the actual cash people paid. If you want something easier to read, PriceCharting is great because it aggregates everything into a nice graph for free. Just keep an eye on the condition, like if it's Lightly Played vs Near Mint, cuz that changes the price a ton. Don't let those crazy Buy It Now prices scare you off, they're usually just wishful thinking by the sellers anyway.

haley.williamson · Answer

Honestly, getting back into vintage Pokemon is a bit of a minefield lately. I used to rely on a bunch of different trackers but unfortunately, a lot of them have become really buggy or just arent as good as I expected them to be. It is kinda frustrating how much the market has changed. Even though some tools have gone downhill, you can still find what you need. Here is how I handle it:

Head to eBay and find the Sold Items filter in the sidebar. It is basically the gold standard for seeing what stuff actually sells for.

Check out PriceCharting. I have had issues with their data lag lately but it is still free and easy for beginners to read the graphs.

Try 130 Point. It is pretty clunky and slow sometimes, but it is the only way to see the actual price of Best Offer sales which eBay hides. It is awesome you are doing this for your nephew tho. Just take it slow and dont rush into a bid... you will get the hang of it.