Gold HipValues Subscription

Bob Hatch

WOW! According to Gold HipValues my listings are all grossly underpriced. HipStamp needs to develop a better algorithm. Values get skewed when you average in a $50 stamp with cert with others that sell for less than a dollar. No wonder nobody bough into this subscription plan. I find the HipValues to be totally meaningless. Anybody out there have a different opinion? Educate me. I’m willing to admit to erroneous conclusions
https://www.hipstamp.com/store/buybobstamps

Mark Rosenberg

Thanks for the feedback, Bob.

In general, yes, our algorithm already does take into account items that may skew the current average selling price, including items with certificates. This is all already factored into our HipValues, along with many other factors. We're certainly not just taking a mathematical average.

In general, you can read more about HipValues here:
https://www.hipstamp.com/site-fees/?tab=hip-values

HipValues are based on the Country, Catalog Number, Condition, and Stamp Format, but do not take into account Centering and Faults - similar to a Catalog Value. However, one of the best features of HipValues, is that you can see each and every sold listing that went into calculating our HipValue. This allows you to quickly find actual sold listings in similar Centering, etc. to any item you're reviewing for further comparison.

Here's an example of how HipValues compare to a few items from our No Reserve Auction that closed this past Thursday:
https://ibb.co/pbtZXdR

Here, you can see that prices realized are generally near the current HipValue, but will be higher or lower depending on the centering. In the above example, if you look at the US 347, you'll see that the HipValue is $40, but this copy only sold for $16.45. However, you can then clock on the HipValue to view the 152 actual sold listings that this value was based on:
https://www.hipstamp.com/browse/hip-values/?reference_id=47105578&item_specifics_04_condition=mint-nh-&item_specifics_05_stamp_format=single&volume_name=United States&issue_number=347

Here, you'll quickly see a recent item that had a similar condition, and sold for $17

Keep in mind that HipValues are fully automated and updated on a regular basis - both the values themselves and our algorithm behind them. They're only meant to serve as another helpful piece of information to our members, and of course, the more sales date we have for a specific Country and Catalog Number, the more accurate our values will be.

Excluding Basic, Featured, and Premium Sellers, who now have access to our Gold HipValues Subscription, we have hundreds of members who currently have existing paid subscription plans to our HipValues service, as they find it a helpful tool in their collecting endeavors; and we hope that you'll find it helpful as well.

Bob Hatch

Thanks for your comprehensive reply, Mark. Perhaps my observations are skewed because I list lower value items as represented below:
https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/832c-wilson-f-vf-mnh-single/47235316
https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/ux109-settling-connecticut-postal-card-unaddressed-colorano-silk-fdc/38406814
https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/ux109-settling-connecticut-postal-card-unaddressed-colorano-silk-fdc/38406814
https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/us-4134-us-flag-used-pnc-single-plate-v1111/20796423
https://www.hipstamp.com/listing/1094-flag-issue-mnh-plate-block-lr/41823209

Let me take this opportunity to invite everyone to shop at my store where you will find prices that are typically 50% or more lower than those quoted by HipValues:
https://www.hipstamp.com/store/buybobstamps