We’ve all been in this impasse. You’re at a card show, standing at the dealer table, holding a card in your hand. You know that the last sale price on eBay was $100. The dealer knows that the last sale price on eBay was $100.
But when you ask to be hired, he hits you with standard lines: “I can do 65%.”
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His argument is always the same: “I have to run a business. I have to wait for it to sell. I’m taking a risk.”
This was a valid argument for a long time. But what if you could prove with data that the risk was significantly reduced? What if you could prove that the slate in your hand is mathematically equivalent to a $100 bill?
At Mantell, we realize that “comparison” (recent sales prices) only tells half the story. knowing What The selling price of a card will not be told to you how easy It will be sold again. Therefore, we invented a new indicator to solve this specific problem.
it’s known SLAM (Secondary Liquidity and Momentum).
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“Cash Equivalents” Score
The principle behind SLAM is simple: How close is this card to straight, cold cash?
If a card has a high SLAM score (90+), it means that the market for that card is very liquid, consistent, and active, and holding that card is essentially the same as holding money.
This completely changes the negotiation dynamic. If you walk up to a vendor and hold a card with a SLAM score of 92, you don’t have to accept 60% or 70% of the value. You can look them in the eyes and say: “This card trades every day and the price barely fluctuates. It’s as good as cash. I want 85 to 90 percent, not 70 percent.”
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How it works: What SLAM scores actually measure
We don’t just want another price guide. We want a “confidence” guide. The SLAM score (0-100) helps you identify which cards are actively traded in the hobby by measuring three specific things:
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Tradeability: This is the heartbeat of the score. We combine volume with price stability. It answers the question: If I listed this today, would it move in the last comparison? Will it maintain its value?
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consistency: A card that sells for a million dollars at a time is not liquid; it’s a lottery ticket. SLAM Reward Card stable Volume and “compensation hold” – meaning the card retains its trade value across trades.
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Auxiliary functions: This is the key. We purposefully filter out ultra-rare cards (such as 1/1 or ultra-short edition) to highlight the cards collectors actually buy and sell on a daily basis. If a card is too rare and has no market, it cannot have a SLAM score.
Grand Slam scoring example
what it is not
As important as it is to understand how SLAM scores are measured and how to use them, it is equally important to discuss It is nothing.
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It is not a price predictor: A high SLAM score doesn’t mean a card’s value is about to increase. This means that the card has high liquidity. You can have a card with a SLAM score of 99 and a downward price trend, but since it sells 50 times a day, you can still exit the position immediately.
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This is not financial advice: SLAM provides data transparency, not investment advice. A high score means a card is liquid, but it doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be profitable. Always do your own research before spending any money.
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It’s not a “hype” meter: Hype is often based on media hype. SLAM is based on cold, hard data. If everyone is talking about a player but no one is actually buying his cards, their SLAM score will usually be low.
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It doesn’t work 1-of-1: We intentionally filter out ultra rare cards such as 1/1 or ultra short print cards. Why? Because you can’t measure “liquidity” with a card that only shows up once every five years. SLAM works on cards you actually see at shows and in stores.
Who is this for?
SLAM is suitable for anyone who wants to understand themselves exit strategy before they buy. For sellers, it can help you negotiate a better price, and for buyers, it can significantly reduce the risk of your card purchase.
If the card you purchased comes with High SLAM score (80-100)your card purchases are worth cash. These cards will no longer be available as soon as they are released. They can be bought on Saturdays and sold on Sundays. Here’s how we think about the different levels:
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Gold score (90-100): This card is like the closest thing to cash you can get.
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Green score (70-90): This is liquid. The demand is large, the price is stable, and relocation is easy.
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Yellow score (40-69): This is stock. It will sell, but you may need patience or price flexibility.
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Red score (0-39): This is a “collectible”. Buy it because you love it, not because you need to flip it tomorrow.
As people’s interests continue to evolve, so will SLAM scores. We are now looking for your feedback to improve this metric to make it truly helpful for both parties in the hobby. Head to the Mantel app, add cards to your mantel and see what points you get.
Many apps have mastered the art of tracking prices. Now, it’s time to master the market itself. If you want to flip; buy liquidity. If you want to own, collect things you like.