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Posted By: Bill Todd

Shane,

You have the operative word right in your question: "opinion." No matter how many opinions you get, they're still opinions. Some are backed up with more facts than others, but they're still opinions. The fact that some grading companies are willing to put money behind their opinions (by buying back cards about which they've been convinced to change their minds) also doesn't change the situation: they're still opinions. After all, that's why the mantra is, "Buy the card, not the holder."

With that said, I'm sure there are folks out there who would pay more for a collective Seal of Approval. Those are the buyers who lack either familiarity with what they're buying or confidence in their own expertise.

If you know what you're doing, however, you should consider the slab as just one more piece of evidence as you make your decision.

Relevant joke:
A man comes home early from a business trip. His wife is in bed with his best friend. The "friend" hears the key in the lock, and leaps out of bed to hide in the closet. The husband comes into the bedroom, greets his wife, then opens the closet to hang up his jacket. The friend says, "Before you say anything, what are you going to believe, your eyes, or your best friend?"

Bill