[hcv123]

1) As Floyd points out - the weighting system in at least some cases makes NO sense! Years ago I asked how they determine the weights - I was told by PSA that the weight is based on the value of the card in PSA 8 - the higher the value, the higher the weight. With that information, I dove deep into the weighting in the Clemente master set registry and found numerous weights that made no sense - at the time I sent sales records on a bunch of cards and was able to influence the changing of a number of weights. I've just thrown up my hands and stepped a bit back from the registry since.

2) In addition, as Ryan so clearly points out, the registry being a significant price driver for PSA slabs, I do believe that PSA invests A LOT more $$ and does a LOT better job branding their company than any of the other grading companies. As I share with many at shows, my experience is that while the quality of grading (for better AND worse) is equivalent between PSA and SGC, PSA so far has maintained stronger market prices for equivalent grades.

3) Also agree with Matty about the price differential between as an example 8's and 9's given what those "in the know" know about the gross inconsistency (on a good day) in the grading process. Clearly there are deep pocketedd newer buyers that have much to learn. That said, there may be enough of them that in a practical sense it will not matter.


All of the above notwithstanding, it seems impossible to ignore some of the jaw dropping hammer prices on so many items