PSA-A Cautionary Tale!

[MattyC]

I just said to a friend the other day, that the difference between higher end grades is the smallest in terms of CARD QUALITY, yet it is the largest in terms of price. That is an inverse relationship that really informs how I shop for cards.

If a 10 of a card costs 10k, and the most elite 9 costs 2k-- and is utterly indistinguishable from the 10 to the eye, why on earth would one pay such a huge premium for a card that is infinitesimally-- if at all-- better? The obvious answer is that the buyer wants that sticker for their Registry set, because it can't be all about the card itself.

This applies to any card where the next single grade up is a huge price leap. There will always be specimens that next grade below that look as good-- if not better.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I just said to a friend the other day, that the difference between higher end grades is the smallest in terms of CARD QUALITY, yet it is the largest in terms of price. That is an inverse relationship that really informs how I shop for cards.

If a 10 of a card costs 10k, and the most elite 9 costs 2k-- and is utterly indistinguishable from the 10 to the eye, why on earth would one pay such a huge premium for a card that is infinitesimally-- if at all-- better? The obvious answer is that the buyer wants that sticker for their Registry set, because it can't be all about the card itself.

This applies to any card where the next single grade up is a huge price leap. There will always be specimens that next grade below that look as good-- if not better.

The same phenomenon happens in many fields. People will pay a premium for a brand name product even though it's the same as or inferior to a generic product, will pay more for a brand name with snob appeal over a "lesser" brand even though the lesser brand is the same quaility, etc.

[slidekellyslide]

Hey Mr Orlando, I hear that the first ever card slabbed by PSA turned out to be trimmed!

"So what, it's just a baseball card."

Hey Mr Orlando, one of my friends sent a very expensive card to you and it got lost while it was in PSA's possession!

"So what, it's just a baseball card."

[jbbama]

Matt, are you certain your received the same card back? Just curious? Interesting read.

[bobbyw8469]

Mine wasn't a criticism as well. Just an observation. I didn't see hardly any criticism as well. Not quite sure where Robert is coming from....