Posted By:
Brian Lindholme...you pretty much answered your own questions but I'll jump in by saying that everyone who "buys the card" will still look at features that appeal to them or bother them. This is very evident in lower grade cards simply because things that lower technical grades like minor paper loss, rounded corners or light creases may not bother buyers in the same manner.
If your Barney portrait was diamond cut a degree or two more, it could still get a PSA grade 4, but you'll have to decide if you would want to pay the higher price that a straighter PSA4 would go for? You probably received a bit less competition for this card and realized a bit better price because of it.
That's what the other guys are probably trying to say. Use the slab grade to get you in the ballpark of cards that fit your taste, but don't be afraid to look at some 3's or 5's because they might give you even better value (especially the 3)
I think the range you see between sales in any grade won't soley be the high and the low ends of the grade, but it will be part of the equation.
Look for cards that appeal to you, and you'll be fine. Don't worry about minor price differences in the grade, but if it is much higher than the median or much lower, your competition probably sees something they like or dislike (flaws, dealer feedback, shipping costs, return policy) and you can learn from that too.
Gosh we are fortunate to have the resources we have now...this board is certainly the best of those.
Brian L
familytoad
Ridgefield WA