Al, I have experienced eBay deals similar to yours. It's not just there, either; across the collecting boards there is are discrepancies in grading at times. Some have attributed that to older collectors and dealers who have been in the hobby well before TPG companies. While many collectors were fine with cards in excellent-mint condition, there was a clear recognition of cards in near mint and mint condition. The baseball card store/mail order place I worked for would have cards clearly that had worn corners and in no way they were mint, but we had very few returns. Dealers then, as well as today, have always sought higher prices for the cards they sell. I am sure the descriptions and pricing are heavily influenced by the valuation of TPG cards and making a buck.
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