What is considered Low Pop.....

milbroco

I know the typical low pop is 1 of 1 or 1 of 2, etc, but how high or low of a number is it considered low? Is it 5, 10, 20, more or less?

Or is it derived from the total number of cards of a certain grade versus the total numbers of cards graded?

Example, A PSA 9 card of Joe Doe has a population of 9 and the total number of this card graded is 20, is this considered low pop at about 45%?

What if the same PSA 9 Joe Doe with a population of 9 has a total of 3675 cards graded, is that now considered low pop with a percentage under 1%?

I would like to get others thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Bob

yawie99

I think you also have to factor in the card's population relative to not only the population of the other cards in the set but also to the number of collectors who seem to be working on the set. There's really no absolute value for what is and what is not a "low pop" card.

sagard

I'd say a card is low pop when you can get at least two crazies to pay big money for it.

ejguru

Low pop(ulation) has to refer to the pure total number of cards at (or better) than a given grade.

As noted, a "toguh card" can refer to a card that is not necessarily "low pop," but maybe grades 8 or better less frequently than most of the cards of the set. For example, if card X has 45 8's and 5 9's of 500 cards graded (10% 8 or better) it would be considered (by me at least) to be a "tough card" if the rest of the set grades 8 or better at 35 or 40%.

Also, if a card simply has a ridiculously low number of total submissions, I'd call it "hard to find." For example, say a card has 12 total submits and they are all PSA 8, and the average card in the set has more than 2X the number of submits, I'd assume something is making that card hard to find.

It's all in the pop report. If only we could do something to make it more accurate--like giving some $ back for all the breakout flip numbers returned??

qualitycards

<< <i>like giving some $ back for all the breakout flip numbers returned >>


or perhaps trade them in for submissions, maybe x amount will get a coupon for 1 grade...jay

murcerfan

ah, those were the days .....eh Jay ?
when you'd get a few comps back every now and then.

qualitycards

<< <i>ah, those were the days .....eh Jay ? >>


MURCERFAN - Don't know about you, I'm still waiting for my 1st comp?
Since day 1, I have rec'd no "free" grades other then the few I was entitled to for meeting the criteria of the set registry.
I'm hoping this is the year I get those comps...jay

toppsgun

You didn't get your comps?

I get comped all the time. Free gradings from the benevolent dictator for all sorts of things.

Wow, maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Now everyone will expect the same treatment I get.

qualitycards

One thing I like about PSA is that a guy like me an Authorized Dealer gets the same attention, service and perks of a new submitter w/ no past business. An even playing field. I have to join a membership to get the SMR and online pop report like the rest of you, no breaks or comps on my end, now MURCERFAN has that clout to get whatever he wants, when he wants it ...jay