Can we learn something here about our friend the "OC" qualifier?

detroitfan2

There's been plenty of discussion lately (and in the past) regarding how a qualifier affects a card's value. We know that the PSA set registry deducts 2 full grades and that our friend Nomar ADDs one full grade when a qualifier is present. Here's some interesting (at least to me) sales of a high profile card (Clemente Rookie) that have sold recently in PSA 8 OC, PSA 7, and PSA 6 grades:

PSA 8 OC sold for $1,758.33:


PSA 7 sold for $2,050.00:


PSA 6 sold for $1,039.00:


All of the above are very SWEET cards, although personally I'd take this PSA 5 and keep the extra $400 for maybe a nice Koufax as well:

pandrews

<< <i>All of the above are very SWEET cards, although personally I'd take this PSA 5 and keep the extra $400 for maybe a nice Koufax as well: >>



me too.. but the 7 is nice if youre looking to spend 2k..

iamthegreatcornholio

I think the 7 outselling the 8OC is a case of buying the holder. The 7 has bad centering and an extreme tilt. The 8OC has roughly the same centering with better corners, it looks toned, but that might be from the scan?

The 7 did not sell for $2,050, the high bidder was naru'ed since he was part of a scam, and the card has been relisted.

Centering is a big issue with this card, and I would take the 5

Brian

pandrews

<< <i>it looks toned, but that might be from the scan?
>>



thats why i picked the 7.. but like you said, it maybe the scan..

Buccaneer

I would, without hesitation, buy a centered PSA 6 (or perhaps PSA 5) over a PSA 8 (OC). Centeredness I can easily see (in my display), corners I cannot.

eyebone

I do not like looking at cards with a severe diamond cut as the 7 has.

Eyebone

WinPitcher

That 6 is not a true 6 but an 8 that was unqualified. a true ex/mnt card is so much nicer then a 6 that cioulda beena 8oc.

jmo

sd

pandrews

the diamond cut doesnt bother me so much on that particular PSA 7..

maybe its because im looking at it with my head cranked sideways..

bowdowntome

Overall eye appeal is probably different for each persons eyes. To me, an OC card (within reason) with sharp corners is a much sharper looking card overall. Having cards that are all deadon centered is kind of boring to me, they have no personality.
Out of the cards shown, I'd take the 6. The 7, as well as the 8OC, are both diamond cut (actually, more like printed crooked, but cut straight) which is an eyesore to me, regardless of sharp corners. The 5 is centered better, but the overall eye appeal is not there for me. Not only does it have more corner wear than I'd like, but the green background color also seems to have some light wear or scuffing.

ajw

<< <i>That 6 is not a true 6 but an 8 that was unqualified. a true ex/mnt card is so much nicer then a 6 that cioulda beena 8oc.
>>



You really think so? The top left and top right corners look pretty bad for an 8. I think the card looks like a straight 6. I just don't see those corners on an 8.

The 7 is just nasty looking. Bleech. I wouldn't turn it down if someone gave it to me, but I'd probably sell it and buy a card that presented better.

brianwintersfan

The 8 has a pretty bad slant as well. Not crazy about either one!

iamthegreatcornholio

I dunno Steve, the corners look too soft on that 6 to be an 8OC... maybe 7OC.

Here's another 8OC, sold via BIN for $1899, but the high bidder is NARU so it might not have sold...

WinPitcher

Brian i was just speaking in generalities, how a 8oc many times is downgraded to a 6. A true 6 blows an unqualified (8oc) out of the water.

i should have been more clear.

SD

jrdolan

If Clemente had a light yellow background, like Koufax, instead of dark green he might not get so many OC qualifiers on his rookie. Also, the way the Pirates logo rises slightly above the green background tends to make any tilt or off-centeredness toward the top look worse. Mine too has a slight tilt, which is quite common and present to some degree in all of the cards shown, but the centering on the first 8OC is actually very slightly better. The 8 has a worse tilt, though, and that may have prejudiced the grader (who couldn't give it MC but wanted to qualify it somehow). If you're going to get the tilt, better to have it toward the lower right, not the upper right.



Incidentally, I bought mine for $1499 on eBay a year ago. That was the opening bid and I was the only one to bite. The seller could have made an extra $400 or $500 (and saved some listing fees) by starting much lower and allowing some bidding interest to build up.