The latest eBay hype

SOM

It has got to be this phrase:

"SET BREAK"

Any more, whenever I see that in the heading, I know to expect to pay about a 20% premium for the same card listed elsewhere without that phrase. So, I usually eschew those auctions.

What is the basis of the herd mentality that drives the price so high on a SET BREAK auction? What's the big deal, anyway?

otwcards

I'm guessing it must be close to the same thing that drives sellers to overuse or misapply such phrases as "pack fresh" on brand new cards, "straight from pack to top loader" on vintage cards printed LONG before the advent of storage supplies, "as close to MINT as possible" when the image clearly shows VG-EX card and "this card lists for $3500.00 in GEM MINT condition" when it isn't GEM MINT and isn't even graded.