How do you qualify "condition sensitive?"

ReggieCleveland

I'm curious what ratios others use to determine whether a card is condition sensitive or not? I'm speaking specifically of PSA graded cards. For the most part, and obviously sample size fluctuates, I consider anything with >100 examples graded and <5% in PSA 10 (or whatever the high grade you're measuring is) to be condition sensitive and abnormally difficult.

Anyone else use firm figures when analyzing the pop report?

itzagoner

i've gone with the <5% theory before on PSA 10's or 9's, but i've always thought that condition sensitivity was more of a concern with colored borders or flimsy paper stock, for example.

there may also be concerns about the discarding or destruction of meaningless commons from vintage sets, which could lead to fewer potential high grade examples.

or cards which were manufactured poorly by their placement on a sheet or have surface issues on virtually every example ever made, like a '76 Topps Johnny Briggs.

not sure they would fall under the same description.