... guides (the monthly magazines, not the annuals). At the back of each is a section limited to slabbed cards. My Dad (who collects quarterback cards) has the latest football version.

The slabbed card section is six pages with more than 3000 total entries. The introduction says it covers "a comprehensive selection of the most popularly graded modern era cards from 1973 to present". More than half of the section is for 1998 and 1999.

There are many examples of what this means, but let me pick just a few:

1999 Topps Regular set:

Edgerrin James unslabbed is priced at $7.50 -- $20.00 (the high end is for what is called NrMnt-Mint condition)
----- Slabbed prices are $75 -- $135 in "gem mint" (9.5 on a scale of 10)
------------------------- $20 -- $40 in "Mint" (9 out of 10)
------------------------- $10 -- $20 in "NmMint" (8 out of 10)

Ricky Williams unslabbed is $5.00 -- $12.00
----- Slabbed he is $40--80 in "gem mint" (9.5)
----- and $12.50--25.00 in "Mint" (9)
----- and $6.00--12.50 in "NmMint" (8)

Or how about the 1999 Topps Chrome Set:

Edgerrin James unslabbed is $50-100
----- Slabbed he is $250-400 (!!!!) in "Gem Mint" (9.5)
[I shudder to think what a "Pristine Mint" (10 out of 10) would be priced at.]
----- Slabbed he is $90-175 in "Mint" (9)

Or the 1999 Pacific Kurt Warner unslabbed at $$20-50
----- and slabbed at $400-650 (!!) in "Gem Mint" (9.5)
----- and $100-175 in "Mint (9)
----- and $25-50 in "NmMint" (8)

There are literally a couple of thousand comparable entries for cards which are only ONE YEAR OLD. So don't believe for a minute that it can't happen with current chips.

Want an older example:

1976 Topps Walter Payton unslabbed $125-225
----- Slabbed in "Gem Mint" (9.5) = $2500-3500
----- Slabbed in "Mint" (9) = $450-750

And if you don't think pricing differences like these are BAD for our hobby, then I don't know what else to say.

Except: Not in my hobby. Not on my watch. Not without a fight.

----- jim o\-S