Theres a few different things here. One the true meaning of top shelf, Alot of people want to think they have top shelf, Very few do. Not only does it have to be really good smoke, not cut early, flushed, It has to be chunky, trimmed nice, no shake, No small shit . People should have a tray with holes the size of a nickle, dump your lb out on it and see how much falls threw, Ive seen alot where half would. LOL Yes your going to get $2500 or less.
You have to be at the top of the game to get payed and to have your stuff in demand. The guys i deal with wont even look at what I give them, They already know what there getting. Top Shelf If you grow mids good luck so does everyone else and your going to get low balled, the next guy will take what they offer.
Second thing is middle men, they are out to make as much as they can and ussally have a idea of how much there going to get. They affraid to pay for top shelf because there only going to make a few $ They want to buy what ever at a set price and know what there going to make. They dont want to have to ask for more because they paid more. I think its funny when someones looking and they already know what they want to pay without even seeing it. There buy and sell price is already set.