Memories
Light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we?
Memories
May be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply to choose to forget
So it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember
The way we were
The way we were
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
PSA vintage grading is tougher currently, no doubt. There are one or two vintage graders that still grade with the "older" standards, and if you get them your lucky. I think this helps explain those vintage 9's on eBay with small amounts of edge chipping or corner wear etc. Besides 45/55 centering etc, I have found that a 10 appears "flat" and "square" in all dimensions, particularly when viewed in a Card Saver. The "flatness" of the card I'm trying to describe is an overall feeling and a bit subjective . Surface defects also weigh very significantly. Any micro surface bleb, depression, oil stain (even on the reverse) or even roughness to the gloss surface to touch and your looking a lower grade than a 10.
@mintonlypls said:
Could PSA be tightening grading standards to reduce submissions by discouraging collectors of submitting ? I still think PSA is overwhelmed by the volume of submissions…
Could some of it be that the grading company and auction house owners/execs are serious collectors who will see their card values decline if the population of 10s rise and their 9s or 10s become worth less each time another 10 or the extremely elusive 9.5? Especially since the graders and auction houses are becoming connected at the hip?
I know nothing I will come across raw will ever be even PSA 9 worthy with the original standards so I am not affected. I also don't understand what a 10 (OC) from 2001 would crossover to today and if it's subjective based on the grader. It's impossible for me to evaluate grades from photos and I don't have the appropriate knowledge/tools to make my subjective opinion matter.
@mintonlypls said:
Could PSA be tightening grading standards to reduce submissions by discouraging collectors of submitting ? I still think PSA is overwhelmed by the volume of submissions…
Could PSA be tightening standards knowing that there are so many desperately seeking 9’s and 10’s and it will boost their review revenue?
Forum members on ignore
Erba - coolstanley-dallasactuary-SDsportsfan
daltex
@80sOPC said:
This is the reason I don’t submit anymore. Better to buy other folks under-graded cards. Let someone else take the hit and wait for the environment to change. And if it doesn’t, when you have to sell, let some dreamer buy your nice raw cards at graded prices, and suffer the great letdown that is modern vintage grading.
This is my game now too, though I do submit still. My subs are now crossovers and the remaining I've set aside for grading that never made it there. For those I just wait for specials that cover their years.
I don't rip and grade anymore. Eventually, PSA is just going to be all ultra-modern subs and a few vintage re-subs sprinkled in.
@80sOPC said:
This is the reason I don’t submit anymore. Better to buy other folks under-graded cards. Let someone else take the hit and wait for the environment to change. And if it doesn’t, when you have to sell, let some dreamer buy your nice raw cards at graded prices, and suffer the great letdown that is modern vintage grading.
This is my game now too, though I do submit still. My subs are now crossovers and the remaining I've set aside for grading that never made it there. For those I just wait for specials that cover their years.
I don't rip and grade anymore. Eventually, PSA is just going to be all ultra-modern subs and a few vintage re-subs sprinkled in.
@80sOPC said:
This is the reason I don’t submit anymore. Better to buy other folks under-graded cards. Let someone else take the hit and wait for the environment to change. And if it doesn’t, when you have to sell, let some dreamer buy your nice raw cards at graded prices, and suffer the great letdown that is modern vintage grading.
This is my game now too, though I do submit still. My subs are now crossovers and the remaining I've set aside for grading that never made it there. For those I just wait for specials that cover their years.
I don't rip and grade anymore. Eventually, PSA is just going to be all ultra-modern subs and a few vintage re-subs sprinkled in.
@80sOPC said:
This is the reason I don’t submit anymore. Better to buy other folks under-graded cards. Let someone else take the hit and wait for the environment to change. And if it doesn’t, when you have to sell, let some dreamer buy your nice raw cards at graded prices, and suffer the great letdown that is modern vintage grading.
This is my game now too, though I do submit still. My subs are now crossovers and the remaining I've set aside for grading that never made it there. For those I just wait for specials that cover their years.
I don't rip and grade anymore. Eventually, PSA is just going to be all ultra-modern subs and a few vintage re-subs sprinkled in.
Sometimes, harsh grades can help you. This seller wasn't experienced with cards and didn't realize that eye appeal commands a premium. I got this for a little less than what PSA 7s were going for at the time. It is Mint+ on the card front. There's actually a discoloration in the paper stock on the back -- not a stain -- that brings it down to a 7. I don't care. I got a stunner for cheap.
@AANV said:
It's been about 2 years on 10,000 cards submitted and I haven't hit a single 10 pre-1980. Is this the new normal?
Well, did you get any married PSA 10's? Well keep trying; just remember 10's in that era are as expensive and valuable as they are for a reason!! As my late grandpa would say, they're possible but not probable.
@AANV said:
It's been about 2 years on 10,000 cards submitted and I haven't hit a single 10 pre-1980. Is this the new normal?
Dude,,, you submitted 10 thousand pre 1980 cards the last two years at these fees and no tens ? Does your wife or kids know what you are doing ?
Right now I'd consider you a complete psycho collector life fail. But if out of those 10k you got some glorious 9's or whatever, please post pics. Else, doof and you should handle yourself appropriately.
At least post successes to support the effort cost would not have broken a normal man.
PSA must be really backed up. They aren't accepting calls, they just hang up on you. takes 3 days to return an email. I have had my order on hold for 13 days and they have had my order for a total of 5 weeks. It's just sitting there.
@olb31 said:
PSA must be really backed up. They aren't accepting calls, they just hang up on you. takes 3 days to return an email. I have had my order on hold for 13 days and they have had my order for a total of 5 weeks. It's just sitting there.
During Nascar racing it is mentioned many times during a race that the cars are handling "loose" or "tight". Seems grading has taken a page from Nascar in this respect.
Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
@PaulMaul said:
In the past, I expected the corners of a PSA 9 to look, if not perfect, very nice. They might not always be perfectly sharp, but there was never any chipping exposing the cardboard underneath the glossy surface.
While I accept that in some ways grading has gotten tougher, I do see newly graded PSA 9s with more corner wear than I have come to expect in that grade. They mostly seem very well centered, but I can’t say I have found the average corner quality of a PSA 9 to have risen in the last few years.
__
This is exactly what I am talking about. This card has no business as a 9. Saddens me that others are getting 7s and 8s when they have scrutinized the corners with a loupe, and this is a 9?
@PaulMaul said:
In the past, I expected the corners of a PSA 9 to look, if not perfect, very nice. They might not always be perfectly sharp, but there was never any chipping exposing the cardboard underneath the glossy surface.
While I accept that in some ways grading has gotten tougher, I do see newly graded PSA 9s with more corner wear than I have come to expect in that grade. They mostly seem very well centered, but I can’t say I have found the average corner quality of a PSA 9 to have risen in the last few years.
__
This is exactly what I am talking about. This card has no business as a 9. Saddens me that others are getting 7s and 8s when they have scrutinized the corners with a loupe, and this is a 9?
All four corners are certainly not sharp, any knowledge of who was the submitter?
@82FootballWaxMemorys said:
Now whats that Townsend lyric from "Join Together" about making the music move along...
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
@olb31 said:
PSA must be really backed up. They aren't accepting calls, they just hang up on you. takes 3 days to return an email. I have had my order on hold for 13 days and they have had my order for a total of 5 weeks. It's just sitting there.
i would have received a 7 for that seaver, maybe an 8 on a great day. no way it's a 9. But there are many more like this. You just have to be careful and decide for your self. Real collectors and investors would not pay PSA 9 prices for this card.
I believe it was on her ( Collectors Universe ) that I heard that when a card which is graded a PSA 10 but should grade PSA 7 - 8 was most likely graded for 4 SHARP CORNERS. Any one else heard this .
I’m not big on the theory that large submitters get preferential grades, at least not today. But grading is wildly inconsistent and if you grade a few hundred thousand cards you will get a bunch of sliders.
And FWIW I hit a psa 9 on a vintage HHOF rc bought through NE sports cards, the raw arm of 4sc. And have bought lots of under graded cards from 4sc as well.
Never attribute malice to incompetence, or something like that.
@80sOPC said:
I’m not big on the theory that large submitters get preferential grades, at least not today. But grading is wildly inconsistent and if you grade a few hundred thousand cards you will get a bunch of sliders.
And FWIW I hit a psa 9 on a vintage HHOF rc bought through NE sports cards, the raw arm of 4sc. And have bought lots of under graded cards from 4sc as well.
Never attribute malice to incompetence, or something like that.
I agree. I think it's the volume that makes it seem like they get preferential treatment, but I"m sure they're disappointed in a lot they get back too. Nature of the beast.
You're also right about finding under graded from them.
I like the idea of charging half price for an authentic designation and let the buyers/sellers hash out an acceptable "grade" decision. And arrive at a cost between the 2 participants. But I do see the need in some cases where a neutral party,TPGs, would prove effective. I prefer to be the judge of my own cards and discuss the possible transaction with the buyer. They can then decide which route they wish to take after the potential purchase. To grade or remain raw.
Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
@80sOPC said:
I’m not big on the theory that large submitters get preferential grades, at least not today. But grading is wildly inconsistent and if you grade a few hundred thousand cards you will get a bunch of sliders.
And FWIW I hit a psa 9 on a vintage HHOF rc bought through NE sports cards, the raw arm of 4sc. And have bought lots of under graded cards from 4sc as well.
Never attribute malice to incompetence, or something like that.
@80sOPC said:
I’m not big on the theory that large submitters get preferential grades, at least not today. But grading is wildly inconsistent and if you grade a few hundred thousand cards you will get a bunch of sliders.
And FWIW I hit a psa 9 on a vintage HHOF rc bought through NE sports cards, the raw arm of 4sc. And have bought lots of under graded cards from 4sc as well.
Never attribute malice to incompetence, or something like that.
@80sOPC said:
I’m not big on the theory that large submitters get preferential grades, at least not today. But grading is wildly inconsistent and if you grade a few hundred thousand cards you will get a bunch of sliders.
And FWIW I hit a psa 9 on a vintage HHOF rc bought through NE sports cards, the raw arm of 4sc. And have bought lots of under graded cards from 4sc as well.
Never attribute malice to incompetence, or something like that.
@80sOPC said:
I’m not big on the theory that large submitters get preferential grades, at least not today. But grading is wildly inconsistent and if you grade a few hundred thousand cards you will get a bunch of sliders.
And FWIW I hit a psa 9 on a vintage HHOF rc bought through NE sports cards, the raw arm of 4sc. And have bought lots of under graded cards from 4sc as well.
Never attribute malice to incompetence, or something like that.
I bought a Joe Morgan RC PSA-8.5 from 4SC…submitted encapsulated for review and received a bump to a PSA-9. It seems that was decades ago!
I sure hope that happened after being graded during the encapsulation process; regardless, it definitely should have been caught before being sent back to the customer. I've seen 10's that don't appear to me to have centering worthy of a 10, but that's a judgement call that can legitimately be argued either way; however, this type of flaw should be clearly unacceptable for a 10.
An '82 OPC Reggie PSA 10 sold for $2,107 tonight on ebay. Although the current pop is only 4, I'm confident there are plenty of ungraded mint-gem mint copies floating around (including those in unopened packs/boxes). I believe the price was as high as it was in part because people just don't expect to see many more HOF'ers from this era getting a 10 from PSA.
@reelinintheyears said:
An '82 OPC Reggie PSA 10 sold for $2,107 tonight on ebay. Although the current pop is only 4, I'm confident there are plenty of ungraded mint-gem mint copies floating around (including those in unopened packs/boxes). I believe the price was as high as it was in part because people just don't expect to see many more HOF'ers from this era getting a 10 from PSA.
I just missed yet again!
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
It seems there are three groups of graders these days. 1) The novices that give 9's to EX-MT cards, 2) The novices that give 7's to MINT cards that should be 9s and finally, 3) The experienced graders that grade cards like we've mostly expected during the past 15 years. It's a roulette wheel on which group the grader that is assigned to your vintage order comes from. You pays your money, you takes your chances.
@gemint said:
It seems there are three groups of graders these days. 1) The novices that give 9's to EX-MT cards, 2) The novices that give 7's to MINT cards that should be 9s and finally, 3) The experienced graders that grade cards like we've mostly expected during the past 15 years. It's a roulette wheel on which group the grader that is assigned to your vintage order comes from. You pays your money, you takes your chances.
I agree with you. That is why I believe that many collectors are paying top dollar at auctions or buy it nows, to get a desired graded card for their collection instead of submitting a card for grading and dealing with the possibilities and frustrations of what you've mentioned.
@reelinintheyears said:
An '82 OPC Reggie PSA 10 sold for $2,107 tonight on ebay. Although the current pop is only 4, I'm confident there are plenty of ungraded mint-gem mint copies floating around (including those in unopened packs/boxes). I believe the price was as high as it was in part because people just don't expect to see many more HOF'ers from this era getting a 10 from PSA.
Is the card actually being sold?
GMcards listed and sold this exact card on June 17, 23 for $1652, then a month later on July 23, 23 for $1625, then Sept 3, 23 for $2107.
Seems fishy.
@reelinintheyears said:
An '82 OPC Reggie PSA 10 sold for $2,107 tonight on ebay. Although the current pop is only 4, I'm confident there are plenty of ungraded mint-gem mint copies floating around (including those in unopened packs/boxes). I believe the price was as high as it was in part because people just don't expect to see many more HOF'ers from this era getting a 10 from PSA.
Is the card actually being sold?
GMcards listed and sold this exact card on June 17, 23 for $1652, then a month later on July 23, 23 for $1625, then Sept 3, 23 for $2107.
Seems fishy.
Highest I have gotten back is 8. What PSA calls poor now may not even have a crease. What seemed like 8 or 9 several years ago only get 4 or 6. It's ridiculous. This is one area of life where there needs to be dual standards. And it does seem to be who you get grading cards is important. I wish I one could request graders or at least know who the grader inside the company is.
@RonSportscards said:
Is the card actually being sold?
GMcards listed and sold this exact card on June 17, 23 for $1652, then a month later on July 23, 23 for $1625, then Sept 3, 23 for $2107.
Seems fishy.
When I saw that it was relisted, I assumed that the original winner backed out. I was surprised to see it sell for even more the second time around. I don't know much about the seller, so I can't make any assumptions about the legitimacy of these two auctions.
Isn't it possible that an auction winner from a consignment house thinks that the card sold for far too cheap, and told the House to re-auction it?
I cant be the only person who places reference bids on items (that I don't own) to make sure they don't go too cheaply, you know like "I don't really want a Jordan rookie in 6, but if its only going to sell for $500 it had better go to me!"
@daltex said:
Isn't it possible that an auction winner from a consignment house thinks that the card sold for far too cheap, and told the House to re-auction it?
I cant be the only person who places reference bids on items (that I don't own) to make sure they don't go too cheaply, you know like "I don't really want a Jordan rookie in 6, but if its only going to sell for $500 it had better go to me!"
I've ended up with a tremendous amount of cards in my collection because of this. If you know the market and have the funds to cover it, it's literally free money when you luck into an undervalued purchase.
Here's just my latest example.
.
.
Anybody priced a case of 87 Donruss blister packs lately? How about FASC 87 Donruss wax boxes?
3600 factory sealed cards in the blister case. 540 cards in a factory sealed wax box.
Junk wax, I know, but even if I'm just partaking in the guilty pleasure of looking for packs with stars on top or actually opening packs for fun, can't beat it when you get things at a discount.
When it comes to graded cards, if I end up with duplicates, I'm often able to average down the cost per card of my investment, and then can determine which examples are the better looking ones that I'd like to keep, and then sell the others at a later time, hoping I was right on the card being undervalued and making a profit.
The seller's shenanigans is well known so no way to know if legit sale or not but if it is someone just paid above PSA10 money for what is at best a PSA 7 and more likley a 6. I do wonder who original submitter was? https://www.ebay.com/itm/374921498872
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Comments
Now whats that Townsend lyric from "Join Together" about making the music move along...
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Memories
Light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we?
Memories
May be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply to choose to forget
So it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember
The way we were
The way we were
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/987963/1951-wheaties-premium-photos-set-registry#latest
PSA vintage grading is tougher currently, no doubt. There are one or two vintage graders that still grade with the "older" standards, and if you get them your lucky. I think this helps explain those vintage 9's on eBay with small amounts of edge chipping or corner wear etc. Besides 45/55 centering etc, I have found that a 10 appears "flat" and "square" in all dimensions, particularly when viewed in a Card Saver. The "flatness" of the card I'm trying to describe is an overall feeling and a bit subjective . Surface defects also weigh very significantly. Any micro surface bleb, depression, oil stain (even on the reverse) or even roughness to the gloss surface to touch and your looking a lower grade than a 10.
Could some of it be that the grading company and auction house owners/execs are serious collectors who will see their card values decline if the population of 10s rise and their 9s or 10s become worth less each time another 10 or the extremely elusive 9.5? Especially since the graders and auction houses are becoming connected at the hip?
I know nothing I will come across raw will ever be even PSA 9 worthy with the original standards so I am not affected. I also don't understand what a 10 (OC) from 2001 would crossover to today and if it's subjective based on the grader. It's impossible for me to evaluate grades from photos and I don't have the appropriate knowledge/tools to make my subjective opinion matter.
Could PSA be tightening standards knowing that there are so many desperately seeking 9’s and 10’s and it will boost their review revenue?
Forum members on ignore
Erba - coolstanley-dallasactuary-SDsportsfan
daltex
I was thinking of having the folks at Gemrate do a stats analysis of the gem rate over time of vintage. I’ll let you know what the result is.
My collecting blog: http://ctcard.wordpress.com
Sometimes, harsh grades can help you. This seller wasn't experienced with cards and didn't realize that eye appeal commands a premium. I got this for a little less than what PSA 7s were going for at the time. It is Mint+ on the card front. There's actually a discoloration in the paper stock on the back -- not a stain -- that brings it down to a 7. I don't care. I got a stunner for cheap.
Arthur
Well, did you get any married PSA 10's?
Well keep trying; just remember 10's in that era are as expensive and valuable as they are for a reason!! As my late grandpa would say, they're possible but not probable.
D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
At one time spending approx 125K a year on grading fees would have made you a preferred submitter. Not anymore, now you're treated same as Joe Nobody.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
4squarecorners has had a shit-ton of PSA 10s of '80s cards for sale on ebay.
I was just able to get a PSA 9 on a 1975 Pete Rose. Pretty happy with that.
email bcmiller7@comcast.net
4sharpcorners, I like 4square though, best recess game ever. Especially when you throw in some cherry bombs and popcorn...I miss the 80s/90s.
Damn spellcheck! jk
I know it's 4sharpcorners, but for whatever reason I keep calling it 4squarecorners. LOL
That's ok you know what you mean.
Dude,,, you submitted 10 thousand pre 1980 cards the last two years at these fees and no tens ? Does your wife or kids know what you are doing ?
Right now I'd consider you a complete psycho collector life fail. But if out of those 10k you got some glorious 9's or whatever, please post pics. Else, doof and you should handle yourself appropriately.
At least post successes to support the effort cost would not have broken a normal man.
I retired at 34 and broker baseball cards as a fun business. I think I'm doing okay, but I appreciate your concern.
But some 9's are good. Like a 1977 nolan ryan psa 9 or a 1975 mike schmidt 9.
PSA must be really backed up. They aren't accepting calls, they just hang up on you. takes 3 days to return an email. I have had my order on hold for 13 days and they have had my order for a total of 5 weeks. It's just sitting there.
Not a good time to send a review submission.
During Nascar racing it is mentioned many times during a race that the cars are handling "loose" or "tight". Seems grading has taken a page from Nascar in this respect.
__
This is exactly what I am talking about. This card has no business as a 9. Saddens me that others are getting 7s and 8s when they have scrutinized the corners with a loupe, and this is a 9?
All four corners are certainly not sharp, any knowledge of who was the submitter?
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Wow
This isn't a review.
i would have received a 7 for that seaver, maybe an 8 on a great day. no way it's a 9. But there are many more like this. You just have to be careful and decide for your self. Real collectors and investors would not pay PSA 9 prices for this card.
I believe it was on her ( Collectors Universe ) that I heard that when a card which is graded a PSA 10 but should grade PSA 7 - 8 was most likely graded for 4 SHARP CORNERS. Any one else heard this .
Is there a way to tell based on serial number when it was graded? Was this graded years ago and then reholdered?
buying O-Pee-Chee (OPC) baseball
It was graded recently.
I see what you did there.
I thought reholdered cards keep the same serial number.
I know nothing, NOTHING!
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
I’m not big on the theory that large submitters get preferential grades, at least not today. But grading is wildly inconsistent and if you grade a few hundred thousand cards you will get a bunch of sliders.
And FWIW I hit a psa 9 on a vintage HHOF rc bought through NE sports cards, the raw arm of 4sc. And have bought lots of under graded cards from 4sc as well.
Never attribute malice to incompetence, or something like that.
I didn’t even think 4SC was submitting much anymore. I thought they were focused on consignments.
I agree. I think it's the volume that makes it seem like they get preferential treatment, but I"m sure they're disappointed in a lot they get back too. Nature of the beast.
You're also right about finding under graded from them.
I like the idea of charging half price for an authentic designation and let the buyers/sellers hash out an acceptable "grade" decision. And arrive at a cost between the 2 participants. But I do see the need in some cases where a neutral party,TPGs, would prove effective. I prefer to be the judge of my own cards and discuss the possible transaction with the buyer. They can then decide which route they wish to take after the potential purchase. To grade or remain raw.
I bought a Joe Morgan RC PSA-8.5 from 4SC…submitted encapsulated for review and received a bump to a PSA-9. It seems that was decades ago!
Seasoned submitter's now receive 5 and 6's for what used to 9's and 10's yet this very summer this receives a PSA10?????
Note the left edge! Card at absolute best is 6 IMHO. I do wonder who the original submitter was?
Pic courtesy PSA
https://www.psacard.com/cert/76407408
To prove not merely a photo issue, different pic from the seller
https://www.ebay.com/itm/364451581466
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
I sure hope that happened after being graded during the encapsulation process; regardless, it definitely should have been caught before being sent back to the customer. I've seen 10's that don't appear to me to have centering worthy of a 10, but that's a judgement call that can legitimately be argued either way; however, this type of flaw should be clearly unacceptable for a 10.
An '82 OPC Reggie PSA 10 sold for $2,107 tonight on ebay. Although the current pop is only 4, I'm confident there are plenty of ungraded mint-gem mint copies floating around (including those in unopened packs/boxes). I believe the price was as high as it was in part because people just don't expect to see many more HOF'ers from this era getting a 10 from PSA.
I just missed yet again!
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
It seems there are three groups of graders these days. 1) The novices that give 9's to EX-MT cards, 2) The novices that give 7's to MINT cards that should be 9s and finally, 3) The experienced graders that grade cards like we've mostly expected during the past 15 years. It's a roulette wheel on which group the grader that is assigned to your vintage order comes from. You pays your money, you takes your chances.
I agree with you. That is why I believe that many collectors are paying top dollar at auctions or buy it nows, to get a desired graded card for their collection instead of submitting a card for grading and dealing with the possibilities and frustrations of what you've mentioned.
Is the card actually being sold?
GMcards listed and sold this exact card on June 17, 23 for $1652, then a month later on July 23, 23 for $1625, then Sept 3, 23 for $2107.
Seems fishy.
i think you are on to something.
Highest I have gotten back is 8. What PSA calls poor now may not even have a crease. What seemed like 8 or 9 several years ago only get 4 or 6. It's ridiculous. This is one area of life where there needs to be dual standards. And it does seem to be who you get grading cards is important. I wish I one could request graders or at least know who the grader inside the company is.
When I saw that it was relisted, I assumed that the original winner backed out. I was surprised to see it sell for even more the second time around. I don't know much about the seller, so I can't make any assumptions about the legitimacy of these two auctions.
Isn't it possible that an auction winner from a consignment house thinks that the card sold for far too cheap, and told the House to re-auction it?
I cant be the only person who places reference bids on items (that I don't own) to make sure they don't go too cheaply, you know like "I don't really want a Jordan rookie in 6, but if its only going to sell for $500 it had better go to me!"
I've ended up with a tremendous amount of cards in my collection because of this. If you know the market and have the funds to cover it, it's literally free money when you luck into an undervalued purchase.
Here's just my latest example.
.
.
Anybody priced a case of 87 Donruss blister packs lately? How about FASC 87 Donruss wax boxes?
3600 factory sealed cards in the blister case. 540 cards in a factory sealed wax box.
Junk wax, I know, but even if I'm just partaking in the guilty pleasure of looking for packs with stars on top or actually opening packs for fun, can't beat it when you get things at a discount.
When it comes to graded cards, if I end up with duplicates, I'm often able to average down the cost per card of my investment, and then can determine which examples are the better looking ones that I'd like to keep, and then sell the others at a later time, hoping I was right on the card being undervalued and making a profit.
The seller's shenanigans is well known so no way to know if legit sale or not but if it is someone just paid above PSA10 money for what is at best a PSA 7 and more likley a 6. I do wonder who original submitter was?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/374921498872
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)