This may shed some light on why vintage maybe tougher nowadays and seemly inexplicable at times...
HOMETOWNSPORTS
Posts: 135 ✭✭✭
As with any job...employees get performance reviews either semi annually or annually to determine how well they are doing their jobs for promotions and raise determinations...the incentive system maybe structured such that if a grader seems too loose then this may count more against them than if they are to tight...i can imagine an overall grader statistic score of some sort as to determine their accuracy in grading...kind of like an average...I think the performance standards and processes to evaluate a graders expertise maybe the heart of what has changed...ideas and thoughts greatly appreciated...
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I worked for American Linen for 19 years. Part of my job was to reduce the customers bill if there was a problem.
After a while, each customer service representative would have to sit down at the end of his shift and explain each and every "credit" he wrote. Management really didn't tell us to stop writing credits, but I'll bet a lot of guys wrote less of them.
I'm assuming PSA's management has decided to tighten things up a bit and if graders give out too many 10's, they come under scrutiny of some kind.
Just my .02.
Yeah intentional tightening of grading beyond the published acceptable standards can throw their customers in a head scratching bewildement to a point where they might no longer feel comfortable about sending in cards...
Brilliant move acquiring SGC!
With PSA's standards getting too strict, I was considering sending to SGC, even if I get "better" grades using SGC, PSA still gets my money.
I would say they have transitioned from a hobby friendly business to a profit only one. 😞
This is where I am. After building two graded sets in the early 2000s - with ~30% from my own submissions - there's no way in hell I'd do that now. PSA clearly has become far too much of a crap-shoot. What comes out of the grading room has little to no resemblance to their actual published standards for grade. If PSA is going to continue to judge vintage submissions against modern laser-cut criteria, then PSA really needs to either develop new criteria or simply stop publishing standards altogether and just admit the grades given are whatever the grader feels like giving that day.
I cracked out 3 cards just graded by PSA (waiting 10 weeks to get them back) and submitted to SGC. A 1967 Topps card went from PSA 5 to SGC 7, and 2 1974 Topps cards went from PSA 5 to SGC 7 and SGC 7.5, which are the grades I anticipated receiving from PSA. And I received them back 6 business days after SGC received them.
When you guys cross to SGC for a bump is it so you can maximize value on a sale or you want the slab to more accurately reflect the card or something else?
Both
when an SGC card sells for as much or maybe slightly higher than a PSA card, it comes down to one thing --- the look appeal. If the cards looks the part, visually, (centered corner look good, no print marks) -- the sgc card will get the same or better price. The holder in my opinion helps, but the overall eye appeal is the main thing. Not if the cardboard has a miniscule crease or issue.
Afternoon,
What a Joke, I bet you could take any group of 100 Vintage Cards graded by PSA in the last 3 years and, sub to SGC and a similar statistical percentage would be bumped in every group as well! Better play this game Quickly, just a matter of time till PSA makes SGC raise their standards to give lessor Decent Grades to Vintage!
YeeHaw!
Neil
SGC will be extinct in time….so to have cards in SGC slabs might not be wise.
what about the mantle SGC 9.5 Mantle rookie sold for the most of any card at $12+ million and the recent SGC 10 1961 Chamberlain at $1.7 million these super rich folks doubt are into losing money... If they Lose then the WHOLE ENTIRE GRADING GAAAMMMMME "IS" OVER...SO SAD
Trust me graded vintage prices will be back to 1990 BECKETT guide levels of raw cards with condition and prices ascertained by the dealers and collectors like before grading existed and modern grading between raw and graded won't make a difference...
Don't worry folks 99% sure the above scenario will NOT occur...rock on!