My 63 Topps Football Set, I will never look at it that way again!!

mojorob

The last time I bought a football card was in 1988.
At that time I was collecting what I would term Pack Fresh sets.
If I could find a pristine set that was basically uncirculated, I bought it.
I guess at the time, I wasn't TOO BRIGHT, actually still not for that matter.
Anyway, I was looking for: Crisp, White cards, that had 4 razor tipped edges, and looked as if they had never been touched.
I wasn't paying real close attention to the card being PERFECTLY CENTERED.
Well fast foreword some 15 years later and I just got done submitting approx. 200 cards to PSA and am studying the results.
After looking at 200 graded cards I feel I now have a SLIGHT GRASP, although be it LOOSE...... of what PSA is looking for.
I think the key word here is CENTERING & 3 out of 4 sharp corners.
I think that is probably 90% of the grading criteria.
That being said, I looked at my 1963 Topps Football set last evening in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIGHT!!!
Where before my submission to PSA, I looked at a set that was RIGHT OUT OF THE PACK MINT in my eyes and almost dare I say breathtaking to me, now I saw a set that by and large using the PSA grading system,probably 50-75% OC.
Or at the very least the centering would down grade the card easily one or two grades.
So my question is: Is there another grading system or company out there that doesn't TOTALLY HAMMER YOU to the extent that PSA does for off centered material??
Or to be a little more politically correct, should I say: is a little more FORGIVING in the centering deptartment, especially when the rest of the card is PRISTINE.
Please understand, I am not bad mouthing PSA or their grading critira.
It is what it is, and there is a reason they are the Industry Leader.
Is it even worth looking at another grading company??
Or because PSA seems to bring the higher dollar at sale, is it even worth considering??
Thanks for any insights you may share.
By:
NOT AS MINT AS I THOUGHT I WAS!!



PS. Please excuse my spelling, it is the World's Worst.
Is there a spell checker??

uniship

sgc

Fabfrank

MojoRob- Welcome to the world of 3rd party grading. We have all gone through the same learning experience as you have. In my experience I have found SGC to be more forgiving than PSA on centering. There are quite a few SGC cards that the centering would probably receive the OC qualifier if submitted to PSA. There are also quite a few PSA cards that probably should get the OC qualifier but haven't. Basically, centering to me is a matter of eye appeal. Keep that in mind when submitting any card for grading, and make sure you see a scan before buying any card.

mrc32

Welcome to the world of grading. We all have been there and realized our collections were not as MT as we thought.

If you want to sell your cards, PSA is the ONLY way to go. Not nearly as many people will buy commons graded by others. The PSA set registry is the reason why.

If you don't want to sell and just want your set in holders, SGC is the way to go. They are a reputable company and don't hammer so bad on centering.

Good luck and welcome to the boards

Vargha

No spell check, but write your response in Word first and then copy and paste your post if that makes you feel better.

KING KELLOGG

It's a lesson we all have gone through...


I've said it before...

"The hardest thing about grading your own cards IS grading your own cards"...


You'll look at grading a little differently next time.


Good luck!!!


BTW.... Welcome to the boards!!!



Larry

qualitycards

<< <i>Is there another grading system or company out there that doesn't TOTALLY HAMMER YOU to the extent that PSA does for off centered material?? >>

....PRO Grading!!! ...jay

anjcollection

Ditto Jay's response on the grading of off centered cards... PRO will graded just about anything - furthermore, they don't use qualifiers and if your card looks too off-centered, just cut it until it is and then submit it!

qualitycards

I would also like to add...That you should use the grading company that you prefer, regardless what grades you receive be it PSA, GAI, SGC, KSA, CSA, AAA, GEM, PRO etc... If you like PSA, and you must since you've submitted to them, whats the big deal if another company gives you a higher grade? If PSA marks you down for off centering and your nice card is now deemed a PSA-6 it is still the exact card that XYZ grading company will garner it with a "9" grade. With that said, why would you choose a grading company that doesn't take centering into consideration? If thats the case leave them in top loaders and save a ton of $ into grading & shipping fees...jay