PSA Grading Questions- Sooooo subjective!?

larryallen73

Though I have had cards graded by PSA several times over the last 5 or 6 years I have never worried about the subjective nature of the grading. I always felt it was fair as I am no expert and I know I miss little imperfections in the cards. Sometimes cards surprise me with a higher grade than anticipated and more often I am slightly disappointed. Anyway, I recently sent in a large number of cards from the 40's-70's. I was highly disappointed by the grades. I had never gotten anything below a 5 and I got several 3's and 4's and even a 2 on a card that I thought was about a 6 (shows how little I know). I really wondered if the grader just got up on the wrong side of the bed that day but didn't worry too much as they are mostly cards I plan to keep. I don't believe these grades can be "questioned" with PSA, can they? More importanly, I am about to send in a bunch of newer cards (many I hope to sell to try to "break even" on my hobby and apease the wife) and debating about how best to send them in. For example, they have the Set Registry Special right now of $5 per card. Do you think the grader will feel I am abusing the "deal" if I were to send in 5 or 10 of the same card, clearly to sell them, and thus give me a lower grade? I guess what I am asking is do you think it matters "how" I submit them to determine grades? Do the graders know how I submit them or are they just given a stack of cards and told to grade them? Do the graders show favoritism (and thus better grades) for people that look like collectors more than dealers? Any advice, feedback, thoughts, etc... from any of you would be appreciated. Thanks.

Glynparson

often when a card is graded that far below what you expected it to be you have missed a wrinkle somewhere on either the front or the back of the card these wrinkles sometimes are very hard to see and you should hold the card under a light and tilt it back and forth at different angles and you can usually find it sometimes you need to break the card out to find the problem. as for sending in multiples i find i usually do about as good sending them in together as apart up to about 10 after that i think they do become more arbitrary and give alot of them the same grade.

Glynparson

and the graders are just handed cards and told to grade they do not know where they are coming from and who gets what. they show no preforrential treatment to a collector over a dealer or the other way around.

murcerfan

and the graders are just handed cards and told to grade they do not know where they are coming from and who gets what. they show no preforrential treatment to a collector over a dealer or the other way around.

I hope that is true.

Glynparson

I have been in the grading room on several occasions and that was the procedure i witnessed first hand the graders were brought over a box ( actually a plastic bin i believe they are blue with cards in it and an invoice number they grade the cards then enter the grade into the computer they have an invoice number but they see no names adress etc. on there computer screen. These are the facts go there and see it for yourself.

murcerfan

Stone193

murcerfan
I think those were the guys who graded my submission in January!!!! Good one.
Mike

Remobolan

good one Murcerfan but those look more like the guys at Beckett that did several hack jobs on my cards! I think there were originally four the last guy had the KY and a spatula.

Beachbum

Absolute genius Murcerfan....best laugh I've had all day !

As for BGS, I think anonymity is a joke. I guess you wear a bag over your head at on-site grading , right.
Judging by the auctions of about 5-10 modern card sellers on Ebay, you would think there was no other grade than 9.5 or Pristine 10.....just coincidence I'm sure.

BowChromeProspects

I don't think your statement about on-site grading is fair. When you go to submit cards at on-site, all you do is hand the cards to the man (usually Phil Ahman for me), and they stack them up on a cart, and the cards are eventually wheeled back to a curtained off area. The grader has no idea whos cards he/she is grading.

Beachbum

Then you would certainly know BGS is fair...MORE than fair, right Prospects?

Just tell me why you wouldn't ever use PSA...hmmm??

BowChromeProspects

<< <i>Then you would certainly know BGS is fair...MORE than fair, right Prospects?

Just tell me why you wouldn't ever use PSA...hmmm?? >>




I do use PSA...and I also use BGS. I'm not saying one is better than the other. I also can't see how you can disect one grading company without disecting the other, since both practice the same way.