This a joke-Way to Cover Your Arse PSA

poeandbb

Regarding "The Importance of Eye-Appeal and Subjectivity in Grading," The key point to remember is that the graders reserve the right, based on the strength or weakness of the eye-appeal, to make a judgement call on the grade of a particular card. Doesn't think kind of throw a wrench into the supposed PSA grading standards. Regardless of the standards the graders can make a judgement call. Gee, I guess grading really is subjective. I guess that explains some terribly centerd PSA 10's, they had good eye appeal.

tripoli

Eye Appeal is a term probably borrowed from coin collecting and is a very valid term, particularly concerning coins and their toning (lustre). I'm not from Missouri, but show me a GEM Mint 10 with eye appeal issues.

Stump

poeandbb

Once again you are trying to bash a PSA standard without knowing what it means. Cards come in differant shades and focuses. A card may have 10 corners and 10 centering and fall into the 10 catagory with the exception that it may be out of focus or have alot of snow on it. You want consistency so under what you want this card should be a 10. But PSA has some protection in there for eye appeal so the card gets dropped maybe to a 8. You cant have it both ways. Consistency has to find a happy medium in the card market it is not always black and white. Are you a collector or just a PSA basher because if you want some friends who will cheer you on the go to the SGC board.

Dave

Buckwheat

Of course grading is subjective to some degree. IF it wasn't then we would just have computers doing the grading.

Do you know the "gloss" level for each grade? How about the focus level? How about the number of print marks? How about the amount of snow in the background? How much of a wax stain on the back of a card does it take to be an 8 or a 9? How about the whiteness of the borders? How much of a diamond cut is appropriate for each grade? These are all subjective.

Just as in grading any subjective thing--think gymnastics, ice skating, diving, beauty, art, writing-- card grading has to be somewhat subjective. Thus there will always be arguments about any card grading. The only "objective" thing is the centering. This can be accurately measured by standards, and is very objective.

What I don't like about PSA grading standards is that a 50/50 card with a slight touch on a corner will get a lower grade than a 60/40 with perfect corners. That is, a perfectly centered card doesn't get any more credit than a marginallly centered card.

theBobs

Should really be called "visual appeal" rather than "eye appeal", but I don't want to change the topic...

tripoli

I don't mean to be sarcastic, by isn't the term "eye appeal" sufficient? The cards don't talk or make sounds, unless it's mushroom season, so visual appeal is somewhat redundant. "Eye appeal' by it's nature suggests a level of subjectivity, and is a reminder to buy the card and not the holder. Anyways, let's not beat this thread to death. It's finally sunny out and time to get outside and enjoy spring.

dan

HammeringHank

I don't believe that PSA has ever graded a card up for eye appeal only...of course I'm basing that on subjective viewpoint...and have no real credible evidence to prove my point...

However...

<< <i>That is, a perfectly centered card doesn't get any more credit than a marginallly centered card >>

...this I will agree with 100%...