How strict are the graders?

AbsolutJake

I'm a newbie, so I apologize in advance if this question has been asked before, but I couldn't find it in the archives. Basically my questions is 'how much attention do the PSA graders really give to trimming and recoloring?' I know that they won't grade cards they believe have been altered, but do they measure every card that comes through? Do they put every card under a black light?

augustaman

I sure hope so. Seriously, if they're not checking
each and every card for trimming and recoloring
as well as other deficiencies, then what's the point
of all this? What are the customers paying for?

SDavid

Apparently, they check a lot of them.

Earlier this year, I checked a major dealer's submission and there were over 100 1983 Topps rejected for trimming.

It's tough to imagine how they could thoroughly check every ten cent card for alterations and still profit, but they might. They might also have just checked some and, once they found problems with those, checked the rest. I don't know.

MorrellMan

<< <i> It's tough to imagine how they could thoroughly check every ten cent card for alterations and still profit, but they might. >>



They don't got no ten cent cards - every card they look at is at least a 5 or 6 dollar fee. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that PSA's policy is to thoroughly check every single card - whether that happens or not is a question that could be answered only by monitoring and reviewing the protocol of every grader at every card. Is it conceivable that a grader might skip a step because of a headache or daydreaming or whatever? Unfortunately, we're dealing with human beings who don't always do everything exactly as they are supposed to every single time. The best company, though, should get it right more often than most. I have to laugh when I read a post about PSA not being "perfect" (no offense to anyone) - nobody and nothing of this world is perfect - all anybody can do is try to do their best. Nobody is holding a gun to our heads to get our cards graded. We do it cuz we want to and, as customers, we have the choice of patronizing whatever grading service we think is doing the best job.

Snowball

I hope they give more attention. This known card trimmer is selling mostly PSA graded cards on ebay.



Do these graders have quotas to meet?

CON40

Don't know how "strict" they are... but here's a picture of one of the graders from a recent on-site grading show.



I had just remarked to this grader that I thought the grades were a little tough on my submission and could I get a review.

WinPitcher

after asking her that your lucky she didnt pull your ear and crack you overr the hand with a rule

Scumbi

I don't think there are quotas per se. However, population reports are closely monitored. There's a bunch of nonsense that goes on to preserve value regardless of the real grade of a card. PSA is trying to toughen their standards, but they're going to lose all current submitters and leave a bunch of overgraded slabs that won't sell. On major sets and expensive issues, the bullsh!t politics behind the grading is beyond belief. Trust me.

Scumbi