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What's PSA's rationale for not grading blank back cards?

charliehustle14charliehustle14 Posts: 425 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Does anybody know why PSA doesn't grade blank back cards? I just assumed they did...Never thought to ask. I had a couple blank back Topps cards I remember getting out of a pack in 1982 in Junior High and sent them in as an afterthought on my last order. Thought it would have been cool to have a HOFer and one of my favorite Big Red Machine guys' blank back graded. Anybody else wish they graded blank backs?

For the curious, here's my order:

Submission #564999
Zip: 26554

No super high dollar cards on this order, but it was nice to get some '70's stars and Big Red Machine guys graded. Got my first 10's this time...Woohoo!

-Todd-

Comments

  • jrdolanjrdolan Posts: 2,549 ✭✭
    Don't you hate how they reject things with NO HOLDER AVAILABLE when that's not the case at all? Why can't they just say "Sorry, although PSA has graded and slabbed this issue, we choose not to grade yours at this time." In fact, put a list on the PSA web site of cards they are currently declining to grade. I'd like to think it's PSA policy, not the whim of individual employees.

    That's quite a submission! Sorry about the trimmed Griffey Sr. rookie. I guess we'll be seeing a lot of those dupe Kelloggs on the market, huh?
  • pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    i'd be interested in a 1876 Kelloggs Bench if you're gonna sell them.. also the 1975 Topps mini's.. and maybe some of the 1976 Topps..
    ·p_A·
  • boggs301012boggs301012 Posts: 1,135 ✭✭
    In fact, put a list on the PSA web site of cards they are currently declining to grade. I'd like to think it's PSA policy, not the whim of individual employees.


    I asked for the above years ago. And a page or 2 on how to spot fakes. And help in spotting trimmed or altered cards. TO help PSA on the rejects and from people like me getting ripped. Fell on deaf ears. I really thought PSA would help. After all Joe seems to be pasionate about the collector and the hobby.


    James
    x
  • Steve1124Steve1124 Posts: 198 ✭
    I have a blank back card (1967 issue), and sent it in to SGC, and they DID grade it, and put "blank back" on the grading label. By the way, i generally have found SGC to be much more user-friendly, and ahead of their time. For example, SGC graded hand-cut cards long before PSA got into the act, probably realizing another opportunity to make more money. I suspect it'll just be a matter of time before they accept the blank backs too.
  • jrdolanjrdolan Posts: 2,549 ✭✭
    I hope you're right, but PSA seems to be regressing. There are many cards they have been grading (and they are in the pop. report) but they are now sending them back with NO HOLDER AVAILABLE ... even though they will easily fit in the most common holder sizes. 1981 Perma-Graphics and 1972 Daily Juice, just to name a couple from my last submission.

    When I pestered Customer Service, at first they said PSA doesn't grade those issues (but didn't say why). When I pointed out that they do grade those issues for some customers, and directed them to the pop. report for proof, they replied that PSA doesn't grade those issues any more (but didn't say why).

  • charliehustle14charliehustle14 Posts: 425 ✭✭✭
    Yeah JR...It's a little frustrating not knowing whether something will get graded or not. PSA offers friendly customer service via phone, but there are certainly some vague areas on the website. It's not really clear what they grade and what they don't...and even if there is a pop report for an issue, it doesn't mean they currently grade it. I think most of us would like a clear and specific guideline to what's graded before we send our cards in. I'm still sitting on a bunch of oddball autographed stuff. I'll probably check back in a few months and see what kind of answer I get:

    Question about PSA/DNA Holder Limits

    While I'm on my soapbox, wouldn't it be nice if the online submission form was updated to accept more than 25 line items? I have a workaround for it using an html editor (and there are a few other methods), but it wouldn't be difficult to, let's say, simply input how many different cards you'll be submitting and then having the PSA site spit out a customized submission form.

    One last beef...It sure seems like there are a lot of holes in the SMR. How come the SMR shows pricing for a graded '76 Kellogg's Bench and not a '74 Kellogg's Bench? No pricing info on 10's for these issues either. I see pricing for '78, '79, and '80 O-Pee-Chee, then some more later issues, but nothing earlier.....I know it's just a guide, but how come no price guides for the earlier OPC issues? I can understand space limitations for the periodical form would necessitate omitting some issues, but hey, online space is pretty much unlimited. I'd certainly appreciate a much more comprehensive price guide online. Don't get me wrong. I like PSA and it's my grader of choice...Just a little constructive criticism.

    Yeah, the Griffey Sr. rookie was a little bit of a surprise. I have had that one since the early 80's and remember where it came from. I'd be really surprised if it is actually trimmed.

    PA...I may be turning loose some of the dupes in the future, but I want to see how my next submission turns out first...Some of those cards are from my "#1" sets though, and will stay in the collection. I can probably shake loose a PSA 9 76 Kellogg's Bench if ya really want one, as I have a few more I'm sending in this month. I should get this bunch back soon...PM me with a reasonable offer for one and maybe we can work something out.

    Later guys,

    -Todd-
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