Is it hammer time again?

jrdolan

Well, the past few months I thought I'd gotten in synch with PSA's current grading standards on modern material, based on recent submissions up through Christmas. So now I sent in a bunch of 1980s RCs, fresh from packs and selected for quality after examination with a loupe. I sent in only cards I felt were locks for 9; the borderline cards went into the "oh well" box of not-quites.

Result? All 8's, not a single 9 from about ten modern cards. And yet a separate submission of vintage was just about what I expected, so it's not that my grading ability suddenly deserted me. It's a small sampling, to be sure, but I wonder if anyone else has been hammered very recently by unexpected submission results for modern.

kingraider75

on average, I get one point less than I think from PSA. So if I think it's a 8, I get a 7. What's annoying is when I send something off from the 1950's thinking it's a 6 and get a 4. Sometimes other guys at the card shop can see why I got the card I got, while most of the time, they think I should get higher than even I think!! People really are clueless. Maybe if you are a dealer and submit hundreds of cards a week, you could see a pattern or know what they are looking for. I assume PSA will only get stricter on their grading. They can always use that "eye appeal" factor to knock ya.

easttexascardsandgames

Grading is still subjective, I think it all depends on which grader gets the cards at PSA. If you get a grader who loves that particular set then human tendenacy would be to be less harsh on them, now if the grader hates that card set then human nature would be to be a little harder on the grades.

kingraider75

I agree with the human component. But that could go against you too. The grader might love 59 topps and thus grade it harder. I don't know, but having people crack and re-submit for higher grades is highly annoying.

jrdolan

Well, cracking and resubmitting in this case is not worthwhile. I only graded these to begin with because of the $5 special, but even then they have to get 9 or better to be worth it. Nobody wants PSA 8's from the 1980s. Just thought it was odd that ten cards I judged were 9's based on my other submissions ALL received 8's. Made me wonder if PSA is changing its standards again, this time for modern.

But you're right, maybe it was a grader who'd just processed a few hundred PSA 10's for 4_sharp_corners. And then comes my little submission from the same years. He's probably thinking "ARRRRRGHHH! Get this crap away from me! Let me do some vintage!"

charliehustle14

I feel your pain....After batting about .900 on my last three submissions, I'm below the Mendoza line on my latest. I thought I had mostly 8's and a couple 9's in 24 vintage cards I sent in...Just got results in...4's, 5's, and 6's all over the place. Yuck!