When does PSA say a card "might be trimmed"

rose14com

I contacted a site where I found an exceptionally tough to find card, raw. I asked about the card, more info on the corners and condition, and asked about their policy if the card was found to be trimmed what they would do, honor some type of refund. We're talking about $800 or so for the asking price.

This the reply I got back:
"We apologize for the delay. The item was at PSA. PSA said that it
might be slightly trimmed."

The image of the card does not show it being holdered, and the reply doesn't say it was. So what's the odds PSA would waffle on whether or not a card has been trimmed or not?

onefasttalon

Wow... I'm surprised the guy was honest with you about PSA reporting it might be trimmed.

$800 on a raw card that PSA has already stated it 'might be trimmed' is a tuff call. I'd have to pass unless you can physically see/touch and examine the card in person first. Even then, you're still taking a chance PSA will not grade it.

I'm sure you could always encase it with an "authentic" label... if that does anything for ya.

EagleEyeKid

PSA said that it might be slightly trimmed

I guess that's their way of saying that they
didn't hack up the whole edge but only a tad.

rose14com

I was under the assumption it was an all or nothing deal, if it's trimmed they don't holder it, if it isn't, then they grade it. I didn't think about the Authentic venue though. I always worry a little about resell value, but honestly, I wouldn't ever sell it unless someone first fired one round into me that wasn't fatal.

However, I wouldn't want to pay 50% of the asking price after hearing that. Not sure if they would come down.

stown

<< <i>PSA said that it might be slightly trimmed

I guess that's their way of saying that they
didn't hack up the whole edge but only a tad. >>





That's like saying someone is slightly a virgin

rose14com

That's my point too, either it's trimmed or it's not. Here's an image of it:


They did reply they would come down $150, but if I can't get it graded then it seems a bit pointless. I know the card is exceptionally hard to find. I'm also assuming they don't roll into PSA often, so if it was shot down once, odds are it would be shot down a 2nd and 3rd time because who is going to forget that card?

EagleEyeKid

I don't like that whole left side.
If you compare it to the right side's chipping; the whole
left side's toning is wrong. It's too smooth, then you see
a glimpse of white streak, then black, then white again.
That means a blade went over it on the front and it was
crooked, so they flipped the card over and did the back side
to straightened it out. With colored or black borders, you will
always see that streak of white if the card has been sliced
on front and back. At least that's what Mike Baker told me.

Stone193

<< <i>The item was at PSA. PSA said that it
might be slightly trimmed." >>


Kev

I don't get the reply - if they sent it to PSA, it would come back - NOT holdered - and the flip that would've gone in the holder says: "evidence of trimming."

800$ is a lot of money - I don't think I trust these guys - based on that reply.

"slight trimmed?" sorta like being slightly pregnant!

mike

packCollector

it's trimmed if psa said it was trimmed, pretty cut and dry on a card like this.

also , I am not sure if psa still grades these. i have not seen any new ones grded in a long time. the only graded ones are in real old certs. I also think I have read somewhere that most of these were cut by hand.

rose14com

I appreciate the info. Damn the card itself barring the edges / trim talk has such eye appeal, but I don't want to throw money on something that has been hacked. It's so hard to pass those up when they don't come around very often. [sigh]. I guess I can wait a few more years for another one to come along. I thought the $800 to start with was high. I have the 2006 standard catalog and it's listing it at $650, but then again cards like this don't appear every day, so a price guide might go to the way side.

mikeschmidt

The alternative would be to get the card (at a better price) and have it authenticated. Although clearly not as good as a numerical grade, the Plaks checklists come up very infrequently.

53BKid

PSA sends you the card back in a body bag. They won't encase the card.
They provide you a lable stating the card has been trimmed.

I had been a very active collector of 53 Bowmans for years -- as eBay's business grew, so did the number of trimmed cards. At $800 bucks, you'd do best to move on.