Graded Boxes Question

MattyC

When GAI or PSA is grading a CELLO BOX, are all the individual packs graded? In other words, is it safe to reason that when a box is graded GAI 9 all the packs within were therefore deemed to be 9's? Thanks to anyone who can clear this up for me.

ajw

I *think* they only grade a whole box if they open the case it was in. Also don't believe the box grade says anything at all about the packs inside.

grote15

Also don't believe the box grade says anything at all about the packs inside.

That is correct. PSA doesn't grade boxes anyway, but GAI assigns a grade (supposedly) based on the condition of the box itself, not the pack inside. They will also grade full boxes even if they are not from a sealed case.

MattyC

So technically a box could be GAI 9, and all that means is that the box istelf is in 9 condition. The packs inside could be searched, top card off-centered if cello, etc. Is that correct? Thanks again, guys.

spazzy

Yup That sounds right unless the gai label says from a sealed case on it. I would assume then that the boxes is untampered, untouched and original.

Estil

I thought the whole point of GAI certification/slabbing is that they're certified as NOT searched/tampered/compromised/etc?

MattyC

There's the rub. I feared I caught a loophole and thanks to the knowledge of those kindly enough to respond, I'm glad I asked. I saw one GAI box said "From a sealed case" on it. So I asked myself, 'Does that mean if that caveat is not on a box they are just grading the literal box?' Too much gray to justify pulling the trigger on a $3000 box, in my opinion.

grote15

GAI grading rules have definitely changed over time. I can recall when GAI first launched its pack authentication service, when Mark Murphy was doing all the grading, that he said in a column in SCD that only a pack pulled from a sealed case could attain the grade of GAI 10 perfect, and that as a result, many issues would never have a GAI 10 graded pack because cases from those years just aren't in existence.

rana

I think some of the previous comments here are incorrect. GAI has stated in the past that the majority of the grade they give out is based on the packs inside the box. The condition of the box cardboard itself is considered, but is of lesser importance. I even asked them this question on a call to confirm (about 2 years ago), and they said that was correct. Of course, they can't grade each individual card since they are sealed away, but they do look at most/all of the packs inside, if the box does not have a factory seal. I don't have any reason to believe their grading has changed in this respect, but you can always call them and ask, just in case.

I do know they will give 10 pack grades to packs that are not from a sealed case/box (I got a few recently), so that may be one change since the original Murphy days.

GAI will grade a box that is not part of a case. I've sent in several single boxes recently.

If the box gets a 9 grade, many of the packs will grade around a 9, but not necessarily all. The overall box grade is closely related to the average grade of the packs, not the minimum grade, so one 7 pack in the box won't make the box grade a 7. They do authenticate the packs in the box before grading it.

grote15

GAI has revised and changed its grading standards (and graders) so many times since their inception it's hard to keep track. I've seen many packs graded Mint 9 with tears and dirt on the back and packs graded 8 that looked mint. IMO, the inconsistency of their grading standards is a major reason why many unopened collectors have a certain degree of skepticism about them. Buying GAI authenticated packs is certainly better than buying raw on ebay, but they have had their share of issues, to be sure.