Not Happy!!

ElvisP

I sent in a complete very nice 1956 Elvis Presley set(66). It was logged last Monday and believe it or not it popped today. That's where the good news stops. I was really expecting the majority to grade 7, 8 and a few possible 9's and I knew there would be some less. Instead I got the following:
2 7's
39 6's
19 5's
4 4's
2 3's
I was very disappointed. I have been doing this a long time and these cards are better than that. I know this is a condition sensitive set but still, only 2 7's? I looked at these cards under magnification and many showed no corner wear with perfect centering. I know sometimes you can get a 2 grade jump when you crack and resubmit but out side of that do I have any recourse? Would calling them before they ship them do any good? Has anyone had any success with complaining about grades? Sorry just had to vent a little bit.

CDsNuts

You could be looking at Small wrinkles on the back along the border. Easy to miss and that would explain all the 5s and 6s. Or you got screwed.

Dpeck100

If I had to bet it is tiny surface wrinkles.

When I first started grading cards I got a few PSA 5's that I thought were a lock for a PSA 9 or PSA 10. It was tiny surface wrinkles that took a lot of time to find under a bright light after the fact. If PSA dings you for a wrinkle it is there no matter how hard it is to find.

kingbeeswax

Those Elvis cards could have color toning issues they might take points off for, and centering. Maybe an indentation? I just sent in maybe 100 of the 1959 ABC Elvis cards and got I think 18 PSA 8's(highest grade I got) and I thought I would have had a few 9's, possibly a 10, 8.5's. That is tough expecting higher grades and getting so many mid-grade. Inspect them when you get them back and resub a few you think deserve higher.

vladguerrero

The registration on the Elvis set is a common condition issue. Throw up some pics when you get it back.

ElvisP

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll see if I can get some pics posted when I get them back.

MomandPopCardShop

Due to similar experiences, when I have a set or run that I consider "perfect" I always pull a handful of samples to submit 1st, just so I dont get burned in grading fees on unforseen issues. I only ever complained about a grade once, when I thought a card was fair and they graded it good. (this was another grading company) They agreed and downgraded it at no cost.

stormtrooper80

possible peanut butter/banana sandwich stains

ElvisP

I received the cards on Thursday and after further review I think PSA wasn't as far off as I originally thought. I still think the grader was very tough and some cards were undergraded. It's still a very nice looking set and is currently #14 on the PSA registry. It is currently listed on ebay if anyone is interested.

recbball

Sorry you got back a tuff sub, reminded me of my first sub:

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=603054&highlight_key=y

CubsKiller99

That 77 Topps football was brutal. Reminds me of my first sub which was about 25
cards from 1970 Topps basketball: mostly 5 and 6 with a few 7. A wake-up call.

For the OP on his Elvis set: if the centering is nice and corners are sharp then that
generally indicates, as some others have pointed out, surface issues. Scratches,
small wrinkles, etc. On a set that old I have to assume they're more lenient
on scratches than today's cards but I'm just basing that on the mediocre
surface I often see on PSA 7 Topps baseball cards from 1955-60.

Rampage

My very first card submission included a complete set of 1962 Mars Attacks and a complete set of the 1956 Elvis with some duplicates. My Mars Attacks set did far better than the Elvis set. And, the same as you, I thought I had allot of winners. Turned out to be mostly mid-grade cards with two cards grading 8OC, a few 7s, and then 6 and 5s. I had a few 4s and only a single 3, and a few half point graded cards (4.5, 5.5, etc.) I now own a complete set in all 8s and 9s. When comparing the 8s and 9s to the set I sent in, I can clearly see why I got the grades I did.

I felt it was good tuition to learn the grading system. However, if I had it to do over again, perhaps I would only sent in a dozen or so. But, all is well. Those cards have all been sold and I now own my better set.

Rampage

Forgot to say, if you used the CC special at $5.75 per card, then you paid less than $400 for your tuition. I do not think that is too terrible.

ElvisP

<< <i>Forgot to say, if you used the CC special at $5.75 per card, then you paid less than $400 for your tuition. I do not think that is too terrible. >>



Yes, it was $429 counting the S&I. I'm still surprised that were graded in a week. Is it reasonable to think if you send in all cards from the same set, that they get graded faster rather than subbing a mixed bag? Maybe they grade complete sets faster?

Rampage

<< <i>

<< <i>Forgot to say, if you used the CC special at $5.75 per card, then you paid less than $400 for your tuition. I do not think that is too terrible. >>



Yes, it was $429 counting the S&I. I'm still surprised that were graded in a week. Is it reasonable to think if you send in all cards from the same set, that they get graded faster rather than subbing a mixed bag? Maybe they grade complete sets faster? >>



I would not think so. I think it is the luck of the draw. My first submission was finished in a week, too, and that was for the two sets I mentioned. My second sub was finished in four days (15 cards). My third submission took nearly two months (135 cards, all from the same series).