Home› Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

Altered Cards Question

WLBuckyWLBucky Posts: 3
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I recently bought a not too valuable PSA Graded- 4 (MK) card that I took out of its casing to put in a typical 9 card polypropylene page. After upgrading to a higher quality card I sent it back to PSA to be regraded and it came back as altered. Does taking a card out of its casing inherently alter it? Does putting it in a polypropylene sleeve? Any help would be much appreciated as I have some more valuable cards that i would also like to take out of their cases, but don't want to trash their future value.

Comments

  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    I have had quite a few cards come back "altered" of late .
    From what I can tell it seems that PSA has changed their policy in regards to cards that used to be housed in screwdown holders .
    The heavy pressure (over time) on the corners sometimes strips the surface gloss, even on cards that are on standard cardboard stock . Somewhere along the line it seems that a determination was made to consider these cards " altered."

    I am not sure why a grade would not be assigned since it is fairly obvious to me what occurred, and it certainly was not done in an attempt to make the card appear to be in better shape than it is .
    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • baz518baz518 Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭✭
    I assume it just happens because it's not a perfect process, I would hope that this is an isolated occurrence. But I once busted open a box wrapped by BBCE as FASC and submitted a few of the best looking packs to be slabbed for my PC... one of them came back altered! I was like huh? Chalked it up as a loss (for that purpose) and ripped it... I don't recall if I pulled anything good, so probably not.
  • MilehighHOFMilehighHOF Posts: 255 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I have had quite a few cards come back "altered" of late .
    From what I can tell it seems that PSA has changed their policy in regards to cards that used to be housed in screwdown holders .
    The heavy pressure (over time) on the corners sometimes strips the surface gloss, even on cards that are on standard cardboard stock . Somewhere along the line it seems that a determination was made to consider these cards " altered."

    I am not sure why a grade would not be assigned since it is fairly obvious to me what occurred, and it certainly was not done in an attempt to make the card appear to be in better shape than it is . >>



    I just had a 54 Aaron pop and it came back an "N5 - altered stock." I bought it raw on Ebay and it arrived in a screwdown holder so I am guessing that is what happened to my grade. I looked the card over for a long time before sending it in and thought it looked good so I was a bit surprised to get the N5 today.....
  • RipublicaninMassRipublicaninMass Posts: 10,051 ✭✭✭
    had an SGC 80 come back altered stock and another common in the past few months.
  • StanTheManMusialStanTheManMusial Posts: 2,053 ✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I have had quite a few cards come back "altered" of late .
    From what I can tell it seems that PSA has changed their policy in regards to cards that used to be housed in screwdown holders .
    The heavy pressure (over time) on the corners sometimes strips the surface gloss, even on cards that are on standard cardboard stock . Somewhere along the line it seems that a determination was made to consider these cards " altered."

    I am not sure why a grade would not be assigned since it is fairly obvious to me what occurred, and it certainly was not done in an attempt to make the card appear to be in better shape than it is . >>



    I just had a 54 Aaron pop and it came back an "N5 - altered stock." I bought it raw on Ebay and it arrived in a screwdown holder so I am guessing that is what happened to my grade. I looked the card over for a long time before sending it in and thought it looked good so I was a bit surprised to get the N5 today..... >>




    Yep, if a card shows any ice blocking on the corners, odds are it gets popped now days. To be honest, I think it's a good thing that PSA is picking up on that issue.
  • MilehighHOFMilehighHOF Posts: 255 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Yep, if a card shows any ice blocking on the corners, odds are it gets popped now days. To be honest, I think it's a good thing that PSA is picking up on that issue. >>



    I've never heard of ice blocking. Can you explain what it is and what it looks like so I don't have to deal with it again in the future? Thanks.
  • StanTheManMusialStanTheManMusial Posts: 2,053 ✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Yep, if a card shows any ice blocking on the corners, odds are it gets popped now days. To be honest, I think it's a good thing that PSA is picking up on that issue. >>



    I've never heard of ice blocking. Can you explain what it is and what it looks like so I don't have to deal with it again in the future? Thanks. >>




    Years ago, those thick 4 screw Lucite holders were a popular thing for people to use for their high end cards. There was no recessed area for the card, so when the screws were torqued down on the corners, over time, it will cause the surface on the corners to look shiny.
Sign In or Register to comment.