The phenomenon of overgrading. A Crisser Editorial.
CrissCriss
Posts: 777 ✭✭✭
I have long wondered about the phenomenon that is overgrading in our hobby. Cardboard falls into that category of visual items the quality of which is readily seen with our own two eyes - like a nice car, or a pretty natural landscape, even an attractive human being. It's not like a fine wine (yes, I am a connoisseur) that must be consumed to be appreciated.
And yet, we have the phenomenon of overgrading cards in our hobby. One must ask, why? Certainly any industry has its fair amount of puffery, but ours seems to have excessive puffery and even comically extreme assessments of cardboard that again, we can see with our own two eyes.It is like declaring a rusted 68 Camaro with a V6 to be a mint 69 Yenko 427.
One can point to a number of causes. Some may not actually know how to assess condition. Some may not care & therefore make it up. Some may be greedy. Some may actually believe what they are saying.
That is why I am glad we have PSA! Not only do they know how to assess cardboard with the basic eyeball test, they have the expertise to technically assess cards in a way that very few of us can. Grading provides an objective mechanism to combat overgrading. PSA's grading standards are available for anyone to read and learn. If the sellers in our hobby won't do it, we must educate ourselves.
I for one think it would be much fun to walk the floor of the National or another show with a PSA grading expert, and assess the actual condition of cards offered for sale versus what the stated condition is by the sellers. My own experience is that if a seller grades one card fairly, he will grade them all fairly - and vice versa.
Best of luck in your cardboard endeavors. I hope you have found this Crisser editorial informative and helpful.
Cheers!
The Crisser
Comments
Not bad Crisser.
I actually think I have more stringent standards than PSA when it comes to centering. I understand their centering standards for the respective grade, but I just don't buy cards that are more than 55-45 off center.
If I do the first thing I notice when I look at the card is the centering, and it becomes a distraction.
Then its the only thing I think about, until I just have to get rid of the card.
Again, I'm not disagreeing with PSA's standards, they have always clearly stated what they are
for the respective grades.
BTW- the dumbest thing I ever did was sell my 1975 Nolan Ryan perfectly centered PSA 8.
Now I realize how rare they are, in both PSA 8 and 9. (Centered copies)
I guess I can only like or agree with someone's post, but I can't do both. In this case I like and must agree with the Crisser's post about overgrading of cards. Now the only thing I will add is overgrading of raw cards may have been much worse before the grading companies came around.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
Crisser...I can share this. I have been to most of the Nationals over the past 20 years. 20 years ago the vast majority of the cards for sale were ungraded and you really needed to be able to evaluate a card's condition correctly prior to making a purchase. With high price vintage material especially, the sellers' interpretations of what a near mint or better card looked like varied tremendously. I used to do quite well buying high grade material and having it graded until about 7-8 years ago. Gradually most high grade or high value material has now found its way into third party holders.
If you walk the isles of the National this week and find ungraded high grade/value vintage material for sale, you have to ask yourself "if the card is really in such high grade condition, why hasn't the dealer had it graded?" Certainly he would then have a better chance of getting his best price. If I buy any ungraded cards this week at the National, they will be EX cards needed to fill in my 1950s sets. I wouldn't even consider buying a high condition, high valued card that is ungraded... too risky. Like you, I am pleased we have PSA and others to evaluate cards and bring consistency to condition interpretation.
I do think that most dealers at the National are pretty fair about evaluating and selling mid grade vintage cards that are not in holders (VG+ to EX). I love looking at the great high grade PSA or SGC vintage cards that will jump out at you from the showcases as only at the National do see so much on display. The prices for these cards will stun you a little. However, every now and then I have negotiated a fair price for a vintage PSA 9 and pulled the trigger. Hope to bring home one or two at the end of the show.
Great points Rich. Seeing a sweet raw card of a major HOF rookie at the National ungraded is like seeing a hot blonde with a great body at the bar at 11:20 pm sitting by herself. Something does not make sense in either case unless they are flawed
I agree. It's 2017. If you're selling at The National then you know to get stuff graded to maximize your profit if what you have is really that good.
I'd subtract at least 2 grade points from any ungraded stuff I see these days.
Is anyone here setting up at the National? Would be interesting to hear about the quality of the raw cards during setup vs later.