Quote:
Originally Posted by barrysloate
Rhys- as we know grading systems only survive because they spew out numbers. They never dispense with numbers in favor of a descriptive system. I'm not a photo guy but after reading this thread I am leery of the process. Is PSA getting this right nearly 100% of the time? What is their margin of error?
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I believe the margin of error is much much less in this classification system than it is in a subjective(1-10-with 1/2 graded) baseball card grading or auto authentication. Instead of.."i looks real" or "i think this looks like a 9" it is backed up by news stamps, date stamps, age of paper, captions, silver gel..etc..
Is there room for error because ALL facts are impossible to know? Of course..it is a guide/tool for the buyer/seller who loves photos to use in determining a value without being a photo expert. Is PSA making money? Well..I am sure yes. Are they providing a value to the photo industry on education? As a collector/buyer/rare seller of photos, I believe yes. That would be one definition of a successful business.