1969 Topps Alcindor PSA 10

[sushihotwings]

I wish PSA was more transparent in the process of checks and balances. It would be easy enough to explain without giving away any trade secrets. Are the graders really masked as to who the submitter is? Are there extra sets of eyes and opinions given on high value cards before it is slabbed? Simple questions really. I know all the skeptics will laugh at the idea that PSA is not telling the grader if the card is from a high value customer, but they could attempt to explain better to assure the public.
Dave Lamont

[nrm1977]

Originally Posted by sushihotwings

I wish PSA was more transparent in the process of checks and balances. It would be easy enough to explain without giving away any trade secrets. Are the graders really masked as to who the submitter is? Are there extra sets of eyes and opinions given on high value cards before it is slabbed? Simple questions really. I know all the skeptics will laugh at the idea that PSA is not telling the grader if the card is from a high value customer, but they could attempt to explain better to assure the public.
Dave Lamont

Valid points Dave! I would think the graders know who is sending in the big orders by customers. I'm guessing when a "big customer" sends in 300+ cards, the graders knows, "looks like we got another order from John Doe's Cards again". Now, with that said, brings another question, are these graders under pressure to have x-amount of cards graded per minute? If that is the case, I could see grader(s) rushing big orders. Plus, its a friday, Grader #4 has a 300+ order to complete by 5pm, does he just zip through everything to get it done?

I'm pretty sure any grading company aka business takes "care" of their big customers. Just like in any business.

Back on point, I would never pay that much for 1969 card. Granted I think the whole "Gem Mint" grade is a scam! I could see someone paying that much for a Cobb or any other "major" card from the early 1900's. Those cards are much much more rare than any 60s cards. Sure you could say there are only 12 PSA 10 1969 Jabbar's but, keep in mind there are thousands+ of that card that exist. I guess to each his own...

Nick

[Billy5858]

Then perhaps every card that receives a 9 or 10 initially must be routed past several graders, each of whom have no idea other graders have already assigned it a 10. If say 5 of 5 senior graders independently give a card a 10, it actually receives that 10.

Should be a given

+1