Newbie Advice: Grading expectations...

[swarmee]

Over the past 5 years, both main grading companies have gotten stricter on vintage grading. PSA for edge and corner issues is even stricter, making colored bordered cards like 1971 and 1975 Topps even more difficult to score high grades on. SGC used to forgive centering, but has really tightened up on it recently.
But truthfully, PSA is always a 1-2 grade crapshoot. If you are expecting accuracy from PSA, you're doing it wrong.

Plus, if you've been out of the hobby 30 years, you should really read the PSA/SGC trimming scandal threads here and on blowout. Start with this one:
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1298835
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1289859
You could be still reading months from now, based on how many fraudsters there are and how incompetent the grading services are. And for some real fun, the T206 Auto scandal thread is also a good one to show their incompetence.

[nwobhm]

If you want graded cards…..buy them already graded.

[Kutcher55]

I have done ok lately buying raw cards and having them graded by SGC. But nothing that expensive or high end and mostly for my PC. There’s a nice feeling when you get a good deal on a raw card and it grades to expectation/hope.

You just need to thoroughly inspect the card, look for tiny wrinkles, surface scratches and bubbles. Both PSA and SGC can crush a card for these little blips. Safest to purchase graded cards as that other guy said but make sure you study those cards as well since there can be a big quality difference even within the same grade. And yeah it’s true buying a graded card is not a guarantee of anything.

Welcome back, glad to have you. And yes, use a lot of caution, be patient. If it’s too good to be true it almost always is. Like the first responder said, the hobby is full of scuzzballs although there are fewer per capita in vintage as compared to modern. When you buy a card on line you are depending upon a photo and the integrity of the seller and it’s never quite as good as seeing the card in person. That said, there are a lot of honorable people in the hobby, especially in vintage.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by nwobhm

If you want graded cards…..buy them already graded.

This would be my advice as well.

For me, the only exception to this rule is if they're impossible to find already graded. Usually when I submit those cards for grading, I'm happy with whatever I get.

In general, I haven't experienced quite the same issue with grades being 1-2 slots too low. But most of what I've submitted recently is pretty banged up, so it's not really a good indicator.

[oldschool73]

Thanks for the input!