My turn to complain about PSA - Davidson T206

[Beercan collector]

The card companies are getting us trained - we’re trying to figure out why a card is a PSA 2 - light discoloration ? Tiny print dots ? Hidden wrinkles ?
Microscopic surface wear ? Imperfect centering ? registration ? These are all the things that used to be (& should be) allowed on 5s .. even 6s

[mantleman]

Here is a 1967 "Topps" Mantle graded a PSA 6 with very obvious paper loss on the reverse.

I say "Topps" because the card is actually an O-pee-chee, so it was mislabeled as well.....lol.

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by mantleman

Here is a 1967 "Topps" Mantle graded a PSA 6 with very obvious paper loss on the reverse.

I say "Topps" because the card is actually an O-pee-chee, so it was mislabeled as well.....lol.

Guessing this is an old label/grade?

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Carter08

Guessing this is an old label/grade?

Probably. But even if it is, there's still no justification. Why the need to "move the goalposts" 2 full points in recent years?

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Probably. But even if it is, there's still no justification. Why the need to "move the goalposts" 2 full points in recent years?

Oh I agree with you there. My thought is there must have been some sort of formal or informal decision when cards flooded in during the pandemic to say we need to be harder on grades so we don’t water down mid and high end grades too much. 2 grade points is being generous to the change. Feels like they have moved the goal post 2.5-3 grades down.

[Bridwell]

It could be a PSA error but more likely it has to do with glue residue. PSA is really picky about a little glue residue on the back. The Davidson and Rucker both may have been removed from an album at some point, but a little residue might remain. If you can feel any grit on the raw card with your finger, then you might get a PSA 2 on an EX or better card. Sometimes the slight yellowing on the back can be evidence of residue from glue or maybe some other substance on the card. It is best to soak it again or just send it to SGC where they don't seem to mind about that, although SGC is picky about any paper loss on the back. I have a few successes on T & E cards where a 2nd soak led to a PSA 2 becoming a PSA 5 or 6.

[toledo_mudhen]

Both PSA & SGC are tighter than tree bark right now......

I sent a bunch of "easy sixes" in to SGC a month ago.

They all came back as 2s.

Been collecting cards and sending cards in for grading for over 30 years now.

However - I am now DONE playing their graded card game.

I hope both companies finally end up scrounging around for "Allowance Money" from kids wanting to get their YuGiOh's graded.........

Consider me completely irritated with both of them -

[mantleman]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Probably. But even if it is, there's still no justification. Why the need to "move the goalposts" 2 full points in recent years?

Yes, it was an old label!

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

The card companies are getting us trained - we’re trying to figure out why a card is a PSA 2 - light discoloration ? Tiny print dots ? Hidden wrinkles ?
Microscopic surface wear ? Imperfect centering ? registration ? These are all the things that used to be (& should be) allowed on 5s .. even 6s

The only counterpoint to this line of thinking is the frenzy that comes when a buyer around here is trying to negotiate a lower price on something in the BST. The mountain of defects they can suddenly identify in pursuit of that lower price is a real miracle to behold, even on cards that are seemingly pristine.

For that matter, a similar dynamic plays out when we are suspicious that a card has been overgraded or a submitter is getting preferential treatment from the grading companies.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by raulus

The only counterpoint to this line of thinking is the frenzy that comes when a buyer around here is trying to negotiate a lower price on something in the BST. The mountain of defects they can suddenly identify in pursuit of that lower price is a real miracle to behold, even on cards that are seemingly pristine.

For that matter, a similar dynamic plays out when we are suspicious that a card has been overgraded or a submitter is getting preferential treatment from the grading companies.

When they go to sell that same card later, I wonder how many of those defects are mentioned in the sales post.

"...see pictures for condition..."

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

The card companies are getting us trained - we’re trying to figure out why a card is a PSA 2 - light discoloration ? Tiny print dots ? Hidden wrinkles ?
Microscopic surface wear ? Imperfect centering ? registration ? These are all the things that used to be (& should be) allowed on 5s .. even 6s

Yep

[YankeeCollector]

I have come to the point that PSA should only label cards as

Authentic - Let eye appeal determine the price.
Authentic Altered
Not Authentic

Their grading 1-10 sucks and is inconsistent. Their numbers mean absolutely nothing. There are 5s that should be 2s and 2s that should be 5s. Its a joke!
When you pay so much $$ for a grade, they owe a duty to the customer to fairly assess the card. They are cocky, careless and wildly inconsistent.

And now a monopoly since they bought SGC.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by YankeeCollector

I have come to the point that PSA should only label cards as

Authentic - Let eye appeal determine the price.
Authentic Altered
Not Authentic

Their grading 1-10 sucks and is inconsistent. Their numbers mean absolutely nothing. There are 5s that should be 2s and 2s that should be 5s. Its a joke!
When you pay so much $$ for a grade, they owe a duty to the customer to fairly assess the card. They are cocky, careless and wildly inconsistent.

And now a monopoly since they bought SGC.

Could not agree more (with every point you made).