Most OVERGRADED Card

[shaunsteig]

Saw that posting too, and also noticed that they recently bought the card for ~$200 less. Looks like they're trying to flip it for a profit -- buy low cause of the visual deficiencies (crease across his face, blue spots on the back) but sell high cause of the generous grade. The seller is either doing it himself or on behalf of a consignment. It's still a good price for the grade, so probably some registry-builder will grab it.

I agree it's an overgrade -- a 5 should not have a crease across the main part of the front picture. But the strong bold colors and solid corners make it too good to be a 3. I'd have expected a 4, give or take a half-grade.

PSA's website describes that the submitter's identity is separated from the card so that the grader doesn't know anything about the submitter. The story that you describe, though, sounds like the dealer walked over to the grading company's table at the same convention and "worked something out" in person. Super fishy, and certainly cause for concern since it compromises the integrity of their product -- their grading reliability and consistency.

side note about the Mayo shown above -- TPG holders have an inner frame, but why is the inner frame shown on that card so much larger than the card itself? is that typical for that set? cause I recently saw a PSA-holdered card where the holder's inner frame was so grossly mismatched to the card and I therefore passed on bidding (it was ebay), concerned that the holder was fibbed.

Thanks,
--S

[Edwolf1963]

Originally Posted by shaunsteig

The story that you describe, though, sounds like the dealer walked over to the grading company's table at the same convention and "worked something out" in person. Super fishy, and certainly cause for concern since it compromises the integrity of their product -- their grading reliability and consistency.

Hello - not suggesting this in my original post - I don't know this to be true, hear often enough (.. and it's anecdotal at best) of the perception to the amount of business you send them and more favorable grades. I don't know that it was walked over from a show/convention buy? Through submissions they know who sends what and how much - whether graders know this is a matter of opinion I guess?

Regardless, what struck me about this was the ridiculous overgrade IMO ~ rounded corners, worn edges, obvious crease, spots and significant fading on the back. I've seen many of these from PSA, especially of late and question the grade and consistency. I just couldn't see SGC going better than a 30 on this.

On top of that, the way in which it's being tee'd up - using cut off scans from VCP images on average value, up to May '10 then leaving off the more recent lower sales including this buy at $200 less than BIN. Also, the fact that it was relisted a few days after sale which unless it was sent 1 day overnight would have been hard to do card-in-hand.

Over-hype, over-grade .. bad taste in the mouth.

[Rob D.]

This eBay seller deserves a lot of credit for pointing out in his listing the stamp/mark on the back of the card, which somehow the PSA grader missed. Assuming this is how the holder left PSA headquarters, it must have been Ray Charles' first day on the job.

[lharri3600]

no rob,
stevie wonder got this one!!

Originally Posted by Rob D.

This eBay seller deserves a lot of credit for pointing out in his listing the stamp/mark on the back of the card, which somehow the PSA grader missed. Assuming this is how the holder left PSA headquarters, it must have been Ray Charles' first day on the job.

[TexasLeaguer]

Whenever I see a card that looks so obviously over-graded, it makes me wonder if the holder has been cracked and a different card has been inserted. Has anyone ever seen a BGS/BVG holder that has been credibly cracked and resealed? I have read that there have been a number of examples of this with PSA holders, and at least one (not as convincing) attempt with an SGC slab.

[lharri3600]

great point texasleauger!!

[lharri3600]

great point texasleauger!! and let's keep this in mind, and i hate this one too, GRADING IS SUBJECTIVE!!