What does the PSA qualifier "PD" mean?

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Posted By: Brueso

I got a copy of the 1963 Topps #18 Buc Blasters card depicting Roberto Clemente and some others. The card was a PSA 8 PD. It had production "snow" on its front that makes me amazed anyone could remotely consider grading the card an 8- I don't care if you can cut butter with the card's edges. Interestingly, I also got a PSA 6 of the same card in a different auction and it also had the production snow on the front, but without any subgrade.

Related rant: I HATE it when a seller puts a scan in their auction that you can't enlarge to check for these kind of things before bidding. There was of course, nothing in the description of either auction to mention the production snow- just a one line comment of what the cards were graded. I resold the PSA 6 and mentioned the snow, and I feel like its necessary to mention it when I resell the PSA 8, too- of course, that means I end up getting less than what I paid for them.

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Posted By: Anonymous

Print defect

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Having a card graded seems to eliminate describing the card for alot of sellers. I go back and forth with whether to describe the card or leave it up to the buyers to ask questions of there concern and leave the blame to the grading company.
I don't buy high graded cards so I acan't speak for that end, but the Vg to Vg/Ex market always leaves the possiblity of a crease or surface wrinkle, do you describe it ot not. I would like input from the board members whether you should describe it or leave it up to the seller to ask the question as to why the card received it's grade.

Lee

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Posted By: Brueso

I don't want to have to deal with the return hassle. I figure if I've described the card accurately, no one could later come back and say "why didnt' you mention this?" Particularly creases- most people want to know if they are there are not.

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Posted By: Brueso

I dont' know how the PSA 6 card I described didn't all get that qualifier. The inconsistency of PSA I guess.

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Posted By: Marc S.

As long as the card was sold accurately to you wherever you purchased it (e.g. as a PSA 8 qualifed PD), then you should not have gotten ripped off.

For those who purchase PSA-graded cards, they know that PD means print defects -- often the exact problem that you are describing. As such, it should realize approximately the same amount in the future.

Whether your like qualifers or do not -- basically it is a way to acknowledge that your card has otherwise superior corners and centering -- but it has one flaw that makes it worse.

There's a world of opinion out there -- but if you have a vending fresh card that is 90/10 both ways, some may prefer to have the card in a PSA 9 O/C (for Off/Center) holder, whereas others might prefer to have it in a PSA 3 holder, as a card with 90/10 centering cannot achieve better than PSA 3 without the qualifier...

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Posted By: Marc S.

PSA 6 standards: "A PSA EX-MT 6 card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect which does not detract from its overall appeal"

That same criterion does not apply to a PSA 8 -- hence the need for a qualifier.

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Posted By: Todd (nolemmings)

Personally, I don't mind some light snow if the card otherwise presents well, especially since a PD qualifier usually makes the card available for a fraction of the non-blemished version. If a card is going to be flawed, I prefer the factory flaws of PD or OC- even ST when the flaw is a gumstain, sometimes on the back-- to soft corners and worn edges.

I find PSA to be inconsistent on the PD issue- some are very unobtrusive, and on other occasions, there will be glaring "bubbles" or a fish eye on a card that does not receive the qualifier. Sometimes I even have asked the seller for a description when I have failed to see what they consider to be a print defect. Bottom line, though, any qualifier raises a flag, and you should ask for a better scan or explanation if you think its going to be something you don't want to live with.

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Posted By: Brueso

...has four members of the Pirates on it, and the snow is on their black longsleeves and on Clemente's face. In my opinion, it mars the image to an extent that an 8 doesn't seem like it should be possible- it would seem to me that the "surface" subgrade should reflect that somewhat.

I think the problem with a "one size fits all" PD qualifier is that it doesn't really tell you that much-sometimes the snow may be somewhat unobtrusive (I've seen a couple of cards like that) or it might really be noticeable (like in this one).

It's been a learning experience- I will definitely not bid on a "PD" again unless I see a good sized scan.

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Posted By: Julie

it's a less-than clear picture; I mean, isn't the picture what the card's basically about? How can PSA say a card is ex-mint when you can hardly stand to look at the picture???!!!

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Posted By: Charles E. Moore

I have some very nice condition 1957 high series cards that are out of focus. Do I understand from this discussion that PSA is not overly critical of these "ugly" specimens?

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Posted By: Brueso

I got a PSA 7 of the "Dodgers Sluggers" card and its focus was slightly off. Then I got a PSA 6 of the same card and it had better focus. I kept the PSA 6.

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Posted By: runscott

How does PSA decide which route to go? Does the submitter ask for one or the other?

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Posted By: Marc S.

Unless the submitter specifically asks for "NO QUALIFIERS" on their invoice to PSA, PSA will grade the card at the highest possible level, and add a qualifier if appropriate.

For example, if a hypothetical perfect card existed, but for 90/10 centering both ways -- PSA would grade the card PSA 9 MINT with the Off-Center qualifier.

However -- if the submitter had asked for "NO QUALIFIERS" on the invoice, the card is unable to receive anything more than a PSA 3 Very Good grade with 90/10 centering.

Thus -- it depends on what the submitter wants. And what the submitter wants is probably determined by how severe the "problem" is on the card. If a card is centered approximately 65/35, it may be advantageous to get a PSA 8 NQ as opposed to getting a PSA 9 O/C.

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Posted By: BCD

TBob once owned it! : )