Thanks to all for the insight. Not being a lawyer, this makes an interesting read. Essentially paying for a service (in terms of time) that they basically do not deliver on.

If the turnaround times for the "fast" service is that far out, has it made all levels behind?

Thanks for the link to the CU page, and the message from Joe O. One comment I found interesting is the following:
"We need to make sure that every person handling the collectibles are properly trained, and that training can take time."

Seriously, how hard is it to train someone on how to grade a card? Here are the 5, 10, or 15 things we look at (I have no idea), and here are the tools we supply you to do this. I think putting a Big Mac might be slightly less complicated.

I can only take a perspective from what I do for a living, which is IT system deployment and implementation. It's not like these folks are being trained on the latest SAP release, or an Oracle Financials system implementation.

My experience with PSA - submitted a 1967 Planet of the Apes pack in unbelievable Gem Mint shape - it came back in a PSA 8 holder with a nice big tear in one of the corners. The slabbing of the pack reduced the value by 75%.
What a deal!!!!
I have never dealt with their professional services after that incident.

I also don't understand the fascination with PSA. How nice of a card can we stick in our holder and throw a "1" on the slab. Who needs 'em. My business all goes to SGC. Much more realistic grades.

Yes...their treatment of their customers is definitely making me rethink using them in the near future. I know I got the group sub going on, but damn. I really don't like how they are treating people.

In my opinion people use PSA for one major reason that being resale value. Until their prodcut, aka slabbed product, takes a hit in future sales I see nothing changing. I believe they have hired a bunch of new graders, many of which do not know vintage or have yet to learn it. Hopefully things will improve. It will take time. Another cycle to go through. I'm in it for the long run so I just roll with the punches. Maybe next year it will only take one or two times for them to grade vintage properly. :)

John Marsili

Relax. I have received word that PSA is actively training new recruits as we speak. And as soon as the new season of "Blue's Clues" ends, they promise to pick up the pace.

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Watch it. I absolutely have one of those magnifying glasses at my desk and use it frequently.

If they don't want a lawsuit mess they need to hire more sharp eyed 18 year old kids to grade the mass of cards that have apparently back logged. They can afford it.

Larry ( sflayank) pointed out on post war that another issue, not solved by hiring a hoard of sharp eyed 18 year old people, is their inability to consistently identify and distinguish more offbeat or non mainstream issues, and what should be included in such sets.

Maybe they should pay some older guys like Andy Madec and a few others that are capable of identifying everything about cards. They would be worth a pretty penny to the company.

Internal Memo from Joe O:

Due to our backlog of items to be graded, graders lunch breaks are being temporarily suspended until we catch up. However, to be humane, big macs will now be served in the grading room. Remember the appropriate grade reductions for sauce, cheese and onions on the cards you are grading.:eek:

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