Yes, it is unethical because PSA is only supposed to grade pack-released cards which were cut at the factory and boxed out. PSA claims that they can see the difference between factory and aftermarket cuts (and the lie detector test determined "That was a lie."). So altering a card by cutting it from a sheet and submitting to PSA would be against their TOS.
This is one of the major accusations levied against NFL football player Evan Mathis: buying uncut sheets and submitting cards to PSA for gem grades. Is PSA incompetent or are they in on it? That's for a court (or court of public opinion) to decide!
To add: that's one reason vintage Mint cards in Beckett holders sell for so much less. They knowingly grade sheet cut cards; check the price differences in the 1979 Wayne Gretzky cards. And now SGC is offering the option for them to CUT CARDS FOR YOU and then grade them. However, they have not declared whether or not this only applies to cards like Post or Jell-O, but their roll-out showed they were cutting up proof sheets of 1970s Topps cards, IIRC.
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PWCC: The Fish Stinks From the Head
PSA: Regularly Get Cheated
BGS: Can't detect trimming on modern
SGC: Closed auto authentication business
JSA: Approved same T206 Autos before SGC
Oh, what a difference a year makes.
Last edited by swarmee; 04-19-2020 at 05:07 PM.
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