Posted By:
Eric BrehmI agree with Joe D. and others who see third party grading, on balance, as a benefit to the hobby. I re-entered the hobby in 2006, after a 20 year hiatus, and when I saw that cards were now being graded and encapsulated by professional specialists, I immediately accepted it as a good method to significantly reduce the uncertainty associated with buying and selling, such as we dealt with in the old days, when verbal condition descriptions were all over the map. If consistency of communication about condition is the goal, it certainly seems better to me than it used to be, albeit imperfect.
I also see the horror stories about particular graded cards, and understand the concerns about huge differences in market value associated with inherently subjective evaluations of card condition. For my part, I collect 1933 Goudeys in high grade, mostly PSA 8, but have never purchased a PSA 9, because I don't think the difference in price vs. quality is cost effective in that case. On the other hand, I do buy PSA 9's in post-war issues, because they are relatively plentiful and generally are 'the best of the best'. But I look at them very carefully. I would prefer to have a PSA 7 or 8 with better eye appeal, than a card that happens to meet the technical requirements for PSA 9 (or maybe just got lucky in the grading house one day), not to mention saving a large amount of money in the bargain.