Morale at PSA

frankbmd · #1 06-23-2018, 08:52 AM

Imagine that you are a PSA grader. Every day you come to work and go to the storeroom and pick up your stack of ungraded cards to be graded that day by 5PM. Every day the storeroom seems to be getting larger. Every day the lines of lemmings (i.e. collectors) at the office and at shows get longer and longer. Fork lifts are now required to bring in the daily mail on pallets. Every day your stack of ungraded cards is a little higher due to the “sincere” corporate interest in reducing backlog and turn around times. But every day as the storeroom grows, the lines get longer, the backlog increases and turn around times lengthen, you groan but carry on. How do you really feel about your job?

Your name is Sisyphus. Camus wrote an essay about you called “The Myth of a PSA grader”.

Peter_Spaeth · #2 06-23-2018, 08:56 AM

Speaking of Camus.

ullmandds · #3 06-23-2018, 09:01 AM

sounds like a postal job newman?

ullmandds · #4 06-23-2018, 09:02 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL6ubXD9ZjY

Bigdaddy · #5 06-23-2018, 09:02 AM

Sounds much like a local DMV worker.

Michael Peich · #6 06-23-2018, 09:16 AM

Interesting comparison, Frank. And one day that boulder may roll over the graders before they reach the top of the hill, er, pile of raw cards!

Unlike Sisyphus who was condemned by the gods to repeat this seemingly meaningless task, graders at PSA willing signed on for the work. But I wonder if many of them have come to the same conclusion as Camus: "The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

barrysloate · #7 06-23-2018, 09:20 AM

And I can't believe Peter actually has a trading card of Camus. How many Camus's(sp) does one need to trade to get one Mickey Mantle?

Peter_Spaeth · #8 06-23-2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

And I can't believe Peter actually has a trading card of Camus. How many Camus's(sp) does one need to trade to get one Mickey Mantle?

I am still looking for a Sartre from the same issue. And Einstein.

Leon · #9 06-23-2018, 09:28 AM

Is he missing part of his head?

Back to topic. It would take a lot of money for me to be a grader.

chalupacollects · #10 06-23-2018, 09:30 AM

On the positive side its also called job security... By the way sent 30+ cards in on 5/31 under the monthly $6.50 special and had them back in my hand on June 19th...so things are looking better!

Peter_Spaeth · #11 06-23-2018, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalupacollects

On the positive side its also called job security... By the way sent 30+ cards in on 5/31 under the monthly $6.50 special and had them back in my hand on June 19th...so things are looking better!

Perhaps the turtle has morphed into a rabbit.

barrysloate · #12 06-23-2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I am still looking for a Sartre from the same issue. And Einstein.

I think a Sartre for a Camus would make for a very fair trade.

Getting back to Frank's original post, I do believe all the graders are over worked, and to compensate they unfortunately grade cards more quickly than they should. And as such, there is a lack of accuracy. It's a lucrative business, so why not hire a few more graders?

frankbmd · #13 06-23-2018, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I think a Sartre for a Camus would make for a very fair trade.

Getting back to Frank's original post, I do believe all the graders are over worked, and to compensate they unfortunately grade cards more quickly than they should. And as such, there is a lack of accuracy. It's a lucrative business, so why not hire a few more graders?

"Transient graders" on a PRN basis might help. I'm sure there are a few excavators out there with some free time. Plus they could move a lot of cards in a hurry.

SunshineRainbows-web.jpg

boneheadandrube · #14 06-23-2018, 10:58 AM

That atmosphere would be conducive to corner cutting (pun). Vintage Non-Sport submission...10 second glance...rubber stamp whatever grade. T206 stack that looks okay but need to check the edges...15 second glance for this one, stamp the grade...10 seconds for this one, give it an N5 they'll just send it back and someone else will get their loupe out...repeat.

hcv123 · #15 06-23-2018, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Perhaps the turtle has morphed into a rabbit.

I waited 2 months for a botched submission ("mechanical error/reholder) which was logged as received by them on April 16th - a whopping 5 cards - still not back. ARRGH.

steve B · #16 06-23-2018, 08:39 PM

One of the umpires we had for a particular doubleheader (All we played in that league) summed it up pretty well. The first game went 15 innings and the second headed into extra innings. As I left my catching spot headed to the bench he said " hey let the guys know that from now on if it's not rolling or over my head it's a strike" That game still went 12.

I can picture the graders doing something similar. No obvious damage ? 5 Big crease or stain? 2
Really nice centering 8

Seal em up and get em out!

lowpopper · #17 06-24-2018, 07:47 AM

I just got a bulk order back in 10 business days.

They may be getting over the hump

Republicaninmass · #18 06-24-2018, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Is he missing part of his head?

No, he had a medical condition known as a fivehead, its 25% bigger than a forehead

Johnny630 · #19 06-24-2018, 07:58 AM

The morale at PSA. No matter how bad we screw this up they will still come back, they’re addicted, pop report and registry feens. Put whatever grade you want on the cards.

auggiedoggy · #20 06-24-2018, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Sounds much like a local DMV worker.

Without the sloths working behind the counter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0woPde7OE1k

bobbyw8469 · #21 06-24-2018, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalupacollects

On the positive side its also called job security... By the way sent 30+ cards in on 5/31 under the monthly $6.50 special and had them back in my hand on June 19th...so things are looking better!

Speak for yourself.

bobbyw8469 · #22 06-24-2018, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowpopper

I just got a bulk order back in 10 business days.

They may be getting over the hump

Speak for yourself.

Dewey · #23 06-24-2018, 08:21 PM

One must consider the PSA grader happy.

seanofjapan · #24 06-24-2018, 08:52 PM

How do they compensate their worker drones at PSA? Is it a flat per-hour wage, a flat monthly salary, or do they get paid per card (or auto or whatever) graded?

Depending on how you are rewarded for work, an ever growing stack of cards could either put a smile or a frown on your face.

that T206 Guy · #25 06-24-2018, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

How do they compensate their worker drones at PSA? Is it a flat per-hour wage, a flat monthly salary, or do they get paid per card (or auto or whatever) graded?

Depending on how you are rewarded for work, an ever growing stack of cards could either put a smile or a frown on your face.

I was Told (Like 20 Years Ago) a Wage and Commission (like 0.50 a Card).

CobbSpikedMe · #26 06-24-2018, 09:29 PM

$0.50 per card would be a hell of a payday for a grader if it takes as long as 30 seconds per card. That comes to six figures a year alone. Plus a wage on top of that commission?

that T206 Guy · #27 06-25-2018, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

$0.50 per card would be a hell of a payday for a grader if it takes as long as 30 seconds per card. That comes to six figures a year alone. Plus a wage on top of that commission?

Funny this is Brought Up

I was just Reading a Book Last Night (The Card: Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History's Most Desired Baseball Card).

The Book Stated that in the Fiscal Year 2005 PSA Graded 1,084,000 Cards.

They Had 13 Graders that Year.

So if all 13 Graders in 2005 Worked 5 Days a Week and 8 Hours a Day They Each Graded 320 Cards a Day.

That Comes to 90 Seconds Per Card.

But Those Numbers Do Not Take Into Account.

Vacations
Sick Days
Lunch Breaks
Bathroom Breaks
Regular Breaks (Talking to Co-Workers, etc.)

So they actually Spent Less than 90 Seconds Per Card Graded in 2005.

drcy · #28 06-25-2018, 11:04 AM

And to think that in another thread someone suggested the cards get CAT scanned.

that T206 Guy · #29 06-25-2018, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drcy

And to think that in another thread someone suggested the cards get CAT scanned.

I Never Said they GOT Cat Scanned.

I Stated there Should be a Way to do that Sort of Thing (To Take Out the Element of Human Error and Keep Everything Consistent).

drcy · #30 06-25-2018, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by that T206 Guy

I Never Said they GOT Cat Scanned.

I Stated there Should be a Way to do that Sort of Thing (To Take Out the Element of Human Error and Keep Everything Consistent).

Don't worry, I was saying it in tongue-in-cheak. I knew you were talking about automating grading.