1971 Topps Condition Worsen in PSA Case?

[lampertb]

Hello. Relatively new member... 1st post.

I'm really a Goudey guy, but I just love the 1971 Topps set; there's just something about it that I find irresistible, and I've started collecting again, having already sold off partial sets two times previously.

Anyhow, my issue for this thread... PSA cases allow Topps from that era a bit of wiggle room, and the '71s slide around in there. Left, right, top, bottom... gravity just kind of knocks it around a bit as the case turns. I am worried that this is a problem with the '71 issue particularly because the black borders are so prone to chipping and showing other wear.

Has anyone out there had the experience of actually seeing a '71 Topps condition worsen while encapsulated? It seems to me somewhat probable.

Thanks.

[skelly]

I know the whole PSA vs SGC thing has been kicked around a million times, and I promise I'm not trying to go down that road, but your comment is what drives me nuts about PSA. Yes, the cards do move, and I've seen PSA 7's that are really down to 5.5's 6's, due to movement in case. Also can't stand how some cards are just put in a "baggie" of sorts leaving all sorts of "space" in the holder. I know SGC isn't perfect, but its the "wiggle room" that you mention above that drives me nuts with PSA graded cards.

[savedfrommyspokes]

I have not noticed this with many cards at all in either my complete 62 Topps PSA set or my near complete 71 Topps PSA set, two of the most condition sensitive sets from the 60s and 70s due to their borders. Now, when a card(s) arrives for any of my PSA sets, I immediately secure them with the rest of the set and there these cards sit with very little to no movement.

However, that is not to say that a sharp looking 7 or 8 when it left a seller did not move around some during shipment, and upon arrival was a lower end 7 or 8. In the few times I have gone back and looked through these sets, I can remember scratching my head a minimal amount of times concerning PSA's grading on the cards from these sets...this leads me to believe that any damage to cards in my sets has been very minimal or has just been a bad grade by PSA.

[the 'stache]

I could see the '71 Topps being a nightmare to encapsulate. I have a really nice '71 Clemente, and I'd like to send it off to PSA, but I'm worried about dinging up the edges more than they are.