TPG- standards change over time? early vs recent grade

[oldschool73]

hello,

just looking for the boards thoughts on TPGs changing their standards over time (specifically PSA & SGC) and the impact it may have on pricing.

1. Are there notable cutoff points (number on graded card) where standards changed?
2. i assume grading has gotten stricter over time...or not?
3. if a card has been newly graded as a 6...does it command a greater price than a much earlier graded card? (eg 5+ years earlier)

thanks
-os73

[Fred]

I bet you can find cards graded in the past that meet today's standards and vice versa. Do you know why? Because the bozos at the TPGs subjectivity from the past and present is consistently inconsistent.

I've read comments on the board that the TPGs are "tightening up" the grading standards but I see recently graded cards with the same appearance for the grade from the past and today.

I'm not anti-TPG, rather I'm anti-inconsistency by the TPGs.

[mq711]

My 2cents; for the most part the old PSA slabs were over graded by 1 then, just prior to Covid they started under grading by 1. Now they are more likely to grade more in line with their guidelines (though sometimes what they do confuses everyone). Prior to the black tux a SGC7 was equal to a PSA6 now they are petty much equal.

[ClementeFanOh]

oldschool73- fascinating question. My observations:

1) I'm not aware of a bright line serial number cutoff point for when
standards changed at PSA/SGC. They did change, though.

2) I noticed that, certainly in 2022, SGCs standards for postwar became
MUCH tougher, and across multiple sports. Both SGC and PSA, for
example, went way over the top punishing 50+ year old cards for light
(and I mean LIGHT) creasing. Strangely- and happily- SGC stayed spot on
with tobacco era cards. I always found this strange, almost as if postwar
graders somehow began to think all cards should be as flawless as laser
cut cards released 6 months ago.

3) I don't feel PSA became more strict, I think they simply ignored their
own standards. There was consistency to SGCs grading madness, whereas
PSA was groping in the darkness. I have a low opinion of them because
they routinely fail at their baseline task of accurately grading cards across
the board.

4) I get the sense that most knowledgeable sellers don't leap to the
conclusion that a new PSA 6 is somehow more valuable than an old PSA
6- provided that 6 is actually the correct grade. I do believe the folks
submitting Doncic and Mahomes cards to get 10s are much more likely
to have the opinion that a "new" grade is somehow more valid than an
"old" one. I give those folks a wide berth (if they use the number grade
as a verb, I run away- "I thought that card would ten!"). See ya later
Trevor, "ten" is a noun rather than a verb

These are my impressions, based on submissions, show attendance, and
purchases and trades between myself and fellow enthusiasts.

Trent King

[Leon]

TPGs have generally gotten a bit tougher standards over time, imo.

These are both in CGC 2 (good) holders, but back in the day these easily would have passed for vg to vg+ ...

[mannequin1]

Originally Posted by Leon

TPGs have generally gotten a bit tougher standards over time, imo.

These are both in CGC 2 (good) holders, but back in the day these easily would have passed for vg to vg+ ...

As long as there are no creases these should be 3's.