Thoughts on a PSA review...IT's Back from PSA

[CrackaJackKid]

Originally, I purchased this card in a PSA 4 holder. Over time the case became damaged(scratches and minor digs to the edges) due to me moving several times. So it was sent for reholder. Once at PSA they contacted me and said they had found evidence of tampering(which was bs) and according to their policy had to regrade it. After thinking I had nothing to worry about since the card never left the holder I was blown away that they had dropped it to a 2. Now after waiting almost a year I just sent the card back for a review hoping they will treat me right this time. Any guesses on what it will receive?

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

another 2. PSA has completely reversed grading policy on CJ's in regards to caramel staining since about 2-3 years ago. They've completed destroyed any continuum or consistency for the category making it really hard to value using the grade as part of the equation. Your Birmingham is a 4 or even a 5 all day compared to those graded 5+ years ago. This creates quite the conundrum for the registry collector and an opportunity for the purist.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I always thought a little staining was a good thing, as it shows the card probably hasn't been bleached or otherwise chemically treated.

[CrackaJackKid]

[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

another 2. PSA has completely reversed grading policy on CJ's in regards to caramel staining since about 2-3 years ago. They've completed destroyed any continuum or consistency for the category making it really hard to value using the grade as part of the equation. Your Birmingham is a 4 or even a 5 all day compared to those graded 5+ years ago. This creates quite the conundrum for the registry collector and an opportunity for the purist.

I'm the original submitter for this Baumgardner that was sent in almost 6 months after the Birmingham received the 2. This card has a slight tear along the upper right hand Side border along with staining and rounded corners but yet only a half point difference between the two? I think this only proves that PSA doesn't know how their own grading system works.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/152626558715

If my Birmingham is truly a "2" that's pretty sad given that there's so much room from a 2-10 on the scale.

[pclpads]

If your luck is as poor as mine, it may come back ALT / TRIMMED. I had an Aaron RC in PSA 5. Sent it back for review and poss. bump. Came back as noted above. Good luck is all I can offer!

[ullmandds]

i wouldnt think most CJ collectors care so much about the slab...why not SGC?

[pokerplyr80]

That's a tough break. Did they give you the option of having the card returned to you as it was before they reviewed it?

[CrackaJackKid]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

i wouldnt think most CJ collectors care so much about the slab...why not SGC?

Yes and no. Not everyone lives by the philosophy of buying the card not the holder. I feel 9 times out of 10 someone is gonna pay what the market value is for the numerical grade not how the card looks. It would be different had the exact same card not been graded a 4 previously. Several hundreds of dollars difference is so called "value".

[Bigshot69]

Originally Posted by pclpads

If your luck is as poor as mine, it may come back ALT / TRIMMED. I had an Aaron RC in PSA 5. Sent it back for review and poss. bump. Came back as noted above. Good luck is all I can offer!

Yep. That would likely cause me to invest in a trip to the local liquor store.

Without seeing the back of the CJ I like the OP's chances it comes back at least in VG. 2 seems harsh.

[swarmee]

So here's my take:
1) PSA forced a downgrade and should have paid off the OP with cash to cover the difference in values.
2) OP should NOT resubmit in holder for review. Either crack out or leave as is.
3) Card is awesome. "tampered" in the OP made me think the card was determined tampered (maybe an erasure, which would be a two-point drop from the four as instead of 4(MK)?
4) My weighted average if resubmitted *raw* is a 4.5

[Sophiedog]

Originally Posted by pclpads

If your luck is as poor as mine, it may come back ALT / TRIMMED. I had an Aaron RC in PSA 5. Sent it back for review and poss. bump. Came back as noted above. Good luck is all I can offer!

In that case doesn't PSA have to give you the price difference?

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Sophiedog

In that case doesn't PSA have to give you the price difference?

Not if you crack it out.

[bobbyw8469]

Not sure how PSA grades the stains on those cards?

[jcc6252]

I suppose they didn't make up the $$$ difference between the grades? If they claim the holder was tampered with to the point where a lesser card could have been switched in, that's pretty lame.