TPG Goof: Someone needs fired

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

Yikes! That's a very blatant mistake and not only one person screwed up, but arguably at least 7 people in the later part of the grading operation missed this too. Reading this article below, one would think that at least one of the eight or nine people handling the card would have caught this obvious error - a 1887 card with a glossy finish? The most disturbing thing is that the "Verification Stage (2) Person" is supposed to catch these types of errors.

The Sticker Stage Person
The Spec Department Person
At least two, maybe three Grading Persons
The PSA Labeling Department Person
The Sealing Department Person
Verification Stage (1) Person
Verification Stage (2) Person

http://www.psacard.com/Services/PSAGradingProcess/

Do you really believe they go through that many stages? It's more believable to me that 1.) one grader looks at a card and eyeballs it for a couple of seconds and assigns a grade and 2.) the card is labeled and encapsulated. Note that the majority of people working at PSA probably are not experienced in the hobby in any way, shape or form?

[nolemmings]

How much do you have to know about baseball cards to know that a card which is clearly marked "1916" on its front was not issued in 1887?

[Orioles1954]

There is also that human error factory. Slabbing tens of thousands of cards a day, I guess everything starts to run together?

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

There is also that human error factory. Slabbing tens of thousands of cards a day, I guess everything starts to run together?

Probably so. I recall a friend of mine many years ago went to work for UPS and he had to sort out packages for various destinations. He told me that management would intentionally put in one or two packages that did not belong on a given truck to see of the sorter would catch them. My friend told me that it definitely sharpened his awareness and reduced mistakes.

[vintagetoppsguy]

This was posted over on the post war side, but it made me think of this thread.

1958 Topps Aaron re-colored and missed by a BVG grader. Yes, in this case the grader should absolutely be fired and never be allowed to work as a grader again. If there was ever justification for firing a grader, this is it. A labeling error (such as the original topic of this thread) is one thing, but overlooking such an obvious alteration is totally different - that is their job. That is what they get paid to do. If they can't spot the big things, how can they spot the little things?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251639638379...#ht_188wt_1153

I know, it's not pre-war, so maybe it doesn't belong in this section but, at least to me, the era of the card doesn't matter. It's the fact that such an obvious alteration like this should absolutely never slip by a TPG.

The seller is from Dallas and apparently blocking questions about the card. Anybody know the seller?

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Do you really believe they go through that many stages? It's more believable to me that 1.) one grader looks at a card and eyeballs it for a couple of seconds and assigns a grade and 2.) the card is labeled and encapsulated. Note that the majority of people working at PSA probably are not experienced in the hobby in any way, shape or form?

I agree with you. Your assessment of PSA's grading process is more likely closer to reality than what is cited in that article.