Why I Hate the Whole Card Grading Thing...

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

Could be that this card is an "8" when compared to other copies of this card? With the 72 set being one of my favorites and with having gone through 10s of 1000s of 72s to build multiple sets, I know that this 518 card is tough to find centered. Despite the tilt cut, this example is remarkably centered when compared to other copies of this card.

I don't believe it really matters that this card is difficult to find centered. The grade of an 8 is what it is. I would think that most of us hold an " 8 " to a higher standard than what is described below though, I know I do.

NM-MT 8: Near Mint-Mint
A PSA NM-MT 8 is a super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

I don't believe it really matters that this card is difficult to find centered. The grade of an 8 is what it is. I would think that most of us hold an " 8 " to a higher standard than what is described below though, I know I do.

NM-MT 8: Near Mint-Mint
A PSA NM-MT 8 is a super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders. Centering must be approximately 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Having built the 72 set graded(as well as several other sets) there is obviously quite a bit of subjectivity within the grading, as in this case to award this card an "8" with the tilt cut. While not the norm in my experience, this card still appears to meet the qualifications for an 8 centering wise, as PSA's requirements do not mention tilt cutting as an imperfection that counts against this grade level.

http://www.psacard.com/psasetregistr...et.aspx?s=3092

While the scan makes it tough for me to tell the condition of the corners, a grader applied their "subjective" opinion to the card in regards to the corners and awarded the card an "8".

This card has always been a low pop card (currently only 54 8s and 15 higher) likely due to how tough this card is to find centered. Seems like the fact that this specific example is much more reasonably centered than most copies of this card helped it subjectively grade an 8. In other words, because this card is a challenge to find well centered, did someone allow more room on this 8 than other 8's and have their opinion swayed because of the low pop? Likely so, IMO.

In the past with the graded sets that I built (and still have them), my enjoyment of the sets came from the challenge of building them cost effectively, as this set 72 Topps fully graded maybe offered once or twice a year. Whenever buying a graded card though, I still bought the card and not the grade. When building my 72 set I still would have considered this card, but at a much lower price than a more nicely centered example.


As a collector I much prefer building ungraded sets(as long as they are a challenge to complete). As I move back and work on older sets, hardly any of my cards are graded for this reason.


Why would someone grade a 72 518 card? Because if a collector would like to complete the challenge of building a 72 graded set, this is a tough card to find as many are located in other collector's sets already.

[KCRfan1]

Thanks for the insight on the '72 set. Presently, I am slowly working on a '69 and '73 set, so when it comes time to hit the '72 set this will be a card that I will have stashed in the back of my mind. I always learn something new on this site!

[begsu1013]

I understand your frustrations. I have the same from the opposite side of the fence...I cant stand when raw dealers expect psa pricing on a raw card and use wording such as "possible psa 9".

"you want $10K for that card because you think it would grade a psa 9? sure thing. i'm gonna pass on the card, but would love to grab some of what you're smoking"

[ALR-bishop]

I collect 99 .5 % ungraded cards. But I am strictly a buyer and I collect strictly as a hobby. Some folks are in cards strictly as an investment. Some are in it as a hobby and an investment. If I were in one of the last two categories, the realities of the current market would lead me to be much more into graded cards. If a person in all three categories with similar collections gets hit by a bus tomorrow and their executors have to liquidate their stuff, the graded guy comes out best in my view. But I collect sets and prefer them ungraded for easy viewing and access in binders. To each their own.

[LeftHandedDane]

I, too, buy almost exclusively raw cards. I don't have the space to store the oversized holders, and I find that the label takes away from the beauty of the card.

I pay no attention to the "grade" that the seller gives to a raw card - I judge it myself and bid accordingly.

I also wonder why people get cards graded that are not worth as much as it costs to grade them.

The only value I see to grading is protection against counterfeiting, alterations, and the like. However, I have bought some cards that have been trimmed, and as long as it was done well that doesn't really bother me. If a card is worth more than, say, $300 or so, I am more likely to seek a graded version - or at least be very careful when buying a raw card at an apparent "steal".

[turtleguy64]

my feeling after spending thousands of $ on PSA grading is that if you get a grader on his "bad day" or he is about to "finish a shift", then it is up in the air what grades you will receive. It SHOULDN'T be that way.There is a lack of uniformity in the grades entered by PSA.Many times I've broken out cards of which I simply could not accept the grade given.Then re-submitted and got the "right" grade.No one should have to do this.There is the rub .Lastly,I can tell when I've gotten a rookie grading my cards,much more liberal grades. The human element is affecting the outcome.

[gnpaden]

Personally, I prefer raw cards over graded cards any day. I feel that the slab/present day printing takes away from the prestige and Americana feel of the card. However, with that being said, I mainly buy graded when online due to all the scams, fakes, etc. When buying at shows or my LCS, I prefer raw cards. My 1955 set is all raw, 1956 set is raw/SGC with 1958 being 70/30 raw/graded allocation.

I agree that grading saved the hobby, but grading is sort of a preferential market. For example, I know some guys who submit weekly and because of the amounts of $$ spent they always get high grades on their submissions. The subjectivity kills me