Can someone explain these PSA grades?

[glynparson]

usually a card graded a 5 that appears to be mint may have either some sort of staining or hidden wrinkles or creasing or factory indentations (such as roller marks). also if cut on severe angels even if extra it can and does effect the grade.

[puckpaul]

it was cut from a box, what does a 9 or 10 mean anyway?

[Republicaninmass]

IME a 5 is a wrinkle on the back, a 3 is a wrinkle on the front. All box bottoms are very tough, and usually have some printing or handling defects under close inspection

[swarmee]

Your centering and tilt on them are also pretty bad; If you are going to add that much border, you needed to have the dotted lines centered. Your goal of having 2.5x3.5 cards was probably unnecessary. You could still crack those cards out, trim them closer, and likely get a much higher grade.
That is presuming the backs are clean and no wrinkles.

[swarmee]

"PSA suggests that, in order to achieve the highest grades, the cuts of the cards should be relatively close to the visible borders without exceeding the limit. Cards that exhibit a clean, accurate and properly shaped cut have the best chance at achieving the highest grades. Eye appeal is very important. When it comes to excess paper or cardboard around the edges of the visible borders, the graders will place significant importance on overall eye appeal."

https://www.psacard.com/resources/gr...andards/#cards

[T205 GB]

they are all graded accurately with the cards being off center for the cause

[Snapolit1]

This whole well-intentioned knowledgeable discussion lays bare the lunacy of the whole grading discussion. If you cut a card from a box but cut closer to the dotted lines we will give you a better grade. LOL. Try explaining the logic behind this this to someone who hasn't drank the purple kool aid like most of us have. Wouldn't the best state of all be not cutting off the box in the first place?