“Old holder” - issues or concerns?

[Kutcher55]

This is so overplayed. Yes on average the standards have toughened but there are plennnnnnty of good-for-the-grade cards in old holders.

[Natedog]

Besides the fee and the outrageous wait time to get it back, can't a card in an older PSA case just be sent in to have it reholdered? Or is it not that easy?

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

This is so overplayed. Yes on average the standards have toughened but there are plennnnnnty of good-for-the-grade cards in old holders.

The average is what matters though, in terms of why a "rule" exists to begin with. There is always a distribution of over and under-graded cards in any given year. But yesteryear's under-graded cards are today's accurately graded cards, while yesteryear's over-graded cards are often 2 full grades high today. I've seen just as many old-label 8s that would be 6s today as I've seen old-label 7s that would still be 7s today. The average or median grades from a given era are what matter in terms of driving the narrative. Not the exceptions.

[Oscar_Stanage]

Originally Posted by Snowman

The average is what matters though, in terms of why a "rule" exists to begin with. There is always a distribution of over and under-graded cards in any given year. But yesteryear's under-graded cards are today's accurately graded cards, while yesteryear's over-graded cards are often 2 full grades high today. I've seen just as many old-label 8s that would be 6s today as I've seen old-label 7s that would still be 7s today. The average or median grades from a given era are what matter in terms of driving the narrative. Not the exceptions.

+1 . well said

[Kutcher55]

Originally Posted by Snowman

The average is what matters though, in terms of why a "rule" exists to begin with. There is always a distribution of over and under-graded cards in any given year. But yesteryear's under-graded cards are today's accurately graded cards, while yesteryear's over-graded cards are often 2 full grades high today. I've seen just as many old-label 8s that would be 6s today as I've seen old-label 7s that would still be 7s today. The average or median grades from a given era are what matter in terms of driving the narrative. Not the exceptions.

This is an overstatement. There are plenty of “undergraded” cards in old holders. On average I would say the earliest PSA holders are one grade easier at most.

[Kutcher55]

So there’s two ways we could handle this. 1. I go find a group of undergraded old slabs and over graded new slabs (I have plenty of both in my collection). You go do the opposite. Or 2. We agree to disagree. I vote #2.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

So there’s two ways we could handle this. 1. I go find a group of undergraded old slabs and over graded new slabs (I have plenty of both in my collection). You go do the opposite. Or 2. We agree to disagree. I vote #2.

My point wasn't that you can't find undergraded old slabs or overgraded new slabs. I certainly have both in my collection as well. My point was that in general, or on average, they used to grade softer. I don't think anyone really disputes that here?

[Kutcher55]

I agree on average they grade softer. We are good.