SGC-Incredible Turnaround Time!!!

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Leon

Or one is more lenient than the other.
.

That's one way to look at it. But when you compare cards in old PSA holders to new ones, the difference is striking. Seems like PSA has become stricter by about 2 grades, some times even more.

When I look at SGC cards that were graded a decade ago, yes SGC has gotten slightly more strict, but overall seems a lot more consistent over time than PSA.

I think this relative consistency by SGC is a good thing.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

That's one way to look at it. But when you compare cards in old PSA holders to new ones, the difference is striking. Seems like PSA has become stricter by about 2 grades, some times even more.

When I look at SGC cards that were graded a decade ago, yes SGC has gotten slightly more strict, but overall seems a lot more consistent over time than PSA.

I think this relative consistency by SGC is a good thing.

Exactly this. It's not an issue of SGC being more lenient than PSA. It's an issue of competency at PSA with their 100+ newly hired inexperienced graders. These guys simply don't know how to grade vintage. PSA grades are wildly inconsistent. It's a HUGE problem. They truly are off by a full 2 grades these days on a ton of cards, and reliably off by at least one full grade. SGC has tightened up a little bit compared to prior industry standards, as you mentioned, but many of the grades coming out of PSA right now are facepalm worthy. I would argue that consistency is the single most important aspect of the grading industry behind the ability to spot a fake.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Exactly this. It's not an issue of SGC being more lenient than PSA. It's an issue of competency at PSA with their 100+ newly hired inexperienced graders. These guys simply don't know how to grade vintage. PSA grades are wildly inconsistent. It's a HUGE problem. They truly are off by a full 2 grades these days on a ton of cards, and reliably off by at least one full grade. SGC has tightened up a little bit compared to prior industry standards, as you mentioned, but many of the grades coming out of PSA right now are facepalm worthy. I would argue that consistency is the single most important aspect of the grading industry behind the ability to spot a fake.

This one was a mystery to me but PSA just confirmed the grade.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

This one was a mystery to me but PSA just confirmed the grade.

Sending a card in to PSA for review is generally not a good idea. They have a serious problem with hubris. Unless there's some significant surface flaw that we can't see from the scans, there's just no way that card is a 4. It should be a 6 at minumum today, and if graded 10+ years ago, the same card would be in an 8 or 9 holder. They're such a joke. It baffles my mind that the hobby awards them the level of respect that they have.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Sending a card in to PSA for review is generally not a good idea. They have a serious problem with hubris. Unless there's some significant surface flaw that we can't see from the scans, there's just no way that card is a 4. It should be a 6 at minumum today, and if graded 10+ years ago, the same card would be in an 8 or 9 holder. They're such a joke. It baffles my mind that the hobby awards them the level of respect that they have.

Agreed. Having PSA review something they have already graded expecting a change in the grade is dreaming.

The example above is not a good one to truly showcase the harsh grading. That issue is literally newsprint. Super thin and prone to small bends/crinkles/wrinkles. Most graded examples look like 9s or 10s and are in 4s and 5s due to those imperfections that do not even break the surfaces. The one posted above has to have several of those bends.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Sending a card in to PSA for review is generally not a good idea. They have a serious problem with hubris. Unless there's some significant surface flaw that we can't see from the scans, there's just no way that card is a 4. It should be a 6 at minumum today, and if graded 10+ years ago, the same card would be in an 8 or 9 holder. They're such a joke. It baffles my mind that the hobby awards them the level of respect that they have.

Thanks. I looked at it closely and so did a friend who's been doing this for 30 years and neither of us saw anything.

[Lorewalker]

As I was saying...and confirmed by the first seller of this card back in March 2021:

"Spectacular copy of the assigned grade. Possessing large red borders with four dagger corners and sensational surfaces. A lone, very light wrinkle on the reverse is all that keeps from grading higher. A steal for the assigned grade. One of over 36,000 cards, lots and sets up for bid in our March Auction of 2021. Click on the link above to view the other PWCC auction lots."

Never too late for an eye exam...especially the guy with 30 years in.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Hmmmm. I must need an exam too, I sure don't see any wrinkle. So it goes I guess.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

This one was a mystery to me but PSA just confirmed the grade.

Is there a surface wrinkle on the front, in the red border, below the name Santarosa'?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Leon

Is there a surface wrinkle on the front, in the red border, below the name Santarosa'?

I don't think so?

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Exactly this. It's not an issue of SGC being more lenient than PSA. It's an issue of competency at PSA with their 100+ newly hired inexperienced graders. These guys simply don't know how to grade vintage. PSA grades are wildly inconsistent. It's a HUGE problem. They truly are off by a full 2 grades these days on a ton of cards, and reliably off by at least one full grade. SGC has tightened up a little bit compared to prior industry standards, as you mentioned, but many of the grades coming out of PSA right now are facepalm worthy. I would argue that consistency is the single most important aspect of the grading industry behind the ability to spot a fake.

Absolutely agree that PSA is a wreck in the grading room. Too many graders. SGC on higher grade vintage is not doing much better from what I am seeing unless they are cards in submissions from the major auction houses.

I do not like what I am seeing coming from either of them on NM or better vintage. They both are failing miserably at their job. PSA might have more inexperienced graders but SGC is a very close second. Couple that with dudes seeing mostly modern stuff and you have a recipe for nice vintage getting crushed.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Absolutely agree that PSA is a wreck in the grading room. Too many graders. SGC on higher grade vintage is not doing much better from what I am seeing unless they are cards in submissions from the major auction houses.

I do not like what I am seeing coming from either of them on NM or better vintage. They both are failing miserably at their job. PSA might have more inexperienced graders but SGC is a very close second. Couple that with dudes seeing mostly modern stuff and you have a recipe for nice vintage getting crushed.

Ya, SGC is grading the NM+ stuff pretty harshly as well right now. But they're more fair with the mid grade stuff, which is what I mainly collect. I don't like VG cards, but I sure have been buying a lot of PSA 3 holders lately. I just crack them out the moment they arrive and laugh at the grade. Then SGC gives them 4s and 5s every time. It's pretty funny honestly.