PSA Grading really reliable?

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by Snowman

I would MUCH rather have a nice looking card with a pinhole than those hideos print lines. It amazes me that they allow that crap on a 6. But I see it all the time.

100% - The goof is a pinhole automatically drops a card down to grade One , I believe a collector could find a 59 Musial in every grade below 6 that looks better than this “6” .. And be pretty easy

[gunboat82]

Just some examples of the disconnect:

VG 3: VERY GOOD

A PSA VG 3 card reveals some rounding of the corners, though not extreme. Some surface wear will be apparent, along with possible light scuffing or light scratches. Focus may be somewhat off-register and edges may exhibit noticeable wear. Much, but not all, of the card’s original gloss will be lost. Borders may be somewhat yellowed and/or discolored. A crease may be visible. Printing defects are possible. Slight stain may show on obverse and wax staining on reverse may be more prominent. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.

GOOD 2: GOOD

A PSA Good 2 card’s corners show accelerated rounding and surface wear is starting to become obvious. A good card may have scratching, scuffing, light staining, or chipping of enamel on obverse. There may be several creases. Original gloss may be completely absent. Card may show considerable discoloration. Centering must be 90/10 or better on the front and back.

FR 1.5: FAIR

A PSA Fair 1.5 card’s corners will show extreme wear, possibly affecting framing of the picture. The surface of the card will show advanced stages of wear, including scuffing, scratching, pitting, chipping and staining. The picture will possibly be quite out-of-register and the borders may have become brown and dirty. The card may have one or more heavy creases. In order to achieve a Fair grade, a card must be fully intact. Even though the card may be heavily worn, it cannot achieve this grade if it is missing solid pieces of the card as a result of a major tear, etc. This would include damage such as the removal of the back layer of the card or an entire corner. The centering must be approximately 90/10 or better on the front and back.

[MattyC]

If you asked someone their opinion, and they changed that opinion as many times as you asked (with no new information in hand), how much would you value that opinion— let alone pay for it?

That is grading. Subjective and inconsistent.

Just as flawed, if not more, is the mindset that exalts a high grade sticker when the card beneath does not look the part.

[perezfan]

Thanks for documenting that PSA is a complete joke and the hobby's biggest scam. Perhaps when the sheeple stop feeding them huge sums of money, they'll finally be displaced by something else.

Hope it happens in my lifetime.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Thanks for documenting that PSA is a complete joke and the hobby's biggest scam. Perhaps when the sheeple stop feeding them huge sums of money, they'll finally be displaced by something else.

Hope it happens in my lifetime.

Unlikely, Mark. Twelfth of Never event IMO. They grow stronger and stronger every year.

[bnorth]

They have been very reliable for me. Besides one complete debacle that after 3 tries they still mislabeled my card every time while charging me every BLEEPING time they screwed up. Seriously they have given me better grades on almost every card I have ever sent in than they deserved. They have turned many a $20 card into one that sold for several hundred to a few thousand. I have just been extremely lucky as I have only sent in cards through group submissions or had friends let me add a few cards to their PSA submissions.

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by bnorth

They have been very reliable for me...

Originally Posted by bnorth

Seriously they have given me better grades on almost every card I have ever sent in than they deserved. They have turned many a $20 card into one that sold for several hundred to a few thousand...

I'm not sure this is a ringing endorsement of their reliability.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by bnorth

They have been very reliable for me. Besides one complete debacle that after 3 tries they still mislabeled my card every time while charging me every BLEEPING time they screwed up. Seriously they have given me better grades on almost every card I have ever sent in than they deserved. They have turned many a $20 card into one that sold for several hundred to a few thousand. I have just been extremely lucky as I have only sent in cards through group submissions or had friends let me add a few cards to their PSA submissions.

You should also probably state the fact that you have only sent cards in for grading with PSA a handful of times at most in recent years. Because there is simply no chance whatsoever that you could hold this opinion otherwise.