PSA Grading really reliable?

[Leon]

LOL...

But to the first question, are PSA reliable graders? PSA isn't a grader; some unknown person is. So, they might be reliable and might not be. Grades are only an opinion at that moment of that grader's mind. It could be a half a grade either way, almost every time. And many times, more than a half grade difference, on the same card (*and maybe by the same grader at a different time.) "Reliable" is sort of subjective.

Originally Posted by Snowman

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.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Leon

LOL...

But to the first question, are PSA reliable graders? PSA isn't a grader; some unknown person is. So, they might be reliable and might not be. Grades are only an opinion at that moment of that grader's mind. It could be a half a grade either way, almost every time. And many times, more than a half grade difference, on the same card (*and maybe by the same grader at a different time.) "Reliable" is sort of subjective.

Oh, they're reliable alright. Reliably inconsistent. Resubmitting the same card 4 different times and getting it back in 4 different grades is... let's go with "informative".

[gregndodgers]

Vintage cards that were once graded near mint 7 by PSA are now 5.5s and 6. Terrible. Consistency is the main problem.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by gregndodgers

Vintage cards that were once graded near mint 7 by PSA are now 5.5s and 6. Terrible. Consistency is the main problem.

It's actually worse than that, unfortunately.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Snowman

It's actually worse than that, unfortunately.

I was going to say the same. Must be really confusing for newer collectors to see cards that have recently been re-slabbed into PSA's modern holders. "Why is there an obvious "3.5" in a slab that says "6"?