Thanks for the info. I don’t see any indentations on mine. Seems like I should get them PSA-graded prior to selling them.
Oh i would so love a complete set
I would bow down to anyone who grants me privilege on owning a complete PSA 10 masaki set. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Is it true that PSA will take into account such things like the indents from the packaging and essentially count them as part of the card thus ignoring them as damage? I’ve heard that they do something like this.
In my experience, no they don’t do that.
PSA usually will dock the grade for damage that happens after manufacturing.
I have sent in two indented cards (not creased) and it did not effect the grade at all. Either they don’t count that, or they are extremely unobservant as one was noticeable when held.
Indented Masakis??? Did they get 10s?
Why is PSA so trusted yet dramatically un-perfect when they do give out 10’s?
So many 10’s out there with flaws.
I can only think of one of my PSA 10 cards which may be a bit generously graded out of all that I own (and I have a TON of PSA 10 cards). And it’s not like the card sucks or anything, I just think a 9 would have been a more fair grade.
I believe the cards that Mike is referring to were graded as 9’s. A minor indent of sorts can still merit a PSA 9 in my experience. Again, it has to be minor.
I got one 9 and one 10. The PSA 10 was my previous No.1 trainer and the indentation was on the front of the card. It was not significant to the overall eye appeal of the card (and it was minor) but PSA missed it.
Every so often, cause of the human factor, things may be missed. With 10s they’re often double checked so strange it got missed twice. Sometimes if every other area is PERFECT then a minor flaw is acceptable. I would not want that PSA 10 Masaki though if you can see the indents.
They are trusted because they are consistent. Graders are human. Everyone can make a mistake. You have to keep in mind that pokemon is not yet accepted as a main hobby in the collecting world. This is relevant since most of the people grading are probably trained to look for signs that are more common on sport cards. Pokemon cards are not made in the same fashion as a lot of the sports cards, especially vintage sport cards.
Perhaps they considered the “indents” that are being referred to as factory made, or they were overlooked. I do not know for a fact. I personally have never received a card that was graded too high.
Also, earning a PSA 10 is not an easy task. Sure, sending in a relatively new card it seems easy. My experience in trying to even earn an 8 with sports cards is a stressful journey. The point here is that the PSA 10 is difficult to achieve, which is why people pay a premium for one. If 10’s were handed out falsely on a consistent basis the demand would not be there.
Well put Scott!
I really dont think they would miss anything that would affect the cards grade. There are always two graders that check the card. If you check PSA’s website they clearly state that a PSA 10 does not have to be entirely perfect but the overall look must be perfect. So in my experience they will grade a card a 10 if there is a bit of whitening on the back. If there is whitening or anything else on the front it’s harder to get a 10. It just depends on how good it is visible.
Are you sure those are copies or points? I remember a long time ago people said you had to earn points, similar to daisuki, and also send in the pass cards.
20,000-30,000 copies seems disproportional for how many are available.
Hey Japanime, can you take a look at this. 
I would put my money on those numbers being correct. I can vouch from experience collecting coins that 30,000 copies is very small in the grand scheme of things. We’re going back over a decade; many have been lost, damaged, heavily played etc. Think about how many are probably sitting in shoeboxes under beds in Japan right now.
They are being compared to recent cards with known print runs but a comparison like that cannot be made. Back then no one thought Pokemon would amount to anything. Now rare releases are being sold to the masses (like the zorua/zoroark set) and superficially appear more common than they are. New cards are also kept in good condition as they are marketed to collectors, not kids.
The print runs also coincide with the Pokemon themselves. The more badass the Pokemon, the more copies were printed. Why? Because the children might really want a sweet Alakazam yet not give a hoot about lame Omastar. So more Kadabras were sent out.
When were these cards produced and how were they obtained? how many masaki sets are there?
That gengar and golem are some of my favourite ever artwork on pokemon cards