Thanks for the video Scott. Have noticed the same pattern. My theory was also that the major change is in how they are grading the shape of a card. I had a few cards that had a slight curve, or the odd base set corner will have a little lip on the back. Ever so slightly. I had some pack fresh shadowless cards come back 7’s 6’s 8’s that are obviously Mint. It’s troublesome indeed. I just hope that this is something temporary, and perhaps the result of new employees. What’s most troublesome to me, is I sent two separate subs, both mint shadowless. One came back as 9’s @ 10’s. The other one came back full of 6’s and 7’s, with one 10. This tells me that this isn’t necessarily a new standard. But an inconsistency with PSA itself. I just hope they can sort it out, and that all these people who are seeing this issue do their due diligence to bring this to PSA’s attention.
Actually, they’ve been saying THAT for 25 years lol. And, the only people saying the above have all newer labels and no experience;)
Did you even watch Scott’s video?
@kpod,
Of course I watched it. Also, I’ve been grading through PSA since 1994. Finally, I know many crackers who are cracking like crazy this last few years because its slightly easier to get upgraded these days.
That seems to be the exact opposite of what everyone is saying. No doubt more people are cracking 9s and resubmitting as card values soar, at the same time multiple highly respected people in the community are stating PSA is grading harder than ever on old vintage cards. No one is saying your hoard is not 10 worthy, just simply that these days the grading standard is higher than it used to be. Grading seems to have gotten significantly more difficult in the last 4-6 months.
But what about the last few months? You refer to “last few years” but I believe the questioning is stemming at how the standards may possibly have changed in the past 3-6 months. I’m curious to see how active these “crackers” will be in the next 3 months.
This is exactly what PSA should be doing, grading all cards under the same umbrella. A PSA grade should be the same regardless of what type of card it is.
I think the point of Scott’s video was to show that PSA is now considering the peeled Japanese edges to be damage, when in fact it’s not damage and wasn’t ever considered damage in the past.
He points out a clear inconsistency and backs it up with convincing evidence. That’s what I appreciate about the video. All other complaints, whether true or not, are anecdotal.
“The last few months” are hardly a big enough sample size. That could simply be swayed by one apprentice grader.
My last submission everything but hidden fates got 9’s. All hidden fates got 10’s and all my vintage stuff got 9’s. It was brutal.
If I had a patreon then my boy Scott would have to use it. I have some tips that would make him a ton;)
@smpratte, what kind of camera did you get? For the next upgrade, might I recommend an external shotgun microphone (Rode makes some really nice ones that plug into the camera) . . . get that audio nice and crispy!
Reading this thread is making me nervous for my bulk order that got logged in ):
Maybe I’ll wait for a few months before sending off my first psa order haha
I was using an external mic. I don’t know why it changed when zoomed. I’m not that tech savvy and didn’t notice until it was published.
I think that still every psa collector keeps collecting psa and grading to psa. (I also only collect psa)
That when grading is much harsher by many opinions.
That they are (high) extra costs for grading valuable cards if you want them back (what sucks).
Can PSA do whatever they want? As long as PSA holds it’s quality name (I only know 2 top graders PSA & BGS, their could be others…).
pretty much
people aren’t going to stop grading with them over inconsistent grading. Purists and serious collectors might get frustrated but for the average person it’s all about adding value and the flip.
@obliviox91 It is true that there are two big grading companies are determining the market. I do however think that they cannot do whatever they want.
I am of the opinion that only the more rare/expensive cards will remain getting graded if PSA/Beckett keep raising the prices. But I might be wrong and maybe people (aka graded card collectors) will want to have all cards graded whatever the price. We’ll see.
This debate has been happening for years as Gary said and seems to come in waves. I have see some old labels that are way over graded and then I think they tightened standards to a new norm. Then, when the latest label style was first introduced a year or two ago I felt they were over grading many cards. People became used to that new standard and now they are being slightly more stringent. Overall, on my personal submissions I haven’t noticed any variance that is truly alarming to me which tells me that I am either lucky or people aren’t as good at pregrading their own cards. While I’m not ancient like Gary, I’ve been submitting thousands of cards per year for the last 8 years. 
Thousands of cards 6, 7 and 8 years ago? I would be interested in seeing your grades from 7 or 8 years ago. Would be right before I started grading and many of us here.
Took my chances with a bulk 200+ card order that I sent off to PSA today. Wanted to get my order out before the price increase for 2020. All my best cards from 1st ed Jungle, Fossil and Team Rocket. All pulled from boxes I purchased 20 years ago and kept in binders ever since. The cards were double checked for any obvious defects. Let’s hope the graders don’t have 20-20 vision.