I’m not here for the debate however, I do believe the OP has a certain point.
On PSA’s website under ‘PSA Grading Standards’ generalised ‘Card Grading’ they use a Mickey Mantle baseball card. Hopefully in the future we see this updated into categories like Pokemon or at least ‘Non-Sports Cards’.
Maybe @smpratte & @garyis2000 can help achieve this if PSA listens to feedback/criticism.
Every card should be handled with the same care, regardless of value. You’re basically saying that they just toss around cards that are sent at lower service levels?
Also, since there is no liability for their handling, since they can just say they received the card that way and nobody can make a case against them. WE pay insurance, they have zero liability unless they physically lost the card and couldn’t return it. They can’t even get their “Express” orders completed on time. And all they say is “sorry.”
This is ANOTHER area that Beckett is superior. They guarantee the deadline, and will reimburse the entire cost if they miss the deadline. That is a company with more integrity and consistent standards.
And, yes, I’ve basically convinced myself to use BGS from now on. Tough to get those 10s, but I now feel dumb for not using them, due to the persuasive nature of this very post and getting to think about things by having these conversations.
Taking extra care of $100k+ cards does not imply “tossing around” lower value cards.
The funny thing about BGS is they just got rid of their guarantee turnaround as of like 2 days ago www.beckett.com/grading/guranteed
Additionally, if this card you posted about was graded by BGS, not only is there no financial guarantee on the grade, there is also this lovely snippet about disputing grades on their faq:
“We will provide collectors with the finest, most thorough, consistent and accurate grading efforts available in the industry. Disputed grades on cards are limited to typographical errors on the label (i.e., the wrong set name).”
So if this charizord you posted was graded by bgs, there is no course of action to correct this.
PSA has problems. BGS has problems. Most real problems from both grading companies are inherent in subjective human grading. Feel free to use either one but if you really believe all that stuff you posted, you’re just deceiving yourself.
Hi, thank you both for your comment. On this series, that’s actually part of the art. There is a light coloring along the border of the art from the point where it says “Stage 2 Pokemon” (notice how this sticks out horizontally), and down to the part where it has the ID (also sticks out horizontally). The vertical line is shading between the two horizontal points I just described.
Ah my bad. I was never big on e-reader cards, so I did not know this. I just checked some of mine and sure enough they all have the exact same lines. What a weird detail to add to the cards haha.
Very curious what and if @garyis2000 finds something, so please update for the curious folk. Just to throw in my 2 experiences…
I have twice cracked a PSA case for resubmission because the grade did not seem right to me.
I got a PSA 8 WOTC Gold Stamp Charmeleon, that seemed flawless all day, BUT there was literal loose garbage under the case! Like some odd loose brown crumbs. I have no idea if that was why it got the 8, but PSA agreed the second time through that it was a 10 and now I am happy.
I had a shadowless PSA 6 Nidoking that I bought in person because I could not figure out the grade… I finally discovered that there appeared to be a light bow in the card (not an indent mind you), but it was otherwise very clean. Cracked the case and slid it between a stack of encyclopedias for 2 weeks to flatten. Resubmitted and PSA agreed suddenly that it was a PSA 9.
The moral of the story is that grading is done by people and that’s the best and worst part of the whole thing. They also are VERY good at usually finding little things wrong with a card. If you truly believe the card got shafted, then resubmit it. If it comes back with the same grade again, then you were most likely in the wrong.
For the record, I am not a serial cracker and have cracked a total of 4 times EVER. Only those two above were resubmitted.
Decided I’m going to resubmit with about 35 regular/economy level submissions. I have never cracked open a case, nor resubmitted anything, so this will be interesting. I promise I will post my results. I highly appreciate everyone’s input!
I’ve never submitted anything to PSA. Virtually every stage of their process gives me a headache. I am not saying their process is beyond reason, but it’s not for me. Pokémon is supposed to be fun and anything deviating from fun is not something I can participate in. On occasion I purchase already graded cards. If you don’t enjoy the PSA ride then don’t subject yourself to it. If I did submit to PSA I would totally be a cereal cracker because hey, why not? Just like opening booster packs there is the thrill of the gamble.
