The Giant Professional Grading Thread

[knotchi]

@kpod

@knotchi

@pokemondanni , Me and my friend closely looked at the card and made note of all the imperfections. Indent was not one of them but I’ll take another look at it when I get it back

@teraz , don’t have the card yet, the grade just popped up on PSA so I checked out the grade and was shocked.

@zorloth , i used the standard card saver in between two cardboard pieces to create shell with masking tape and such. Wrapped that in bubble wrap then put that in a small flat rate box. don’t think it was damaged in transit

I guess the only thing to do is wait until I get the slab back and take a second look at it. This may be the cleanest PSA 4 in existence.

Likely a micro crease you can’t see, could have occurred while at PSA if you swear it was clean when you sent it

Yes, it was very clean. I have pictures of the card before I sent it so I’m curious to see what it looks like when I get it back.

[milad101]

I got an order from 5/27via ludkins, any day now hopefully

[kpod]

@knotchi

@kpod

Likely a micro crease you can’t see, could have occurred while at PSA if you swear it was clean when you sent it

Yes, it was very clean. I have pictures of the card before I sent it so I’m curious to see what it looks like when I get it back.

For super express I thought every card was scanned and a picture was attached with the cert when searched for? Or is that only standard on even higher tiers?

[cedar]

I need some help here… when I opened my submission from Ludkins, 2 of the cards had cracked cases: Split Earth Alakazam PSA 9 and Pidgeot Jungle 1st PSA 8. The Pidgeot looks ok but the Alakazam is bent from the impact and no longer a 9. I have a video of me opening package to show I am not at fault. What do I do?

[knotchi]

@kpod

@knotchi

Yes, it was very clean. I have pictures of the card before I sent it so I’m curious to see what it looks like when I get it back.

For super express I thought every card was scanned and a picture was attached with the cert when searched for? Or is that only standard on even higher tiers?

The cert lookup is still pending. Hopefully I can see scans of it soon.

[pokematt]

@cedar

I need some help here… when I opened my submission from Ludkins, 2 of the cards had cracked cases: Split Earth Alakazam PSA 9 and Pidgeot Jungle 1st PSA 8. The Pidgeot looks ok but the Alakazam is bent from the impact and no longer a 9. I have a video of me opening package to show I am not at fault. What do I do?

Contact Ludkins first maybe lol

[mixduo]

I got an express order that arrived 3/05 and its still in “arrived”. Anyone else have a similar timetable?

[knotchi]

@mixduo

I got an express order that arrived 3/05 and its still in “arrived”. Anyone else have a similar timetable?

I have a 3/16 still on arrived

[sparky55603]

@cedar

I need some help here… when I opened my submission from Ludkins, 2 of the cards had cracked cases: Split Earth Alakazam PSA 9 and Pidgeot Jungle 1st PSA 8. The Pidgeot looks ok but the Alakazam is bent from the impact and no longer a 9. I have a video of me opening package to show I am not at fault. What do I do?

I don’t even know how that’s possible but I’m very invested in this now. If possible I’d like to see the video at some point in time.

[KingPokemon]

@sparky55603

@cedar

I need some help here… when I opened my submission from Ludkins, 2 of the cards had cracked cases: Split Earth Alakazam PSA 9 and Pidgeot Jungle 1st PSA 8. The Pidgeot looks ok but the Alakazam is bent from the impact and no longer a 9. I have a video of me opening package to show I am not at fault. What do I do?

I don’t even know how that’s possible but I’m very invested in this now. If possible I’d like to see the video at some point in time.

How did the outer box look?

[sparky55603]

@KingPokemon

@sparky55603

I don’t even know how that’s possible but I’m very invested in this now. If possible I’d like to see the video at some point in time.

How did the outer box look?

I’m thinking it has to be an error on the shipping companies side. Either a large box smashed into it or something, I don’t think Ludkins would do anything like that and try to cover it. Now if the box was intact then there’s going to be a big problem I don’t think its possible for a slab to rumble around enough for it it break open. That’s just my take though.

[parkermrparker]

@pichufan

As a PSA pop report update: PSA have graded at least* 16,200 Pokémon cards in the past week, of which 4,710 received PSA 10 grades and 6,068 received PSA 9 grades.

Interestingly PSA have now graded 1.61 million Pokémon cards, so despite being a few thousand lower than last week 16,200 is just over 1% of all the Pokémon cards PSA have ever seen.

The top 3 cards and top 3 sets are the same as they have been for the past few weeks, so I’m not going to keep repeating that.

As something a bit different, here are the 100 most graded Pokémon in PSA’s pop report:

1. Charizard - 197,632
2. Pikachu - 82,425
3. Blastoise - 41,284
4. Mewtwo - 39,485
5. Mew - 34,893
6. Venusaur - 34,427
7. Gyarados - 25,236
8. Zapdos - 24,897
9. Raichu - 23,190
10. Dragonite - 19,452
11. Moltres - 17,534
12. Machamp - 17,180
13. Articuno - 16,938
14. Alakazam - 16,535
15. Snorlax - 15,584
16. Magneton - 14,520
17. Rayquaza - 14,292
18. Ninetales - 13,051
19. Charmander - 13,048
20. Eevee - 12,646
21. Lugia - 12,607
22. Gengar - 12,109
23. Porygon - 10,733
24. Nidoking - 10,360
25. Reshiram - 9,452
26. Ho-Oh - 9,344
27. Umbreon - 9,251
28. Celebi - 8,882
29. Entei - 8,819
30. Hitmonchan - 8,448
31. Poliwrath - 8,382
32. Espeon - 8,243
33. Jolteon - 8,166
34. Flareon - 8,115
35. Clefairy - 7,946
36. Charmeleon - 7,709
37. Typhlosion - 7,691
38. Vaporeon - 7,671
39. Tyranitar - 7,665
40. Vileplume - 7,562
41. Chansey - 7,405
42. Squirtle - 7,388
43. Kabutops - 7,067
44. Magikarp - 6,942
45. Arcanine - 6,810
46. Scyther - 6,553
47. Raikou - 6,023
48. Suicune - 5,987
49. Pidgeot - 5,805
50. Electrode - 5,756
51. Aerodactyl - 5,749
52. Lapras - 5,708
53. Meganium - 5,566
54. Electabuzz - 5,512
55. Hypno - 5,424
56. Bulbasaur - 5,360
57. Clefable - 4,994
58. Ditto - 4,950
59. Haunter - 4,866
60. Houndoom - 4,841
61. Steelix - 4,802
62. Gardevoir - 4,710
63. Vulpix - 4,673
64. Feraligatr - 4,638
65. Jirachi - 4,575
66. Muk - 4,550
67. Ampharos - 4,487
68. Scizor - 4,390
69. Wartortle - 4,346
70. Meowth - 4,265
71. Dragonair - 4,261
72. Latios - 4,240
73. Psyduck - 4,190
74. Dugtrio - 4,098
75. Persian - 4,068
76. Kangaskhan - 3,959
77. Nidoqueen - 3,958
78. Slowbro - 3,950
79. Ivysaur - 3,778
80. Darkrai - 3,649
81. Pichu - 3,610
82. Magnemite - 3,587
83. Groudon - 3,582
84. Arceus - 3,555
85. Kingdra - 3,536
86. Lucario - 3,534
87. Beedrill - 3,531
88. Mr. Mime - 3,515
89. Arbok - 3,475
90. Wigglytuff - 3,432
91. Kyogre - 3,350
92. Latias - 3,335
93. Zekrom - 3,256
94. Dialga - 3,249
95. Abra - 3,163
96. Sylveon - 3,159
97. Weezing - 3,129
98. Nidoran - 3,118
99. Deoxys - 3,109
100. Hitmonlee - 3,082

* As mentioned previously, their search index has been broken for a few months now and does not include some of the sets. I’m having to hardcode both the 2021 McDonald’s set and the Shining Fates set as neither appear currently when searching for “pokemon”. This means there will be some sets I’m unaware of, making the total numbers very likely higher than what I’ve noted above.

Reshiram is a huge surprise? TF so gradeworthy for that card?

[pichufan]

@parkermrparker

Reshiram is a huge surprise? TF so gradeworthy for that card?

There are a handful of different “Reshiram & Charizard” cards which account for the majority of those.
If I strip those from the data Reshiram goes from 9,452 down to 3,236 (25th down to 94th).

Braixen doesn’t quite make it into the top 100 and stands at 2,588 cards graded - however 98.5% of those are cards which feature Charizard (“Charizard & Braixen”) - only 39 Braixen cards have been graded otherwise.

[admiral]

Was it posted somewhere that we could see what portion of the graded cards are from which set?

[pichufan]

@admiral

Was it posted somewhere that we could see what portion of the graded cards are from which set?

Here are the top 100 sets*:

1. Base Set (1st Edition) - 100,684
2. Base Set - 91,721
3. Sun & Moon Hidden Fates - 50,497
4. XY Evolutions - 46,791
5. Base Set (Shadowless) - 45,599
6. [Japanese] CD Promo - 45,051
7. Team Rocket (1st Edition) - 44,306
8. Fossil (1st Edition) - 40,977
9. Jungle (1st Edition) - 35,250
10. [Japanese] Neo Genesis - 24,642
11. Legendary Collection - 24,488
12. Skyridge - 21,288
13. Gym Challenge (1st Edition) - 18,923
14. SM Black Star Promo - 18,537
15. Neo Genesis (1st Edition) - 18,384
16. Sun & Moon Shining Legends - 17,654
17. Base Set 2 - 17,513
18. Expedition Base Set - 16,078
19. Fossil - 15,353
20. Gym Heroes (1st Edition) - 14,819
21. Aquapolis - 14,219
22. [Japanese] SM Promo - 14,053
23. [Japanese] Base Set - 14,013
24. [German] Base Set (1st Edition) - 13,769
25. Sword & Shield Champion’s Path - 13,712
26. Jungle - 13,116
27. Team Rocket - 13,023
28. Promo Black Star - 12,993
29. [Japanese] Gym 2 - 11,545
30. Neo Destiny (1st Edition) - 11,418
31. Neo Destiny - 11,064
32. Sun & Moon Burning Shadows - 10,964
33. [Japanese] Sun & Moon Ultra Shiny GX - 10,579
34. Neo Revelation (1st Edition) - 10,540
35. SM Black Star Promo - 10,500
36. Sun & Moon Unbroken Bonds - 10,414
37. [Japanese] Expansion 20th Anniversary (1st Edition) - 10,385
38. Swsh Black Star Promo - 10,237
39. [Japanese] XY Promo - 9,467
40. Sun & Moon Cosmic Eclipse - 9,264
41. [Japanese] Expansion 20th Anniversary - 9,137
42. EX Unseen Forces - 8,530
43. Sun & Moon Ultra Prism - 8,270
44. Gym Challenge - 8,190
45. Sun & Moon - 8,011
46. EX Delta Species - 7,983
47. Gym Heroes - 7,892
48. EX Crystal Guardians - 7,738
49. EX Team Rocket Returns - 7,733
50. [Japanese] Rocket - 7,608
51. Sun & Moon Guardians Rising - 7,601
52. XY Flashfire - 7,533
53. [Japanese] Vending (Series I) - 7,499
54. Neo Discovery (1st Edition) - 7,489
55. EX Fire Red & Leaf Green - 7,218
56. Pokémon the Movie 2000 - 7,065
57. Sword & Shield Vivid Voltage - 6,990
58. EX Dragon Frontiers - 6,957
59. Sun & Moon Team Up - 6,750
60. Pokémon: The First Movie - 6,733
61. [Japanese] Vending - 6,574
62. [Japanese] SM Promo - 6,563
63. [Japanese] Promo - 6,409
64. [Japanese] Fossil - 6,404
65. Sun & Moon Unified Minds - 6,377
66. EX Power Keepers - 6,341
67. Neo Genesis - 6,081
68. Promo Black Star - 5,987
69. Neo Revelation - 5,897
70. [Japanese] Gym Heroes - 5,804
71. XY Black Star Promo - 5,731
72. Sword & Shield - 5,683
73. EX Holon Phantoms - 5,569
74. [Japanese] VS (1st Edition) - 5,555
75. Sun & Moon Celestial Storm - 5,526
76. XY Roaring Skies - 5,387
77. Jungle (No Symbol) - 5,347
78. EX Dragon - 5,152
79. Sun & Moon Forbidden Light - 5,142
80. [Japanese] SM Promo - 5,085
81. [Japanese] Expedition (1st Edition) - 4,895
82. [Japanese] Jungle - 4,855
83. [Japanese] Neo Destiny - 4,706
84. XY Generations - 4,656
85. [Japanese] S Promo - 4,411
86. EX Deoxys - 4,397
87. EX Legend Maker - 4,391
88. Sword & Shield Darkness Ablaze - 4,323
89. [Japanese] XY Promo - 4,318
90. Neo Discovery - 4,260
91. XY Breakthrough - 4,226
92. [Japanese] Sword & Shield Shiny Star V - 4,104
93. Sun & Moon Lost Thunder - 4,103
94. [Japanese] Sun & Moon Strength Expansion Pack Shining Legends - 4,006
95. [Japanese] XY Promo - 4,001
96. [Japanese] Base Set (No Rarity Symbol) - 3,845
97. XY Ancient Origins - 3,821
98. [Japanese] Neo Discovery - 3,808
99. Platinum Supreme Victors - 3,801
100. Sun & Moon Dragon Majesty - 3,779

* Note that I normalise PSA’s data to make it a lot easier to consume. PSA’s pop report doesn’t have a distinction between the unlimited, 1st edition or shadowless versions of Base Set (what they call “Pokémon Game”) for example, but I separate those out into their own sets.

Assume all sets are English unless otherwise prefixed with a language (e.g. “[Japanese]”) and assume if a set doesn’t include a variant in brackets after its name it’s the unlimited version of that set (“Base Set (1st Edition)” is the 1st edition set, whereas “Base Set” is the unlimited version).

For some visibility, here are the different variants I add separation on:

`const variants = [
‘Unlimited’,
‘1st Edition’,
‘Jumbo’,

// Base Set.
‘Shadowless’,
‘Trainer Deck A’,
‘Trainer Deck B’,

// Japanese Base Set.
‘No Rarity Symbol’,

// Topsun.
‘Blue Back’,
‘Green Back’,
‘Blue Back (Unnumbered)’,

// Jungle.
‘No Symbol’,

// Meiji.
‘Gold Foil’,
‘Silver Foil’,
‘Blue Foil’,

// Topps.
‘Rainbow Foil’,
‘Sparkle’,
‘Spectra’,
‘Tekno’,
‘Die-Cut’,

// Japanese Black & White base set.
‘Black Collection’,
‘White Collection’,

‘Series I’,
‘Series II’,
‘Series III’,

// Base Set 1999-2000 (recognised by PSA in March 2021).
‘©1999-2000’,
];`
If there’s anything else you think should be included in that list please do let me know!

[kingmidas1993]

@cedar

Ludkins return is finally back. Took a while but I guess it was a blessing in disguise now that they sell for 8x what I projected!

Shipped to PSA: 5/29/20
Delivered to PSA: 6/6/20
Registered: 7/6/20
Order Prep: 7/7/20
Research & ID: 7/7/20
Grading: 12/7/20
Shipped to Ludkins: 3/23/21

Is it fair to conclude that Ludkins is one month behind the “Value - TCG” completed through date?

It appears your submission was registered on 6 July 2020.
The complete through date of PSA for the “Value - TCG”, which is referred to by a lot of people as the ‘threshold’ to compare Ludkins/GG subs to, is on 9 August 2020.

I understand this is anecdotal, therefore it would be great if other people could share the timing of their subs through middlemen. I submitted to PSA through middlemen in June, August, November and January but am left completely in the dark on where my subs are at in the PSA process.

KM

[thymeee]

@kingmidas1993

@cedar

Ludkins return is finally back. Took a while but I guess it was a blessing in disguise now that they sell for 8x what I projected!

Shipped to PSA: 5/29/20
Delivered to PSA: 6/6/20
Registered: 7/6/20
Order Prep: 7/7/20
Research & ID: 7/7/20
Grading: 12/7/20
Shipped to Ludkins: 3/23/21

Is it fair to conclude that Ludkins is one month behind the “Value - TCG” completed through date?

It appears your submission was registered on 6 July 2020.
The complete through date of PSA for the “Value - TCG”, which is referred to by a lot of people as the ‘threshold’ to compare Ludkins/GG subs to, is on 9 August 2020.

I understand this is anecdotal, therefore it would be great if other people could share the timing of their subs through middlemen. I submitted to PSA through middlemen in June, August, November and January but am left completely in the dark on where my subs are at in the PSA process.

KM

My sub via gradedgem UK is going slower than the CTD (and yes from when the sub was registered), I am guessing that is how they are cheaper than PSA direct.

[kazambolt]

@kingmidas1993

I understand this is anecdotal, therefore it would be great if other people could share the timing of their subs through middlemen. I submitted to PSA through middlemen in June, August, November and January but am left completely in the dark on where my subs are at in the PSA process.

KM

This is basically what this thread is for, you can see tons of people posting the timing of their subs through middlemen and not.

We’re all in the same boat, completely in the dark. Sadly PSA doesn’t completely use FIFO even though they say they do, so any timings are just estimates. Generally, it seems like subs sent in around May/June are coming back now.

[cedar]

@sparky55603

@KingPokemon

How did the outer box look?

I’m thinking it has to be an error on the shipping companies side. Either a large box smashed into it or something, I don’t think Ludkins would do anything like that and try to cover it. Now if the box was intact then there’s going to be a big problem I don’t think its possible for a slab to rumble around enough for it it break open. That’s just my take though.

@KingPokemon, @pokematt, both the outer and inner boxes were fine. To clarify I mean there is a crack piercing through the case, not that the case fell apart. I will be uploading the YT video soon, I’ll lyk when its live!

[cedar]