The Giant Professional Grading Thread

I think the difference (if there is any) in 2xx vs. 4xx certs isn’t particularly noticeable in PSA 10s. I own quite a few PSA 10s from both, and there’s no perceptible difference in the quality of the cards. And this experience is further confirmed when I look at high-def front/back scans of PSA 10s in the PWCC archive. If there is a difference in quality, it’s insignificant and not impactful on an card-by-card basis.

Where the 2xx vs 4xx cert does have a stark difference is in the quality of PSA 8s. The difference is so dramatic and consistent as to be unmistakable. I have literally zero to gain from this as I don’t own a single slabbed PSA 8 lol, but it’s obviously the case. We’re not talking about subtle, subjective differences; we’re talking about a consistent difference that has been experienced by myself and others over the course of thousands and thousands of cracked PSA 8s.

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What?

Like if more PSA 10 1st Edition Charizards existed in 2XX certs I didn’t want someone to be like “well actually most zards & trophy cards are in 2XX certs so id rather take 2XX”

@funmonkey54

Plz weigh in… is it tougher these days to get a psa 10 than it was 1, 2, 3, ect years ago? Did you notice a change in grading standards over time?

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Here we have a solid nm-mint card for your viewing pleasure guys :_D www.ebay.de/itm/1999-Pokemon-Base-Set-1st-Edition-Holo-Shadowless-Nidoking-11-BGS-8-NM-MINT-PSA/254901504198?hash=item3b595048c6:g:5e8AAOSwefBgTQwF

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Regardless of one’s perspective on 2xx vs. 4xx PSA certs, I think we can all agree on the fact that BGS is consistently inconsistent lol. A BGS 8 just means that the card is anywhere from a PSA 5 and 8, and a BGS 9 just means that the card is somewhere from a PSA 7 and a 9. I love the look of the BGS slab, but their grades mean shit. I recently got a BGS 9.5 that would probably cross to a PSA 7 lol. And that’s not an isolated incident.

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With those grading standards I really wonder what a 5.5 would look like, like how would a bgs 5.5 german base set energy look?

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Anyone have ludkins “gold” subs which registered in july?
Any upcharges or returns yet?
Im hoping soon for me. Registered july 20. Sent june 6 i believe

I don’t have any idea. It would be impossible to tell because even if I compared precheck data to returns data, hypothetically, maybe we just got better at grading cards. Too much subjectivity to make any real data determinations.

All I know is that PSA’s use of half grades has changed a lot over time.

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Value TCG sub delivered 3/5/21 and checked in on research as of 4/16/21. Seems pretty fast compared to my last sub.

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Do you own some sort of mind control device to sneak your Droid on past all of the pSatorm Troopers!?

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Which do you prefer?: PSA 9 with perfect centering but 1 dot of corner whitening on the back OR PSA 9 that is off-centered with no whitening whatsoever on the back

I look at the front of the card more so I’ll take the perfect centering.

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I agree! Would you rather have a PSA 8 with perfect centering but a few dots of whitening on the back over the off-centered 9?

No i’ll take the 9 lol.

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Hello good fellows. I’ve recently got back into the hobby and am completely new to grading. (Also new to this community - Hi!)

I’m considering which cards I would like to send to PSA, but I’m very unsure about what sort of grade to expect for these two Masaki Golem cards. I think if the grade is lower than a 7 I would rather just keep the card raw. But what do you think I can expect?

This first one is pretty clean all over, except it has the Masaki imprint on one of the corners.



This second one doesn’t have the Masaki imprint, has nice edges except for at the top, but has some scuffing on the back + a scratch on the holo

Any input is greatly appreciated!

I think a 7 at best on the one with an indent, but more likely a 6.
The scratched one would possibly get an 8. I would submit the scratched one myself for PSA. Maybe bgs would give the indented one a 7 or 7.5 though

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Express complete up to Feb 15 according to PSA website. However my 2 1st edition Lugia that are prob a 9 are still in grading and were marked arrived Feb 10 lol.

PSA goes by when the order is registered not when it arrived

so which step is registered ?