[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

This is where we're in agreement. I do think it's a lack of proper training with inexperienced graders not properly discerning the nuances that each set has. No grader can grade 1987 Donruss Rookies the same as 2024 Prizm. I don't think all graders suffer from this, but considering how slammed PSA got after the pandemic, an issue they still have not consistently been able to handle, I would bet that the process to get graders on the assembly line has been faster than the ideal and that a lack of training, and a rush to get cards graded, creates all kinds of problems.


And, at the end of the day, we're talking about the human element of it all. Humans make mistakes, whether a grade is determined based on a grader's mood, a lack of knowledge, or anything else, they are humans. Until we get computers that do all of the grading, the human element, just like umps in baseball, will always be a factor.

Yes, this is likely a huge factor. I also wouldn't discount pop control on select highly publicized cards. Like I mentioned, their process now includes super high res scans. Nat could simply be instructing graders to knock it to a 9 if you find anything on the scan.