GRADE CREEP - the sliding scale!

Spfld Ponies · 03-11-2022, 03:29 PM

Many, many of us who have been submitting cards to grading companies for years recognize the last three years have seen unwritten, changing standards applied at, most notably, SGC and PSA. Both are grading more technically and stricter, regardless of the card’s age. It seems each wants to be viewed as "the toughest grader in the business"!

A few of us refer to this as GRADE CREEP - the sliding of the scale toward a more strict interpretation and, thus, a lower grade.

I personally believe TPG's focus more on technicalities than ever, and less on eye appeal. Eye appeal was always an aspect to be considered in the first 20 years of card grading, and older cards produced with more archaic technology were graded ever so slightly less harshly. Not anymore... they (SGC, PSA) are grading everything like its a 2022 pack pulled, sharp-edged card, printed with modern technology. This modest change among the Big Two (PSA and SGC) has been frustrating to collectors.

Question: have you observed this sliding (downward) scale in your submissions of late?

View Poll Results: Has grading become more strict in the last 3 years?
Yes, PSA and SGC are tougher than ever	52	71.23%
No, the same standards from 10 years ago apply	21	28.77%
Voters: 73. You may not vote on this poll

03-11-2022, 03:29 PM	#1
Spfld Ponies Member Join Date: Feb 2022 Posts: 215	GRADE CREEP - the sliding scale! Many, many of us who have been submitting cards to grading companies for years recognize the last three years have seen unwritten, changing standards applied at, most notably, SGC and PSA. Both are grading more technically and stricter, regardless of the card’s age. It seems each wants to be viewed as "the toughest grader in the business"! A few of us refer to this as GRADE CREEP - the sliding of the scale toward a more strict interpretation and, thus, a lower grade. I personally believe TPG's focus more on technicalities than ever, and less on eye appeal. Eye appeal was always an aspect to be considered in the first 20 years of card grading, and older cards produced with more archaic technology were graded ever so slightly less harshly. Not anymore... they (SGC, PSA) are grading everything like its a 2022 pack pulled, sharp-edged card, printed with modern technology. This modest change among the Big Two (PSA and SGC) has been frustrating to collectors. Question: have you observed this sliding (downward) scale in your submissions of late? __________________ Thanks for your comments, Joe