Is there a way to dispute ridiculous grades by PSA?

ophion · 01-25-2021, 03:46 PM

Hi everyone, so I got a PSA 3 and 6 on 2 card, and I just got the cards back and I just can't see why they deserve those grades. I understand if I think a card deserves a 10 but got 9 or 8, but this is crazy to me. Is there anyway to dispute this without having to pay again or am I out of luck?

The one that got a 6 looked clean as well.

Here is a video, it's not a sports card but the grading standards should be the same regardless. (sorry about the reflections)

https://streamable.com/pviioa

arashY · 01-25-2021, 04:28 PM

check the front/back under a bright light at an angle there is most likely a crease.

Gigantor · 01-25-2021, 04:42 PM

Agreed on a possible crease. From looking at your video, the lighting and shadowing suggests a ridge across the center of the card.

Gigantor · 01-25-2021, 04:47 PM

Another angle:

ophion · 01-25-2021, 05:10 PM

Thanks guys, there were certainly no noticeable creases when I submitted it (checked under light) I guess I'll have to crack this open to know for sure.

Springerj23 · 01-25-2021, 06:11 PM

As others have said, has to be a surface crease and/or wrinkle. Every time in the past I have experienced a grade out of left field that is the culprit.

ophion · 01-25-2021, 08:34 PM

I just cracked that case and you guys were right, there is a faint but sizeable horizontal crease in the middle of the card. I can't imagine that I missed something this obvious when I was examining it under light, but unfortunately I don't have a solid proof that it wasn't there. I'm guessing the grader was holding the card then accidently put too much pressure or something like that.

Thank you everyone.

mjohnatgt · 01-25-2021, 08:51 PM

Could have been made when you inserted the card in the Cardsaver, if you didn't practice with cardsavers. Did you use a CSI or CSII size?

ophion · 01-25-2021, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

Could have been made when you inserted the card in the Cardsaver, if you didn't practice with cardsavers. Did you use a CSI or CSII size?

It was the CS1 so I had no trouble inserting it. I could see it happening with the smaller ones, because I've used the UltraPro semi-rigid holders before and those are really tight and I had to apply some force.

empigtv · 01-25-2021, 10:23 PM

PSA is almost always accurate +-1 grade. In my experience when a card looks like at 10, but grades much lower, the answers are as follows:

7 - Print defect under magnification
6 - Surface impression
5 - Surface wrinkle
4 - Scuff or minor paper loss under magnification
3 - Always a crease, often on the back

If you think of grading as each of the above being limiting factors rather than based on the card's visual appearance, it starts to make a lot more sense. In other words, the best you can do with a crease is a 3, the best you can do with a significant print defect is a 7, and so on.

ophion · 01-25-2021, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by empigtv

PSA is almost always accurate +-1 grade. In my experience when a card looks like at 10, but grades much lower, the answers are as follows:

7 - Print defect under magnification
6 - Surface impression
5 - Surface wrinkle
4 - Scuff or minor paper loss under magnification
3 - Always a crease, often on the back

If you think of grading as each of the above being limiting factors rather than based on the card's visual appearance, it starts to make a lot more sense. In other words, the best you can do with a crease is a 3, the best you can do with a significant print defect is a 7, and so on.

That's a good guideline. I'm not sure if I was blind when I was checking the card or it was damaged during grading process, but I'll have to live with it. I'll just be extra attentive next time so I know for sure before sending cards out.

01-25-2021, 03:46 PM	#1
ophion Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 240	Is there a way to dispute ridiculous grades by PSA? Hi everyone, so I got a PSA 3 and 6 on 2 card, and I just got the cards back and I just can't see why they deserve those grades. I understand if I think a card deserves a 10 but got 9 or 8, but this is crazy to me. Is there anyway to dispute this without having to pay again or am I out of luck? The one that got a 6 looked clean as well. Here is a video, it's not a sports card but the grading standards should be the same regardless. (sorry about the reflections) https://streamable.com/pviioa Last edited by ophion; 01-25-2021 at 03:53 PM.

01-25-2021, 04:42 PM	#3
Gigantor Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 3,411 Gigantor	Agreed on a possible crease. From looking at your video, the lighting and shadowing suggests a ridge across the center of the card. __________________ PC - Jake Long - Blue Detroit Lions - Santa Claus Cards

01-25-2021, 04:47 PM	#4
Gigantor Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 3,411 Gigantor	Another angle: __________________ PC - Jake Long - Blue Detroit Lions - Santa Claus Cards

01-25-2021, 04:28 PM	#2
arashY Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: VA Posts: 860	check the front/back under a bright light at an angle there is most likely a crease.

01-25-2021, 05:10 PM	#5
ophion Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 240	Thanks guys, there were certainly no noticeable creases when I submitted it (checked under light) I guess I'll have to crack this open to know for sure.

01-25-2021, 06:11 PM	#6
Springerj23 Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,499	As others have said, has to be a surface crease and/or wrinkle. Every time in the past I have experienced a grade out of left field that is the culprit.

01-25-2021, 08:34 PM	#7
ophion Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Canada Posts: 240	I just cracked that case and you guys were right, there is a faint but sizeable horizontal crease in the middle of the card. I can't imagine that I missed something this obvious when I was examining it under light, but unfortunately I don't have a solid proof that it wasn't there. I'm guessing the grader was holding the card then accidently put too much pressure or something like that. Thank you everyone.

01-25-2021, 08:51 PM	#8
mjohnatgt Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Niceville, FL Posts: 14,545 mjohnatgt mjohnatgt	Could have been made when you inserted the card in the Cardsaver, if you didn't practice with cardsavers. Did you use a CSI or CSII size?

01-25-2021, 10:23 PM	#10
empigtv Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 36	PSA is almost always accurate +-1 grade. In my experience when a card looks like at 10, but grades much lower, the answers are as follows: 7 - Print defect under magnification 6 - Surface impression 5 - Surface wrinkle 4 - Scuff or minor paper loss under magnification 3 - Always a crease, often on the back If you think of grading as each of the above being limiting factors rather than based on the card's visual appearance, it starts to make a lot more sense. In other words, the best you can do with a crease is a 3, the best you can do with a significant print defect is a 7, and so on.