(02-26-2012, 06:50 PM)Surfnun Wrote: Experience is the best teacher. I have been a member of the PSA Collector's club for many years and have over a thousand cards graded by them. Over the past year, I have sent in several seemingly perfect vintage cards to have them returned as having a problem from PSA. I had read an article in the Chicago papers in 2008 that PSA was caught inflating card grades for big customers including the famous T-209 Wagner which PSA graders knew to be trimmed. To make up for the high grades, they would suppress grades from small customers so the pop report didn't look out of balance. So, several months ago I bought a 1975 unopened cello pack graded 9 by GAI with Brett rookie on top. I opened it and sent the card to PSA. It came back with the reference "evidence of trimming". Not "miscut" (which it wasn't - perfect borders), but trimmed. The card was then graded a 98 (gem mint) by SGC. That's what PSA is going and has lost my business, meager as it is.
Unbelievable that it took so long for me to find a response as accuarate and truthful as yours. I remember the first time I had my cards graded by PSA, I was expecting 9s and 10s but they came back 5s 6s and an 8. I had a 1976 Morgan card that was at least a 7 but graded a 5. I was so upset I called PSA on the phone to complain, they did not answer so I left a message. I have bought cards from the largest clients of PSA on EBAY, and time and time again I have noticed that their cards have gotten a grade or two higher while mine were knocked down because of a lack of volume. VERDICT: PSA caters to their big clients and manipulates grades and population reports, therefore, they are untrustworthy and unreliable, but the average collector does not have the IQ to understand this and continues to pay more for less with PSA.