(08-03-2014, 05:06 PM)stevemarknyc Wrote: 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.
Soooo, you didn't get the grades you wanted on your cards so it must then be a conspiracy favoring the big dealers? I've only submitted to PSA a few times, most recent was in 2004. Never had an issue and the max I ever submitted at once was 10 cards. Most were popped out of other companies slabs as well and received either the same grade or half a grade off.
Not that I disagree with the catering, I believe they all do it. I mean really, they are a business there to make money. I picked up a BGS 9.5 '88 Topps Traded Roberto Alomar a couple of years ago. The seller had approximately 10 available (had similar listings with different cards as well) so I was only seeing one photo but I figured it would be in sharp condition. Needless to say the card was off centered and had a rough top/left edge. I could assume that it was a similar situation in regards to large volume dealers but just chalk it up to a lesson learned, buy the card not the flip.