When it comes to collecting trading cards, getting them graded by a reputable company like PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) can add value and authenticity to your collection. However, many collectors have experienced the subjective nature of grading first-hand.
As much as we want to believe that trading card grading is a completely objective process, the truth is that it can never be fully objective. While grading companies like PSA have set guidelines and criteria for grading cards, there is still a level of subjectivity involved in the process. Grading a card is not just a matter of looking at the card and checking off a set of boxes, but also requires interpretation and judgment from a human grader.
Even if grading companies have strict guidelines that they follow when grading cards, they still rely on human eyes to evaluate the condition of a card. This can lead to inconsistencies in grading, as each grader may have a slightly different interpretation of what constitutes a certain grade. This is especially true for cards that have minor imperfections, which can be subjective to the individual grader’s opinion.
This means that two different graders could evaluate the same card and come up with different grades. There are also stories of collectors resubmitting the same card and receiving a higher grade or sometimes a lower grade, which further illustrates the subjective nature of grading.
In reality, trading card grading cannot be fully objective. Grading companies use human graders to evaluate cards, and each grader brings their own subjective biases and opinions to the process. As collectors, we must keep in mind that the grade on a card is not an infallible judgment of its true condition, but rather a subjective assessment that comes with some degree of error.
This is not to say that grading companies are scams, as they do provide a valuable service to collectors by offering a near-objective opinion on the condition of a card based on pre-defined standards. However, collectors should not rely solely on the grade assigned to a card by a grading company, as it is not an absolute guarantee of the card’s true condition.
Collectors should not view grading as the be-all and end-all when it comes to evaluating the condition of their cards. Instead, they should use their own judgment and knowledge of the hobby to make informed decisions about the value and condition of their collections. It’s important to understand that grading is not an exact science and that a high grade does not necessarily mean that a card is in pristine condition.
Collectors should always do their due diligence and evaluate a card’s condition themselves before making a purchase, even if it is a professionally graded card with an assigned grade. And whether it’s a card with a low grade that has sentimental value or a high-grade card to complete a collection, buying the card and not just the grade can lead to a more fulfilling collecting experience.
Cardboard Crusade 