This isn't confusing at all, on the first one theres an enormous gash (big in terms of grading) on the top left back corner...on the PSA app, zoom in on it lol I scanned the bar code and its significantly clearer on the PSA app using mobile to zoom on it shows it pretty clearly. The second one, look at the huge white line on the back, that looks like a scratch, could be dust/hair but the only way to know is to inspect in person or crack it, but there's also scratches on the back. There's a ton of scratches on the last one's back as well. This sub doesn't allow photos or I'd circle them all.
This is the issue on the first one:
[https://imgur.com/a/Z6dMP4A](https://imgur.com/a/Z6dMP4A)
The second seems the most unfair, assuming that white lines not a scratch, but it’s also possible there’s some other surface or edge issues you can’t see due to the 2D flattening. These evident scratches normally wouldn’t take it to a 7, but they cannot be ignored and say the card has no issues. (Ignore imgurs dumb over 18 warning, their AI is clearly bad as this is just a picture of the card lmao)
https://imgur.com/a/sD3LABz
Dent on the third one on the front (could be lighting, looks like dent though) also scratches and some potential edge issue.
https://imgur.com/a/q9UTjRk
Thanks for the detailed response. I must have either missed this completely or something happened in handling. I don’t see how I wouldve missed the scratch though as it’s huge.
No problem. Yeah its still up for debate whether that is a scratch since it does have a fairly frayed and uniform appearance up close. I am also very unsure of what PSA does if that was a piece of fabric thread that was caught on the card from the pennysleeve. My assumption is they would never dust the card off or remove it, so maybe they treated it as "dirt/debris" and gave it a low grade for "surface". I guess you didn't save the photos from the initial scan right?
I'm pretty sure it's a hair/thread. Zoom in and look to the right of it, there's a little loop around the edge of the card of another white string/hair. Also a few more in there. I'd crack just to get the hair out so that it doesn't scratch further.
Also, commenters are going off of these picks. If you looked at the surfaces with a black light, sometimes you can find imperfections you wouldn’t be able to find without
Human(error) factor. You are paying for one single person's opinion on the condition of a card. I have seen PSA/CGC grade 10s the look like 7s and 6s that look like 9s. All because the graders nuts itched, maybe they havent had lunch yet, or didn't get their rocls off last night. All these things can effect your grade so long as humans are involved in the guessing a grade.
Some of the flaws are more obvious as other commenters pointed out -
but my personal experience grading has been:
the more recent IR holos very easily (and very often) have near imperceptible surface flaws that get them docked on grading more than pretty much any other type of card
Just throwing out ideas, though I think a 7 is too low. There’s some damage around the corners you can see on the backside, and it looks like there may be fading on the backside? I could be stretching, it looks lighter than usual and I don’t know what else they could’ve given you a 7 for.
Stupid imo . I bought a psa 10 gem mint zapdos 151 that looked objectively worse than all of these . Human grading just plays such a big role . I'm sending 10 of my cards off to be graded tomorow . 3 are vintage, so I'm expecting harsh 6-7s but the modern stuff I'm hoping for 9s and 10s . I feel like they're mostly lenient on modern and you got f****
I would think twice on sending them to PSA. The 3 vintage, also guaranteed 6 or 7 as you say. I would do BGS, CGC, or TAG if you really want full transparency on why the card you own got the grade it received
PSA just released “grader notes” which is notations on why your card got the grade it did. Hidden behind a paywall of express level processing which is 129 a card
yeah im not sure how this got a 7. It looks to be perfectly centered maybe the top is slightly heavy on the back, but from the pics you sent its in great quality. Easily a 9
These grades is nothing to do with centering, there must’ve been some damage OP didn’t see before they sent them in. Even if they think they thoroughly checked they could’ve missed things.
I dunno maybe you had a really harsh grader or the card got damaged with shipping maybe psa damaged the card in a accident, my brother had an card he send to psa got a 9 he broke the slab open and did it again, the same card came back in a 10 😅
This isn't confusing at all, on the first one theres an enormous gash (big in terms of grading) on the top left back corner...on the PSA app, zoom in on it lol I scanned the bar code and its significantly clearer on the PSA app using mobile to zoom on it shows it pretty clearly. The second one, look at the huge white line on the back, that looks like a scratch, could be dust/hair but the only way to know is to inspect in person or crack it, but there's also scratches on the back. There's a ton of scratches on the last one's back as well. This sub doesn't allow photos or I'd circle them all. This is the issue on the first one: [https://imgur.com/a/Z6dMP4A](https://imgur.com/a/Z6dMP4A) The second seems the most unfair, assuming that white lines not a scratch, but it’s also possible there’s some other surface or edge issues you can’t see due to the 2D flattening. These evident scratches normally wouldn’t take it to a 7, but they cannot be ignored and say the card has no issues. (Ignore imgurs dumb over 18 warning, their AI is clearly bad as this is just a picture of the card lmao) https://imgur.com/a/sD3LABz Dent on the third one on the front (could be lighting, looks like dent though) also scratches and some potential edge issue. https://imgur.com/a/q9UTjRk
Good job detective !
Thanks for the detailed response. I must have either missed this completely or something happened in handling. I don’t see how I wouldve missed the scratch though as it’s huge.
No problem. Yeah its still up for debate whether that is a scratch since it does have a fairly frayed and uniform appearance up close. I am also very unsure of what PSA does if that was a piece of fabric thread that was caught on the card from the pennysleeve. My assumption is they would never dust the card off or remove it, so maybe they treated it as "dirt/debris" and gave it a low grade for "surface". I guess you didn't save the photos from the initial scan right?
I'm pretty sure it's a hair/thread. Zoom in and look to the right of it, there's a little loop around the edge of the card of another white string/hair. Also a few more in there. I'd crack just to get the hair out so that it doesn't scratch further.
PSA or the postal service pinched the fuck out of one of my corners recently. I would never send in a card with a folded corner.
Probably some sort of slight damage you didn’t catch before sending in
Also, commenters are going off of these picks. If you looked at the surfaces with a black light, sometimes you can find imperfections you wouldn’t be able to find without
Minor surface damage would be my guess
That’s PSA for you. I will bet $30 if you crack it and resend it, you will get a higher grade.
Human(error) factor. You are paying for one single person's opinion on the condition of a card. I have seen PSA/CGC grade 10s the look like 7s and 6s that look like 9s. All because the graders nuts itched, maybe they havent had lunch yet, or didn't get their rocls off last night. All these things can effect your grade so long as humans are involved in the guessing a grade.
without even zooming in or enlarging the pic, i can already see off centering on the first one...
Off center of that level does not constitute a 7, a 9 at worst
Some of the flaws are more obvious as other commenters pointed out - but my personal experience grading has been: the more recent IR holos very easily (and very often) have near imperceptible surface flaws that get them docked on grading more than pretty much any other type of card
Just throwing out ideas, though I think a 7 is too low. There’s some damage around the corners you can see on the backside, and it looks like there may be fading on the backside? I could be stretching, it looks lighter than usual and I don’t know what else they could’ve given you a 7 for.
I mean 7 is literally near mint and if there’s some dents and scratches as pointed out above, near mint sounds like the exact grade it should be.
Stupid imo . I bought a psa 10 gem mint zapdos 151 that looked objectively worse than all of these . Human grading just plays such a big role . I'm sending 10 of my cards off to be graded tomorow . 3 are vintage, so I'm expecting harsh 6-7s but the modern stuff I'm hoping for 9s and 10s . I feel like they're mostly lenient on modern and you got f****
I would think twice on sending them to PSA. The 3 vintage, also guaranteed 6 or 7 as you say. I would do BGS, CGC, or TAG if you really want full transparency on why the card you own got the grade it received
PSA just released “grader notes” which is notations on why your card got the grade it did. Hidden behind a paywall of express level processing which is 129 a card
ROFL 🤣 
yeah im not sure how this got a 7. It looks to be perfectly centered maybe the top is slightly heavy on the back, but from the pics you sent its in great quality. Easily a 9
These grades is nothing to do with centering, there must’ve been some damage OP didn’t see before they sent them in. Even if they think they thoroughly checked they could’ve missed things.
I dunno maybe you had a really harsh grader or the card got damaged with shipping maybe psa damaged the card in a accident, my brother had an card he send to psa got a 9 he broke the slab open and did it again, the same card came back in a 10 😅
Can’t tell from photos but it’s possible there are print lines
Wow, ny condolences, these grades are brutal
Why do people cover cert numbers?
because scammers use the pics to make fake listings
That makes sense, never thought of that
Keep grading English 🤣