I just recently purchased two raw cards (Shining Noctowl & Japanese Shining Raichu) with hopes of possibly sending them in for grading.
I’m trying to collect all ten (10) Shining cards from Neo sets in a PSA 9 or better.
So when I saw these two cards for sale (separate sellers) I took the gamble just by their descriptions and pictures. After receiving them in the mail today, I inspected the cards and both appear to be atleast NM-M, if not better.
But, at the edges (see photos), there’s these small creases that are just killing my vibe. My question is, does PSA dock these types of creases? I do know that creases automatically drop the PSA score to a 6. That would be very unfortunate given how great of a condition these cards are. I may have answered my own question, but I’m quite new into collecting graded cards so I figured I’d ask.
Buying raw cards in hopes of grading them are stressful!
IMO you are correct in that these are not considered creases, however you will still be starting at a PSA 6/7 from my experiences. I’ve seen way subtler corner issues on Masakis that get the 6/7 treatment. Slightly a different thing going on, but this is much more major than the minor issues allowed on a 9.
Damn if I ever had a 9 like that it would be a super easy Financial guarantee claim and certainly not any card I’d want in my mint card collection.
I don’t think my first two pictures are loading properly so I’m attaching them for more references.
Yeah, it’s just disappointing because they really are in amazing condition. I’ll probably sell them for what I bought it for and just chase the graded versions.
I think the picture made the corner bump look a little worse than it probably is. Seen a lot of 9’s with these “corner cut presses” or whatever you want to call it. But I agree with you now that I see the new pictures he added. I think 7ish is accurate for these. And with the masaki promos it was a surface press due to the envelopes they were shipped in if I’m not mistaken - right?
Max PSA 6 you would hope from PSA I would call those pretty decent dents and does not look factory so no sympathy grades from PSA. It is possible on the very very minor production ‘dents’ commonly seen on Japanese new back cards to get 9/10.
I hate to disagree with my brothers above but those cards with those defects are not nines. But, a week in Gary’s PokeHospital could get them up to an 8 or just maybe a 9.
Try putting them naked between two pieces of heavy glass for about a week. Make sure the cards are as flat as possible first otherwise it could end up with a wrinkled crush effect of the defect.
Indeed. Remember that for most cards there’s the option to pay a premium and buy them already graded. It takes away a lot of the stress. But there’s also something to be said for the adventure of hunting raw cards in hopes of striking gold. You can’t win 'em all, so always keep in mind to have fun collecting or change your approach of attaining those PSA 9’s.
And no matter what; you’ve got some beautiful cards right there, with or without the PSA grade attached to it.