I have been going through some of my WOTC PSA graded cards and looking over listings on eBay and have noticed many cases/cards scratched. This got me wondering; how can I tell that a PSA case or the card inside is scratched since the listings aren’t very clear? In the past, I have bought WOTC PSA 9-10s and then upon further inspection found scratches on them which I assumed was on the card, though perhaps it is just the case. I have also seen many PSA 10s listed on eBay lately that have obvious scratching, but I cannot tell if they are on the card itself or just on the case. Are there any indicators as to whether the scratch is on the card itself or just the case?
I do know that PSA 10s (from WOTC era) are prone to have holo scratches as that is acceptable within PSA parameters, but a clearly visible scratch on the holo would detract from the overall appeal I would think. When in doubt, I message the seller and they always say the scratches are on the case or just don’t respond, but I have bought several WOTC PSA 10s in the past which had nothing show up in the pics and then found scratches. I know that a ‘truly flawless’ card doesn’t necessarily exist as even PSA 10s have flaws, but just want to be sure the visual appeal of a card I buy isn’t hindered by an obvious holo scratch.
Of the PSA 10 cards I saw which are scratched; some scratches show up clearly, some only when turned at a certain angle in the light and others extend from the holo to portions of the card without holo. I would assume that when a scratch extends from the holo over the border or Pokémon itself, this would indicate the scratch is on the case. Whereas the scratches showing up clearly on holo are definite holo scratches and the scratches only showing up at an angle I am not completely sure of.
Let me know what your experiences are regarding this, as I am truly curious and would like to know others’ insights before I finalize my PSA reholder submission.
Pay for a card under the assumption that the listing photo has the scratch on the card.
In person, shift the card around in the case. If the scratch moves, it’s on the card. You can also use a light to see if it casts a shadow (on the case)
Don’t waste your money recasing. Go buy some PlastX
Perhaps on some of the card cases I can try PlastX, but a few have cracks in the case so I will have to send them in for recasing anyway. The cases I am referring to are older cert numbers too so the cases have a bit of wear over the years, if I wanted to sell, the case’s condition may play a role in receiving less for them.
As per your suggestion, I tried looking at them under bright light and couldn’t really see a shadow per se, even on the cases with cracks in them. I also tried moving the card around in the case to see if the scratch moves but it is very difficult to tell given the limited mobility the card has in the older case.
If a scratch is on the holo but extends across the Pokémon’s design border (of the actual Pokémon) and onto the Pokémon itself, wouldn’t that signify the scratch isn’t a holo scratch?
However, in the same case can a case scratch be visible from only certain angles or is that just holo scratches?
I ask this because I have a few cards where this is the case and since the Pokémon itself is not holographic - only the backdrop, if the scratch is across both I believe it would be a case scratch.
If your PSA case is cracked they will have to regrade the card to see if any damage has occurred to the card. In my experience they have never downgraded my card though.
They regrade the card if the crack is across the actual card itself I believe, whereas I am lucky that my cracked cases have their cracks over the PSA label and edges.
Still I am very interested to know if anybody has any insight into scratches across the Pokémon design and not just the holo, as that may play into their reasoning for regrading if a case is cracked across the card.
Interesting, I have only sent about 10 cracked cases in but it didn’t matter where the crack was for me. I will have to bring this up to them next time.