It seems like a little backtracking would be kind of simple...
When did this scuffing become an issue? I imagine there were always incidents, but when did it become as common as it is today? Now, if you're CGC, think back (or check your documentation). What, if any, changes occurred about that time?
- Did the storage of the slabs change? (possibly new shelving like above)
- Did the manufacturer of the slabs/plastic change? (or maybe a new shipment come in ... although this seems unlikely to be the culprit. Afterall, we're talking YEARS!
- And check the procedure of the slabbing itself. Surely, the procedure isn't exactly the same as it was 20 years ago. Was there any kind of procedural change made about the time this became a common occurrence?
I remember when the big hoopla going around was about CGC hiring this Saucerman guy. @CGC Mike said that one of the first things this dude was going to do was put tarps on all the empty slabs. This, to me, implies that they were noticing scuffs before they were using them.