Metal pokemon grading standards? 1 1

[Frighten]

I know you are inundated with questions about the delay, but this is a different topic. I recently purchased a CGC graded metal UPC Charizard (quad 9.5s) and I am questioning how it got the high subgrades it got despite being damaged. I do not believe this was damaged in encapsulation/shipping, there are no paint flakes or dust inside the case indicating the chip happened post encapsulation. However, despite very obvious edge damage, it got a 9.5 edge grade. Is CGC just being lenient grading these cards because it is a manufacturer defect that they almost all have? If so I would like that clarified so I know if I got either an over graded card, or, if I should avoid CGC for these particular cards as they are being too lenient. I am kind of miffed that I paid what I did for a "gem mint" card that is arguably not even mint.

I've tried attaching/inserting links for photos but isn't working, presumably because this is a new account.

 

 

[Frighten]

Looks like photos are working for me now, so here are examples of the top edge being very obviously damaged. I do not believe it is chipping, since almost all of them have damage in this spot it is more likely from where they were electroplated, but it still shows as damage. But is CGC overlooking that since it is part of the manufacturing?

[CGC Mike]

Hello

I am not sure we can give you an opinion bases on images but, I will pass them along to our experts, and see what they say.

Mike

[Frighten]

On 3/28/2022 at 8:17 PM, CGC Mike said:

Hello

I am not sure we can give you an opinion bases on images but, I will pass them along to our experts, and see what they say.

Mike

Thanks Mike, it is difficult to photograph this card being so shiny, but I can try and get better photos if needed. Also the cards cert # is 3997082016 but the scans on the CGC cert verification don't clearly show it.

[CGC Mike]

On 3/28/2022 at 8:20 PM, Frighten said:

Thanks Mike, it is difficult to photograph this card being so shiny, but I can try and get better photos if needed. Also the cards cert # is 3997082016 but the scans on the CGC cert verification don't clearly show it.

I will let you know if more photos are requested.  

[CGC Mike]

So, we are not going to be able to give an opinion on this based on images. 

Sorry,

Mike

[Frighten]

On 3/29/2022 at 8:23 AM, CGC Mike said:

So, we are not going to be able to give an opinion on this based on images. 

Sorry,

Mike

Would better images or high quality scans help? This card aside, can the grading team confirm if they are just accepting this manufacturing defect and not letting it hurt grades? If they are then that is fine it should just be known so people know what they are buying. If they aren’t then I would lean towards this card being over graded. 

[CGC Mike]

The only way we could confirm anything would be to see the card in person.  That includes speculation on a manufacturing defect based on an image.

Mike

[Frighten]

On 3/29/2022 at 12:26 PM, CGC Mike said:

The only way we could confirm anything would be to see the card in person.  That includes speculation on a manufacturing defect based on an image.

Mike

Hmm alright, thanks for trying to get an answer anyway. Guess I'll have to return my purchase and avoid CGC graded cards for now. Too much money for a slab if the company cannot answer how they are grading a particular card with known manufacturing issues.

[revat]

On 3/29/2022 at 10:52 AM, Frighten said:

On 3/29/2022 at 9:26 AM, CGC Mike said:

The only way we could confirm anything would be to see the card in person.  That includes speculation on a manufacturing defect based on an image.

Mike

Hmm alright, thanks for trying to get an answer anyway. Guess I'll have to return my purchase and avoid CGC graded cards for now. Too much money for a slab if the company cannot answer how they are grading a particular card with known manufacturing issues.

I don't know if it applies to cards, but in some specific rare cases, when there is a specific COMIC with well known (and well documented) manufacturing issues, CGC chooses to ignore related defects (although generally it seems like it would eliminate the chance of a perfect 10 score).

As I said, I know they do it occasionally (albeit rarely) for comics, but don't know if that is done for cards OR if it would apply for this card (or this type of card).  

But it certainly SOUNDS like if this is a common manufacturing error, that might be what you're experiencing.

 

[Frighten]

On 3/29/2022 at 9:09 PM, revat said:

I don't know if it applies to cards, but in some specific rare cases, when there is a specific COMIC with well known (and well documented) manufacturing issues, CGC chooses to ignore related defects (although generally it seems like it would eliminate the chance of a perfect 10 score).

As I said, I know they do it occasionally (albeit rarely) for comics, but don't know if that is done for cards OR if it would apply for this card (or this type of card).  

But it certainly SOUNDS like if this is a common manufacturing error, that might be what you're experiencing.

 

Thanks for that info, never been into the comic space to know that was how they have handled things in the past. I can only assume that is what they are doing now, but they should really come out and say that so we know we are basically buying cards that are equivalent to being a qualifier on the grade. I already started a return for this particular card since I cannot trust their grading scale since they do not want to clarify their intent, oh well. Like their slabs but too much money involved for them to not be forthright with how they are deciding to grade this particular card.