What’s going on with TAG?

[NotGoSportsBall]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Kurt's Card Care FTW! Maybe the back yard break boys can help people here turn their cards into TAG 10's. I got through about 3 minutes of the video before I felt like putting my fist through my computer monitor, but Let's GO!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZdmCmODuJY&t=350s

I refuse to watch him unless he reunites with Anders and Blake.

[UCCF]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

They are hiding the mathematical formulas with correction factors for non-Lambertian surfaces lol

No other company discloses this type of information either, namely because they don't have it.

Look at a PSA 5 ultra modern with a surface wrinkle.

Can you send DIG reports for some of these cards with low surface scores? It would be interesting to see what these surface defects look like in the high resolution images.

Here's the one I was looking at: 2018 Ohtani Topps Chrome TAG 6.5

Everything on the card is 960 or better, except the back surface, which is a 620.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by UCCF

Here's the one I was looking at: 2018 Ohtani Topps Chrome TAG 6.5

Everything on the card is 960 or better, except the back surface, which is a 620.

The only thing you can do is look at the images, hope the card is graded correctly, and compare it to the rubric. For a 6 TAG says for surface, "A longer, more visible wrinkle is present on the back. Light staining may start to appear on the back of the card as well. Larger dent or multiple minor dents could be present. More significant surface scuffs are present in a single area. The focus of the card is off, demonstrating a two for one effect on certain objects (eyes, buttons, letters, logo on hat, etc)."

It is almost impossible to know how bad the surface damage is unless you have it in hand. Even then, it may take a crack out of the slab to see the issue. I would just stay away from cards like this and not play the game of seeing if TAG graded it too harshly so you get a steal. Keep in mind that TAG is hardly grading any cards right now. This means they are grading each card probably through their machines and double, triple checking it with humans looking at the cards to see if it is grading correctly. TAG makes a model for each card set, so they are probably encountering issues with many cards having false reports of dents/creases when it is the actual card design and texture. I would think each card TAG is sending out right now is graded correctly since they are most likely quality controlling the heck out of each card they put in a slab.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by UCCF

Here's the one I was looking at: 2018 Ohtani Topps Chrome TAG 6.5

Everything on the card is 960 or better, except the back surface, which is a 620.

With a surface score that low, the defects must be pretty prominent, but like you said, they are hard to see in the DIG report.

The dent identified in the lower right of the back may have been heavily penalized?

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

The only thing you can do is look at the images, hope the card is graded correctly, and compare it to the rubric. For a 6 TAG says for surface, "A longer, more visible wrinkle is present on the back. Light staining may start to appear on the back of the card as well. Larger dent or multiple minor dents could be present. More significant surface scuffs are present in a single area. The focus of the card is off, demonstrating a two for one effect on certain objects (eyes, buttons, letters, logo on hat, etc)."

It is almost impossible to know how bad the surface damage is unless you have it in hand. Even then, it may take a crack out of the slab to see the issue. I would just stay away from cards like this and not play the game of seeing if TAG graded it too harshly so you get a steal. Keep in mind that TAG is hardly grading any cards right now. This means they are grading each card probably through their machines and double, triple checking it with humans looking at the cards to see if it is grading correctly. TAG makes a model for each card set, so they are probably encountering issues with many cards having false reports of dents/creases when it is the actual card design and texture. I would think each card TAG is sending out right now is graded correctly since they are most likely quality controlling the heck out of each card they put in a slab.

And this is where it gets silly.

All that transparency and it’s hard to figure out why a card graded as low as it did….

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

And this is where it gets silly.

All that transparency and it’s hard to figure out why a card graded as low as it did….

It’s the surface defects on the back…. You can click on any of the 8 for a zoomed in view.

“The grading report is too much” “The grading report isn’t transparent enough”



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

And this is where it gets silly.

All that transparency and it’s hard to figure out why a card graded as low as it did….

To grade a card properly all you need is a grade and the worst metric of the grading. Card received a 6.5 because of a large indent on the back. Card received a 8 because of 63/37 L/R centering.

Even though TAG takes way more data, the majority of it is useless when coming up with a final grade. I guess when you want to flex your 976 versus someone's 965 due to algorithms that could be biased on deductions of specific parameters, you need TAG. Simple notes would actually work better for any card 8 and below for knowing why your card graded so low. TAG is being built as a quality control system for ultra modern cards.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

To grade a card properly all you need is a grade and the worst metric of the grading. Card received a 6.5 because of a large indent on the back. Card received a 8 because of 63/37 L/R centering.

Even though TAG takes way more data, the majority of it is useless when coming up with a final grade. I guess when you want to flex your 976 versus someone's 965 due to algorithms that could be biased on deductions of specific parameters, you need TAG. Simple notes would actually work better for any card 8 and below for knowing why your card graded so low. TAG is being built as a quality control system for ultra modern cards.

"The report is too much"

[UCCF]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

With a surface score that low, the defects must be pretty prominent, but like you said, they are hard to see in the DIG report.

The dent identified in the lower right of the back may have been heavily penalized?

That's what I figure. I was hoping looking at the image and using their scaling scanner that it would be more obvious, but it's really not. Like someone said, it must be something that jumps out in hand even if not so much in the image. I went looking for the dent, but it seems to be in a part of the card that's kind of obscured by the design. Maybe if you had a view looking across the surface of the card it would be obvious (as opposed to looking at it from above).

I'm just curious about the system more than anything. I like that they're trying something different.

[clocsta2323]

Can't wait to buy a bunch of TAGs for dirt cheap to cross to PSA. That's my retirement plan.

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

To grade a card properly all you need is a grade and the worst metric of the grading. Card received a 6.5 because of a large indent on the back. Card received a 8 because of 63/37 L/R centering.

Even though TAG takes way more data, the majority of it is useless when coming up with a final grade. I guess when you want to flex your 976 versus someone's 965 due to algorithms that could be biased on deductions of specific parameters, you need TAG. Simple notes would actually work better for any card 8 and below for knowing why your card graded so low. TAG is being built as a quality control system for ultra modern cards.

Agreed.

[rfgilles]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29589423409...wAAOSwnPpk5Fto

[CheapThief]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29589423409...wAAOSwnPpk5Fto

I don't know anything about this particular card, but I've hand-cut some Fossil holo and some non-holo Neo sheets in the past, and the edges came out looking exactly like these.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29589423409...wAAOSwnPpk5Fto

TAG GRADES HISTORY:

POKÉMON "PROTOTYPES"

Charizard "Prototype"

TAG'S JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF POKÉMON

TAG is thrilled to share some news regarding our journey into grading Pokémon (TCG). Our technology has recently graded some exceptionally rare and valuable pieces of Pokémon history. A notable highlight of these cards is the Charizard "Prototype." For this particular Charizard "Prototype," TAG has awarded the highest grade in existence, a TAG 8 (804), Near Mint - Mint.



The enigmatic "Prototype" cards are distinguishable by their many completely unique elements, and are among the earliest known test prints made by Wizards of the Coast.



To see the full TAG Digital Image and & Grading Report, click here: TAGd.co/F7789556





EBAY HIGHLIGHTS THE TAG'D POKÉMON GRAIL

This one-of-a-kind TAG'd piece is currently being featured by eBay in promotion of the eBay Vaulting service with the hashtag #SHOPTHEVAULT.



Being featured on eBay highlights the significance of the Charizard "Prototype" and underscores our efforts to earn the trust and reputation for TAG Grading from the collectibles community. We are proud of this achievement and grateful for your continued support and trust in our services.



TAG would like to extend a special thank you to eBay Top Seller "Charizards," for submitting these prototypes for Grading and bringing the visibility to them.



Read more about the "Prototypes" further below.







LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

TAG is rapidly approaching accepting trading card games with rounded corners, including Pokémon, but will not accept them until all software development has been completed to ensure the highest quality of service. Updates on this will be made via TAG's social media and newsletters. TAG continues to accept standard 2.5" by 3.5" cards, including "Topps" Pokémon cards for grading.



The following are two examples of TAG'd Topps Pokémon cards which have sold for record setting prices:





Thank you for being a part of our journey and permitting TAG to celebrate with you, this "first" event. We continue to be committed to providing the highest level of grading services and transparency. We look forward to sharing more exciting updates with you in the future.



MORE ABOUT THE "PROTOTYPES"

Distinctively, the "Prototype" cards exhibit square corners, deviating from the conventional rounded contours of standard Pokémon TCG cards. TAG labels these test print cards as “Prototypes,” as our research indicates these iterations were never officially released or known to have been cut by the factory.



A highlight feature of the "Prototype" cards are their unique holographic pattern. Never-before used on any regularly produced Pokémon Cards, this beautiful "pixelated" looking shimmer is reminiscent of the iconic 8-bit Pokémon “Red” and “Blue” video game versions that were played by millions on the Nintendo Gameboy. These ‘98 releases were a large part of what catapulted Pokémon to stratospheric stardom. In the spirit of this legacy, and without an official name, TAG refers to this holographic pattern as "8-bit."





Also unique to the “Prototype” cards are their missing elements; unlike “Shadowless” Pokémon cards, these test prints have none of the following: “Evolution Stage Pokémon Artwork,” “Pokémon Data,” and “Energy Symbols.” Analyzing the original test print sheets that these cards were cut from, only 1 of the 15 unique Pokémon printed had included part of these missing data elements (“Magneton”). The Pokémon community has coined the term “ghost” (most notably in the case of the infamous “Ghost Stamp Pikachu”) to characteristically describe the mysterious absences or omissions inherent in these cards. Given this distinction from "Shadowless" cards, TAG identifies this set as “Ghost Shadowless.”

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by CheapThief

I don't know anything about this particular card, but I've hand-cut some Fossil holo and some non-holo Neo sheets in the past, and the edges came out looking exactly like these.

It’s sheet cut.

PSA refuses to grade any sheet cut Pokemon cards. CGC has graded these cards in the past, BGS will grade them as well. They refer to it as the “disco” holo pattern.

The “8 bit” and “Ghost Shadowless” are all monikers TAG made up for this card.

[KhalDrogo]

Whoever paid that for the Pikachu Tekno is a moron. I’m also confused where it sold.

[49erRCCollector]

Tag is going to be at the Burbank card show, I’ll be there Saturday, curious to check it out.

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

Tag is going to be at the Burbank card show, I’ll be there Saturday, curious to check it out.

You and......no one else. lol

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by clocsta2323

Can't wait to buy a bunch of TAGs for dirt cheap to cross to PSA. That's my retirement plan.

Great plan.

Try to buy up all 59 graded TAG cards out there. You'll be sippin' brews in Cancun shortly. I'm so jealous.

[JaxSportsHub]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

Tag is going to be at the Burbank card show, I’ll be there Saturday, curious to check it out.

If their booth is anything like the one at the National, it was pretty darn impressive.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by vthobby

You and......no one else. lol

uh... OK.

I grade exclusively with PSA. Curious to see the technology, though.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by JaxSportsHub

If their booth is anything like the one at the National, it was pretty darn impressive.

It was cool, love the branding and the slabs are really nice. I don’t see myself grading with them because I’m all in on PSA for the PC, but was interesting.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

It was cool, love the branding and the slabs are really nice. I don’t see myself grading with them because I’m all in on PSA for the PC, but was interesting.

It looked like they had some pretty good traffic in social media posts.

[KhalDrogo]

So where did those Topps Chrome Pokémon cards sell? I cannot find them anywhere.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

So where did those Topps Chrome Pokémon cards sell? I cannot find them anywhere.

Don't know. Ask them through chat on their website.