Help a New Collector? Advice needed please

Kwang

So I got caught up in an online auction and "stupidly" wouldn't let a lot go that I know nothing about. An unopened pack of 1981 Topps Football cards. I received the package today and...

Now I look at the prices for grading. Wow. And if I say it is a 10 and it isn't. I won't even get my money back when I sell it. What in the world do I do? I can't afford the $3000 anyway to find out. I am going to cry.

jimq

If you submit at a lower level and it comes in with a better grade than you thought it would, you get upcharged for the higher grade. Just submit with a declared value that you would be happy with if something bad happens. it's a nice card but chances of a 10 are unlikely. If you can afford to, wait until grading prices come down a little bit.

nam812

If you do decide to grade the card just assume it is an 8, and pay the grading fee according to that assumption. Have no fear, they wont consider an 8 your "ceiling" because that is all you paid for. If it does indeed grade higher they will email you that you need to pay an up-charge which is an email that many do not mind getting because their card's value has significantly increased with the higher grade received. Good luck whatever you choose.

Kwang

Thank you for the advice. I was nervous to send it in and say it was an 8 for example thinking the graders would just go okay well it's a 9 but if you only want an 8 dummy, here you go. And yes, I think I will wait a bit and see if the prices change. I think also I will stick to coins from here on. Thank you both so very much!

jimq

If you can get a good scan of the card not in holders and with a dark background post the scan, there are some real experienced submitters here. And you don't have to worry about it grading based on what you say it is - they don't do that. I recently got a card back I submitted as $99 or less and it came back a 10. All that happens is you get an upcharge email. You'll be fine.

RufussCkingston

The person grading the cards does not know how much you submitted it for ( at least in theory)... It will get graded at whatever it truly is. If it grades higher, you will get an email to pay more, and that's a good thing. The only caveat is that should PSA lose the card or damage it, you will only get back what you declared it for originally, even if you pay more later.

GilR

I have a related question, which might also be useful to the original poster. As one who likewise came along during the grading backlog, I don't know what to expect cost-wise when the lower tier(s) can be reopened. Of course, PSA may well adjust their price(s), but so that I/we can make a ballpark estimate, what was the Economy rate, and did it depend on expected grade? And, wasn't there a bulk economy tier (or is that what's meant by "Value" on the pricing webpage)? Thanks!

daltex

@GilR said:
I have a related question, which might also be useful to the original poster. As one who likewise came along during the grading backlog, I don't know what to expect cost-wise when the lower tier(s) can be reopened. Of course, PSA may well adjust their price(s), but so that I/we can make a ballpark estimate, what was the Economy rate, and did it depend on expected grade? And, wasn't there a bulk economy tier (or is that what's meant by "Value" on the pricing webpage)? Thanks!

Yes, the name "bulk" was changed to "value" as the minimum number of cards decreased (and the max value increased). It quickly went from $8 to $12 to $15. Not sure about Economy, perhaps $25?? If the limit on Value stays $499, I don't see a reason for Economy to come back.

GilR

Thanks for the explanation. I guess my question didn't apply to the original poster's Joe Montana card, unless he leaves it in a pocket when he does laundry, but this is good to know. And irksome, because when the time comes I'd have a mixture of vintage and modern, but perhaps not enough to make the minimum for both at the "value" level. Perhaps I can get part of the way there by stealing another 1980 Nolan Ryan from the friends whose card I cleverly hid in my shoe when we were kids, reducing it to Poor condition by the time I was done walking home.

RufussCkingston

Figure Value (bulk) will be $20 a card with I'd guess a 10 card min submission. Economy is $50 now, but only when offered.

GilR

Thanks. A 10-card minimum I could certainly do -- I was assuming that bulk/value means at least 25, and more likely at least 50.

They obviously know their business far, far better than I do, not to mention how to set a price point, but I have to think that charging $20 means a lot of cards that could be graded won't be. I guess we'll see what happens if/when another company finds a way to charge $10-$12. (Perhaps if, as is being speculated in another thread, Fanatics jumps into the grading business they'll find a way so as to gain market share.)

RufussCkingston

@GilR said:
(Perhaps if, as is being speculated in another thread, Fanatics jumps into the grading business they'll find a way so as to gain market share.)

They already have.... it's called CSG !

parthur1607

The alphabet soup of grading companies!! PSA, CSG, BGS, SGC, GMA, HGA, ABC 123!!!!

1951WheatiesPremium

@Kwang said:
Thank you for the advice. I was nervous to send it in and say it was an 8 for example thinking the graders would just go okay well it's a 9 but if you only want an 8 dummy, here you go. And yes, I think I will wait a bit and see if the prices change. I think also I will stick to coins from here on. Thank you both so very much!

Do you want the card or the money it might be worth?

That’s a nice card; carefully wipe it off with a micro fiber cloth and get it in a card saver as opposed to a top loader.

If you scan it in at that point, you’ll get an assessment of the card quickly here.

It’s got solid color and is beautifully centered but the corners need a closer, scanned card looking over and the surface has some shmutz on it that may or may not be able to be wiped off or may not even be on the card.

Regular is open at $100 per now; depends what you have in the card, too.

Good luck!