Is it better to crack and re-submit, or cross-over?

GoSoxBoSox

I recently bought a '48 Leaf DiMaggio SGC 86 and want it in one of my registry sets. It's got a chance at PSA 8 in my opinion so the question in the thread title stands? Do I stand a better chance with one option v. the other?

Anyone have advice on the best way to crack an SGC holder? Please exclude obvious suggestions like dynamite or a hammer.

PSAtan

It's probably better to go with it unslabbed. On a less expensive card, you could probably try for a crossover first and, if it doesn't go through, submit it raw later on. However, this card sounds quite memorable.

I have no idea how to get a SGC holder open. I know PSA will do it for you if you want. However, it would scare me to let them have a go at such a valuable card. Might be a good idea to purchase some cheap cards in SGC holders and test it out yourself. I'm sure a lot of people here can advise the best method.

Good luck,

Satan

roastedcat

It's better to crack it out yourself, sometimes PSA won't crack out your card, but will still charge you a fee even though they didn't slab it.

LuxuryWines

Tom ,

One of the probably most knowledgable members Brucemo has a web site and instructions how to crack open various card companies slabs... Be careful however I have wrecked an SGC 88 when my knife slipped (thankfully only a $75 card). I have not used PSA's new crossover service but I would be inclined to let them do it... Here is the link on how to crack a graded card slab...

Opening a graded Card Slab by BruceMO

Have fun....Jeff

LuxuryWines

By the way the how to grade a card article is one of the best I have seen...

Griffins

Crack it out. I've done it both ways and by far the best was to crack it, rather than crossover. SGC's holders are really easy to crack, just don't rush it.
If the card is one of the older SGC's without the 1-10 grade below the 1-100 grade be very careful of the centering. In the 50 or so that I've done most have crossed straight across, but a few took a 1-2 grade dive, due to the centering. SGC (especially the older holders) seems to be a bit more lenient on centering than PSA. If the card is in an SG holder you might want to keep it there.
I"ve yet to have any SGC or Becket card grade higher in PSA.

toppsgun

If you think it will bump up, crack it out. If you aren't sure (toss up), send it in still holdered. If you think it won't, don't waste your money, because you know the graders won't bump it if you don't think it will.

Although I would argue that a PSA 7 might be worth more than a SGC 86, should you decide to resell it.

braves72078

<< <i>If you think it will bump up, crack it out. If you aren't sure (toss up), send it in still holdered. If you think it won't, don't waste your money, because you know the graders won't bump it if you don't think it will.

Although I would argue that a PSA 7 might be worth more than a SGC 86, should you decide to resell it. >>



TG,

You must not read the MW posts on the other boards.....Now we all know SGC cards are more valuable than the lowly PSA versions!!!

Just a little tongue in cheek humor, guys.

Braves

seinbigd

I would agree with toppsgun,

Based on your statement that you think it has a chance to crossover to a PSA-8, I would invest the $10 and submit for crossover. It goes back to basics: be realistic in your grading when you buy the card, not the slab. Worst case is you spent $10 plus shipping and the card is still in an SGC 86 holder.

I've only sent in 10-12 cards for crossover, but I'm batting a thousand.

Good luck and please let us know the outcome.

Steve

Pinchdatail

An earlier post of mine covered this issue. You may want to take a look at it...

Crossover post

GoSoxBoSox

<< <i>An earlier post of mine covered this issue. You may want to take a look at it...

Crossover post >>



Thanks. It's a great thread that only re-inforces I should crack it. Time to break out the saw's all!!!

mikeschmidt

Expensive vintage card:

Don't break out of the container unless you are sure you can get it back into that holder.

For example, you are out, what, $20, if your DiMaggio does not cross over to PSA 8? $20 is nothing compared to the value of the card. However -- if you break it out, there is a *small* chance that you might damage the card or that SGC might not holder it as high as SGC 86 again. Then you are out bigtime. I'd risk the $20.

And for what it's worth -- I (as well as others) have been successful in getting the bump up in the half-grade -- if you are confident enough with which ones to submit. On the half-grades, I had over 1/3 of my submitted cross over, which is fairly impressive. It's about knowing what to look for more often than what the number on the slab is.

FB

I don't think anyone has mentioned the possibility (however slight) that if you break it out yourself that PSA might send it back as "trimmed" or "recolored" or whatever else is a possibility. We've heard stories of cards that people have pulled right from packs coming back as "trimmed" when in fact thats how they came from Topps.

I would suggest trying the crossover service first. Worst thing that happens is you spend $10 + shipping and they tell you "no - its not an 8". Or if you're willing to spend a little more - bring it to the Ft. Washington show and have it done on-site. This way if it doesn't make 8, it will still be in the 86 holder and you can have someone from PSA explain EXACTLY why it didn't make the 8 grade.

Just my 2 cents from one Jersey guy to another...

acowa

I used to have good luck with SGC to PSA crossovers. My only disasters were break outs of SGC 96 vintage commons to PSA 8 & PSA EVID TRIM. An I didn't damage the card breaking it out.

I would reccommend just crossing them over first in the holders.

Regards,


Alan

GoSoxBoSox

FB - I think your logic is right-on. I can always send it in with a min grade of 8. If it doesn't make the cut I'll consider my options then.

Where in Jersey are you?

braves72078

In reference to crossovers, i recently purchased a 54 Bowman set that had several cards graded by PGS. I busted em out and sent them to Newport Beach with the following results:

1954 Bowman #40 Gil Coan...................Was PGS 7.5...................Now PSA 6
1954 Bowman #200 Marrero.........................PGS 6.......................PSA 5
1954 Bowman #38 Minoso............................PGS 7.......................PSA 6
1954 Bowman #66 Piersall...........................PGS 4.......................PSA 5
1954 Bowman #95 Roberts..........................PGS 6.......................PSA 5
1954 Bowman #112 Pafko...........................PGS 5........................PSA 5
1954 Bowman #138 Hodges.......................PGS 5.5.....................PSA 5
1954 Bowman #141 Garagiola....................PGS 4.5.....................PSA 5
1954 Bowman #163 Philley.........................PGS 6.5......................PSA 5
1954 Bowman #208 Antonelli......................PGS 8........................PSA 6

1954 Bowman #90 Campanella...................AGS 4.......................PSA 4

I was surprised overall, especially on the Piersall and Garagiola. The drop in the Antonelli was for the centering since i always request NQ on my submissions.

Braves

GoSoxBoSox

Braves,

I'd love to hear your take on some of the grading discrepencies. It's interesting to me that PGS is better on some and PSA is better on others. That's fine. But when you have grade changes that are 1.5 to 2 points I'd love to hear if the difference is apparent to you.

Was the Coan swing justified? and why?

How 'bout the Philley or Antonelli? and why?

mikeschmidt

GoSoxBoSox:

One thing I would suggest to you is sit down with the FAQ pages for all the major grading companies and obtain an understanding of what they look for in each grade. Though most major grading companies in one way or another utilize a 10 point grading system -- the definition of what makes a 7 at one company is often different than what makes a 7 at another company, which is different than what makes a 7 at the third company. Etc. So build yourself a matrix, if you are truly inclined, so you can better understand from a consumer standpoint what makes a card grade what it does -- and then you can train yourself to independently assess if there is an area for the grade to go up from one company to another.

Of course there is a large subjective component that is based on experience, judgment and time in the hobby. But I think far too many collectors automatically assume that if one company grades a card an 8, another company should as well. That is often not the case.

braves72078

GoSox

The cards you mentioned are now correctly graded. I think the descrepancies were the result of the centering on each card. I always ask for NQ on my submissions and that is the reason for the differences in the grades.

I was shocked that they crossed as well as they did. I was expecting some to be trimmed or something.

I don't know much about PGS but i feel they graded the cards accuratley excpet for the centering, but SGC is soft on centering as well.


Braves

srs1a

GoSox,

I just got the results from a small (7 cards) x-over invoice last night. All were 50's and 60's cards of Banks, Clemente and Aaron for my player sets. Given what I'd read, I was very pleasantly suprised.

PSA's call agreed with mine on 5/7 cards. They did not cross one SGC-84 to a PSA-7 ('58 Banks), which suprised me -- I thought it was a lock. The also crossed one SGC-86 ('67 Banks) to a PSA-8 -- which was a pleasant suprise.

So, on the whole, I was very satisfied. Given these results, I think I'd go the x-over route with your card. My experience says that they will cross an SGC-86 to a PSA-8...and if it doesn't cross, you aren't out a ton of cash.

Good Luck.

GoSoxBoSox

Wow. When you read this thread you certainly see everyone has an opinion....some strong to one side...some strong to the other. Each with logic reasoning to back-up their case based on personally experience.


For the few of us that never were put into the position of considering whether to"crack or cross".......this thread only confirms why I asked the question in the first place. There is no right answer.

As we all know, we can each apply the published rules to PSA grading and all comeup with different grades.

At this point I'm leaning towards crossover first with a min grade. If I'm not satisfied with the results...maybe then the hammer will swing.

The question now is if you have an SGC 86 (NM+) in hand...do you ask for a min grade of 7 or 8. Keep in mind I bought the card at $3,150 and the PSA 7 value is $3,400.