First Submission Ever - Your Experiences?
ajmoeller81
Posts: 258
Hi all,
I recently joined PSA and am eager to redeem my voucher for 6 free submissions and get my PSA set started. I was just kind of wondering about your thoughts or experiences regarding your first submission. Does PSA usually try to give newbies a break so that they'll get hooked on the grading phenomenon? Were you way off on what you thought the cards would grade and what they came back as? I've become a bit nervous regarding which of my cards to grade. I started off with 150 raw cards that I wanted to analyze and have since decided that 1 is only capable of being graded 10, and even that is not guaranteed. So now I've got to pick up more raw cards, which is fun. I've really enjoyed looking at all my stuff and trying to figure out which ones will make the grade, excuse the pun. I've truly grown to appreciate just how perfect a 10 from PSA is, and at the same time, just how difficult it is to find a raw card worthy of a 10. At first I was antsy to get my submission in and get the whole process rolling but now I've decided that I should take my time and only send in those cards I feel have a great chance at a 10. Because even then I'll probably be wrong. We'll see how long this process takes, but I'm definitely dreading when I'll have to pay $8 + S/H per card. Ugh.
I recently joined PSA and am eager to redeem my voucher for 6 free submissions and get my PSA set started. I was just kind of wondering about your thoughts or experiences regarding your first submission. Does PSA usually try to give newbies a break so that they'll get hooked on the grading phenomenon? Were you way off on what you thought the cards would grade and what they came back as? I've become a bit nervous regarding which of my cards to grade. I started off with 150 raw cards that I wanted to analyze and have since decided that 1 is only capable of being graded 10, and even that is not guaranteed. So now I've got to pick up more raw cards, which is fun. I've really enjoyed looking at all my stuff and trying to figure out which ones will make the grade, excuse the pun. I've truly grown to appreciate just how perfect a 10 from PSA is, and at the same time, just how difficult it is to find a raw card worthy of a 10. At first I was antsy to get my submission in and get the whole process rolling but now I've decided that I should take my time and only send in those cards I feel have a great chance at a 10. Because even then I'll probably be wrong. We'll see how long this process takes, but I'm definitely dreading when I'll have to pay $8 + S/H per card. Ugh.
0
Comments
To answer your question - no, PSA doesn't take it easy on newbies. Probably not a good idea to "give" 9s and 10s to someone and then turn around and give 7s or 8s on the next submission. You probably wouldn't be too happy about that.
My first submission to PSA wasn't all that bad. I sent in cards I knew weren't 10s, just to see how close or far off I really was. In fact, I got an 8 on a 65 Mays, a 6 on a 56 Mantle and a 5 on a 56 Ted Williams. All cards were purchased raw and sent in.
overall, I want PSA (or any other legit grading company) to grade my cards fairly and consistently.
I'm assuming you have modern stuff that you're planning on sending in, based on the number that could be a 10? There's absolutely nothing wrong with 5-9 in tons of the vintage years. Especially if you're talking about star cards.
Good luck!
I personally am looking into PSA and giving up BGS, PSA seems to be more popular..especially around this board...which I find a lot of helpful people...I will probably be purcahsing my PSA Membership soon...
As for BGS: I have had many ups and downs, I must of only graded maybe 30 cards...maybe 12 BGS 9s, 10 8, or 8.5s, and the rest like 6 or 7...and all new stuff!!!
My pride and joy are my 3 remainding Graded cards:
1985 Topps Dan Marino BGS9
1985 Topps Joe Montana BGS9
*Both these cards are really tough to grade, they have completely BLACK borders*
1994 SP Marshall Faulk Rookie BGS9
GOOD LUCK!!!
I just love the fact that I can get some of my favorite star players today in grades of 10 at the same price that it cost whoever graded it to have it done. It confuses me as to why they had it graded in the first place but I'm more than happy to take it off their hands.
Rich
1) When grading cards, PSA graders do not know, nor do they care as to who the cards belong to, they grade the cards according to their criteria;
2) it is exciting to send in your first submissions. PSA does a 7 day turnaround on new members and you will find yourself, about after five business days anxiously checking the PSA website to see if your order is completed;
3) I would go through your collection and pick your rarest cards, vintage cards, etc. and have them graded. I would not waste my free submissions on commom modern cards. Be critical of your own cards. Look at the corners under a magnifying glass, look at the centering, surface for scratches etc. You be the hardest grader for your own cards and give them a grade and you will probably be right on the money.
4) I have submitted about 100 cards for grading through the years. I usually purchase the cards I want already graded. I thought I had 10s of Barry Bonds rookies, Jim Kelly, Sandberg, etc., but those 10s I thought I had came back 8s and 9s.
Have fun with your selection for grading, write down what you think they will be graded, and look for the results.
Best of Luck
Scott
T-205 Gold PSA 4 & up
1967 Topps BB PSA 8 & up
1975 Topps BB PSA 9 & up
1959 Topps FB PSA 8 & up
1976 Topps FB PSA 9 & up
1981 Topps FB PSA 10
1976-77 Topps BK PSA 9 & up
1988-89 Fleer BK PSA 10
3,000 Hit Club RC PSA 5 & Up
My Sets
Good luck ajmoeller, much fun and excitment ahead!
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
I got:
82 TT Cal Ripken Jr. PSA 9
90 Leaf Frank Thomas PSA 10
90 Leaf Frank Thomas PSA 10
85 T Mark McGwire PSA 7
85 T Mark McGwire PSA 8
85 T Mark McGwire PSA 9
Wasn't bad. Of course I thought all of my McGwires would be 9s.
I guess on your freebies, it's best to send out your most expensive
cards for the quick turnaround.
Don
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