Grading fees: As a collector (buyer) do you feel that the card has a built in value?

WinPitcher

Because I do not submit cards for grading and almost every card that I have slabbed has been bought off Ebay I feel that the grading fee is built into the purchase price. I know that the submitters are playing a totally different game when they submit cards. How many of you feel the same?

I would "value" each card by at least 4.00 because of this.

pandrews

yeah pretty much.. since one of my collections is a modern Rickey Henderson player set, i always think its great when i get a card for less or not much more than grading fees.. even if i already have the card raw, it saves me the time and hassle and S&H charges of submitting it myself..

magellan

I figure with my older sets/cards that Im happy to get a common for the price of grading fees (1969, 1965) but with my 1977's, I'll figure the value of a PSA 8 common (not low pop) to be about $3 so there I guess the grading fee has no value to me other than the $3.
Dave

WinPitcher

Dave I am estatic whenever I can get a 1965 Topps common for the cost of grading.


Just joshing I knew you meant in 7 right? and even then, in many cases, those cards go for more then grading. Grading I figure costs large submitters at least 3.50 a card if not more. Not everyone is a large DSL, 4 sharp type submitter. Not being a submitter myself I figure that every card I get 4.00 is for the grading. Thus any card I own (to me at least) is valued at 4.00 or more.

Ever notice that these large submit type guys start PSA 7 commons at 4.99 and up? Im thinking they feel the same as I do. The big money that they get on the few 9's and 10's is gravy. (as it should be)

Steve

krunchtyme

I send my own cards in for grading, as well as buy off of eBay and trade off the dallascowboycards.com website.

I don't usually sell them after I grade them because I would never break even. I usually grade them for me and my own collection. I always include the grading fees into the card when I try to win it on eBay. I have bid $5.00 on a card just because it costs me that and more (with shipping) to get them graded. Since I just assume $5 per card, if I can get it for under the grading price, I jump for joy. It saves me the hassle and with my super skills I would probably get a lower grade with my own submission and have it cost more money!!!!

I got a 86 Topps Tony Dorsett for .99 cents (PSA 8) and love it!!!!!!!






Always looking for PSA Aikman, Irvin, Smith, Lilly, Dorsett and other Cowboys!!!!!!!

MorrellMan

Steve - good question. As you know, I'm trying to collect a certain set involving martians for about $20 a card. That means if I have to go after raw cards, I need to factor in the six bucks or so it'll cost to get them slabbed. So I'll go 6 bucks higher on already graded cards. I've been fudging my ceiling on this thing, but, to me, the grading cost is a real part of the budget.

Often, I'll see a graded card I like, and I figure if I can get it for the cost of grading, I've basically gotten it for free. Kind of a mindf**k, but you do what you gotta do....