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New to grading advice wanted.

I am new to grading and turned to PSA instead of BGS because of their major conflict of interest. I had a few questions before I invested in grading the few cards I have.

Such as will PSA be going into posting subgrade averages on their label to compete with BGS? That is the only notable adantage of BGS. How do I submit cards without signing up to their gold and platinum membership subscriptiongs? When do the 5$ card specials usually come around? And what would barry bonds and greg maddux low end RCs be categorized when I submit? Thanks in advance. I have lots of other questions. =P
Collecting Cracker Jack Cards and all graded PSA/DNA cards.

Comments

  • Well the BigHurt will tell you better about BGS vs PSA.. I would say PSA never will have a need to Compete with BGS and I doubt they will ever do the sub grade thing.. They have over 8 million graded and tring to change the way they grade now would cause to many problems..

    I personally would never send a card to BGS and my reasons are

    1. There in bed with the card Company's
    2. They try to make there graded cards more valuble then other graders in the price guide.. ( note they can't do this with vintage as the market is set and they can't fool the collectors )
    3. THEY GRADE AND SELL THERE OWN CARDS!!!!
    4. They raise the prices in beckett for key cards they seam to have plenty of, then sell them or use them to hook new card graders in club specials
    5. Collectors Club ???? Why in gods name would anyone PAY to have there cards half graded ?????
    6. Beckett isn't a public Co. and never will or could it be as the conflict of intrest they have would bring the FEDS down on them in a heart beat..
    This of course is IMO !!!
    A Sport Card Collector Is a WELL FOCUSED PACKRAT..

    Need 1973 Baseball PSA 9's
  • phreakydancinphreakydancin Posts: 1,691 ✭✭
    7. Beckett grades sheet-cut cards, artificially creating high populations of high-grade cards in certain issues, especially 1960s-1980s O-Pee-Chee.
  • A761506A761506 Posts: 1,309 ✭✭✭
    Hi, welcome. You'll find a lot of people on here who don't think very highly of BGS for any number of reasons, but to answer your questions...

    Such as will PSA be going into posting subgrade averages on their label to compete with BGS?
    No. I don't think subgrades are a very good system anyways.

    How do I submit cards without signing up to their gold and platinum membership subscriptiongs?
    Sign up, it's well worth it to the get SMR, the online pop reports and they include 6 grades with the subscription. Otherwise, you can submit through dealers, although, I advise against it due to potential card switching by the dealer.

    When do the 5$ card specials usually come around?
    New special every month, some will be good for you, others will have no impact on you depending on what you collect.

    And what would barry bonds and greg maddux low end RCs be categorized when I submit? Thanks in advance. I have lots of other questions.

    They are catagorized as modern, even modern bulk if you have enough cards to submit. When you say low end, if you mean that the cards are anything less than mint condition, they are probably not worth grading.
  • Yeah I hate BGS and its conflict of interest.

    By lowend I mean like...
    Donruss 87' Greg Maddux RC
    Fleer 87' Greg Maddux RC
    Topps 87' Barry Bonds RC Modern?

    I want to slab these for authentication more than grading. I'm not that far into grading to be worried about the grade. I just want to authenticate my investments.

    Thanks for all the helpful information though. I am really geared up for this PSA/DNA thing. I just need to save up money to buy the membership which alerady pays for 6 submissions ! WOOHOO. and then save money for the rest of my cards! =P Thanks guys.
    Collecting Cracker Jack Cards and all graded PSA/DNA cards.
  • A761506A761506 Posts: 1,309 ✭✭✭
    They are authentic... I can assure you of that... none of those cards you mentioned have been counterfeited because it wouldn't be worth it for anyone to make counterfeits of them. Give you an idea as to value... PSA 9 Bonds from 1987 Topps sell for around $12 on eBay, PSA 8's go for around $3. If you don't care about the grade, then no need to concern yourself with a PSA 10, but those can be had regularly for around $65.

    Same deal with the Maddux cards... the Donruss in a PSA 9 sells for $8-9, PSA 8's are around $2-3, and the Fleer in a PSA 9 can be had for $6-8, PSA 10's go for under $30.

    So, unless you've got a legitimate shot at a 10 on those cards, they are not worth sending in. Your money would be better spent on other cards, like vintage in PSA 7 or better.

    Hope this helps, good luck
  • It helps, but vintage cards are out of my reach =0(. How should I go about breaking into the vintage card sector?

    If I posted some scans would people here on the boards help me out on the grading prospect?
    Collecting Cracker Jack Cards and all graded PSA/DNA cards.
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