What should my submission strategy be?

OilCanDan

So I'm getting ready to send in my first (paid for) submission. I have around 100 1959 baseball cards that, based on my somewhat limited knowledge, should grade no lower than 7's. I've read a boatload of posts here and bought and used a loupe on all off these. I'm building sets and want to do so in 8s and up only, but I realize that at least 33% of these will likely grade out at 7's.

I'm not sure what the best strategy is here. Here are the options as I see them:

1) Send in the 50 best, see how they do, then make a decision on the other 50. The positive here is that I can get see whether I have the eye I think I have. Negative is that I have to wait a really long time to get all 100 graded (going to use the 45 day service). Also I seemingly spread the risk of catching someone "on a bad day", as I've read may happen from time to time.
2) Send in all 100. Positive is I get them back quicker, negative is that I run the risk of catching someone on a bad day and getting grades back that are way lower than I expect. This would likely turn me away from ever submitting cards again.

One queston in my mind is whether or not sending in cards that I *know* aren't going to hit 8's might affect others that I think should. In other words, If I send in 60 cards and they're all around 8 quality, that 61st seems to have a better shot at getting any benefit of the doubt than if I send in 100 cards that have 60 8's & 35 7's & 5 6's. Does that make sense?

Any advice some of you veterens can offer is greatly appreciated. I'm wondering if I'm totally overthinking this and none of it really matters in the end.

Thanks

Publius

Dan
Sell all of your baseball cards and start collecting some cool football cards.

After that you can sit at the back of the bus with the rest of us cool kids

joe

Volver

No matter what you send in prepare to be disappointed. You can probably count on one hand how many of us thought our first sub was a success.

RipublicaninMass

Some members swear by sending in no more than 50 at a time.

storm888

Send them all in, right now.

"Strategy" will not help.

The cards will grade like they grade.

clayshooter22

Honestly,

Find your best 20 cards, divide them into four piles, send in each of these 5 with 20 others (in lots of 25), send each of four submissions no closer than 10-15 days.

I find that sometimes you get a bad or good grader and this way you can minimize the damage of hitting a bad grading session from one guy.

I've always had better luck with smaller sub's, say 25.

Alfonz24

If you have the cash to send them all in at one time, you should do that.

As you will quickly learn, collecting strategies change every week, let alone every day (and hour).

When I started several months ago, I deceided to do the 56 Topps set in PSA 5. I now do not bid on anything lower than 6 and have picked up some cheap 7s on Ebay that slip through the cracks.

Not sure what PSA 6s and 7s sell for the 59 set, but if they are like the 56 set even your low grades will recoup your grading fees. Put your low grades in the set registery and scour Ebay and other sights for PSA 8 deals. Once you get an upgrade, sell the lower grade.

Best of luck.

Carew29

I would suggest all the ones that would receive a 9 or a 10

OilCanDan

Thanks to all that responded...some good advice here. I think I'm being pretty tough on my raw cards given the state of some of the 8's I've bought. Some 8's look great, while some make me wonder how the heck they got 8 status. I'm really not sure what to base this on, but I guess I'm not going to learn until I try.

Again, thanks for the insight...

Publius

<< <i>Send them all in, right now.

"Strategy" will not help.

The cards will grade like they grade. >>




Responses are all over the board. That is funny.

From send them in all at once, to making little piles and sending in the piles, to cherry picking.

I say you go with my advice and start collecting football cards

joe

PasadenaMudSlide

Buy a box of plastic sheets.

Insert cards.

Enjoy!

Don't mess with grading companies.

Like my uncle always used to say regarding the NFL: "They're all rigged."

WinPitcher

The cards are what they are, send them all in.


Steve

OilCanDan

Thanks again for the advice, all.

One quick question - where do I write in the 2nd 25 cards on the form? Do I use a second form and just ignore everything on it except the part where I list each card?