Getting an entire set graded - is is worth it?

Statman

This is a non-PSA question, but hopefully I'll still get some feedback. I see that for March, SGC had a $5 basketball special - any year, any value. I am assuming they will grade tall-boys (it says no oversized, but I'm not sure if that applies to something more like t-3's and such for SGC).

But if they allow Tall Boys, I was thinking of getting my 1969/70 set all graded. Average condition is probably SGC 84 or so, with definitely some better and just a few worse because of centering. If I was planning to sell this set after getting it graded, do you think the $500 expense to get it graded would be worth the trouble. Or would I be better off just getting some of the nicest cards graded as well as the big $ cards? Obviously, the SGC market is much smaller than PSA, especially for cards from this era. However, because of cost, I'd never be able to do it through PSA (OK, except for the special they had in January that I missed out on).

Opinions?

Thanks - Andrew

Littletweed

I would assume tall-boys like the 69/70 set would be considered oversized.

larryallen73

No.

VitoCo1972

Only worth it if you were sure that over half the 69 set would be NMMT or better. If it was 61 Fleer, NM or better would do it. 57 Basketball would be EX or better.

Brick

I would think the gain in selling price with PSA would more than offset the extra expense of their grading.

GoDodgersFan

Statman,

That is a good special by SGC. Grading an entire set, unless it is in HIGH grade and manageable in terms of size,
is not recommended. You may want to confirm with SGC about oversized cards.

However, if this set has sentimental value and you plan to keep it, you may want to consider the pleasure
value. As a collector, you do have to place a value on the 'Joy' of collecting vs. 'money' side of collecting.
From what you described, I'd recommend grading the the key cards and enjoy the rest in raw form. Boy, $500 is
quite a bit of money.

Good luck and enjoy the set.

Tom

Statman

Thanks for some quick responses. I think I'm leaning towards getting the best condition cards graded, along with a few of the big money cards. If I hit a few really nice grades, then I'll probably sell those off and replace them with raw singles.

Of course, if SGC is even going to grade Tall Boys on this special??

KbKards

You mentioned about selling the set after grading, and noted the market for SGC was smaller than PSA. Not sure if you looked at the registries but small is not the word for the market for this set in SGC holders. PSA has 76 sets registered with 26 at 90% or better, and only 8 below 10% completion. SGC has 4 sets registered with 2 at 100% and the other 2 at 4% and 6%. They could charge you $2 a card and you'd be throwing your money away. Email Joe Orlando and tell him you want to submit your whole set and see what the discount will be for your bulk submission. Even at twice the price of SGC it will be a bargain in the long-run.

dontippet

Have you submitted cards for grading before? Most first time submitters are surprised at the low grades they receive in their initial submission. If this is the case, then I would say no. If you closely scrutinized every single card, you may be surprised that a lot of the commons don't match up to the SGC 84 level.

LakersFAN

wow, sgc does have some super March madness specials going on there

exactly agree with what tippet said !

Statman

I appreciate the responses - I've submitted plenty before and you are right, sometimes you think the cards are better than they really are. That's why perhaps I would just submit the best to test the waters first.

I also agree with KbKards about the difference in market share. And you're right, by sending in that many, it really wouldn't be that much more going through PSA. That is - it would probably be worth the extra cost.

Dboneesq

Stat ... I agree with the other poster ... Give Joe a call and see what he says .... That set in PSA holders would be MUCH better than in SGC... Let him know you wanted to be part of the group submission, but you can't because of the size limitation. Considering we, as a group, are going to have around 1,200 cards going in, maybe he would offer you the $5 special as well.

Blackie

PM sent Andrew...