Man I hate GAI slabbed cards...Edited to attach scan

JustinsShoebox

I never buy GAI slabbed cards just because of the things I've heard. But I need a 53 Mathews Bowman for my set, so I took a chance on this:

53 Mathews Bowman Color GAI 8

Here's a close up scan:



and offered a price that would be probably around a PSA 6, thinking if I could get it to cross, good for me... Seller accepted (which should have been a flag) and I just received the card tonight. Should have known that it would measure 1/32 too short top to bottom. Going to hope the seller honors their 3 day money back return policy.

What's your success rate on GAI slabbed cards? Are people basically just staying away from them for the most part now?

Justin

Edited to attach picture.

cardbender

Not to defend GAI, but Bowman's are often found to be up 1/16" short and residing in both PSA and SGC holders too.
They're cut short at the factory and unfortunately after market too.

Sorry you feel you got hosed on your deal.

JustinsShoebox

If that's the case and if I'm wrong I'm more than happy to keep the card. I will admit that I'm not an expert on the 53 Bowman set.

What are the general opinions? Should I eat it and attempt to crack and submit? If 1/32 short is acceptable, then I'm more than happy to try and get it in a PSA slab.

bobbyw8469

GAI sells for a discount from PSA. However, there are still some good cards in GAI holders. I would try to crack and resub to PSA.

onlyanumber

What bobby said. You are also looking at an older GAI slab, which tend to have better shots at being legit. For that matter, of all the Gai slabs I've bought, they were all older slabs and every one crossed to PSA on a crack and resubmit.

WinPitcher

You may have to submit more than once.

Good luck in whatever you decide.


I just looked at the card and I do not like the small dot on the bottom of the front
and, the reverse has a wax stain. Not sure how PSA treats 53 Bowmans with wax.

50-52's get a pass.


Depending on what I paid I might send it back, others are out there.

JustinsShoebox

Thanks guys, I'm starting to feel better about this purchase. Thanks for the advise and education. If not for the knowledge of the set/year in question and the dating of the GAI slab, I might have returned the card. I'm going to crack and submit. I'll post back results when they come.

As far as the dot, it does bug me a little, but I'm less irritated by the wax stain on the back. For me it adds a little character to go along with the card. The things I don't forgive as much are centering issues...though I do have one or two cards in the Mathews set that bug me everytime I look at them, namely the 59 Topps. I'll probably upgrade after the Master set is complete.

Justin

JoeBanzai

I have tried to crack a GAI graded 9 card and send to PSA for a possible huge profit once. Card came back "evid of trim"

Card looks good maybe I'll try it again.

Joe

Sean1125

I like the Gai holder, but I don't like Gai (Their holder looks better than PSA and has a better color scheme imo), however in grading... nowhere near

bobbyw8469

Looking at VCP averages for the PSA 6 and the GAI 8, it looks like you overpaid by about $50. That is why the seller was so quick to accept your offer.

EagleEyeKid

I like the Gai holder

Their holder was my favorite when they first came out with the silver flip.
I liked the top view for easy identification. That is all I like about Gai.

I've only crossed 3 cards (older flip) and they were modern cards. All cracked out.
1 Gai 9.5 to PSA and it came back EOT. The other 2 to BGS and both got 9.5 same grade....hmmm.

I recall a board member (MikeSchmidt or something like that with babyface avatar) who tried to cross
a bunch of vintage cards (old flip) and they were all EOTs. Maybe he'll chime in for ya.

Good luck with your card.

KbKards

Good luck finding a 1953 Bowman Mathews without any red dot there. A 1/32" difference top to bottom is nothing to worry about on a 1953 Bowman. PSA will look at the actual cut of the card not the size. Unfortunately it doesn't look like your card measures the same if you take two height measurements, one on the left side and one on the right. The bottom border shows a tilted cut with a thinner border on the right side. The top should be just the opposite but it looks pretty even.

JustinsShoebox

I've cracked it out and will send in today.

I'll scan the card again for a closer look, the sellers picture is a little difficult to read based on the way the photo was taken.

Would love some opinions after scan is posted.

JustinsShoebox

After looking at the scans I took, I can see where the top left to right can be shown as trimmed. The top border looks like it should be a bit bigger to match the miscut on the bottom (easier to see from the back). Unless it's characteristic of the 53 Bowman cut, I'm fairly certain this will result in an EoT.

Thoughts?

EagleEyeKid

I'm going to say trimmed. The top right edge. You can see it better from the back scan.
The part I colored in is too smooth and inconsistent with the rest of the top edge.
I hope I'm wrong.

KbKards

Why oh why didn't you put up a good scan of the card in the holder before popping it out. You're going to be very sorry you popped the card out and now don't even have the option of returning it to the seller for a refund. It would be a waste of money sending that in to PSA.

JustinsShoebox

<< <i>Why oh why didn't you put up a good scan of the card in the holder before popping it out. You're going to be very sorry you popped the card out and now don't even have the option of returning it to the seller for a refund. It would be a waste of money sending that in to PSA. >>



Yeah, after looking at the scans multiple times, I agree, I won't be submitting it.

As far as being "very sorry" I'm not so much. I got some additional knowledge from the other good folks on this board about the set so it's not a total loss for me (lessons learned).

I hate when people put trimmed cards back into the market so this will just go into my raw collection that I won't be grading.

pclpads

Considering all the above points, that is a ton of coin to plop down on a card that isn't that scarce and may well come back EOT / Auth. If that happens, you've just spent $215 on card that will be worth $25. Sure, a PSA 8 would have cost a whole lot more, but there would be no question of its legitimacy, or ease in marketing it, if you ever decided to sell.

WinPitcher

Justin

You really are not 100% sure it's trimmed, no one here is.

If it was me, I'd wait until I had a voucher and send it in that way.


If it then comes back EOT then eat it. Until then it's all supposition.


Steve

bobbybakeriv

That bites. Sorry. I've sent in four GAI 9.5s and three came back "evid trim." One came back a nine.

edit to add: I cracked them out each time and one card I sent in four times with the same results.

bigreddog

Crack it and collect it raw. Buy gold if your interest is value and profit

mccardguy1

<< <i>Crack it and collect it raw. Buy gold if your interest is value and profit >>



Agreed. That is a beautiful card and i would love to have that in my collection.