No Qualifiers ???

ajetfan

When everyone submits cards, do they request "No Qualifiers" on the invoice?
I have about 100 1968 and 1969 Topps Baseball that I will be submitting for the 60's Registry Special and a few of the key cards are borderline PSA7/8s, regarding centering. I have never requested NQ on any of my invoices and I have been happy with the results lately, so I am leery to start now. Does anyone think it would be possible that the graders would not appreciate the request and the request could possibly adversely effect all grades on the invoice(something like the amateur trying to tell the pro how to do his job). I know that I am over-analyzing this, but I would feel better if I knew that requesting NQ is common-place. Thanks in advance for any replies!

BigKidAtHeart

I wondered the same exact thing on the invoice I just sent!

and too, Where would you note this request?? I did not see that on the form.

Vargha

I haven't had any problems submitting that way and doubt that it would affect the grader's decision in any way whatsoever.

waitilltheytrytosell

ajetfan - It depends upon what grades you want to see on your cards. You describe a portion of your cards as being borderline 7 or 8 because of centering. Many set collectors don't want any sort of qualifier on their card. They prefer a straight 7 over an 8oc or even 9oc. When you send them in without the NQ request, you could get back some 8oc's on cards that could have got a straight 7. If everything you send them is very nicely centered, then you don't have to worry about getting unwanted OC qualifiers. But since you are sending them some marginal stuff, you want them to put the grades you want on the close ones. Will you be okay with getting back 8oc's on cards that could have got a straight 7? If not, then send them in requesting No Qualifiers.

waitilltheytrytosell

bigkid - You can write "NO QUALIFIERS" vertically in large print in the Variety column next to the Value column.

ajetfan

What I'm concerned about is if I request NQ, all the bordeline cards getting 7s. As an example, say 10 borderline cards are submitted (all between 65/35 to 70/30, using my last invoice as an example, I got 3 8s, 2 8OCs and 5 7s. I am worried that I would 'lose out' on those 3 straight 8s by requesting NQ. I wouldn't be concerned, but we're talking about high dollars cards like Mantle, etc, where the difference in grade could be a high dollar value. Just wondering, do you generally request NQ?

waitilltheytrytosell

Why would you lose the 3 straight 8's by requesting no qualifiers? The only cards that would be affected, would be the two 8oc's you got. Assuming that they both had adequate centering for a 7, you would then have received 3-8's and 7-7's. Most people would prefer to have that over the oc's. I always request no qualifiers on stuff that I know will grade in the 7-8-9 range. Sometimes if you have something that is severely off-center, then asking for qualifiers may benefit you with a more attractive grade. Like if you have a 7-8-9 type of card which only has 3-4-5 type of centering.

FB

I have to go with waittil on this one.

I just sent another invoice off to PSA two days ago. I indicated "No Qualifiers" on it. I find that the biggest difference for me is that vards that would have gotten an 9OC come back with straight 8's. That OC is a price killer on eBay.

BigKidAtHeart

so is the decsion to request No Qualifiers based solely on the resale values?? What if you do not plan on selling the cards?

Also, what would you expect to get if you buy a 9oc card on ebay
then Resubmitt it to PSA for grading with out qualifiers??

FB

Bigkid,

There are a couple of advantages to me for No Qualifiers.

1) I think that qualifiers definitely impact resale value. I find that 8's will often sell for 3 to 4 times what a 9OC sells for.

2) If I have a card that gets a 9OC but the centering is just over the line for a 9, without qualifers it'll get the 8. The 8 will actually be more help in the Set Registry than the 9OC which is counted as a 7. If the centering is worse than whats allowed for 8, then it will get the 7 or 6. But I don't send in anything that off-centered.

3) I have all of my cards in spreadsheets. EXCEL has a real tough time averaging or totaling anything with a qualifier since a 9OC technically isn't a number, but instead a character string.

I also like simple. I like the concept of 1 through 10. The OC's throw a bit of a curve into a very simple system. So, I'll take the one or even two point hit to keep to the simple 1 through 10.

As far as buying OC's on eBay to resubmit - I haven't ever tried it. The sets that I'm collecting are not really that rare so I haven't even considered it. But, if you're dealing with high end cards from the 50's or earlier, it might just pay if you can determine that a 55 Clemente 9OC is centered 68/32. That card should be able to be shipped back in and get the 8.

Just my thoughts. If you prefer a 9OC to a 7 or possibly an 8. Thats fine too.

Basilone

FB-

When reselling...do you have ever receive complaints from winning bidders claiming that their "8" was over graded and it should of had a OC qualifier? Do you find that they request refunds from you?

I'm asking the question(s) because many winning bidders are not privy to the message boards and/or your reputation. You may think the card is a 9 and is offcentered...they may think they received a off-center mis-graded 8. How do you handle it...who is right?

I like the idea of "no-qualifiers" if you are keeping the cards. Who cares if my 1965 Joe Azcue PSA 8 should of been a 9oc when/if I sell my collection as a whole..plus it helps with the rating. On the other hand, if I submit with the intention of resell...it just seems the missing qualifier could open the doors for some disappointed customers.

The solution is for PSA to submit in writing that the card in question was graded a X but due to the your request it had a final slab grade of Y. They may do this already as I have not submitted using the "no qualifiers" request yet.

John

waitilltheytrytosell

FB - Correct on all counts except for the ease of a 68/32 Clemente 8 crossover. If the centering is better that 65/35, the card will have no problem in crossing over. When cards fall into that maximum o/c gray area that PSA lists as 65/35 to 70/30, it is not automatic. This is where subjectivity - the graders opinion on the overall eye appeal of a card falling into that range comes into play. It depends upon how it looks to them, and how they feel the public will accept the card with an 8 going on it. If the eye appeal isn't good to them, then the card just may pop up on a "misgrade of the day" post at some time if they decide to throw an 8 on it. While it may measure within the tolerance range, it may not look it.

qualitycards

John - Thats why it is imperative to view a scan before purchasing to see how the grade was created. And if the PSA-8 is "oc" and not given the qualifier then at least you have "9" corners to compensate. And keep in mind that PSA is the only grading company that uses the qualifier system, SGC, BGS, SCDA and the other 40 companies do not. ...jay

waitilltheytrytosell

basilone - Buyers have the right to have higher standards than any grading company. If they want their 8's to have perfect or near perfect centering, they certainly have the right to persue cards like that. It would however be very helpful to the seller to know the buyers requirements in advance. So a picky buyer has to tell you that they want their 7's, 8's, and 9's with centering that exceeds the requirements for a 10. Nothing wrong with that, it's their money, just let me know before I send them to you. This type of buyer, thank God, is few and far between. Most collectors are perfectly satisfied with the range of condition that can fall within a specific grade. Some do prefer certain qualities over others, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Basilone

Waitill-


<< <i>It would however be very helpful to the seller to know the buyers requirements in advance. So a picky buyer has to tell you that they want their 7's, 8's, and 9's with centering that exceeds the requirements for a 10. >>



Your example seems to have exaggerated my point....which is:

Who is right?

The buyer who thinks he has a misgraded 8 or the seller who thinks the card is a 9oc but was graded an 8 because he requested no qualifiers.

and...How do you handle it?

Plus when random potential bidders see a obviously off-centered card on ebay graded an 8NQ, whether they bid or not, it may give them a bad impression of PSA grading overall.

Im sorry...but determining the other aspects of a card (gloss, surface, even corners) accurately from a scan can be very difficult...especially when differentiating between a 8 and a 9.

Something about the the "no qualifiers" request does not sit well with me. Its almost like PSA has agreed not to grade using the PSA scale but instead use a SGC scale. My feeling is if the card is OC its OC...period, end of story....whether its a 7OC, 8OC, or 9OC. IMO the qualifer just adds to the credibility of a graded card.

John

theBobs

Good points John.

I read somewhere that PSA will take a 9 to an 8 due to centering even without the NQ request. Only if the card is either 9oc or 7 will the request be needed. Can anyone validate this?

FB

Basilone,

I have had to refund for a couple (probably 2, maybe 3)of cards that I've sold through eBay for reasons like that. To me, I have no problem with that. I'm easy when I buy. If its in a 9 holder and looks relatively like a 9, I'll keep it. SOmetimes if I'm not thrilled, I'll keep it until I fid another and then sell it and describe why I wasn't happy. But, for me - when I sell - its better for me to refund the money no questions asked than to get into a p*ssing contest. If the same person does it a few times - then I know better than to sell to them anymore.