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Unopened Wax Collectors - Question on grading

gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
For unopened 1970's packs, at what grade does it stop making good financial sense to have the pack graded? In other words, if I think a pack will grade a PSA 7 should I send it in, or is the premium of having it graded not more than the price to have it graded? I would appreciate your thoughts.

I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !

Comments

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    For 1970s packs, I'd say the premium is almost always worth the cost of grading the pack, but it also helps greatly if you have multiple packs to submit, as the return shipping cost from PSA is nearly twice the grading fee. Also, do not submit a wax pack in which the gum is loose or broken~PSA will no longer grade those packs for liability reasons due to wrapper tears in transit.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    That is unfortunate, because in my experience, when the gum is in one piece, it is also stuck to the card in front of it. This ruins at least one card in a pack. Meanwhile, broken gum usually means nothing has stuck to the card, and it was more likely to have been stored in a climate controlled environment. Isn't that what you have found too?
    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>That is unfortunate, because in my experience, when the gum is in one piece, it is also stuck to the card in front of it. This ruins at least one card in a pack. Meanwhile, broken gum usually means nothing has stuck to the card, and it was more likely to have been stored in a climate controlled environment. Isn't that what you have found too? >>



    The first part of your statement is usually true--when the gum is stuck to the top card, it is usually ruined due to the sugar in the gum leeching out to adhere to the card. For a wax box that has been properly stored, the gum in the packs is usually loose in the pack, and the top card is usually fine. When the gum is broken and loose, the top card is usually fine, too, but as an unopened collector, I prefer a pack with a loose but intact piece of gum, all things considered, and PSA doesn't grade those packs anymore, unfortunately.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    I agree. A loose piece of gum, all in one piece, usually is the best news for the cards inside. It is a real bummer (and a blow to the validity of the grade, in my opinion) that they won't grade those now.
    If that is indeed the reason, shouldn't they still grade that type of pack at in person shows?
    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I agree. A loose piece of gum, all in one piece, usually is the best news for the cards inside. It is a real bummer (and a blow to the validity of the grade, in my opinion) that they won't grade those now.
    If that is indeed the reason, shouldn't they still grade that type of pack at in person shows? >>



    My understanding is that they will not because even if you get the pack back in the condition the grade indicates, that doesn't mean damage can't occur at a later point in which case PSA would be responsible for reimbursing the new owner for the difference in value between the grade on the flip and the actual grade based on the condition of the pack at that point. Personally, I think they should just grade all wax packs as AUTHENTIC and do away with the numerical grading scale, which they already do if a Min Grade is requested/specified and not attained.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I agree. A loose piece of gum, all in one piece, usually is the best news for the cards inside. It is a real bummer (and a blow to the validity of the grade, in my opinion) that they won't grade those now.
    If that is indeed the reason, shouldn't they still grade that type of pack at in person shows? >>



    Steve would have to be at the show to authenticate before grading.

    To the original question, I graded a '73 basketball pack an it got a 7. It's worth about the same as a raw pack from bbce. Maybe less. The pack grading is so expensive that you need to be careful if you are really thinking about getting a return.
    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I agree. A loose piece of gum, all in one piece, usually is the best news for the cards inside. It is a real bummer (and a blow to the validity of the grade, in my opinion) that they won't grade those now.
    If that is indeed the reason, shouldn't they still grade that type of pack at in person shows? >>



    My understanding is that they will not because even if you get the pack back in the condition the grade indicates, that doesn't mean damage can't occur at a later point in which case PSA would be responsible for reimbursing the new owner for the difference in value between the grade on the flip and the actual grade based on the condition of the pack at that point. Personally, I think they should just grade all wax packs as AUTHENTIC and do away with the numerical grading scale, which they already do if a Min Grade is requested/specified and not attained. >>



    I really like the authentic idea, but they still need a new holder to make it work. I suspect they could cut a lot of the cost out without the grading. Then I could finally get that authenticated alf pack I've always wanted.



    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>I agree. A loose piece of gum, all in one piece, usually is the best news for the cards inside. It is a real bummer (and a blow to the validity of the grade, in my opinion) that they won't grade those now.
    If that is indeed the reason, shouldn't they still grade that type of pack at in person shows? >>



    My understanding is that they will not because even if you get the pack back in the condition the grade indicates, that doesn't mean damage can't occur at a later point in which case PSA would be responsible for reimbursing the new owner for the difference in value between the grade on the flip and the actual grade based on the condition of the pack at that point. Personally, I think they should just grade all wax packs as AUTHENTIC and do away with the numerical grading scale, which they already do if a Min Grade is requested/specified and not attained. >>



    I really like the authentic idea, but they still need a new holder to make it work. I suspect they could cut a lot of the cost out without the grading. Then I could finally get that authenticated alf pack I've always wanted. >>



    I'm pretty sure Joe has already ruled out redevelopment of a new holder due to the expense involved, similar to the reason they never initiated rack pack grading.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
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