Is it worth getting an autograph Graded ?

Smittys · December 12, 2014 2:16AM

looking for yeahs or nays

Griffins · December 12, 2014 2:19AM

IMO authenticated yes, graded, no.

Dboneesq · December 12, 2014 2:25AM

<< IMO authenticated yes, graded, no. >>

+1

miwlvrn · December 12, 2014 2:29AM

IMO, if you're keeping it for yourself, authenticated might be sufficient. For resale, my observation seems to have been higher grade cards 7 and up do better in red flip where the card is graded and the auto authenticated; lower grade cards 6.5 and lower maximize sale price if in blue flip w/ auto grade only and no card grade. For example, if you had a card that would grade a 2 but had a nice auto on it, I believe it would sell for a higher price in a blue flip with an auto grade of a 10 than it would in a blue flip with the auto just authenticated. For another example, I think a red flip with a grade of 9 on the card's condition plus the auto authenticated would sell higher than the same card in a blue flip with the auto just authenticated. For one thing, it allows you to add some search terms that may attract more shoppers. For another, highlighting the best attributes is better for sales (i.e., card's condition, auto's condition) when all 3 choices also include the auto being authenticated regardless.

Raw autos are pretty risky to sell as there isn't a lot of trust for those unless the buyer really knows what he is doing or the price is low enough where the hit isn't bad if the auto doesn't turn out to be real. Nothing wrong with keeping the autos raw for your own collection though.

Dboneesq · December 12, 2014 2:37AM

Very good explanation. The reason I said NO to the auto, was that it is so difficult, IMO, to put a grade on an auto. I have seen some that look AMAZING that did not get a "10" and others that did not look real nice that got "9s". If you go for the auto grade ... and it does not come back a "10" (maybe a "9") it's probably going to hurt the final value. JMO.

wrestlingcardking · December 12, 2014 2:46AM

I could care less about autograph grades, I like what is appealing to me. While grading cards themselves is still somewhat subjective, overall I am happy with third party graders. For third party graders with grading autographs, not so much.