A Real Conundrum!

59Horsehide

First, I apologize if this thread has been addressed in the past. Maybe my situation will apply to others and some value will fall out. Some background: I joined PSA and CU in the summer of 2014. I have made one submission (50 cards special) to PSA and have been very satisfied with the service, site options, quality information, etc. For the last 10 years plus, prior to joining PSA, I submitted to Beckett and BVG. All cards I have subbed to Beckett and PSA are 1959 Topps and 1956 Topps. I have a registry set for each year (59Horsehide and 56Horsehide). Here is my dilema: I have close to 100 BVG graded cards in grades ranging from 7 to 8.5. I am under the impression I can not add these cards to the registry. My options: 1) sub BVG graded cards to PSA in the Beckett holder; 2) crack the BVG cards out and sub raw to PSA; and 3) Leave them in their BVG holders.

I have come to learn PSA graded cards seem to hold a higher value than a BVG graded card in the same grade. I rarely am able to see any difference in the grade of a BVG card as compared to a PSA card in the same grade. I have read on CU and other places that BVG may be a bit more lenient with their grades - is this true? My risk is having a BVG graded "8" come back from PSA as "7", etc. I know there are no guarantees in any grading adventure so I am trying to understand the level of "risk and reward" if I take the BVG cards to PSA.

I am looking for your advice, opinions, past experices going from Grader X to PSA, and any other information you care to provide related to the options I listed above. NOTE: Some of my earlier graded BVG cards do not show up in the Beckett data base of graded cards due to changes they made in their certificate numbering process. I have a very nice 1956 Clemente in 7.5 that does not show on their data base. Could prove difficult to move a card that does not appear to be a legitimaly graded card. If I keep the cards in BVG, they told me I could send them in and they would change the certificate/number. All of this at my expense - one reason for my switch to PSA.

Jim

Dusto

Option 4: Although it will still cost money, you can review and request a minimum grade on the cards. This way you are happy with any crossovers and the ones that don't are still in their original slab.

KbKards

If you send crossovers in specifying a minimum grade then PSA will have great difficulty in assessing the grade of the card when it's sandwiched between multiple layers of plastic in the Beckett holder. Beckett got to see the raw card in hand, PSA does not when you specify a minimum grade. So for PSA to cross over a card to the minimum grade you want, they have to be 100% sure they're seeing everything they need to see before they'll assign an acceptable grade and break it out. There's a whole lot of plastic in Beckett holders hiding critical areas the graders need to see, so if they're unsure about anything they need to be sure of for the card to meet your minimum grade it will be easily turned down.

59Horsehide

Great comments Dusto and Kb - I was not aware of that 4th option and what it all included. Hoping someone out there has dealt with the same issue I have stated above and can address how they resolved it.

Jim