Conducting an Informal Poll: Reviewing PSA Graded Cards

JimMeant · February 21, 2015 1:56AM

I'm interested in possibly sending a fairly high grade vintage 1960's HOF card graded PSA 8 and going through the review process in the hopes of a bump. The card was an old grade and I believe it was before PSA began awarding half grades.

I've never tried to do this, so before I make a final decision I was hoping to hear from the collectors on this board. I know that there seems to be more success in cracking out and submitting raw cards in hopes of a bump, but I want to hear about the review process first.

Anybody out there care to share specific experiences? What card did you send? Did it bump? If so, how how much of a bump did it receive? I'm anxious to hear all of your experiences involving this process. Thanks

gregmo32 · February 21, 2015 2:10AM

I would love to hear people's thoughts as well.

I have submitted several cards for Review in the past, and have had one bump a .5 on one occasion.
I would guess that I am about "one for seven" in terms of batting average.

I have done the crack out and resubmit game a few times in the past, but don't trust my dexterity with an expensive card.
I am convinced the results are better when sending in a card that is "raw" to get a grade on its own merits, as opposed to asking a grader to "overturn" the grade on an already-graded card.

I would imagine the odds of having a card get a (deserved) full point bump are very low, while resubmitting the same card after a crack-out would be much better.

I would also guess that if the card is a "popular" card, the odds decrease dramatically vs. a card that is not widely collected.

Bosox1976 · February 21, 2015 2:13AM

I have done around 20 and was very selective - I think I got 4 or 5 bumps, only one a full grade (a '74 Ryan went 8 to 9).

RyanAdmirer · February 21, 2015 2:42AM

I have never tried to send one in for review, but I have cracked-out many. I only crack out the ones I'm fairly certain are "under-graded", but also after I crack them out I take one last very detailed look before deciding to send them in. Once in a while I do find something that I missed, like a very small wrinkle on the back of the card or something else that I didn't think to check. But I'd honestly say out of the ones I do send back I average at least 75% of them coming back the 2nd time with a higher grade. I highly doubt I'd that kind of success rate with what is basically an "admission of error" by sending it back while in the slab for a 2nd look. Another reason I do it this way is because I have received cards back before that have bumped 2 full grades....sure it's possible that would happen if I sent them back in a slab. But I'd be much more surprised to see it happen that way.

If you are new to cracking them out I'd advise you to watch the clips that others have posted on here as well and running some "practice runs" in which you crack out a few cards that are as worthless as possible, because chances are the first few times you crack one out you may damage a card.

ClockworkAngel · February 21, 2015 2:58AM

I have gone down the review path too many times. I had a lot of success at first, but have been getting shut out of late and am retiring from reviews.

If you have an old holder and know the card has not been reviewed recently, I'd suggest giving the review a try. If it doesn't bump and you still feel strongly it's an 8.5, crack it out.

Keep in mind PSA is being very stingy on bumps of a high dollar cards so look at it closely. If there's anything to be found on the card, PSA will hit you on it. A Senior grader looks at all reviews of cards over a certain amount

I also recommend you only review if your intent is to sell if it bumps. Otherwise, I wouldn't care whether PSA deems it worthy of a bump as it's staying in your collection regardless.

Good luck!

80sOPC · February 21, 2015 3:56AM

Never done a review but bumps are an acknowledgment that PSA got it wrong the first time around, so it seems logical that most will stay the same grade.

charrigan · February 21, 2015 3:58AM

<< Never done a review but bumps are an acknowledgment that PSA got it wrong the first time around, so it seems logical that most will stay the same grade. >>

That's true, except for cards that were graded before the introduction of the half-grades.

grote15 · February 21, 2015 5:05AM

Reviews are tough. I have had a decent sucess rate (about 25%), but you have to be truly objective and very tough on your cards. It also helps if you are familiar with a particular year/issue and know what to look for.

charrigan · February 21, 2015 6:51AM

Slightly related question: has anyone had success reviewing a vintage 9 into a 10? I was considering using my CC renewal to sub the 15 best PSA 9s from my set. 1 success would obviously make it worth it.

seebelow · February 21, 2015 7:17AM

A few variables to figure out first.. the success rate of a particular bump, for that specific, particular year and also the rate for an 8 to jump a whole or half point vs a seven etc. Probably easier than a 9 to a ten. Also the cost.

But first...For your card, what would the value difference be if you get an 8.5 or a 9? Also, the other side, what if it gets knocked down a grade?

JimMeant · February 21, 2015 7:33AM

As it stands, my particular vintage HOF card is in an old PSA 8 flip and is valued at around $200.

A PSA 8.5 would be worth about $400+ and a PSA 9 is valued around $800-900.

80sOPC · February 21, 2015 7:55AM

<< As it stands, my particular vintage HOF card is in an old PSA 8 flip and is valued at around $200.

A PSA 8.5 would be worth about $400+ and a PSA 9 is valued around $800-900. >>

Not worth it IMO. You are spending $25+ for a 1 in 10 chance to make 200. Not a good bet.

Littletweed · February 21, 2015 10:36AM

I am very similar to RyanAdmirer, never done a review but have cracked out many. I have had good success that way so I will probably continue to do so. Every card is different, so it really depends on seeing it in hand and being familiar with how PSA grades that particular year. Here is one that was previously graded:

miwlvrn · February 21, 2015 10:39AM

miwlvrn · February 21, 2015 10:44AM

<< 

<< 

<< As it stands, my particular vintage HOF card is in an old PSA 8 flip and is valued at around $200.

A PSA 8.5 would be worth about $400+ and a PSA 9 is valued around $800-900. >>

Not worth it IMO. You are spending $25+ for a 1 in 10 chance to make 200. Not a good bet. >>

>>

IMO, that depends on how much you have into it in the first place. Maybe the situation is something like you pick up the raw card for $25 to $50, get it graded, comes back an 8 worth $200, then that leaves plenty of space to gamble on the costs associated with bump request to 8.5. Even if it doesn't end up getting the bump, you'd still make out sufficient profit. For me, that is a different story than if you've got closer to market value $200 already invested in the item, and are deciding whether or not to try once or twice for a minimum half grade improvement on review.

Conducting an Informal Poll: Reviewing PSA Graded Cards

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