Can You Justify the $25 Grading Fee for Modern Auto Cards?

Kep13

I was just curious how many people pay the $25 to get their 1998 and later auto cards graded by PSA. I have a bunch of nice, modern autographed cards, but I can't see paying the $25 per to get them graded. I remember when you could include these kind of cards in the monthly specials, but that option hasn't been available for a long time. I know that PSA knows that these kind of cards are worth more, but it should take them no longer to grade one of these cards with an auto than it does to grade a regular card from the set. The $18 special for April doesn't even include the option to include auto cards. I wonder how many people pay this price -- seems it might be enough so that PSA is willing to keep the price at $25, but I have a strong feeling they would get a lot more auto cards submitted if they made the price reasonable (you have to have a high strike rate when paying $25 a card or it is a losing proposition). Bet there are many others besides me who have 50-plus auto cards they would like to get graded but are unwilling to pay $25.

Do BGS and SGC charge a lot more for auto cards also (when the auto doesn't play a part in the grade)? If the card came with an auto, from the manufacturer, there is no reason for PSA to spend time determining if the auto is authentic.

PSASAP

Every so often, an esteemed board member will put together a group sub for autographed cards, and the cost is a very reasonable $14.50 a card. You just missed one, but keep watching the board for the next one. To answer your question about an autographed card obtained from a manufacturer, it is not necessary to pay the authentication fee, and the card can be sent in with other non-autographed cards. There is a cut-off year, and I think it's 1998-present.

Kep13

Thanks, I will keep that in mind -- to look for a group sub of auto cards. But with the 1998 and later manufacturer auto cards, I haven't seen a level or special yet where these cards can be included with non-auto cards, unless I am missing something (or misunderstood what you were referring to in your post).

PMKAY

<< <i>I was just curious how many people pay the $25 to get their 1998 and later auto cards graded by PSA. I have a bunch of nice, modern autographed cards, but I can't see paying the $25 per to get them graded. I remember when you could include these kind of cards in the monthly specials, but that option hasn't been available for a long time. I know that PSA knows that these kind of cards are worth more, but it should take them no longer to grade one of these cards with an auto than it does to grade a regular card from the set. The $18 special for April doesn't even include the option to include auto cards. I wonder how many people pay this price -- seems it might be enough so that PSA is willing to keep the price at $25, but I have a strong feeling they would get a lot more auto cards submitted if they made the price reasonable (you have to have a high strike rate when paying $25 a card or it is a losing proposition). Bet there are many others besides me who have 50-plus auto cards they would like to get graded but are unwilling to pay $25.

Do BGS and SGC charge a lot more for auto cards also (when the auto doesn't play a part in the grade)? If the card came with an auto, from the manufacturer, there is no reason for PSA to spend time determining if the auto is authentic. >>




Without knowing I was not supposed to I've included several in monthly special subs. They've never charged me extra and they've always been graded.

jmlabonner

I use SGC a lot for grading and autographs. I got in on the auto group sub earlier this year. It's my first PSA submission. Here are the monthly specials for SGC autos for this month:

Autograph Combo Special:
$8 per card for any single signed autograph card, any sport. Includes autograph authentication and card encapsulation. (regularly $10)
* Add $3 for autograph grading (regularly $5)
* Add $3 for card grading (regularly $5)
**non-sports cards not included.

charrigan

You can sub post-98 autographed cards as part of monthly specials at the CC rate. It's not $25. Do you mean pre-98?

slum22

<< <i>You can sub post-98 autographed cards as part of monthly specials at the CC rate. It's not $25. Do you mean pre-98? >>



Casey is right, I have subbed pack pulled autographed cards to PSA on numerous group subs on the lowest level service specials and they have graded them no problem (even the thicker patch autos can be submitted as long as they are for the time frame specified and under the value limit for the service level). So most manufacturer authenticated pack pulled autos can be done for the $5.50 special this month. Hope this helps.

PSASAP

Yes, 1998-present autographed cards pulled from packs can be submitted under the $5.50 special, provided they don't book for more than $100, just like the non-signed cards.

Kep13

Thanks for all the responses. I just assumed that "Excluding T3's, Supersized, and Autographed Cards" meant that no auto cards could be included in the CC specials, including 1998 and later mfr auto cards.

timpatg

If the card will be sold as soon as it's slabbed, I would sub to BGS. Modern shiny cards are the only exception to the "PSA sales better than BGS" theory.

LarkinCollector

From the PSA FAQs: Link
Q: Which autographed cards are required to be sent in using the Autographed Card Grading & Authentication Service?
A: This service level is for autographed cards dated pre-1998 and/or those not directly from the manufacturer must be submitted through Autographed Card Grading and Authentication Service (fee may vary depending on card value). Autographed cards directly from the manufacturer from 1998 to present may be submitted through the other service levels depending on value.

dtkk49a

If the card will be sold as soon as it's slabbed, I would sub to BGS. Modern shiny cards are the only exception to the "PSA sales better than BGS" theory

Not always. A lot of PSA 10's sell for more than their BGS 9.5 counterparts.

Stone193

If my wife can justify having 8 zillion pairs of shoes, handbags and jewelry, I can't justify just about anything.

RynoandBo

I had to bite the bullet when I used to sub 1991 Donruss Elite Ryne Sandberg Autographs and pay the higher fee. I didn't understand why, as the card was issued from the pack autographed, and no non-auto version exists. I subbed 4 different copies, and it got expensive. Highest I landed was an 8.5. This one below was not a personal sub. It's in my top 3 all time favorite sports cards in the collection.