how should I go about having my cards graded?
sentientbob
Posts: 9
I have been out of collecting for 20 years. Im just getting back into it, and I want to sell my collection. I plan on having hundreds of cards graded, but I am not sure how I should go about it, in order to get the best grades possible.
There is a great variation in the grading of cards. For instance, I have seen cards graded a 7 that were in better shape than cards graded a 10. I have been told that there are different ways of submitting your cards in order to maximize the possibility of getting good grades. For instance, I was told that I should submit some not so good cards with perfect cards, rather than all purfect cards, and this, supposedly, will make it more likely that the perfect cards get a 9 or 10.
I have also heard that the bigger customers' cards tend to get better graded than other customers, but I dont know if this is true. I only know that there is alot of inconsistency in the grades.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I have alot of perfect cards, and getting a 10 rather than a 9, could mean thousands of additional dollars, if what I have read on the internet is correct.
Thanks for any info you can give.
There is a great variation in the grading of cards. For instance, I have seen cards graded a 7 that were in better shape than cards graded a 10. I have been told that there are different ways of submitting your cards in order to maximize the possibility of getting good grades. For instance, I was told that I should submit some not so good cards with perfect cards, rather than all purfect cards, and this, supposedly, will make it more likely that the perfect cards get a 9 or 10.
I have also heard that the bigger customers' cards tend to get better graded than other customers, but I dont know if this is true. I only know that there is alot of inconsistency in the grades.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I have alot of perfect cards, and getting a 10 rather than a 9, could mean thousands of additional dollars, if what I have read on the internet is correct.
Thanks for any info you can give.
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Comments
<< <i>There is a great variation in the grading of cards. For instance, I have seen cards graded a 7 that were in better shape than cards graded a 10. I have been told that there are different ways of submitting your cards in order to maximize the possibility of getting good grades. For instance, I was told that I should submit some not so good cards with perfect cards, rather than all purfect cards, and this, supposedly, will make it more likely that the perfect cards get a 9 or 10.
I have also heard that the bigger customers' cards tend to get better graded than other customers, but I dont know if this is true. I only know that there is alot of inconsistency in the grades. >>
There's no way any PSA 7 is in better shape than a PSA 10. If you're comparing the cards online, then you are probably missing surface flaws, poor reverse centering or other features that bring the grade down. PSA 10s are sometimes interchangeable with 9s, but not 7s.
As to which method you should use to submit cards, one thing I've learned is to not waste time trying to create a system. Sometimes you get a more lenient grader, sometimes you don't. There is no way to "maximize" chances of getting better grades.
What you mentioned about large submissions getting better grades is false, too, I believe. Yes, a large customer like 4SC does have more 10s than others. But they also have a lot more 7s and 8s.
And it raises a question I've been wondering on this issue - are the PSA graders even aware they are grading part of a large order, or do they simply evaluate the card as it comes their way, without knowledge of the order size?
I have some cards that are perfect, and, if graded a 10, would, going by history, fetch many thousands of dollars. Obviously, then, I dont want to wind up with 9s.
Ive heard that if you submit a number of cards, all of them in perfect condition, they will definitely not all be graded 9 or 10, flaws will be "found" with at least some of them. That is why it is a good idea to make sure that about half the cards in your submission are only 7s or 8s. This way, they will find the flaws with the non-perfect cards, rather than the perfect cards.
I no next to nothing about PSA, or grading in general. Last time I collected there was no such thing. Im just saying that this is one of the things that other people are saying, and I dont want to take any chances when I might have tens of thousands of dollars on the line.
I heard, for instance, that a 75 PSA 10 Ryan, sold for over $20,000. I find this impossible to believe, but that is what people say. I have a 75 Ryan that has no flaws visible to the naked eye (maybe I should get a loop), so I want to know what I am doing before I dive in.
Thanks for the info.
I'm still waiting to see some of those "perfect shape" cards you say you have.
You keep saying "I have heard" and saying things that really aren't true Specify your sources instead of trying to spread rumors.
In my last batch of graded cards, all 2005-2009, I have 27 PSA 10's and 23 PSA 9's. Nothing less.
<< <i>Ive heard that if you submit a number of cards, all of them in perfect condition, they will definitely not all be graded 9 or 10, flaws will be "found" with at least some of them. >>
I really disagree with this thought process. I've seen orders into the hundreds with 90% or better GEM 10 rate. I personally am never shocked by my grades unless it's for the positive.
In my last batch of graded cards, all 2005-2009, I have 27 PSA 10's and 23 PSA 9's. Nothing less.
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Kevin Thomas
Im not trying to spread rumors. I am only trying to get an education. I dont know what kind of "specifications" you want. The things I have said, I have heard from card store owners and dealers at shows.
And I have seen 7s that were better than 10s, so, naturally I would like to know the cause of such inconsistencies.
Thanks again.
good luck...
Looking for 1970 MLB Photostamps
- uncut
Positive Transactions - tennesseebanker, Ahmanfan, Donruss, Colebear, CDsNuts, rbdjr1, Downtown1974, yankeeno7, drewsef, mnolan, mrbud60, msassin, RipublicaninMass, AkbarClone, rustywilly, lsutigers1973, julen23 and nam812, plus many others...
<< <i>You keep saying "I have heard" and saying things that really aren't true Specify your sources instead of trying to spread rumors.
In my last batch of graded cards, all 2005-2009, I have 27 PSA 10's and 23 PSA 9's. Nothing less.
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Kevin Thomas
Im not trying to spread rumors. I am only trying to get an education. I dont know what kind of "specifications" you want. The things I have said, I have heard from card store owners and dealers at shows.
And I have seen 7s that were better than 10s, so, naturally I would like to know the cause of such inconsistencies.
Thanks again. >>
Whoever is telling you these "facts" should be avoided.
You should always check the back of a card too. Just because a front looks like a PSA10 doesn't mean the back is fine.
Should be easy for you .... just follow the guidelines below. If your cards meet the standards set by PSA for a Gem Mint 10, send 'em in.
If they don't or if you're not sure ... don't send 'em in!
PSA Card Grading Standards
GEM-MT 10: Gem Mint.
A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss. A PSA Gem Mint 10 card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn't impair the overall appeal of the card. The image must be centered on the card within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 to 60/40 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the reverse.
PoppaJ
Anyway, thanks for the education.
So what about this question? Do the graders know? How are submissions assigned to the graders?
<< <i>I realize that about the backs of the cards, Kevin. I am an expert at collecting and selling cards, at least I was 20 years ago. I was a collector and dealer for 18 years before that, but all this grading stuff is relatively new to me, and, as you can see, I have heard so many contrasting things.
Anyway, thanks for the education. >>
Unfortunately, I can guarantee that an "expert" 20 years ago means nothing today. The game of card collecting has changed considerably in the last 20 years. Since I'm not the most experienced of collectors, I can at least tell you that there are SEVERAL members on this board with TONS of experience that would be more than willing to help. And like I said, while I may not be an "expert" in most people's eyes, I can tell you that a PSA 7 and a PSA 10 are a million times different...however, I can understand how seeing images on a computer screen can skew your vision and make them look relatively the same. You really need to hold them in your hands, side by side, and then it becomes obvious. Good luck to you on your quest and what I suggest is searching this board a lot and learning as much as possible for at least a few weeks to get some better insight. The more you search the boards and see people's cards, hear their opinions on other people's cards, etc. the better off you'll be.
<< <i>Holy cow, these guys can be piranhas at times! >>
Check the BST forum before you jump to conclusions.
<< <i>Youre not going to, Lsutigers. Please stop replying to my posts. >>
PWNED!!!!!!!
<< <i>Youre not going to, Lsutigers. Please stop replying to my posts. >>
We aren't going to see these minty fresh gems because they do not exist.
What do you feel this card would grade
Or this one:
And lastly this one:
----------------------
Working on:
Football
1973 Topps PSA 8+ (99.81%)
1976 Topps PSA 9+ (36.36%)
1977 Topps PSA 9+ (100%)
Baseball
1938 Goudey (56.25%)
1951 Topps Redbacks PSA 8 (100%)
1952 Bowman PSA 7+ (63.10%)
1953 Topps PSA 5+ (91.24%)
1973 Topps PSA 8+ (70.76%)
1985 Fleer PSA 10 (54.85%)
7
10
Did I win yet?
<< <i>
<< <i>Holy cow, these guys can be piranhas at times! >>
Check the BST forum before you jump to conclusions. >>
Looks like the mods cleaned up the mess.
<< <i>Looks like the mods cleaned up the mess. >>
I am very glad I got to see the '57 Hank that is a 4 before that happened.
-CDs Nuts, 1/20/14
*1956 Topps baseball- 97.4% complete, 7.24 GPA
*Clemente basic set: 85.0% complete, 7.89 GPA
There is a lot of info I can give but it possibly could lead to some self realizations on your part that you're not mentally ready to handle. For that reason I will refrain from giving said info.
<< <i>
<< <i>Holy cow, these guys can be piranhas at times! >>
Check the BST forum before you jump to conclusions. >>
Jumping to conclusions? Nah.
I saw the B/S/T forum posts by him and while I agree they were annoying, I don't think it was a case of him being a jerk...a non-message-board-savvy kind of guy, yes...but a jerk, no. He got thumped pretty decently in the B/S/T forum, and rightfully so. But I just thought I'd give some words of encouragement to a fellow who seems to want to learn some things about cards in today's market and didn't seem like too bad of a guy. My bad.
Thanks,
Alex
Maybe the guy was right.